Working at Adam's father's restaurant wasn't as bad as I feared it would be.  My job was pretty easy, and, as a waitress, I got a decent tip.  In fact, it was more than decent.  I was pretty proud of myself, and, at the end of the day, Patrick/Torarin came to pick me up.  Grandfather's order.

"Ready?"  He asked, standing awkwardly in the doorway.  

"Just a minute."  I told him and went over to where Adam was sitting, typing on a high-tech laptop.  The eyes of every girl in the building were practically glued to him.  I wondered if he even noticed.  "I'm leaving now."  I told him.

"Sure."  He didn't look up.  "Do you have a ride?"

"I'm walking back with Patrick."

Adam snapped his laptop closed.  "You're walking with a boy?"

"Yeah."  I told him.  "I am a girl in the prime of her life, if you haven't noticed."

"I'll come with you."

"No, you will not."  I replied.  "You may be able to bully me around at school, but this is summer, and--"

"Is there a problem with an upperclassman just wanting to look after his junior?"

"Yes!"  I said loudly.  "If that upperclassman is you."  

"Let's go, Nathalie."  Patrick said, coming over to Adam's table and standing by my side. 

There was a stare down between the two boys.  Adam won and ended up walking all the way back to Grandma's condo with us.  Patrick looked annoyed.  I was used to it.