brother to break his trance. Logan looked
at him, “You pushed her away Logan, you told her she was not good
enough. She looks like she is happy, if you do not intend to do the
right thing by her. I need you to leave her be” Lance
finished/
“I know” Logan said shaking his head and
looking down. He then looked back to the table and Shelby was
laughing at something that guy was whispering in her ear. “She
really looks beautiful tonight doesn’t she? He finished.
“Yeah she does” Lance said shaking his head.
Lance took another bite of his food, watching his brother as he sat
there enthralled with Shelby. Lance realized his brother did not
know it but he was in love. Nudging his shoulder again he said “So
what are you going to do about it?” Before Lance could get the
question out completely Logan was off his stool and heading toward
there table. Lance chucked a little and then remembered who is
brother was. “Shit” he said to himself as he followed behind
Logan.
Shelby back was facing the two men that were
approaching the table. She was laughing and Zach was stroking the
back of her had when Logan stopped behind her and leaned in to
whisper in her ear.
“You look downright edible tonight!” Logan
said to her. Leaning to the side, startled and annoyed Shelby
flinched away from Logan.
Sensing Shelby getting pissed Lance extended
his hand to her date. “Hi. I am Lance, this is my brother Logan we
are old friends of Shelby’s”
Zach took Lances hand, wondering what was
going on. Finally saying “Hello, I am Professor Zachary Walker, I
work with Shelby it’s nice to meet you” The silence at the table
was defining, Shelby was stewing in anger, Logan was staring at
Shelby like he was a man that just came out of the dessert for
eight days and she was a glass of water, and Lance and Zach and
Lance were trying to figure out what to do. Finally after minutes
of silence that felt like forever Zach cleared his throat and Lance
mumbled under his breath. “Awkward”. Having had enough Shelby stood
up suddenly looking at Zach as he stood up, always the
gentleman.
“Excuse me Zach I am going to go to the ladies
room. Lance sweetie although it was good to see you when I come
back you..” Shelby said pausing and pointing at Lance and then
Logan. “And your brother should not be at this table. Ok thanks”
Shelby finished sarcastically as she walked toward the ladies room.
“Who the hell did Logan think he was?” Shelby was thinking. How
dare he think that he can just walk up to me and whisper in my ear
and all is forgiven? One thing her family treating her like she was
nothing had taught her it was she deserved to be treat with respect
and love. Logan had his chance and decided that he wanted to cuddle
up with the chip on his shoulder then so be it. If he is at that
table when I get back I just may forget that we were ever friends
or lovers and give him a peace of my mind.
Luckily when Shelby returned to her table
Logan and Lance had left the restaurant all together. Shelby felt a
small pain of sadness that he had so easily left but then again
that would make it so that she could focus on Zach.
“I am so sorry about the interruption Zach”
Shelby said as she sat down.
“Oh please don’t be.” Zach said waiving her
off as he dug into his plate, the waitress had brought their food
just before Shelby got to the table. “It’s always good to see
someone that is desperately in love.” He finished.
Dropping her fork on her plate for a few short
seconds shocked at what Zach had said. Recovering and laughing non
chalantly she said “Oh, I am not in love with either of them, they
are like my brothers I went to school with them we have been
friends for years.” she said picking up her fork a digging in to
her pasta. Smiling and looking at his plate Zach looked up and
Shelby and smiled and said “I was not talking about you” Zach said
looking into her eyes “I was talking about Logan that is a man
David Stuckler Sanjay Basu
Aiden James, Patrick Burdine