Senor Sam's Serious Discussions

Senor Sam's Mexican Grill was never really crowded even at its busiest times, but late on a Wednesday evening it was practically deserted. David and Noah sat in a small booth near the back of the restaurant, the same one they sat at every time they came here.

David picked up one of his tacos and crunched into it absently.

"So..." he said when he'd mostly finished chewing, "Look, I wanted to apologize for... freaking out the other day. I mean, I guess it was just a lot to process all at once."

Noah took a long sip of soda, trying to look nonchalant.

"Nah, man, it's cool. I get it. I freaked the fuck out the first time it happened, too, and I'd known for a while about my family."

Putting down his soda, Noah leaned back against the wall.

"Seems like a lot of weird stuff going on all of a sudden."

David laughed. "Yeah, tell me about it. Hell, I used to think my biggest problem in life was figuring out how to stay awake in math class. This shit is like a whole nother level. I mean, does shit like that happen to you a lot and I just never noticed?"

"Nah, nothing like that. Honestly, I'm kinda pissed there isn't. I mean, I don't want more things like that happening, but I know there's more my mom isn't telling me, and that my granddad won't let my dad tell me."

Noah shrugged, the gesture somewhat awkward given the way he was sitting.

"I guess I'm learning stuff anyway. What about you? Magic books, Maddie having visions...what's that all about?"

David shrugged and put down his taco.

"Man, I don't even know. Like of the two of us, I always thought she was the normal one, you know? I mean, not that she's abnormal, but.. you know."

He leaned back in his seat.

"The book... I don't know. It's like I can't get it out of my head. I never even knew that kind of stuff existed, much less that my grandad knew anything about it."

"He and your dad didn't really get along, right?" Noah asked, frowning. "You think it had anything to do with this stuff?"

"Dunno." David shrugged. "But it might explain a few things. I mean if my grandad was into all this supernatural stuff I can't imagine my dad being on board with it.Though that does mean I need to watch my step from now on. Who knows how bad he'd freak if he found me with it. I wonder if he knows about your dad. I mean, they've been friends for, like, ever."

"Yeah, that's a fair point. I don't know. I've gotten less out of my dad than out of my mom, and that's saying something."

He frowned, considering.

"You're right, though. They've known each other forever, and been friends through a lot. It'd be weird to me if your dad didn't know."

He looked sidelong at David as he continued.

"So, you're going to keep looking into the book, huh?"

David gave his friend a characteristic crooked grin.

"Are you kidding me? Of course I am. That book changes everything. If it was right about the troll, who knows what else might be in there? What if this is just the tip of the iceberg, man? The fact that it would piss my dad off is just gravy."

"So how are you supposed to learn from it if you can't read it? I mean, didn't you say you found Matt in there because of a picture?"

David leaned forward eagerly.

"So you know Mr. Winters? Cecilia's dad? He figures he can help me translate it. Plus Lil has a decent collection of books herself that I'm gonna work on getting her to let me see. And if people like Lil and Mr. Winters can know about this stuff then there must be others out there, right? People who kknow about this kind of stuff. All I have to do is find them online. The hard part is gonna be seperating what's real from what's not."

"Well, I think that'll be an ongoing problem, man."

Noah reached for his soda for another sip.

"Maybe I just don't have enough imagination, but I never thought about this stuff being out there. I mean, I've known about my family for a while, but, if you grow up with it, it just seems normal. I didn't even consider the idea that..."

Noah paused to look around unnecessarily, verifying that they were, indeed, outside of earshot of anyone. Nevertheless, he lowered his voice a little as he continued.

"...That there being werewolves means maybe there's other things out there. Trolls, apparently, and God knows what else."

"Yeah."

David nodded and poked at his food.

"Look, I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but... how come you never said anything about it before? I mean... I know it's not exactly normal, and I guess I did freak out some... but you gotta admit it was not the best way to find out. I mean, you're my best friend. You coulda told me, man."

"Dude, I wasn't supposed to tell anybody."

Noah looked suddenly very serious, almost scared.

"My granddad, my dad, they're into enough bad stuff without all this. I don't...they told me I wasn't ever supposed let anyone else find out, anyone who isn't family or patched in."

He looked out over the mostly empty restaurant.

"I'm worried what they'll do if they find out."

"Relax, dude, that's what I'm trying to tell you. You don't have to worry about it. I'm not gonna tell anyone. I mean, even if I did, who would believe me? Besides, this wouldn't be the first secret of yours I've kept. Possibly not even the biggest. Remember that time at the away game in Portland last year?"

"Hey, dude, how was I supposed to know she was Brad's mom? I mean, when I told your dad "mom" was driving me home, technically I was correct."

Noah sighed.

"I'm not worried about you talking, man. Or Maddie, or Cecilia, really, for different reasons, obviously. But Lil and Addie...they're so excited about the whole thing. They might not be so careful."

David nodded sagely.

"It was a rather unfortunate coincidence."

He shrugged and picked up his taco again.

"Addie wouldn't tell anyone. She's..." he searched for the right word, "...cooler than that. I mean... I don't think she would. I guess I don't know her all that well yet. But... regardless. Lil I'm not so sure about. You might want to talk to her about it. At least she seems pretty reasonable."

"Yeah, I don't think anyone would say anything deliberately, but things can slip."

Noah used his fork to idly push around his enchiladas.

"So, you don't know Addie well yet, huh? Somebody looking to get more familiar?"

Noah favored David with a knowing smirk.

David froze, but only for a moment. If there was anyone in the world he could confide in about girls, it was Noah.

"Well, I mean, have you seen her? She's gorgeous. I'm only human, man."

His eyes suddenly widened.

"Oh... shit... I mean... no offense or anything. I mean... not that you're not, you know... human."

He sighed.

"Fuck. Whatever. You know what I mean."

"Hey, fuck you, dude, I'm still human," Noah defended. "Just, you know, not only human."

He shrugged, trying to play it off. David's comment was a little too close to Noah's own thinking recently.

"Addie is pretty hot, though," Noah offered. "You should bring her to Brad's thing this weekend."

David groaned.

"Fuck, man, you know I hate those things. No one even wants me there. Plus, after how much of a spaz I was when I talked to her in the hall today I doubt Addie wants to even give me the time of day, much less go to a party with me."

"Dude, its pretty much a given you're going; don't even argue. Between me an Madison, you're not getting out of it."

He shrugged.

"Besides, if you're too much of a coward to ask her, I'm sure we can get her there regardless."

"I'm not... ok, fine, I'm kind of a coward. But if you saw the way she looked at me when I asked her to get a coffee with me, you would be to. Well... maybe YOU wouldn't be."

He leaned back in his seat.

"Trust me man, it's better if I don't go."

"We could do something else," Noah offered. "Some of us have to put in an appearance at the party, but we could ditch early and go, I don't know, bowling or to the movies or just driving around. Whatever."

Noah raised his hands in an offering gesture.

"It'd be a group thing, less risk..."

"Nah, man. You go. Have fun. I don't want you to have to miss out on my account again. Just... if you do happen to see Addie there... I don't know, put in a good word for me maybe?"