The diner was buzzing with noise as the boys sipped on cokes. Chris's eyes were glued to the new waitress. She was balancing a tray on one wobbly hand as she set down a plate of burgers for an elderly couple. She clutched the tray with both hands as she walked away. "See anything interesting?" Gordie said with a tone of amusement. "Yeah, those bazooms." Teddy laughed his signature laugh. She had what people called a womanly curve. Not too slim. It wasn't her body that Chris was look at though; it was her smile. The way she greeted the customers with the warmest smile in Castle Rock. "What can I say?" Chris sighed. "I know a pretty girl when I see one."
A fist pounded on a booth table, ripping through the boys' conversation. Across the dinner, Ace sat with the rest of the Cobra's. "Can I get a little…service?" Ace said airily. She rolled her eyes and snatched the order pad from her pocket as she walked over. "Aren't you bored of this place yet?" she sighed. "Definitely not bored of the fresh meat they have working here," he said fondling her apron strings. Jerking away, she let out a long drawn out sign. "What do you want? …To order that is." He smiled up at her and flipped through a menu. "Four cokes….Faye,' he said reading her name tag. "Fine. Four cokes." She walked to the counter, cramming the order pad into her pocket. "Awful prissy for such a cow," Billy muttered. Ace reached over and smacked the side of his head. But the damage was done. She turned towards the hallway and ducked inside the ladies' room.
"What an asshole," Gordie Muttered as his eyes met Chris's. Vern fiddled with his straw as he chuckled. "Yeah, but it sure was cool to see Billy get smacked." Silence fell over the table as Vern took a sip of his drink awkwardly. "Real class act if you ask me. I may be Chambers trash. But even I know you don't treat the ladies like that. Anyways, I gotta take a leak. Be right back." He shoved out of the booth as Teddy muttered, "Riiiight." Chris heard Teddy's laugh break out as he walked slowly to the bathrooms. He'll admit, his plan wasn't brilliant. He didn't really have a plan. Before he could formulate one he ran smack dab into the new waitress. "Oh, miss, I'm so sorry. Are you alright?" Her eyes were glassy from fresh tears. "I'm only 16. You don't need to 'miss,' me," she said forcing a laugh. "16? Me too. I'm Chris by the way," he said extending his hand. Enclosing hers in a warm handshake she smiled. "I'm Faye, I just moved here" she said biting her lip. "It's real nice to meet you, Chris." "Faye," He breathed, "That's a really pretty name."
Chris's heart pounded as she shook her head and smiled again. "I-I better get back to work. Lot of hungry folks out there" Before she turned away, Chris put a hand on her shoulder gently. "Hey Faye? Don't let those guys get to you. Nothing better to do than bother a pretty girl at work." Her shoulders relaxed under is gentle grip before breaking away and glancing back. "Thank you, Chris. Really." She disappeared into the masses of chairs and booths.
Chris grinned to himself before making his way back to his seat. Sinking back into the booth quietly, Teddy spoke up. "Man, that was some piss. About to send a search party after ya!" Giggles broke out across the table. "I take it you ran into the waitress?" Gordie asked. "Faye. Her name is Faye. And yeah, I did." He said before taking a swig out of his coke. "And?" Gordie said with raised eyebrows. "She's…too good for those morons." He said glancing at the Cobras. Ace had a firm grip on his coke as he locked eyes with Chris. Even from across the diner, there was tension. Even 3 years after that day, Ace hated the gang. Chris especially. Ace smirked at Chris and rejoined the Cobra's conversation. "What a joke." Chris mumbled shaking his head.
"Tell me something I don't know," Gordie replied as he glanced at the counter. Gordie's brows furrowed together inquisitively as Faye walked over clutching a trace of ice cream Sundays. "Someone bought you fella's some ice cream," she said eyeing Chris quickly. "Is that someone trying to get fresh with me?" Teddy said sliding down his glasses in an air of mock seduction. She plopped his ice cream down with a clank causing Teddy to jump. Humbling him a bit. "Don't hold your breath pal, you may die," Faye said with a wink. "Yeah, Teddy. Shut up." Gordie said before plucking the cherry off his Sunday. "Gee Thanks Miss!" Vern said gleefully as he dug out a huge spoon full. "You're very welcome" she said placing Chris's down. "But the name's Faye."
"Oh, we know." Teddy said through a mouth full of whipped cream. "Chris told us." Chris had a half mind to sock Teddy when we left. He quickly said, "Yeah! I told them you were new. How're you liking Castlerock?" She laughed and held the tray to her chest. "Well, I just moved here a few weeks ago from Kansas. Just waitressing for the summer and weekends." There was another call for service from the table of rowdy Cobras. She closed her eyes and whispered to herself.
"What?" Chris said with a curious smile. "OH! Uh, it's nothing. I mean, it's silly really. Water off a duck's back," she said fidgeting nervously. "What's that?" Chris said in a tone of amusement. She laughed and sighed. "My grandma used to say it when I was little. 'Let it roll off like water off a ducks back.'" A blush crept onto her cheeks and she smiled to herself.
"Faye!" Ace called out arrogantly. "We need another round of Cokes over here."
She sighed and mouthed those same words as she turned towards the table across the diner. Chris watched; admiring the way she moved gracefully across the room.
"And you guys thought I was weird," Teddy laughed to himself.
"Oh Teddy," Chris said smugly, "She couldn't even compete against your brand of weird."
"Yeah! Atleast she's nice," Vern pipped up with ice cream ringed lips.
Teddy snatched the cherry off of his own Sunday and tossed it at Vern; hitting him square in the head.
Laughter rang out across the table and they settled into the rhythm of their usual conversations.
