IHOP Or Bust (Cole.)

[Jalen August]

Cole had taken the time to come and pick up Jalen from her dorm room, and from there they made their way to Pilot Ridge, as he was interested in having some grub. “Honestly, I don’t really remember eating these past couple days...” Jalen admitted as they neared the restaurant. The past couple days had been a blur, and maybe she had eaten, and maybe she didn’t. She couldn’t really remember, but the pains in her stomach said that she hadn’t had anything substantial for quite some time.

Jalen stepped out of the car, a simple pair of black flats on her feet. Her face was pretty void of makeup, but at least it wasn’t red and blotchy any more. Dark wash skinny jeans and a form fitting grey sweater wrapped around her upper body. She sighed, a small thankful smile on her face as she looked over the car at Cole. “Thanks for getting me. Did you really have errands to run or were you just being nice to me?” She asked, prying into the boy’s mind.

Walking into the restaurant, Jalen approached the greater, a forced smile on her face. “Two please,” the blonde said, and the woman behind the counter grabbed two menus, “Follow me.” Jay looked back at Cole, keeping up with him. “Do you come here often?” She asked, curiously. Sitting at a booth, the sound manipulator pushed her stringy hair back behind her ears. Her dark eyes looked over the menu, not really sure where to start. There were colors and pictures and wording everywhere, and it all looked so good.

The waitress was asking them what they wanted to drink and Jalen snapped up from her searching. “Oh uh, orange juice,” she said, looking back down at the menu. Her favourite drink, which had made an appearance at the family picnic Cody went to with her... Why did everything have to remind her of him?

[Cole Kessler]

It had been a bit cooler today, a Mother Nature was trying to switch seasons. The humidty was down too, enough to persuade Cole to wear his jacket even in the car. The window rolled down as Cole lit a cigarette while he waited for Jalen to come to the car. He'd gotten her text about what had happened and decided to come get her. He placed his newly open cigarette pack in the cubby hole of his car door. Jalen came down the stairs slowly and got into the car. Cole threw it in gear and they took off.

He heard her speak as they neared the restuarant, "I learned a long time ago that starving yourself only makes things worse, sweetheart." He told her. Cole knew exactly how she felt, hell, he knew how Cody felt and he'd never even met the guy. As they walked into IHOP, Cole followed behind Jalen, allowing her to do the talking, though he could tell she didn't want to.

They were seated and handed menus as Jalen asked him a question. Before he could answer the waitress showed up for their drink orders, "Gimme a, uhm, sweet tea.... Oh and no lemon in the tea, please?" With that the waitress walked off leaving Cole and Jalen time to talk, "And to answer both of your questions: I needed cigarettes and was hungry. Figured you might wanna get outta bed today. And I usually come here with the band after we get off work."

[Jalen August]

Jalen smirked, resisting the urge to smack Kessler in the face, she liked him too much to do that. “I’m not trying to die of starvation, nor am I trying to lose weight. It just happened, alright?” She said, shaking her head, a small smile on her face. It was hard to be mad at the boy, she just didn’t have it in her. Well, not for Cole specifically. For Braxton, or Zac maybe, but not for him.

“Fair enough,” she said, glancing at Cole over her menu. Jalen sighed, concentrating on the food items. “What do you have?” She asked, but then something caught her eye, and the boy’s opinion didn’t matter. “Okay, I got this,” she said, folding her menu up. The waitress caught the cue and she came to place their order and hand them their drinks, Jay ordering the full sized breakfast platter: pancakes, eggs, toast, and bacon.

“I had fun at that fundraiser the other day, I didn’t think I had it in me,” she said, sipping at her drink, trying to avoid the obvious. Jalen sighed, looking out the window again. Texting him had been easy, now to get to the talking.

The blonde looked back at Cole. “How’re things with Anna?” She asked, her eyebrows raised. She wasn’t impressed by her friend’s new girlfriend, but that was her opinion. Still, she would have no problem giving it to Cole, and if he didn’t like it, well, he probably wouldn’t care. He was pretty chill, just like Jalen – except for the things that matter. Then people better be watching their back.

