Mistaken Sandwich Identity

[Jason Campbell]

Most of the time, when Jason worked at the clinic, he would take his lunch break outside, eating at the small restaurant right across the street. Ok, right across in some weird diagonal line. Still, near the clinic. You could say he was a regular. He knew several of the waitresses there, although not necessarily by name. Anyway, he was terrible at putting a name to a face.

Jason was also the kind of client who was rather predictable. He only picked amongst two or three choices from the menu, very rarely going for something else. Anyone else wouldn’t have been surprised he came in and ordered a coffee with a chicken focaccia sandwich. Anyone but this waitress, who ended up serving him something entirely different. Sure, it was a sandwich but not with his bread and even less with chicken. This looked like... pulled pork? “This is not what I ordered,” he said to the woman before she could leave. She was stopped in her tracks, blinking as though it was impossible there had been a mistake. But he was adamant. He pointed at the sandwich. “That’s not what I asked for.” She blinked again. Even asked him if he was sure he was not mistaken. Because it made sense he was the one not remembering what he ordered. She looked at her pad on which she wrote down his order. He repeated it, purposefully taking his time when he said chicken and focaccia. She seemed surprised it was there on the menu. But it was. She said she’d see it in the kitchen. Meaning she refused to admit she made a mistake and would ask for it, perhaps even certain they no longer made those.

And she left that pork sandwich on the table. He noticed someone sitting at the table next to him. With the exact sandwich he had ordered. She couldn’t say they didn’t make them. “Excuse me, you ordered pork?” It couldn’t be that easy, could it?

[Levi Alexander Wolfe]

Levi had the second shift today. Since he had been preoccupied at home with dealing with puppies and emotional Luna he had forgotten to eat himself. Knowing that he’d be hungry later on he made it a point to grab something to eat. Not wanting to get fast food and seeing as he had some time before he had to check in Levi opted to actually sit down and grab a bit to eat at a restaurant on the way to the station.

Since things had settled down (for the most part) for Levi, he was becoming more accustomed to doing things he normally wouldn’t do. Things like eating out alone. He was no longer worried about calling attention to himself. He would prefer not to, but not for the same reason he used to.

The local was seated, his mind racing with thoughts about his dogs. That was the only thing in his life right now that he was focused on. He was fortunate for it, it allowed him to temporarily displace his thoughts about the envelope under his mattress. He placed his order with the waitress: a pulled pork sandwich with a large coke. It had been a while since he had eaten pork. His mouth started to water at the thought of it.

Sometime went by. Levi was patient. He purposely was seated with his back against a wall which allowed him to observe the entire place and keep an eye on the exit. He watched people as they came and went. His mind a bit less quiet than when he had originally arrived. He took a few sips of his drink and as the waitress arrived he adjusted himself, ready to devour the sandwich he had ordered. To his dismay when she placed the plate and upon closure examination it was not what he had ordered. It looked like chicken. Just as he was about to speak up, Levi heard the man at the table next to him say something about the wrong order. Levi looked over as the man spoke to him.

“In fact I did. I’m assuming you ordered chicken then?” He asked, gesturing to the plate on his table. Levi looked back at his plate and then the man’s. Yes. The waitress clearly mixed up the orders. Luckily it was a simple fix. Levi blinked a few times before realizing who it was that was talking to him. “Jason?”

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Tag: Jason Campbell

[Jason Campbell]

Jason was ready to give the benefit of the doubt to the waitress and assume she just mixed the tables in her order list, making the man near him have his sandwich while Jason got his. It was nicer than saying she was just not really good at her job. He supposed he could also say she might be tired by now and made a little mistake. Not that it mattered too much, Jason was not going to tell the woman that. He had no idea what she went off to do. He just hoped she didn't intend to order him another sandwich. Probably not, since she left the other one on the table, like asking him to eat it and be happy with it.

“I did actually. A switch then?” Jason told the man, already grabbing the plate and ready to have the sandwiches switch hands. It was not that he had anything against pork but he preferred chicken. It was why he ordered that one. It was funny though. This would not be the first time he’d grab something out of someone else’s plate, or offer of his, but generally the person was sitting at the table with him, not at the one next to his. Funny might not be the right word here.

The fact the other man looked familiar meant very little. Jason was terrible with names, especially when he had to associate it with a face. He had always been like that. Someone’s face could look familiar but the name will elude him. He hated nothing more than when someone asked if they had not met before. Because it might very well be so but he would not be able to tell. It was even more embarrassing when they seemed to remember him and apparently were close or had some good time together at some point.

So of course, when he said his name, as though they knew each other, Jason paused and looked at the man. Great. Now he should remember his name, right? Except he did not. This man could very well be an old acquaintance from school, a patient or a clerk at some store he went enough for the man to have read his name on his credit card or something. Jason wouldn’t know. “Yes?” He carefully answered. He preferred not to risk himself with a name. Chances were he wouldn’t get it.

