Jasper
I stand for a moment just looking at her, she has dark hair and kind eyes. Her hand still on my arm is soft. With some embarrassment I realize I've been staring, she must have sensed my anxiety.
"Let me help you." She holds my arm tight and smiles at me. She is so sweet and sincere, I can't refuse. I nod still shocked by her kindness and she guides me as I carefully limp to the booth in the back.
I sit down gratefully and struggle to get out of my rain soaked jacket. I notice when I look up that she has disappeared back the way she'd come and I find myself disappointed that she has gone.
I berate myself for thinking that she would stay. I know one act of kindness doesn't mean she wants anything to do with me. Still I can't help my disappointment she was so pretty and it had been so long since I'd talked to a pretty girl.
I was popular once. When I was in school a million years ago. Everyone had liked me.
I dig through my pockets trying to see what kind of change I can find. Someone comes up behind me and I panic a bit, I really sat in the wrong seat. I hate sitting with my back to the door.
I figure it must be the waitress coming to take my order. I haven't seen a menu yet but I doubt I can afford anything more than a cup of coffee.
To my amazement it isn't a waitress, it's my angel. She slides into the seat opposite me with ease like we're old friends and sets her cup of coffee down on the table.
"I'm Alice." She holds out her hand and without thinking I take it. She smiles at me again.
She has the prettiest smile.
Alice
He shakes my hand and then pulls his hand back nervously tugging at the cuffs of his shirt sleeves, like he is hoping he can pull them down further then they'll go. Then he glances back up at me tentatively.
"What's your name?" I prompt him hoping my smile will make him feel less uncomfortable.
"Oh hum, Jack...I mean Jasper." He smiles shyly back at me. He has a nice smile and he is so young. I'm surprised. He can't be much older than my sixteen years, despite the army coat he's wearing. I know it's rude to stare but I can't take my eyes off of him. He is beautiful, just looking at him makes my heart beat faster.
"It's nice to meet you Jasper. I had a feeling I was supposed to be here today for something. You must be that something. You sure kept me waiting a long time." Honestly I mean every word of what I said no matter how crazy it sounds, I just have feelings about things.
He looks at me kinda strange but the look fades and he smiles again. Oh his smile make me smile it is so infectious.
"Well then I'm sorry ma'am for keeping you waiting." He looks sort of bashful at me. I find the look extremely charming.
The waitress finally makes her way back to the back booth where we sit.
"What'll it be?" I see the uncertain look in Jasper's eyes as he digs in his pockets again. He pulls out about sixty cents.
He looks hungry to me so I'm surprised when he orders "Cup of coffee."dejectedly. The waitress takes no chances she collects his money then and there.
In the spur of the moment I know what I want to do. I dig into my pocket and pulled out all the money I have, about two dollars. "And a piece of pie please." I announce boldly to the waitress.
"What kind?" She asked rather callously.
"What kind do you like?" I ask Jasper. He seems totally shocked by this and proceeds to stutter.
"Aapple?" It's a question but I know what he means.
"A piece of apple pie, please." I tell the woman and hand over my money. "And two forks if you don't mind."
She rolls her eyes. She has no doubt realized we can't afford to tip her.
I turn back to the young soldier that sits across from me. He looks even more uncomfortable, if that is possible, since I've ordered the pie for us to share.
I'm certain that he won't refuse it when it comes. He may be a gentleman but he's still hungry.
"Wow it's really raining out there." I make small talk, just to break the ice.
"I think I got caught in the worst of it. That's why I came in, to get out of the rain." I knew that was why. We both knew he wouldn't have come into the diner if it had not been raining, he didn't have the money to pay for anything on the menu. I knew the smell of the diner was torture when you're hungry and can't order anything.
The waitress came back and unceremoniously set his coffee and our pie down on the table and was gone just as fast as she had come.
He glances at the pie and then down at his black coffee. I pick up one fork and held out the other to him. "Well, dig in."
"I..." He starts to protest but his stomach gets the better of him and he relents, like I knew he would, accepting my offer.
For all her perceived grouchiness the waitress gave us a nice large piece of pie. Maybe the next time I'm around this way, if I have some money, I'll stop in and give her a nice tip.
We eat the pie in silence. There are no words needed. We are both hungry and it tastes like the nicest thing I've ever eaten. He obviously is enjoying it as well though he doesn't take his fair share. I guess chivalry isn't dead.
"Thank you." He says as he put his fork down, yielding the last piece of crust to me.
"My pleasure." I assure him and smile. He looked like he needed both the pie and a smile.
Jasper
The pie went fast. It was wonderful while it lasted. I don't know if eating it was the best thing to do. I swear I feel hungrier now that it's gone.
I'm still cold from the rain and I rest my hands around my coffee cup, enjoying its warmth.
I can't believe I was sitting in a booth with such a pretty young lady. I notice sadly she seems to be nearly as down on her luck as I am.
"Where are you from?" She asks abruptly after setting her coffee cup down. "It's just I noticed you've got an accent, Southern right?"
I nod. "Yes, I'm from Texas." I sat up a little straighter. I miss Texas. I know I can't go home.
"I've never been to Texas, is it nice? I've heard…what do they say? Oh 'everything's bigger in Texas'" I chuckled a little I haven't heard that it what seemed like years.
"It's a nice place. Are you from here?" I ask just as curious about her as she seems to be about me.
"No not originally, I've been a little bit of all over." She smiled coyly. She was a mystery.
It got late and I didn't even realize it. I was so engulfed in her, the way she smiled, the way she giggled, the way she talked excitedly about everything and nothing.
The rain had stopped by the time they kicked us out. We are the last customers to leave and the only people on the sidewalk when we get outside.
"I hate the cold." She says as we stand in the glow of the street lights.
I know this is the end. No doubt she will say her goodbyes here and I will be left with only the memory of this funny little angel.
Suddenly without warning her fingers wrap around mine.
TBC...