Meet Me Halfway

The diner I worked at made me wear short shorts, and ride around in rollerblades. During the Spring and Summer, we opened the patio, and let people eat out there. The diner wasn't big, nor small. It was cozy, the type of joint you'd come back to for the hospitality and kindness of the workers. Inside, the walls were covered with old, 'vintage' pictures. Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elvis Presley, Judy Garland as Dorothy, whatever. The floors were checkered, and red/white. We were famous for our shakes, malts, and french fries. When the diner started back in 1956, that was the only thing sold. All of the kids hung out there, and whatnot. Cherry, Ohio was famous for this.

The diner was slammed busy one Autumn night. The door's bell kept dinging, the amount of food being slapped on the grill, and put in the grease, was overwhelming. I was used to this and simply carried the food as if it didn't matter.

It was around 8:00, and I was carrying a basket of fries to a table in my section. It was a couple, college maybe high school aged. The guy was redhead, with a missing bottom tooth. He was wearing a trucker hat backwards, with a 'Bud Light' shirt. He had a sun crisped arm around his blonde girlfriend, laughing to her.

I set the fries down in the center of the table, and put my hands on my hips. I made sure my legs were parted, so I wouldn't fall. It was a trick I learned after the two years I worked at the diner. "Are you guys ready to order?" I asked, looking at the two.

The guy unwrapped his arm around the woman's shoulder, and leaned into the table. Menu in hands, he skimmed it for a quick second before nodding. "Yeah. I'll have a Mac's Famous Burger with a potato."

"Baked?" I asked, memorizing his order. Another trick I picked up.

He rolled his eyes, as if he couldn't believe me. "Mashed, sweetheart."

"And for you miss?" I turned to the blonde, not wanting to get my temper up.

She smiled, looking at the menu. "Um... I would like an egg, and bacon."

"Any toast?"

"White."

I remembered it, and noticed that the guy's coke was almost empty. I skated back to the kitchen, and approached Benny, the chef.

"White bread, one egg, bacon, and a Mac burger," I told him, watching him flip a patty.

He looked at me, sweat rising on his forehead. I noticed how warm the kitchen was, and I slid out.

I grabbed a plastic cup, and put it near the faucet. I turned it on, watching the brown liquid pour quickly. I waited until it was near the top to skate back out.

The door ringed yet again. I hoped it was just people leaving, because I didn't see any empty booths, or seats at the bar.

"Yes, mom. I took a shower," a voice said awful close to me. I watched him out of the corner of my eye. He was tall, and his back was to me. The hostess, Gale, was bringing him and a lady (what I thought was his mother) to a table. She was walking around me, bringing them to the table next to the hillbilly's.

I approached the table, Coke still in hand, the same time he turned around. He ran into my chest, the soda spilling over my uniform.

"Shit," I hissed, backing away from him. "This is white, and I still have two hours left."

The mother groaned behind me. "Look what you did, Jack. I look away for two seconds, and this happens. Do I even want to know what happens while you're touring?" she had an accent. It sounded middle eastern.

I looked up at this Jack figure, with a frown. I half expected him to be laughing, but he wasn't. His face was purely embarrassment.

"I-I'm sorry," he stuttered out, looking me in the eyes.

A moment like that, it hadn't happened before. It was like my heart dropped, something clicked, and the world around the two of us darkened. Like one of those cheesy romance movies, I felt like hearts were in my eyes. I don't know what it was. Love at first sight? No. This dude knocked a Coke all over me. I barely knew him. I didn't know him.

I had to remind myself that I was at work, and there was people around. I popped the invisible bubbble around the two of us, and looked down. "It's fine." I said flatly.

"Jack, come sit down." his mother called from the table.

I looked up and he was still looking at me. Instead of embarrassment glued on his long face, it was confusion. As if he didn't know what just happened. Or maybe I had something on my face.

I touched my chin, worried I did.

A second later, he stumbled to his table.

"I'll get your Coke," I said quietly to the dude.

After the spill, I went to his table. I got their order, but beside serving them, I avoided him as possible. He made me feel uncomfortable, and I didn't like it.

They left with a $15 dollar tip for a $25 bill.

I got home late due to traffic. My sister was sleeping, but my parents seemed to be up. They were watching 20/20, snuggled up against one another.

"How was work?" my mom asked, once I got through the door.

"Fine." I mumbled, locking the door.

"Just fine? You told your boss you're going to be gone tomorrow, right?"

I turned to her, furrowing my eyebrows. "For what?"

"The wedding, Macy," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, right," I winced. I wasn't looking forward to that.

"So did you?"

"No, but I'll call or something tomorrow," I sighed. "I'm going to sleep."

Saying I didn't think about the guy, Jack I think, that night would be a lie. He was all I was thinking about. I didn't know if I would be seeing him again. To be honest, I really wanted to actually meet him. He was cute, and from a distance, seemed like a really nice dude.

Deep down, though, I knew that that wasn't the last, and only time I'd see him.

Notes

rewrite
idk stick around i guess it'll get better