[Levi Alexander Wolfe]

Levi remained quiet and still. His mind now blank. The only thing he was currently concerned with was his meal that has been accidentally switched with the person beside him. That person being Jason. He was surprised how quickly he picked up on it. Levi gave a simple nod in response to the switch and grabbed his plate off the table and handed it to Jason in exchange taking the other plate with the sandwich he had correctly ordered.

He had almost felt bad when Jason didn't quite seem to remember him. He didn't take it personally. To be quite honest he preferred it that way. Well, at least he used to. Now it simply didn't matter. Placing his plate on the table he gave a friendly smile, "Levi." He said as he gently tapped his hand on his chest. "We met years ago. But I think I've seen you around from time to time recently. It's okay if you don't remember. I have a forgettable face." He said lightheartedly letting out a soft chuckle. He recalled the first time they met. He had stopped himself from going into the forest and had found Jason on the side of the road with the strangest flat tire he had ever seen. But that was years ago. More recently he remembered spotting him from time to time around at the bar.

Not wanting to bother the man anymore he gave a smile. "Enjoy your lunch though." He said turning back to face his food.

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Tag: Jason Campbell

[Jason Campbell]

Jason supposed he could have kept the sandwich he ended up with. It was not like he couldn’t eat it. But his mind had been set on the one he ordered and when that happened, nothing else would really be as good. Luckily for him, this was the case for the other man also. Or he was just glad to have the opportunity to have what he wanted instead of something else. It was something you expected in restaurants, to get what you ordered.

Jason dreaded when people asked if they had not met before or implied that they did. He was terrible at telling so. Faces did not necessarily ‘ring a bell’ to him and he was even more terrible at finding the name that went with said face. He always tried to sort out every person he could have met and talked to, from childhood to the day before. Sadly that asked him to recall a lot of days and he rarely had the time to go through more than a tiny part before it was clear he did not remember them.

He was called Levi. And they met some years ago. That was rather vague. He nodded at the name but felt the need to assure the man it was not his fault. “I’ve always been terrible at this. Even if you were to tell me I once saved your life, I might but have a vague memory of your face. Somehow, I just never seem to remember them.” He chuckled but he knew it was more out of embarrassment at this little confession. It was not something to be proud of, he knew it. And he was pretty sure he could remember someone he saved. Right? At least remember someone who’d remember him too. That would have required some medical care on his part as well no doubt. And he couldn’t be as bad as he said. He was to remember his brother’s face after all.

[Levi Alexander Wolfe]

Levi looked at his meal, it did look quite appetizing. He took a sip of his drink, before looking back at Jason. He gave a faint smile in response to Jason explaining how he wasn’t good with names or faces. He didn’t really care. There were plenty of people in this world, and now in this town. He didn’t expect him to remember someone from years ago.

“You didn’t save my life, but you did help me although you’d never know it. I helped you change a tire. It looked as though a tiger or something got its paws on the thing.” He said with a chuckle. He didn’t save his life. But at that time Levi had been going through some stuff, and whether it seems insignificant or not, Levi bumping into Jason that day helped him from making a huge mistake. Regardless if he couldn’t remember his face, the tire he’d have to remember. It was just so bizarre. Levi still wondered what exactly had happened.

Levi’s gaze was averted to the waitress that returned to Jason’s table. She had a plate with food on it that resembled what Jason ordered. The waitress looked confused when she saw the same plate on his table. Poor girl. “You switched our orders. We fixed it. But I’m sure he’ll be glad to accept a complimentary meal due to the confusion. I wouldn’t mind one as well.” He said giving the girl a smirk.

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Tag: Jason Campbell

[Jason Campbell]

Jason was sometimes tempted to make up a name whenever someone asked him if he remembered them. Aren’t you Luke from my biology class? And see them turn away as they understood this guy had no idea who they were. But that sounded a bit too cruel for his taste. He didn't want to chase them away, in fact he was hoping for a way to minimize their disappointment when it was clear that he couldn’t remember their face. That didn’t mean he could not remember them. He could very easily recall that funny guy from high school doing all sorts of funny things. He just could not remember his name. Or what he looked like exactly.

Apparently he didn’t save his life but helped him. That did not really narrowed down the list of people he knew. Helping without knowing it though, now that might scratch a few names. It was when he talked of the tire that he seemed to remember it. “Ah yes!” he let out as it came back to him. Believe it or not but he did not change a lot of tires in his life and even less with the thing being so torn apart you wondered what might have happened. “They maintained a pothole can do that,” he added. He seemed to recall a man who came to help him and listened to his rant. “And I’m the one who helped you? I’d say it’s more the other way around.”