[Cole Kessler]

Cole laughed as Jalen spoke, "I will say this, Jay, it was fun to sing with you. And I'm glad you decided to join me up there that day. I don't think we would've made as much money if it hadn't been for you." Cole explained to her. True, they'd met the quota for the night, but Jalen's performance had given them the boost they needed to hit the mark once more.

It came his turn to order and he wasted no time. Ordering his usual combo: Two slices of French Toast, three eggs, and four strips of bacon. To him it was always the good breakfast of a countryman, of course, the true recipe was regular toast rather than french. He listened to her question after he'd ordered. She was avoiding the obvious conversation, so he indulged her, "I'll say this, and don't say a f**kin' word to anybody. I just don't know. It feels great to feel like I'm needed and that she wants me around, for sure. But some things between us just don't click and mesh up."

Cole took a few moments, waiting on their drinks to arrive before he said anymore. As the tea and orange juice were brought to the table, Cole took a drink and continued, "And I get the feeling that I'm gonna end up being a waste of her time. I don't wanna hurt her, but the feeling I get, being needed, it just feels too good for me to let it go again." He explained further as he looked out a nearby window. He looked back to Jalen to see her simply eyeing her glass of orange juice. He knew what was going on, "I know that look. That's the why does everything remind me? look. Are you alright?"

[Jalen August]

Jalen couldn’t help the blush that rose to her face, and she wrung her hands under the table, a nervous habit of hers. “I really doubt it had anything to do with me. People are giving regardless who’s up on stage,” she said, trying to brush off her performance on stage. It was a big deal to her, but she didn’t think it would have such a profound effect on how others shared from their wallets.

Interesting Jalen thought to herself, her eyes never leaving his as he spoke. “I won’t tell anyone,” she said, wondering just who he thought she would tell. The only person who would tell the entire school was Larousse, and she wasn’t exactly friends with the guy. “What’s wrong with her?” She asked, trying to probe further. Cole would know by now that she would always have questions to ask, and it wasn’t just because he was in a crumby relationship – it was just her personality.

So it wasn’t really what was wrong with her, it was what was wrong with him. “So you don’t want to be with her because she wants to be with you?” Jalen sounded surprised. “If I do recall, you dated a psycho once. Anna seems like a sure fire bet,” she said, playing with the straw in her drink. The blonde liked to bet all the time, and if she was going to put her money on who would be better for Cole, it would be Anna. Then again, he was good at attracting complete loons.

Sighing, Jalen shook her head no. She didn’t have a problem with crying in front of people, but she didn’t really want to do so in a restaurant. “It didn’t end well,” she said, pursing her lips close together to stop the tears from forming. She sighed again, “No I’m not really alright, but I figured going to the bar would be a bad idea. Testing the limits while in pain is a very bad combination,” she said, her head resting in her hands.

“He tried to give me a promise ring...” She said, unable to look Cole in the eye, her face turning red.

[Cole Kessler]

Cole listened as she spoked. More questions, something that didn't really surprise him. It was Jalen he was talking to afterall. "It's not that." Cole defended, "She wants to be with me and I do wanna be with her..., somewhat." Cole thought on how to word his next explanation, "I just don't think I was ready for this, not so soon." He said, his voice straining not to break, "I was her first kiss. It is set for me to be her first time. and the way I feel, I'll be her first heartbreak, something I can't handle the thought of."

Cole quickly looked away, forcing a yawn to hide the tears that had swelled in his eyes. Then he listened to her, wanting to speak, but holding his tongue and waiting for her to finish, "They rarely do, Jalen." Cole said in monotone, "And I'm glad you didn't go to the bar. I would hate to hafta beat some ass for messing with you." He chuckled, attempting to lighten the mood if only slightly. It didn't help as he rested her hands on her head and told him what Cody had done, "Sounds to me like the man wanted to give you everything. Sounds to me.....," a short smile crossed his lips and immediately disappeared, "Sounds just like me."

