JULIA

As we drove down the bustling streets in Dio's car, the city's nighttime energy surrounded us. Dio, ever the conversationalist, attempts to bridge the silence that has grown. "It's been a while since we did something like this, hasn't it?" he remarks, a genuine smile playing on his lips.

I nodded. "Yeah, it has," I responded.

"You remember the time we used to come here after late-night study sessions?" Dio asked, a nostalgic gleam in his eyes as he pointed at the familiar landmarks around us.

A soft smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "Oh, those endless nights of cramming for exams. I think it's literally impossible for me to forget."

Dio chuckled. "And the questionable coffee we swore was the only thing keeping us awake," he added, shaking his head with a mixture of amusement and fondness. "And that one time we got caught in the rain on the way back from here.”

The image of us, drenched and laughing, rose in my mind, a snapshot of a time in my life when things were simpler.

"You mean the time you gave me a cold because you convinced me we could make it to my apartment without getting drenched knowing fully well that it's a ten minute walk from Bertie's Diner to my apartment?" I replied, a wistful note in my voice.

Dio laughed. “You're never going to forgive me for that, are you?”

“Nope,” I shook my head as we continued our peaceful drive.

As we approached Bertie's Diner, the familiar neon glow of the sign welcomed us. Dio parked the car in front of the squat building and we both exited it. The door opened with the familiar jingle of the bell above it, the sound echoed throughout the place announcing our entrance.

Taking a seat in one of the quiet corners, we grabbed the menu laid out on the table and began to study it, didn't matter that we'd been here about a hundred times and practically knew it by heart. 

As we peruse the menu, Dio's eyes flickered with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "I wanted to ask you this before but I didn't want to cross any lines.”

“Ask me what?” I put my menu down and looked right at him.

He hesitated for a minute before he spoke. “Have you heard from your father?" he asked, his tone gentle yet inquisitive.

A momentary pause lingered before I respond, choosing my words with care. "Yeah, I spoke with him. He's out of town for a while, attending to some business matters," I said, my voice steady, in order not to give anything away. Dio's eyes, two brown pools of concern, held mine for a moment before softening.

I held my breath thinking he was going to catch on to my lie but his next words told me that he believed me.

"Good to hear. I'm glad you've gotten in touch with him, you were so worried about him during graduation ," Dio said, steering the conversation toward lighter territories. The diner's atmosphere becomes less terse as a result of that.

I felt terrible that I had chosen a path filled with deception, but it was a necessary evasion to protect Dio from the dangerous truth. 

One of the familiar waitresses, Maggie, approached us with a warm smile, recognizing us from our frequent visits.

"Hey, Dio, Julia! Long time no see," she greeted, pen and pad in hand. “How are things?”

Dio grinned, the familiarity of the moment filling me with a bit of calmness. "Hey, Maggie! Yeah, it's been a while. Things are great, actually. We finally graduated,” Dio pointed to the both of us.

“Oh, very nice,” Maggie clucks. “Congrats, y'all.”

“Thanks, Maggie,” I told her.

“We'll have our usual, please,” Dio ordered.

Maggie nodded, a playful glint in her blue eyes. "The usual it is. And for you, Julia? The usual?"

I consider the menu for a moment before deciding, "I think I'll go with the chicken Alfredo today, thanks."

"Good choice!" Maggie noted, scribbling down our orders. "Anything else for now?"

Dio glanced at me, silently deferring to my preferences. "Just water for me," I said, and Dio nodded in agreement.

Maggie winked, jotting down our drink orders. "Alright, your usual and the chicken Alfredo with a side of water. I'll get that right in for you."

As soon as Maggie left Dio leaned in with a mischievous smile on his face.

"Julia," he said, "I've got a little surprise for you later."

I managed a smile and just as I was about to respond my eyes caught a figure lurking a few tables behind us. Despite Dio's enthusiasm, my focus shifted as a subtle unease settled in.

"A surprise?" I asked, my tone calm and measured even though my heart was racing. Despite my effort to engage in the moment, my eyes involuntarily darted towards the shadowy figure lingering behind us.

Dio noticed the shift in my demeanor and his excitement dimmed. "Hey, is everything okay?" he asked, concern furrowing his brow.

I forced a smile, trying to dismiss his worries. "Yeah, everything's fine. I'm just a bit distracted.”

Dio continued to speak while I watched the person that had my senses on full alert.

Maggie delivered the food and we began to eat. Occasionally I would look up and find the man staring.

The shady man sat a few tables behind us, clothed in a nondescript jacket that seemed out of place in the casual ambiance of the diner. A low-brimmed hat sat over dark hair concealing his face and any distinguishable features. His posture exuded an air of nonchalance as he ate what looked like apple pie, yet there was something unsettling about the intensity of his gaze and the way it lingered on our table, as if dissecting every word Dio spoke.

I couldn't shake the feeling that this man wasn't just an ordinary diner and all I could think about was the last conversation I had with Alonzo.

“Something's not right with you, Julia," Dio said shaking my hand. I tuned back into the conversation to find worry all over Dio's face. “You've been zoning out more than usual, what's up?”

I mustered a reassuring smile. "Everything's fine. Actually I just remembered an early morning appointment. Mind if we wrap this up?"

“Wrap this up?” he asks with wide eyes. “What are you talking about? We only just got here, you haven't even eaten half of your food.”

“I'm sorry, Dio,” I told him as I attempted to stand up. “I'm not hungry anymore and I told you about the appointment. I can't miss it and I need to get some sleep if I'm going to get there in time.”

“But . . .”

“I'm sorry,” I opened my purse and got out some bills.

Dio's disappointment was palpable as he watched my movements.

Even though what I was doing to my best friend was crappy I did not relent. I was determined to protect him from any dangers of the world I was now living in and if we stayed in this diner a moment longer I dreaded to think of what could happen.

“Fine,” Dio finally agreed. “You're the boss, let's go.”

He dropped some money from his wallet and we were both out of the diner and away from the dangerous, shady man.

In the quiet confines of the car, Dio attempted to salvage the night. "There's a spot I wanted to take you to. At least let me show you the surprise I had planned for you." His voice carried a note of hope.

My gaze met his and I watched a conflict of emotions play out in his eyes. "Dio, I appreciate the gesture, I really do, but I really need to get some rest," I explained.

I could feel Dio's frustration simmering beneath the surface, as he started the car and reversed in the direction of my apartment. As he drove I could see his disappointment in the tight set of his jaw although I didn't know why. Was it because we didn't finish our food?

"What's going on, Julia?" he finally broke the silence. “What's really going on? I know you and you're acting really strange tonight. What happened? Are you ok?”

Caught between the impulse to confide in him and the need to protect, I choose my words carefully. "Dio, it's complicated. I just . . . I think I just need some time away from our friendship," I admitted, making my voice harsher than I meant.

"Time away? Are you kidding me right now? Julia, we've been friends for years. What happened? Why do you need a break? What did I do?"

I hated the way his voice had a mix of hurt and confusion. 

"It's not about you, Dio. There are things happening, things I can't explain right now. I just need you to trust me," I pleaded.

The car slowed to a stop at the curb of my apartment building. Dio turned to me with a searching gaze. "Julia, I don't understand, but if you need space, I'll respect that. Just know that I'm here for you whenever you're ready to talk."

I nod, a sense of gratitude mixed with the regret of the growing distance between us. As I stepped out of the car, the door closed with a somber finality.