Page 74 of Love Me Like It's Real
“It’s snowing!”
“Yes it is, so maybe milkshake isn’t such a great idea,” Felix says.
The girls hang on to him begging and he surrenders so I’m left with no choice but to drag us back to Maple Street so they can all make the most important decision of their lives.
“Right. This is a huge deal so choose wisely,” I say.
I turn to point at the end of the road on my left side and point at the blue diner car in the distance.
“Sparky’s?” I ask and spin around to point at the other end of the street at the red and white diner car. “Or Red’s?”
“Huh?” Felix asks, turning to me.
“Think long and hard about it because this choice has the ability to determine your entire life in this town.”
Now even the girls glare at me.
“I don’t understand,” Felix says.
I clear my throat, lean against the wall behind me and look at all of them one by one.
“Sparky’s and Red’s are both staples in this town. The problem is they’re mortal enemies and as such the town has had to take sides.”
“Mortal enemies. Why?” Felix asks.
“Well, there are several…myths about it but the one I heard is that Red’s stole Sparky’s super-secret dipping sauce recipe and tried to pass it off as their own.”
“Dipping sauce? Really?” Felix grimaces in disbelief and I shrug.
“That’s what I heard. So everyone has to pick a side. If you’re seen in the wrong diner…well, let’s just say Civil War 2.0 is very much on the cards.”
Felix snorts and I ask them to make a choice. In a way, I feel honored I’m the one to walk them through this town’s biggest dilemma. It’s as if I’m taking Felix’s town virginity. In a way.
“Well, what’s your diner?” he asks.
“Sparky’s of course.”
Felix nods and taps a finger on his chin as if trying to decide but only two seconds later he purses his lips and says: “Then I better go with Red’s. You know. To even things out.”
I stare at him, waiting for him to change his mind or to psych me but he doesn’t and he seems to take pleasure in my hesitation.
“Fine. You’ve made your choice. Red’s it is.” I push myself off the wall and walk toward Red’s.
“Where are you going?” Felix asks, catching up with me.
“To Red’s?”
“But I thought your side was Sparky’s.”
“It is.”
“So…are you defecting?”
I press my lips to the side and ponder it a while. I’m not entirely sure what the rules are. I mean, Felix is new and I’m showing him around. Surely that doesn’t count.
We reach the diner car and walk up the switchback ramp and I open the door for them when at the same time Mrs. Eichenthal walks out and we both pause.
“Mrs. Eichenthal.”
