Chapter 2

Alan leaned against the edge of the counter while his older friend Lucas handed his bank card over the counter to pay for their coffees.

"So you saw Mrs. Kacey's son?" he asked, turning to Alan. He tucked the receipt into his pocket and put his card back in his wallet. "Jason you said?"

Alan nodded, watching a couple at the table across the restaurant. They were holding hands over the table and talking.

"Do you think he's going to propose?" Alan asked, nodding towards them. Lucas looked over his shoulder and grinned.

"In a run-of-the-mill coffee shop?" he asked.

"You never know," he said.

Lucas took the cups of coffee that the woman handed them and headed for a table, setting them down. Alan slid into the seat across from him, still watching the two people.

Lucas studied him for a moment. He had known the boy for as long as he had lived in the city and knew more about the Allen then he let on. He watched him now, his dark eyes glued on the two people, a certain look in his eyes.

"Jealous?" he asked, taking a sip of his coffee. It burned the tip of his tongue so he set it back down on the table to cool for a moment.

"What?" Alan snapped back too, looking at him. He shook his head. "No. It just looks nice to be able to have that with someone and not worry about seeing things."

"Maybe one day you'll have that too," Lucas suggested.

Alan laughed, leaning back in his seat. He held his cup for a moment. "Nope, probably not. I'll always have this thing."

He took a long drink of his coffee, coughing as he swallowed. "That burned."

"You don't get reads from everything though," Lucas pointed out.

"Inanimate objects," Alan corrected him. "And that's only occasionally. For instance, this coffee cup. It's just plastic with no significant history to it."

Lucas nodded, understanding. "Maybe one day you'll find someone who is just like plastic. Maybe a mannequin? I think that would be a good match for you."

He faked a laugh. "Haha, very funny."

Lucas looked over at the couple just in time to see the man pull a box from his back pocket and stand up.

"Oh, look, he's going for it," Lucas tapped him on the shoulder, getting his attention.

They watched as he got down on one knee and opened the box, displaying the diamond ring. It shone and shimmered in the twinkle lights, making it look beautiful. The girl started crying and nodded, holding her hand out for him to slide the ring onto her finger.

"I can't believe she said yes," Alan muttered, turning back to his coffee.

"Yeah, I know," Lucas nodded. "The diamond should have been way bigger."

Alan raised an eyebrow at him, awaiting an explanation.

"If you're not sure if your woman's gonna say yes or not, get a bigger diamond. The bigger the diamond, the higher the possibility of her saying yes," he explained. "Woman love anything that's sparkly."

"Sure," he drew the word out, nodding.

"Do you have your eye on anybody?" Lucas asked Alan.

He thought for a moment, looking down at his drink. "No, I don't. There's nobody."

"Maybe if you talked to somebody," he prodded, raising his eyebrows expectantly.

Alan shook his head. "Why would I do that?"

"Why wouldn't you?" he countered. "If you don't talk to them, you'll never know if you like them or not!"

"I don't have time for this," Alan went to stand up but Lucas stopped him.

"Sit down," he ordered. His face relaxed, the smile disappearing. Alan obeyed, dropping back into his seat.

"I'm worried about you, Alan," he started. "I really am."

He rolled his eyes. "How so?"

"You don't have any friends," he said.

"I have Vernon and you. And Ari."

"Great," Lucas nodded. "One boy from your class, your sister, and a nurse at the local hospital. A male nurse at that."

"So?" Alan asked.

"Don't you want to have a family? A wife, some kids, maybe a dog or two?" he questioned.

The redheaded boy sighed and leaned his elbows on the table, putting his head in his hands.

"Yes," he answered. "I do. But you and I both know that it's not going to happen."

He looked at the teenage boy before him, his heart aching. The poor kid had never really been open with Lucas before about what his abilities kept him from doing but now he could see that it was a big burden for the boy. He wanted to do something, to find some way to help him, but he didn't know what to do.

"It's okay," he said finally. "We'll figure something out, okay?"

Alan nodded, avoiding eye contact. "Sure."