“Here you go…” I paused, hoping to create an awkward silence to get your name.
I succeeded as I slid the plate and cup on the table as you quipped, “Myles.” I wiped my hands on my apron, trying to get rid of the clamminess on my skin. I sighed and turned around, disappointed to move on to other tables before you spoke up once more. “So, why this small town?” You only whispered it, I almost thought I imagined it before you repeated yourself, a smug look on your face as you shoveled some of the disgusting pie into your mouth.
“Why this town?” I repeated, flipping the loose strands of hair away from my face, needing some relief from your unrelenting stare. You nodded and took a large gulp of coke. I leaned on the edge of the booth, sighing. “My family lives here.”
You set your Coke down and wiped your mouth. “Is that the only reason?” I was about to speak up before you added, “Other than this shit ball job?”
I remained silent, not wanting to give out too much information about myself when you hadn’t given me anything but your name. Noticing I wasn’t going to say anything else you piped up, “How about I tell you a little bit about myself first?”
I must’ve looked a little hesitant because you added, “I promise I won’t bore you to death if that’s what you’re worried about.” You smirked.
“Alright, alright. But as soon as you get boring, I’m leaving.” I chuckled and lowered myself down into the booth, facing you directly as I crossed my legs underneath the table.
“Deal.” You said simply.
“So, why are you here in Riverbrook?” I asked.
You chuckled. “I was waiting for you to turn that back onto me. I don’t know really…” You rubbed your forehead and clicked your tongue. “It’s peaceful here. Nobody is begging for my attention and I get to sit and relax for hours while eating some pie.” You leaned forward in the booth, a playful look in your eyes.
I shook my head and leaned forward on the table as well. “So, what are you writing?” Your eyes widened, the playful look dissipating a little as you stared at me.
“That transparent, huh?” You clutched the notebook a little tighter as if I would try to grab it from you.
“Why else would you be here at 4 a.m.? I know it’s not for the pie, I’ve had it before.” I stared at the pie in disgust, surprised you’ve been able to scarf them down for the past few weeks.
You smirked once more, setting the plate to the side. “Got me there.”
“Stop deflecting, what are you writing?” You sighed, running a hand through your dark brown hair. “Lemme guess, you’re gonna give me the shitty run-of-the-mill answer of how inspiration hits at night, aren’t you?”
Your eyes widened and you grabbed a hold of your notebook a little tighter.
I shrugged. “We get a few writers like you from time to time.”
“Seems you know more about me than I thought.” You replied and crossed your arms over your chest. “But you’re right it does. I like visiting little towns and documenting them, you learn a lot from people in their element.” You pointed to the new parents. “They’ve been here for the past few weeks, trying to soothe their hellion of a baby. While that group of teenage boys have nothing else to do but stuff themselves with food and get attention here that they don’t get at school or at home. But you probably already knew that.” You run a hand through your hair again, moving the straggly, greasy pieces to the side as you continued, “But, like those kids, we always want to make something out of nothing. Whether it’s a sideways glance, a smirk, or a prolonged stare. Anything to make us feel better about ourselves.”
I felt bold and asked, “Is that what’s happening here?
You wasted no time in responding. “Surprisingly no. At first, I came here to do that.” You paused, trying to give me some suspense as you gazed at me, your long eyelashes seemingly making it hard to blink as it felt like you were looking into my soul. “And then I noticed that your shifts were during this time.”
I felt heat rush to my face once again. “So, why do you keep taking this shitty shift?”
“I don’t have to deal with as many people, easy work that helps clear my mind.” You nodded knowingly.
“You know you got a lot going for you. More than just working nights here.”
I shifted in my seat, not realizing you would be switching gears and getting more personal so fast. I ignored you and instead asked, “So, is this all you do? Stalk some people in the early hours of the morning and jot things down about them in that little notebook of yours?”
“Most of it yeah, I’m not really busy otherwise.”
“What does it say about me?” You humored me and flipped the pages nonchalantly, landing on a random page and putting your finger there, pretending to read.
“Well, it says that you’re perceptive, despite the fact that you didn’t notice why I kept coming in every night. You are kind and smart, way too smart to be stuck in this little town. Obviously beautiful, seeing as the other waitresses don’t hold a candle to you, even if you were too shy to come around and talk to me. But you don’t need my notebook telling you all that.”
“Do you write about other people?” I asked, wondering if he’s done this act on other people too.
“You’re not the only person that I write about, but you were the one that kept popping up on these pages.” You shrugged and gave a lazy smile.
“Is that really what it says?” I rolled my eyes teasingly.
You shrugged, the smirk on your face growing. “Sums it up for the most part. This is all I have about you, but I was hoping to learn more.” You sit up and click your pen, flipping to a blank page before settling your eyes back on me. “So, tell me more.”
I breathed out, trying to calm my nerves. “What do you want to know?”
“Whatever you want to tell me.” You winked.
I exhaled slowly. “Alright, well I’m the oldest of four siblings. My mom works during the day while I work at night so there’s always someone there to watch them.” I paused, and you looked up with a silent plea in your eyes urging me to go on. “And I took this job to save up for community college so that I can transfer into an art school in New York later.”
You closed your notebook, giving me no time to see what you scribbled in there. “I am also the oldest, and I’ve got two younger sisters. Grew up in Alaska but moved here a few weeks ago because I was tired of the cold winters. I graduated from college a few months ago and I’m going on the typical post-graduate quest of figuring out what the hell I want to do with my life.” I nodded, and now looking at your sunburned skin and the fact that you’ve been wearing long-sleeved shirts despite it being mid-July, that made sense.
“So, what do you do besides lounge around in your hotel room?”
“Well, as you’ve said yourself, this town is somewhat boring.” You chuckled before continuing, “But I checked out the bookstore and record place, but I’ve been circling around those places for the past few days and I’m not sure where else to go.”
“Maybe I can show you around town sometime and take you to places other than the bookstore and record shop.”
“I’d like that.” You grinned and glanced down at your watch before saying, “Looks like I took too much of your time, doesn’t your shift end now?”
I narrowed my eyes and glanced over towards the window; the sunrise peaked through the streaky windows. I focused my gaze back on you, the glow from the orange sun burning in your brown irises, making them look lighter than they’ve ever been.
That was the quickest my shift has ever been. Most of the time I stand in the back, my feet aching as I’d scroll through my phone and my coworkers would sneak outside and smoke weed, reeking of it when they’d come back. Or I’d have to humor small talk with the other waitresses who cared less about the job than I did, not giving me the chance to talk as they were also too absorbed with themselves. Now you, Myles, a stranger turned friend? Not sure how you will turn out. You offered me more in one night than I have had over the past two years working here. I tucked some hair behind my ear, feeling lighter than I have in years, wishing I talked to you earlier and not suffered through the last few weeks like I had been.
A smile grew on your face as you stared back at me, closing your notebook back up before gathering the rest of your things. “No sense of wasting any more time here, wanna head out?” Your eyes flicked over to the dwindling people around us as you scooted out of the booth, taking my hand as I ripped off my apron. I hung it on one of the hooks in the breakroom, and Gerry, who was also getting his things ready to leave, turned to me and said, “Make sure to tell him we’re out of apple pie tonight. He’s gonna have to settle for cherry.”
“I’ll make sure to tell him. Thanks, Gerry. See you later tonight?” I asked, and he nodded. I returned back to your table to see you leaning against it, your shirt damp from the sweat pooled underneath it.
“Ready to go?” You asked, moving to open the door for me.
I walked through and spun back towards you, “I think I know of a few places we can go.”
Thank you!🩶 And is there a part 3, or…?🙂