He answers the call outside, but the cheery faces behind the restaurant window can see his face. Their conversation has been replaced with an urgent silence, and their eyes watch him standing beneath the street lamp. He is not talking into the phone that is placed idly to his ear, but his eyes flicker as they aim at his feet, and everyone can see the intense look upon his face as he listens.

Suddenly his eyes rise fiercely, his lips move to form a desperate string of words, and he catches sight of his friends watching him through the window. He makes a wild eye contact, and his friends respond in varying manners; some of them look down, look away, others give expressions of compassion.

His lips have froze, his eyes are full of a fiery passion, and the phone is gripped tightly between fingers that barely emerge from his long sleeves. His eyes fall to a lost expression, he turns his back to the window, and he reaches a steadying hand to the lamppost beside him.

Within the restaurant, Sammie slips from the booth. She opens her mouth on the edge of a word, stops, stutters, and then just throws up her hands.

“Stay here,” she says. She makes her way hurriedly to the door, pulling her jacket over her bare shoulders. The others remain in an awkward silence.

Before they can see Sammie outside, Peter speaks. “Do you think…” He clears his throat. “Do you think it has something to do with his sister?”

“No.” Melissa shakes her head.

Sammie is seen at the window. They turn to watch as she places her hand on her friend’s shoulder. He doesn’t respond at first, but he seems to be speaking again. Sammie drops her hand and moves around to face him.

He turns away, his shoulder hunched under his thick jacket, his arm rising to scratch his head. She is completely blocked from him now, but his face is turned halfway to the window once more. He is whispering fiercely into the phone. Sammie backs off and waits for him to open up or to finish the call.

Peter pounds his palm on the table and turns away from the scene outside to address the others. “Well. I’m going out there too.”

“No. Don’t,” Melissa says.

Peter grows irate. “Well what’s this all about?” he asks. “I asked if it was to do with his sister.”

“It’s not. Don’t worry.”

“Don’t worry?” Peter motions to the scene outside. “Jeff is acting like his family has just died.”

“It’s not that…” Beth says slowly. “He looks angry. I think he’s arguing with someone.”

Melissa gives a worried sigh. “Yes. I think it’s…his work.”

“His work?” asks Peter. “He doesn’t have a job. Remember when we first went over to his house?”

“No. Peter. I remember all of that. It’s just that…I overheard Sammie and him talking. At the beginning, when we first met him, he joked about what his job could possibly be; he asked us to guess.”

“That’s only because Sammie suspected he must famous to afford such a sweet house. And didn’t she discover for real that he didn’t have a job. Didn’t he just inherit all that money?”

“That’s what we’ve all thought for the past month. But last night I heard them talking.”

“About what?” asks Beth, her eyes still watching her friend whispering fiercely into the phone.

“He said he might have to leave. He might be ‘called away’, is what he said.”

“By who? He’s never mentioned any family other than his sister who he came here to find. Remember when he first moved here? He was free as could be. All the money he could want. No friends or family or jobs or commitments…Whatever happened to his search for his sister anyway?”

No one answers as the scene outside changes. Now he has his hand in his pocket and is removing a pen and piece of paper. He holds the phone with his shoulder at first, but Sammie moves in and holds it to his ear as he clicks the pen open and begins to scribble.

But then Sammie moves closer. He doesn't seem to notice. She rises onto the balls of her feet as gracefully as she can, and tilts her head toward the phone. Her friend's watch with bated breath.

Then Sammie’s expression changes violently. Her eyes go wide, her eyebrows come together, and her lips open gently. She moves her head closer to the phone, but makes the fatal mistake of bumping her ear against his shoulder.

He drops the paper and pen, and spins to grab the phone from her. But to those within the restaurant, Sammie's next move is shocking; she wrenches the phone away and turns hastily to run.

He grabs her arm though, and pulls her to a stop, throwing his arms around her waist and crying out.

Within the restaurant, Peter jumps to his feet but does not move. Melissa and Beth both gasp.

Sammie fights fiercely to free herself, and her watching friends grow suddenly afraid. They have never seen her like this, especially not with him. She adores him.

Outside, Sammie is lifted completely off her feet and carried out of sight of the window. This is when Peter runs for the door, followed quickly by Beth. Melissa sits at the table alone and picks at her dessert with a fork.

Peter bursts out onto the street, crying after the other two. “What the hell?” he cries. “Tell me what’s going on!”

But neither of them is visible. Peter slows to a stop at the entrance to the nearest alleyway, but there is no sign of them. Beth pulls up short behind him, and then points with a yelp.

A small black sports car pulls from the curb and roars out into the street. As it rushes by, they see Sammie in the front passenger seat. She waves with wide eyes and mouths something they cannot interpret. Then she blows a kiss and turns to face forward.

Peter and Beth remain froze, their hearts stunned, and their minds whirling.

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