The Other Side - Chapter 22

"The Other Side - Chapter 21" 

"Lynn! I can walk by myself!" Becky cried as her friend dragged her along the sidewalk.

"Oh, I know you can." Lynn said with a grin, not slowing her pace. "But I can walk faster."

"Ugh!" Becky moaned, finally giving in. She allowed Lynn to fling her around the corners until they finally came to a dead halt in front of a little Chinese restaurant.

"This is the surprise?" Becky asked, looking at the building and wrinkling her nose slightly. Its front window was cracked and repaired with packing tape. Suddenly, her mind flew to the restaurant that she took Jacob to in Africa and she knew to trust Lynn's instincts.

"Not quite, the surprise should be waiting inside." Lynn's eyes twinkled as the pulled open the door. "But this place does have the best sugar bread around!"

Becky laughed and walked in. Seconds after the door shut behind them there was an excited cry from the booths on the left.

"Lynn!"

Lynn laughed aloud and ran over embracing a tall, curly-haired man.

Who looks pretty nice! Becky couldn't help thinking. She forced the thought out of her head though and walked over to them with a smile.

"Becky? This is the surprise! Meet my cousin, Gary." Lynn said, stepping back from him. She put her hands in different positions, pretending to model him like the girls on The Price Is Right.

"Pleased to meet you Becky." He gave her a warm smile before scowling at Lynn. "Would you cut that out?" He playfully batted her hands away and she shoved him lightly.

"Come on, let's all sit down, eat, and socialize!" Lynn said with a giggle and they slid into the booth that Gary had been sitting at before. Becky was on the inside with Lynn beside her and Gary had the whole length on the other side to himself. Gary gave a small smile to Becky and started the conversation.

"Lynn told me that she had a friend that she wanted me to meet! She said that you needed something new in your life."

Becky rolled her eyes and gave Lynn a look. "Well, you know how dramatic Lynn can be! I don't think that I need to meet new people, but I certainly don't mind it."

Gary gave a laugh and looked knowingly in Lynn's direction. "Dramatic is right!"

"Oh, you two are terrible; I am nothing of the sort!" Lynn started defending her feelings and actions with her hands flying all around her. Gary sat back and crossed his arms, casually deflecting each remark with a cool sarcastic one. It was obvious that he had learned Lynn's ways.

Becky looked at Gary and noted how he looked like Lynn in many ways. Their smiles were wide and straight, and their hair a pure blonde. Gary's hair was naturally curly, however, and was just long enough to touch the tops of his ears. It suited him and his easy, playful manner perfectly.

His looks were anything but bad, but for some reason she couldn't quite classify him as handsome. Becky shifted her eyes back and forth between the cousins. She couldn't quite figure it out; there was something that didn't quite fit...

It's his eyes! Becky suddenly realized. She would have imagined blue or green eyes on Gary but instead he had dark brown. So dark they were almost black. They danced when he laughed but otherwise they were still.

"Hey Becks, you want something to eat?" Lynn asked, interrupting her thoughts. Becky felt her face turn red and hastily spat out her order to the waitress.

"So, Becky, I heard that you just got back from Africa." Gary said, directing his attention toward her.

"Yup, that's right."

"Did you have fun?"

Becky hesitated for a moment. "Well, let's just say that it was quite an experience."

"'An experience' is right!" Lynn exclaimed giving Becky a nudge. "She told me this hilarious story and you've just got to here it..."

Becky laughed and rolled her eyes and Lynn instantly started relaying the story of how she had to go chasing a great big Golden Retriever all around the market. It was owned by one of the neighbors and she offered to take it on a walk when it got away from her. It took her three hours but she finally caught up with it.

The rest of the lunch contained stories from everyone, jokes passed around, and eating their meals. Lynn seemed to get more than her fair share of talking time but that wasn't a surprise to anyone. Once the plates were taken away and the bill was divided, Gary informed them that he had to get going.

"I would love to stay and chat with you two but I have to go and get ready for work."

"Yeah, I should probably get on my way too." Becky said, and they all stood up. "It was really nice meeting you, Gary."

Gary grinned, "Same here. It was nice seeing you again, Lynn."

"Yeah, yeah didn't I tell you she was worth meeting?" Lynn asked, giving Becky a poke.

"Yes, you were right! All hail the all knowing Lynn!" He pretended to pray on his knees and gave them all one last laugh before they left the restaurant.

The walk back to Becky's apartment was much slower than it was on the way there. Lynn agreed to go at Becky's pace but she didn't agree not to talk.

"Wasn't Gary nice? It seemed like you found it easy to talk with him."

"When I got a chance to talk to him that is! It seemed that someone was telling all my stories for me." Becky gave Lynn a look and her friend sheepishly laughed.

"Ok, I admit it! Maybe I just shouldn't come the next time you guys get together."

"Next time?"

Lynn gave her a startled look. "You mean you don't want to see him again?"

Becky shrugged. "Well, sure I do! I didn't know that it was already planned."

"Well, it's not, but I really think you guys should get together."

Becky looked at Lynn suspiciously. "Are you trying to suggest a date?"

Lynn's face exploded in a grin. "You said it, not I!" She giggled, "You two would make the cutest couple!"

"Lynn, I'm not looking for a boyfriend right now!"

"So? When the guy comes along you've got to grab him while you still have the chance! You of all people should know that Becky."

Becky looked over at Lynn and couldn't tell if her friend was referring to Jacob or not. "Well he's nice and all but -"

"Oh, no buts!" Lynn interrupted, "Come on Becky, give it a chance! He really liked you, I can tell!"

Becky bit her lip and looked over at Lynn. She looks so eager. Gary did seem really nice... Suddenly her mind flew to what Melissa had said about Jacob. Becky's face hardened and she gave the answer that she knew Lynn was looking for.

"Ok Lynn, I'll give him a chance."

"Oh, goodie!" Lynn cried and wrapped Becky up in a big hug. "You won't regret it, I promise! Gary is the greatest!"

Becky smiled and followed Lynn up the sidewalk of the apartment building. I hope you're right, Lynn, I don't want to regret this.

"The Other Side - Chapter 23" 

Madame