Truthfully, Cole could see many similarites in his attitude and Cody's. Though they'd never met, Jalen had talked about the gentleman plenty. Cole looked back at her, "I'd proposed to Taeyeon........ And I think that tore me up more than anything. The fact that--" Cole's words were cut off as he caught sight of their food coming out to them. He force a smile as the long-haired, asian waitress brought to them a tray with three plates. One for Jalen, and two for Cole as they'd not enough room for his toast on one plate. He wasted no time in bowing his head and praying just for a bit, then taking up his fork and mushing his eggs.

[Jalen August]

Jalen frowned. Weren’t people supposed to be excited about their firsts? “Well if you think it’ll only break her heart, why break it?” She asked, wondering just how someone ‘decided’ to do what Cole was talking about. “You’re leading her on,” she continued, but ended her thoughts short. Really she wanted to ream him out, but she stopped herself, thinking she was just upset because of the situation she was in, which had nothing to do with Cole. It wouldn’t be right to be smart with him. Maybe later, if he ended up being a real creep about the whole thing. “What’s wrong with virgins anyways?” She asked the boy, trying to lighten up the conversation again.

“It wouldn’t be the first time you stood up for me,” she reminded him, a small smile itching across her face. They made a good team and had each other’s back, which was something she hadn’t questioned once. Jalen tried to smile with Cole but it didn’t happen. Great, they were both in relational slumps. “I wouldn’t pin you as being romantic Cole,” she said, looking around the restaurant. Where was their damn food?

As if almost on cue, the approaching waitress cut off Cole, and Jalen gave her a small death glare. It wasn’t her fault they were in the middle of something, but the blonde didn’t care. Taking her food, a relieved sigh escaped her. “Yay!” She said happily, her stomach growling now that the food was in front of her. She, also, pounced on her food, a strip of bacon between her fingers. “Here’s to failed relationships,” she said, raising her bacon in the air before taking a bite out of it.

After that, Jalen concentrated on eating, something that was better done without speaking.

[Cole Kessler]

Cole didn't answer her questions. Instead, his instinct took over...., and so did his stomach. He poured the syrup onto his frech toast and almost immediately took to eating afterward. He never thought he would eat without speaking, but the eery silence fit the day given what was being discussed and what had happened.

It took him only about ten minutes to scarf down his food. He finished the final bite of his eggs and excused himself to the bathroom for a moment. As he made his way back, the waitress that was assigned to their table waved him over. As he neared her, he meant nothing more than to walk by, but she stopped him. She slipped a piece of paper into his hand, grabbed a handful of his rear and then let him by, "Call me, handsome." She whispered into his ear before he walked away.

He nonchalantly slid back into the booth seat across from Jalen. Quietly sipping his tea, Cole tried not to make eye contact with the waitress again. What had he done to catch her eye? "You don't think I know I'm leading her on? You think I like to do that to girls? No, that's not me, sweetheart, you oughtta know that by now." Cole said as he took another drink, "I need you to do me a favor, Jay." He said setting the slip of paper on the table and sliding it over to her.

[Jalen August]

Jalen had taken a bit longer to finish her breakfast, but she was more delicate than her company. Jay nodded once as the boy left to go use the washroom, her plate just about empty. She was starting to feel better after eating, and had only to finish her juice. The sooner the better... The blonde attacked the drink, holding it between both of her hands.

It gave her time to think. Time to think about the things she regretted in the past couple months, and the things she didn’t. She regretted dating Cody – not because he was an awful boyfriend, but because of how she didn’t pick up on his intentions sooner. Was she simply hoping that he wouldn’t be so forward? She had always believed herself to be clingy, but her boyfriend ex had proved her wrong.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Jalen’s dark eyes travelled over to where Cole was coming from, their waitress obviously hitting on him – Jalen almost spat out her drink.

“That was pretty sickening, good thing I have a strong stomach,” she said, a wide grin spread across her face. But things got serious again, and Jalen tried to keep up. “I know I know you better than that, it’s why I’m not impressed to hear that,” she said, the final sips of her drinking making obnoxious sipping noises. She glanced down at the piece of paper their waitress had handed to him, now presented before her. “What? Go out with a girl? Not exactly what I had in mind for a rebound,” she said, taking the paper anyways.

