Just Starting Out
1.5 - Bad Vibes
John and Kayla started the morning off by enjoying some delicious homemade pancakes Jameson used to cook for them when they were little.
“This is what I miss most about living here,” John sighed.
“Well I’m glad to hear that,” Jameson said cheerfully.
“I never did have the touch you have with food, dear,” Adrienne commented. “That’s why I’m the one who does most of the work in this family.”
“Now you listen here, darling-“ Jameson frowned.
“Your guy’s banter is too much,” Kayla cut in.
“You’ll understand one day when you actually start dating people,” Adrienne replied. “You had that one girlfriend in high school, John, and Kayla, you’ve just never dated anyone at all…”
“Did make us question how we’d raised you two,” Jameson laughed.
“At least I saw someone,” John said defensively. “Kayla and I weren’t against dating anyone, or anything.”
“We know, we know,” Adrienne sighed. “I just hope you two realize how much your father and I would love grandchildren…”
“Mom!” Kayla exclaimed.
Adrienne and Jameson chuckled.
John’s phone buzzed, and he looked down at it. “It- It’s Malcolm…” he muttered.
“Malcolm, your soon-to-be-boss?” Kayla asked. “What’s that about?”
“He wants to know if you and I want to take a walk around the park a few blocks from here…”
“Sure, alright,” Kayla shrugged.
“What are you two going on about?” Adrienne asked.
Kayla looked at John to answer, but seeing that he was busy typing a reply to Malcolm, she talked for him. “We ran into him at the bar last night, he seemed relatively awful but he’s inviting us out to the park now. So, who knows?”
Jameson frowned. “Malcolm as in Malcolm Landgraab?”
Kayla nodded.
“Well, as I said yesterday... be careful you two. That family never seems to be up to any good,” Jameson frowned.
“We will…” John said quietly.
John and Kayla found Malcolm standing with his arms crossed just outside of the park.
“What took you guys so long?” he spat. “Do either of you have any idea of how long I’ve been standing here?”
“Woah, woah, man,” John said, holding his hands up defensively. “We got here as soon as we could.”
“If you want to keep your job when I inherit the company, you’d better try to be more punctual next time,” Malcolm said snootily.
“I’m not working for you, and honestly, if you’re going to treat us like this, don’t expect us to show up next time,” Kayla snarled.
Malcolm let out a deep breath, visibly trying to calm down. “S-sorry,” Malcolm said in a slightly strangled sounding voice. “I just get very angry sometimes.”
“Mhm hm,” Kayla snorted.
“Well, Malcolm,” John said awkwardly. “You interested in seeing Kayla and I’s favorite area in this park?”
“Sure,” Malcolm said through clenched teeth.
Kayla gave John a look that clearly communicated that she felt they should have left Malcolm standing angry in the park, but she walked with him anyway. Kayla and John had practically grown up in this park, after all. They knew every nook and cranny, and Kayla knew exactly where John was taking Malcolm- an area where they’d used to sit and play games until the sun started to set and Adrienne came into the park yelling that it was time for dinner.
That area had always been theirs, and for some reason, John wanted to take Malcolm, of all people, there? She didn’t get it, but she also wasn’t going to ask questions. Not yet, anyway.
“Here we are,” John said, gesturing to the area behind him.
“Hmm,” Malcolm muttered.
Kayla walked up close to John, and whispered harshly. “This is mistake, he’s a freaking Landgraab, he has money, why on earth would he want to see a park?”
“This is really nice,” Malcolm smiled.
John gave Kayla a look. “I’m glad to hear that,” John said.
“Most people would try to impress me with a museum or something classy, you two give no qualms about where you take me,” Malcolm went on. “I really appreciate that in a person.”
The three of them stood there for a silent minute, appreciating the rushing river, the sound of the birds chirping, and the peacefulness of the area.
Malcolm’s phone rang, interrupting the moment. After speaking for a minute, Malcolm hung up and looked back at John and Kayla. “I’ve got to head back to Oasis Springs. Thanks for all of this.”
Without waiting for a reply, Malcolm ran out of the park.
“See Kayla? He isn’t that bad,” John grinned.
John really wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince with that statement, himself, or Kayla?
“I don’t know…. he still gives me bad vibes…” Kayla muttered.