As Keith and Taylor walked towards the booth where their friends were, he saw the couple from the entrance walking in through the kitchen, as he walked past them he heard two sentences from their conversation, "I'm so glad our anniversary isn't ruined," the man said.
"Thank God that bodyguard, Tommy, helped us get in." said the woman as they went into their own booth.
Keith couldn't help but smile at this warm realization.
"Dude, I know you're happy because it's your birthday but that creepy smile is gonna freak everyone out." Taylor said jokingly.
Keith just laughed nervously.
As Keith and Taylor reached the booth, Cole held up a drink and said, "The birthday boy has finally arrived, time to celebrate," next to him was a girl Keith had never seen before, he assumed she was his new girlfriend as she was the only one in the group she didn't recognize, Laura, she was a light brown skinned, her complexion slightly lighter than Cole's, with brown hair, she just smiled and said, "Happy Birthday Keith,"
"Thanks," he replied, next to her was one of their friends from collage, Blake, although he had studied a different course from them he was Cole's friend and after hanging out with Keith for a while they became friends too, though Cole and Keith were closer. He was about Cole's height, had black hair and a small scar in his eye brow.
Blake got out and let Keith enter the booth so he could be in the middle and everyone sat down, "So I already ordered drinks for the table, we should get some food," Cole said enthusiastically.
"I don't mind getting something to eat," Blake said.
"I'm good but you guys can go ahead," Taylor said.
"Oh! Come on you can't just eat nothing, come on Keith tell her." Cole said.
"Yeah he's right," Keith added.
"Fine," Taylor said giving in.
They all looked at the menus for a while, and as a waitress came to take their orders Cole said, "And now to introduce you to the woman who made all this possible," he motioned his hand in the direction of the waitress who was coming their way, she broke out into a little laugh as she came up to their booth, "Cara," he announced as she stepped in front of the booth, Keith blushed as he saw that it was the waitress who had bumped into him earlier.
"It was nothing really, I just owed Cole a favor, so when he called saying he wanted to have a party for his friend at my bar I couldn't refuse, it was the least I could do."
"Wow, you own this place, that's so cool, how did you end up owing Cole a favour?" Laura asked,
"It's a long story, I'm not sure I can go into detail.... " Cole said looking at Cara to see if she was comfortable with him sharing the story.
"It's nothing really, he just helped me out of a really tough situation, "Cara said dismissing the subject.
"Wait you own this place, aren't you a little young for that, you look to be about Keith's age,"Blake said.
" Hey! There's no problem in her being a little young, that just shows a hard working woman," Taylor said realizing that Keith hadn't said a single thing this while time.
"Keith, you haven't said a word since she got here, aren't you gonna thank her for letting us come here, birthday boy?" Taylor teased, she then noticed the blush on his face, "if I didn't know any better, I'd say you two have already met?" she said.
Cara then looked at Keith and immediately recognizing him.
"Oh! It's nothing, we just uhhh...." Keith stammered.
"I bumped into him when he had just entered," she cut in, "Happy birthday,"
"Oh! thanks, no problem, " Keith said.
Cara almost immediately noticed how nervous he was around her and smiled, "So what are you guys gonna order," she said.
Only one of orders stood out among the others, it was Taylor's, she had just ordered for a salad.
"Are you sure you don't want anything else," Keith asked worried.
"No I'm good," Taylor replied.
Keith was a bit worried about Taylor she had usually had a huge appetite, yet now she was rejecting food, maybe she was trying to keep in shape for her modeling career, but she had never been the type to gain weight, even when she ate a lot. Even when Taylor was eating she didn't look to be enjoying her food.
After everyone had eaten, Taylor excused herself and headed to the bathroom, a few minutes later Laura also excused herself, as Laura was entering the ladies' room she heard someone crying, she quickly entered to see Taylor infront of the mirror.
"Is everything alright?" Laura asked concerned.
"Yeah, everything's fine," Taylor said quickly wiping her tears and heading out the ladies' room.
As Taylor and Laura were in the ladies' room, Blake had gotten a text from someone and decided to leave early. As Cole and Keith were waiting, Cole asked, "So what do you think of Cara?".
"She's cool, and seems nice," Keith said feeling a bit nervous.
"Oh come on, I know you like her, I saw the way you blushed when she came up,"
"Was it really that obvious,"Keith said placing his face in his hands, he saw no point in trying to hide it anymore.
"Yeah, it kinda was, you know I think she likes you too,"
"No! you're joking,"
"No, I'm not I could give you her number or maybe set up a date,"
"No, I think her number will be fine,"
"If I don't set up this date nothing will happen, you will noever reach out to her,"
"If I go on a date with her I want it to be my initiative,"
"Ok fine, but I'll be bugging you until you do something," Cole finally said as Taylor came back.
"Hey guys I gotta get going," Taylor said.
"Oh come on, everyone's leaving before we even get cake,"
"I'm sorry but I gotta get my beauty sleep for tomorrow's shoot, it's already, 10:30,"
"Ok fine,"
"Bye guys,"
"Bye," and with that Taylor left. Laura came back a few minutes later.
"Happy Birthd..." Cara said bringing a cake to the table, "where did everyone go,"
"They all left," Cole said a bit annoyed but he fact, "But we didn't order a cake,"
"I know, it's on the house, consider it my birthday present," Cara said as she looked at Keith and winked.
"Oh! Thank you," Keith said trying to hide his blush.
Cara set down the cake and walked to another table.
As Keith got the knife to cut the cake he felt a sharp pain in his head.
********
"The time has come, let the process begin," the mysterious voice said.