[Cole Kessler]

Cole laughed as Jalen joked about a date with a girl, "As hot as that would be, no it's not what I meant." Cole told her, his inner-guy showing through as he made the statement. "I need you to pretend to be my girlfriend.... If not, she's just gonna keep coming onto me." He explained.

Cole took a final drink of his sweet tea and asked for their check. The flirty waitress just continued to throw hints at Cole. Something told him he wouldn't get out of the eatery without her coming at him again. He stood up after she'd brought him the check and headed to the counter. She was there waiting on him. What the Hell, woman!? Cole cursed in his mind as he quickly set twenty dollars on the counter, "Keep the change." He said. Besides, she'd done a good job keeping their drinks full and table clear of any empty plates.

He hurried outside and lit a cigarette. Trying to get to his car before she made it out again, but it was futile. She had stepped out right behind him, "Can I bum one from you?"

Cole growled in his head and forced a smile when he faced her, "Sure." He said opening the pack and handing her a cigarette.

She dug around in her blouse and apron, frantically searching for something, "And a, uhm," she laughed, "a lighter." A sigh escaped Cole's lips as he struck his zippo and lit her up. He tried to walk-off and go to his car, but she spoke again, "You're not gonna make me smoke alone, are you?" He voice was so sweet, so innocent.

He growled again, this time it was under his breath, inaudible as well, "I guess not." Cole said as he turned around, hoping that Jalen would hurry and help him out.

[Jalen August]

Jalen smiled, looking down at her empty drink as she laughed. At least she had been right on the money with that one. Boys had a lot of things in common, which wasn’t always a good thing, but this knowledge came from being friends with many guys. The blonde sat back in her seat, eyeing him thoughtfully. “I swear Kessler, you’d think I was your fairy godmother when it came to your problems with women,” she said, an overdramatic sigh escaping her lips.

She had stayed behind momentarily to scribble something over the piece of paper the girl had given him, a smile on her face – she had something up her sleeve. Following him up to the counter, the blonde didn’t say a word during the whole thing, simply eyed the other girl up and down. Yeah I would date her... she thought to herself, a huge grin spreading across her face. So much for being intimidating. Jalen wasn’t being much help as the waitress tailed Cole, she was behind both of them still standing in the restaurant, watching things unfold from the window before she made any moves.

Tsking and shaking her head, she wondered why Cole couldn’t just say no when their server continued to come onto him. Seriously, what did he do when he didn’t have a wingwoman? Finally Jalen walked out of the IHOP, stepping up purposefully towards her ‘man’ and the dumbass who couldn’t take the hint. “Hey baby, ready to go?” She asked, completely ignoring the obviously annoyed waitress. Rubbing her hands together, the blonde pointed at Cole’s jacket, “It’s freezing out here, do you mind if I...?” But she didn’t wait for an answer, she simply began to undress Mr. Kessler and put his jacket onto her body.

The next step was to acknowledge the other girl before leaving, otherwise she would just keep trying. Jalen shoved the piece of paper into the waitress’s hand, a forced smile on her face before she turned back to look at Cole, giving him a small peck on the cheek, “Thanks for breakfast.” And not a moment too soon, Jay wound her fingers around the boy’s and began to walk towards the car.

The waitress was left smoking alone, looking at the note dumbfounded. She seemed to have gotten the hint, and if she didn’t yet, she would read the note soon enough:

Sarah <3
555-2452

Bite me =)

[Cole Kessler]

Cole held his cigarette in his lips and dropped his arms so she could pull the jacket off of him. With the sun trying to shine, it felt comfortable enough to him that he didn't need it, but that wasn't why he'd let her have it. He eagerly followed her to the car, even opening the passenger door for her to get in before doing so himself.

"Thank you, Jalen." He said as he started the car and backed out, then putting it in gear, speeding out onto the highway. He didn't really want to go home, or take Jalen back to her dorm yet. He owed her big time for what she'd just done, and Cole never stays in debt. "Where do you wanna go next? The Mall? The School? Where?"