He would have talked more but the waitress arrived with the meal he ordered. She must have told the cook she made a mistake and had him do this real quick. He felt sorry for her, when her mistake had been more easily resolved without her being around to notice it. Would she get in trouble if she returned it? Jason didn’t think he’d have the appetite to eat two of those. But he didn’t really want to cause her more problems than necessary. The other man decided for him, explaining the situation and what she could do about the extra sandwich. “You can leave it here,” he agreed in a somewhat mumbled tone. He could just bring it with him and eat it later if he couldn’t eat it now. He had almost forgotten about the fact the waitress went out to fix this. Scratch that, he had completely forgotten.

[Levi Alexander Wolfe]

Levi was pleased that Jason seemed to recall the incident. Although, he’d be a bit surprised if he didn’t. Not for Levi’s sake, but for the fact that his tire had been destroyed. “Oh, a pothole. Yes, that would make sense.” He said, glad there was a conclusion to that whole scenario. He gave a chuckle to the man’s comment. “You’d think so right? Maybe we can say we helped each other.” Levi didn’t want to explain what he had meant by that. Regardless if Jason knew or not, he helped him and that’s all that matter. Whether he would tell Jason why was a whole different story.

The local gave a smile to the struggling waitress. Poor girl. He watched as she scurried away, probably super embarrassed about the entire thing. He looked back at Jason who now had two plates on his table. “Now you got dinner too.” He said with a smirk. His eyes darted back to his own plate. He checked his watch realizing he needed to get going soon.

Taking another sip of his drink he looked back to Jason, “Enjoy your food man.” He looked back at his plate, lifting his sandwich it hovered by his mouth before looking yet again to Jason. “Maybe we can get drinks or something, sometime, if you’d want.” He offered. Why? He didn’t know. His gut told him Jason was a good guy, and what’s so wrong wanting to get to know a good guy?

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Tag: Jason Campbell

[Jason Campbell]

Now that Jason was able to recall the incident that led to the two of them meeting, he could better remember Levi. The man helped him out change his tire and endured his rant about those drivers who just don’t give a damn what is happening in front of them. It was not exactly the best way to meet someone new, and it definitely did not show the best side of the doctor, but he apparently managed to make good enough of an impression for the other man to remember him and not consider him as anything else but some whining man, who possibly looked older than his age no doubt. Although, if he looked in his forties it was not that far from his actual age. And Jason never bothered much about this. If he was caring what his image told people, he would bother to shave and dress more properly.

“Still, must have been some pothole,” he replied. It was a good thing there weren’t that many of those because the roads would look like they’d been bombarded or something. He still found it weird that he might have helped the man. They only put his spare tire on and talked a little while they did it. “You wouldn’t be the first to say I helped them but you’re probably the first I don’t know what I did to help,” he admitted. As a doctor and a healer, being told he healed someone made sense. He did not remember healing Levi however. And the man said nothing in this regard. He had no idea he could help in any other way.

He laughed about the fact he might just have scored his dinner. “That’ll spare me the burden of making one,” he agreed in the same tone. Jason was tempted to keep the conversation going, know what Levi had been doing during those years. At least know what his job was. Jason did consider the fact he might be non-powered if he had not seen him again in the three years in between their encounters. He had grown to become the go-to guy to any mutant in need of medical care, even when that was just a regular checkup. If he didn’t see him at the clinic...

He couldn’t think about this much longer because he was talking, suggesting they should meet and get a drink sometime. “Sure. Whenever you want,” he agreed. He wished he had some cards but any that might be distributed normally came with an appointment and it was the receptionist that delivered them.

[Levi Alexander Wolfe]

Levi let out a soft chuckle. “Let’s just hoped they patched it up.” Levi hadn’t been down that road in quite some time. He could only assume that it had been fixed by now. Otherwise people would have been complaining about destroyed tires. Maybe it was time to take a trip down memory lane. So many things had changed over the years. Levi felt better now, stronger even, not physically but mentally.

The local gave a smirk. “It doesn’t really matter.” He said waving his hand dismissively. He felt a bit bad for not throwing the guy a bone. He seemed confused as to how he could have helped. There was no way Levi was going to tell him that bumping into him gave him the distraction he needed before making a huge mistake. He didn’t need to know that and to be honest, Levi wanted to forget it.

“It’s always a plus when you don’t have to do your own cooking.” He said with a laugh, before taking a bite of his sandwich. He checked his watch real quick before realizing he needed to get going. He looked back at Jason when he agreed to his invitation. “Awesome.” Levi stood reaching into his pocket for his wallet. He left some bills on the table enough for his sandwich plus a generous tip for the distraught waitress. He downed what was left of his drink and wrapped his sandwich up with the napkins from the table.

With an extra napkin he scribbled down his number and left it on Jason’s table. “Let me know when you’re free. Enjoy your lunch and dinner.” He said before turning to leave, and with that he scurried out of the restaurant.

||END||

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Tag: Jason Campbell