"Well you two should get going no? Don't want to miss the dance."

"Mom. Can you stop calling it that? It's not a dance."

"Will there be no dancing?"

"People don't do that at our age anymore."

"Well why not?"

Jack smiled for himself and Alan. "We'll make sure to have a good time Lynn....

It was Friday. He left the cafe because he couldn't stay there all day. He would need to do something until the evening party. The First  Friday party.

There was nothing else he wanted to do. Just wanted the time to pass. So he put on some music and drove around...

"So what's up with you, fucker?"

Alan smiled. This was his chance.

"I've been home for winter break. And you remember  Imogen Howe --"

"Man. Fucking. Always some fucking thing isn't it?! Sorry man. I gotta go. Someone's knocking at my door. Call me later and tell me what's been going on okay?...

Jack was feeling down. He needed a change. Life was suffocating. He thought about booking a flight, but he was not used to doing that. His assistnat took care of all things for him. She might book him a flight and keep it a secret from his girlfriend initially. But...

He usually didn't have much to say in particular on any given day. The two texted each other more out of habit. Sort of like the digital version of cavemen grunting at each other with no communicative intent other than saying 'i am here. I see you over there.'

But on...

Maybe it was the sign. Music was playing in his head. He was rocking his hips and shoulders as he strolled in. Feeling like he was in one of those old  Apple ipod commercials. Hell yeah he thought.

When his eyes opened he expected to see the cafe filled with people....

The following morning he awoke to a flood of white light. That's how he knew he had slept in. In the  winter , you had to wake up in the dark if you wanted to wake up at a decent hour.

he didn't want to get out of bed. But the...

He had five days left. Then it was back to  Westcity . Back to the eternal nothing. The dark version of happily ever after. Alan didn't want to think about that right now though. He was in his old bedroom at his mom's. She was watching TV in the living...

She had two favorite times when Alan would be at the cafe. Right after lunch and right after closing.

There was something cozy about being at the cafe after the sign was turned around. From "yes we're open" to "closed".

The lights would dim down. Each car or truck that would drive...

That other girl went to  Westcity Community College the first year out of high school. The plan was to apply again during that first year and transfer to a university. The plan then quickly changed to transferring after two years. She could save more money that way.

Her  GPA was over...