Chapter 13
1513words
Jake followed his father into the dining area. The lighting was dim, and the tables all had a fancy tablecloth on them. Along with cloth napkins. At least they didn’t use paper napkins like most restaurants.
Barry walked right up to them, before they had a chance to take a seat. “Will, Jake, good to see you both.”
“You too,” Will said.
“Waylon and the Hendersons are here right now. I was having a beer with them. Come sit with us.” Barry looked at Jake. “His son is here too. He’s your age. I’m sure you’ll become great friends.”
Barry led them to a table with six chairs. He ordered a waitress to bring two more. While the waitress did that, Barry introduced Will and Jake to an old man, and someone Jake’s age. Mayor Waylon Barstow, and Sebastian.
Waylon was white haired, with a ridiculously large mustache. Sebastian had jaw-length dark hair, and wore a fake leather jacket. More cheap plastic for the landfills. Jake thought rich people would splurge on real leather. At least that came from a cow being slaughtered for food anyway.
They all exchanged greetings as the waitress appeared with two chairs. She set one on each end of the table. One of those chairs was next to Maple. Jake took that one, while his father took the one next to Waylon and one of Maple’s brothers. Jake couldn’t remember which brother was which, nor did he care to make the effort.
“Hey Mapes,” Jake said to Maple, giving her a smile he knew would make her day.
She blushed, avoiding his eye. “Hi.”
God, her obvious crush on him was cute. Jake leaned in. “What brings you here?”
“A lunch date.” Maple glanced at Sebastian, who stared at Maple with a curious expression.
“Oh?” This must be the latest in the line of “potential husbands” for Maple. Something stirred in Jake’s chest. Already he disliked him. Some rich man trying to buy a wife. Probably because he wasn’t good enough to get one any other way. Not only that, but Sebastian could be older than Jake. Did he know Maple was still a minor?
A waitress came up to take his and his father’s order. Like it was the early 21st century or something. They placed their orders, and she left.
Sebastian barely glanced at him. “You’re new here?”
“Where from?”
“California.”
“Really?” Sebastian leaned back, still not quite looking at Jake. “I’ve wondered what it’s like living there. Is it true lemonade is illegal?”
Jake glanced at the glass of yellow liquid on the table. “Depends on how much sugar…” He remembered the new law about no additive sugar, and changed his answer. “Only if it has added sugar in it.”
“How can it be lemonade if there’s no sugar?” Sebastian asked. “That’s half of what it’s made of.”
“If that’s your definition of lemonade, then yes. It’s illegal in California.” Jake turned to Maple to ask what she’d been up to. But Sebastian spoke again.
“And is it true that everyone has to wear the same, government-issued clothes? There’s no actual clothing stores?”
“That sounds awful.”
“It’s not. It makes it hard to tell who’s rich and who’s poor. That way, everyone will be treated equally regardless of what they wear.”
“Do the clothes at least look cool?”
Jake failed to see why that would matter. “All of them are gray, with no frills or ruffles or graphics.”
“What if you want to wear something different?”
“You’ll get fined 10,000 ameros.”
“That’s stupid.”
Jake flinched at the casual use of the slur. Saying that would have been a 15,000 amero fine. “It’s better that way. Besides, the materials used in our clothes are better for the environment. Unlike that tacky leather jacket.”
Sebastian looked down at his jacket, brow furrowed in what might have been hurt. “You think my jacket is tacky?”
“Extremely. What’s it made of? Microplastics? Do you know how harmful that is for the environment?” Jake shook his head, and turned back to Maple. “How’ve you been?”
“Alright. I’ve been reading the Nelly Bly book. It’s really good so far.”
Jake smiled. “I knew you’d like it.”
The waitress came by with everyone’s food. Jake, Maple, and Will were the only ones that thanked her.
“Why’d you thank her?” Sebastian asked Jake, after the waitress walked away. “She’s just doing her job.”
“Because I actually have manners.” This man kept giving Jake more and more reasons to hate him. And Sebastian still hadn’t looked at Jake for more than three seconds at a time. Jake would have thought him neurodivergent, but he had no problem looking at Maple. Half the time, it was like he was talking to her instead.
“Sorry.” Sebastian picked at his potatoes. “I was only asking because I’ve never seen anyone else do it.”
A twinge of guilt struck Jake. Until he remembered why Sebastian was even here. Poor Maple deserved to be with someone she actually liked. And that clearly wasn’t Sebastian, given she only seemed to have eyes for Jake.
It was flattering, but even the thought of doing anything physical with a minor filled him with disgust. He had no desire to be anything other than friends. And Maple would probably get over her crush on him, once she got to know him and his flaws. Hell, maybe he should reveal a few flaws to hurry that along. He also had no problem being an asshole to some older guy taking advantage of a minor.
“More people should thank workers.” Jake raised his chin. “And more men should stick to women their age, instead of exploiting vulnerable minors.”
Jake!” Maple hissed at the same time Sebastian said, “Huh?”
“Yeah. Didn’t you know Maple is only 17.”
“So? You’re in your twenties, going after a minor? You should be ashamed of yourself.”
“She’s only one year away from being an adult. It’s not like she’s 14.” Sebastian returned to his food.
“Are you even interested in her?” Jake asked. “You’re not even acting like you’re interested in her. And she’s not interested in you.”
“Jake!” Maple hissed again.
“Why are you being so defensive of her?” Sebastian asked snidely. “Are you secretly in love with her, but feel guilty over it, so you’re taking it out on every man who goes on a date with her?”
Jake leaned back in his chair, arms folded. “Funny. I don’t think most people bring their fathers to their dates.”
“Piss off. What did I ever do to you?” Sebastian stabbed at the meat on his plate. “Typical commiefornian, thinking they’re better than everyone else.”
Maple covered a laugh. Was she actually siding with Sebastian? The thought twisted his stomach. But he knew he needed Maple to get over him. Even if it meant she’d side with this prick.
“You all think you’re so great because, what, you get free healthcare?” Sebastian shoved a bite of steak in his mouth. “I bet you have to wait months to get treatment for a broken leg.”
“Better than someone going bankrupt over a broken leg.” Jake twirled spaghetti onto his fork. “I bet people here die because they can’t afford to see a doctor.” He ate his first bite of spaghetti. Like all the food in Jefferson, it was too sweet.
Sebastian glared at him. “And I bet people over there die because they can’t get a doctor’s appointment in time!”
There had been stories of that happening, though Jake didn’t know anyone who had. “At least girls actually like me. I don’t have to buy a wife.”
“Fuck you!”
“Sebastian!” Waylon finally seemed to have noticed the argument taking place next to him. “Don’t talk like that in front of a girl. If you and Jake have a problem, go outside and use your fists.”
Barry laughed. “I’d love to see Sebastian try to beat someone up.”
“I don’t know,” Will said, stroking his chin. “Jake’s never been much of a fighter. I think Sebastian has a good chance.”
Were these people serious? “I’m not getting into a fist fight with Sebastian!”
“Why?” Sebastian asked. “Afraid I’ll win? And your precious Mapes will leave you for me?”
Maple had watched their entire interaction with widened eyes. Jake turned his attention to her. “What do you think? Should I kick this guy’s ass?”
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Jake had never been in a fight before, but his fists clenched at the sight of Sebastian’s smirk. He wanted nothing more than to punch it right off his face. “I won’t get hurt.”
“Does that mean you’re gonna do it?” Sebastian asked.
“Of course he is.” Barry beamed. “And I know the perfect place for it!”