OOC: This is amazingly shitty, sorry.....

[Jalen August]

Sitting in his car now, Jalen kept his jacket on. She hadn’t been lying about freezing to death. “You’re welcome. You bought me breakfast after all, and you’re spending time with me, which I appreciate so, I’d say we’re even,” she said, looking at the boy driving. “Seriously though, I think you need some lessons in how to get chicks off your back,” she said, sitting back further in the seat, Cole’s jacket making her appear quite small.

“Doesn’t matter to me, the lake, the mall, whatever. I didn’t have anything in mind beyond IHOP,” she said, smiling sheepishly. Usually Jalen was full of ideas, but considering the circumstances, there wasn’t a lot she could think of. Her eyes lit up suddenly, and she looked at Cole. “Is there maybe a zoo around here? That’d be fun,” she said, a small grin springing to her face. If there wasn’t, well, then he could suggest something else. “So long as we don’t go back to the school,” she warned, looking out the window now.

Jalen reached over in her seat to turn the radio on, ‘Moves Like Jagger’ started playing really loudly, and she turned it down, letting the song play at a lower volume. She was bobbing her head to the upbeat song, before raising her hands to touch the ceiling of the car and sway side to side. She was determined to have a good day, and she loved this song. Might as well enjoy the moment.

[Cole Kessler]

Cole laughed as she stated she didn't care where they went as long as it wasn't back to the school. Then his laughs got a bit harder as she turned on the radio, he'd forgotten to turn it down before he'd picked her up at the dorms. He'd only just clicked it off when he had pulled up. "Whoops!" He laughed as he smoked his cigarette, "Forgot to turn it down earlier." Then he got a little more arrogant, "What's the matter, Jay? Can't handle loud music anymore?"

"We could always go to the dirt track outside of town. I could give you some drifting lessons?" Cole said in an inquisitive statement. He wasn't sure if there was a zoo around Pilot Ridge, so he kept driving as he waited for her answer, whistling along with the whistles in the song on the radio and shaking his shoulders in the song's rhythm. "We can't go swimming, too cold for it. Can't go camping because its the middle of the week. Can't go fishing because, again, its too cold."

His eyes caught a small flash of lightning over the northern mountains, "Storm's blowin' in. Wanna go storm chasin'? We'll hafta go to my parent's house so I can get the truck and equipment, but I'm cool with that if you are."

[Jalen August]

Jalen gave him a mock glare. "I can so handle loud music, I would just prefer not to right now," she said, continuing to dance in her spot in the car. "And if you have a problem with that, you go ahead and turn it back up," she said, seeing as if he preferred to have his eardrums blown out, she could simply turn down the volume in her mind. There really was no winning with her in this situation.

"Okay, we'll go swimming and camping another time, but please don't ever take me fishing, I'll just fall asleep," she said with a chuckle, remembering the last time her family tried to convince her to go with them. It just wasn't her thing - she hated sitting there waiting for something to happen. Jalen was a 'do-er' not a 'waiter'. Cole seemed to have a few ideas though, and she was about to agree to the dirt track when he suggested something else.

She smiled broadly, remembering what his power was. "Aren't you the only piece of equipment we'd need?" Jalen asked, her tone of voice flirtatious. The blonde couldn't help herself - he just made it too easy. Besides, it wasn't a forced thing. The two of them constantly flirted, why did that have to change now? "If you think we'll need that other stuff though, then you better hurry up before we're in the middle of it," she said, looking out the window, the sky shattering into a million pieces on the horizon, before molding back together again. Lightning was beautiful.

Fiddling with the side of her seat, Jalen was trying to give herself a little more leg room, but pulled the wrong lever, which made the backrest shoot back and sent her falling into it. "Oh!" She said in surprise, laughing at herself. She sat up again, pulling the lever again and this time the whole seat shot back, but the stupid back rest was still down. She sighed, trying to find the first lever, "Today is not my day."