Open Thread: Old habits are hard to break WHO: Liam Cabot and Open WHEN: Sept. 12, afternoon WHERE: Duke's Diner and then into Camden
Liam was in town and glancing at a car sitting in a parking lot. His eyes staring at the sleek cherry red sports car in the parking lot. He wasn't ogling it too close, but his eyes fixed on the car, wondering what sort of engine it had under the roof. He sat inside Duke's Diner, focused on it. He was familiar with the car. A boy at his old school had one and Liam took it for a spin once. Without permission, naturally, because the kids at his old school wouldn't let him even stare at it the way he was. He'd watched the owner make his way into another shop. Some old fart with an argyle sweater and aviator sunglasses.
"Did you want a refill?" the server asked and Liam's focus broke to look at the boy. He shook his head, "No. I'm fine." He brushed the kid off and returned to look at the car. Liam tapped his fingers over the table top, following a rhythm that only he could hear. He was supposed to meet with some of the other kids who played on the city team. Mr. Kaden had been true to his word and put in a word for him. Liam knew how to compete in a sport without dominating the others. Needless to say, he made the team and made some pals among them. Not as much with the students from his own school, but he wasn't alone there. Hayden was alright and Adri was hot. That was a start.
The others were late.
Liam didn't like sitting around waiting for people. He wanted to get a closer look at the car. He paid at the counter and then casually walked across the street, not directly going for the car that stuck out like a sore thumb. He couldn't be obvious. Not that he was going to steal it.
He was on his way to the car when someone stepped in his way. "Whoa," he said, "Careful where you're walking there, bud." It took him half a second but it was someone from school.