Nick drove up to “New City Diner” an expensive restaurant in North Hines Street around the Greater Tampa vicinity. When he opened Riley’s car door for her, already she felt out of place. He led her up the door of the restaurant as she tugged on her shirt and massaged her neck to show her discomfort. “Will you relax?” Nick chortled at her as he reached to open her door for her followed by placing his left hand on her back to lead her inside.

A waitress approached them, “For how many?” she greeted snottily as she eyed Riley from head to foot in disgust. Riley noticed and she knew she wondered what a girl like her is doing with a guy like Nick and a place like that.

“For two,” Nick answered back then looked at Riley. “Non-smoking section please, oh and can we get a booth please?”

“Yes sir,” the waitress smiled at Nick and then led both of them to a small private booth at one end of the classy restaurant. “Here are your menus, your waiter will be with you in a second. Enjoy your meal!” she smiled at the two of them trying to be polite and walked away back to where they had found her standing upon entering.

“You okay?” Nick asked as his eyebrow curled to show his concern.

“Uh-huh,” Riley nodded her head, but deep inside, she wanted to run out of there.

“Nickolas Carter!” a voice belonging to a lady called out from behind and both Nick and Riley looked up to see who it was.

“Krista?” Nick called up as he smiled up and the girl leaned over to give him a small peck on his cheek.

“It’s been how long since we seen each other?” she giggled while completely disregarding Riley’s presence.

“It’s been a while,” he answered. “This is Riley by the way,” he politely introduced. “Riley this is Krista, she’s a good friend of mine”

“Just a good friend?” Krista winked, wholly ignoring Riley and just gawked at Nick. “I thought that you and Janine are…you know, together?” she snickered in a rude manner while shifting her eyes to where Riley uncomfortably sat and judged her by her appearance.

“Was together,” Nick said clearing his voice.

“So don’t tell me you two are here together?” she scoffed and let out a short chuckle.

“What’s wrong with that?” Nick glared at her while crossing his arms.

“Oh come on, you’re like the Mack! Don’t tell me you’ve changed your style now. Going from Janine to…well, this,” she bluntly said, “No offence hun!” she said while smiling at Riley coldly

“Watch your mouth Kris, if I’m not mistaken, it took you about a million dollars worth to look like that!” he snapped. “Now if you don’t mind, Riley and I would like to enjoy our lunch and we don’t need you here spoiling it for us. Now please go”

Krista scoffed at Riley and giving her a cut-eye followed by, “Nasty freak!” then turned her body around and began to walk back to where she was seated.

Nick turned back to Riley as he felt incredible guilt for what had just happened, “I am extremely sorry about that”

Riley forced a smile on her face but deep inside, she wanted to cry. Krista’s words dug deep into her as it gave her a change to reminisce a part of her life she wished she could entirely and fully forget.

“Are you okay?” Nick asked in concern

“I don’t feel comfortable being here,” she sighed. “I’m sorry”

“No don’t be sorry. I know of another place we can go to, it’s more laid back than this place,” he suggested while the guilt continued to eat him up. He knew he was partly to blame for bringing Riley at a place where snooty people gathered daily and seek for new prey to munch on.

“I’d like that,” she smiled at him as they both readied to get up just as their waiter approached them to get their order.

“It’s okay, we’re leaving,” Nick said to the waiter and the two of them walked out without looking back.