Seven months later.

Ba-Binggg!

Mitchie smiled at Shane before sitting down. She had started to show up more frequent. As she sat down there was a piece of pie and a cup of coffee sitting in front of her. "Thanks." She said smiling as she automatically dug into the food. "You're here late… What happen?" Shane asked as he pointed out how she'd come at a specific time every time but was late today.

She smiled before shoving a medium sized bite in her mouth. "I was held up at home… Mom and Dad started to fight while some family was over…" She said swallowing. " I see… Did it get cleared up?" Shane asked as he washed down the counter near where she was sitting. It was that time of day were only a few people were in the diner enjoying the family friendly peace.

"Yeah… I also kept saying I had to go… but they wouldn't let me leave…" Mitchie pouted. Shane smiled as he walked back over. "You know… If you pout like that I'm sure you could have gotten out of a lot of things." He said laughing. Mitchie rolled her eyes. "Have you ever thought about making this into ice cream?" She asked looking at him curiously. He had been left to run the diner for a couple of weeks as the owners had been out of town taking care of some elderly family.

Shane shook his head. "Never thought of it… Why… Is it good ice cream form?" Shane asked as pulled his camera from under the counter. Mitchie had learned he was an aspiring photographer and was enrolled at the local college as a part time student. She grinned as she saw him pull the camera out and check the lens.

Mitchie laughed as she watched him push the lens back into the case but hold up the camera to shower a picture he had recently taken. He hadn't told her about how he caught her staring out into space with a hand playing with the opal pendent and the lost look on her face. He showed her it. "Oh. I look ugly in that. Please don't keep it." She said looking at the picture looking at her flaws. She could see the small scars on her wrist.

Shane looked at her incredulously. He couldn't believe what he heard. The most beautiful girl he's ever met thought she's ugly. "You aren't ugly." Shane said shaking his head. "I feel ugly… My family… The ones who are visiting called me a ugly skunk bag with bad clothing taste…." Mitchie said frowning now. She didn't really wanna talk about this with Shane. Not yet.

"They are jealous of your beauty Mitch. I hate to tell you but you are one of the most gorgeous women I've ever met." Shane said giving her a smile. She frowned again before taking a sip of her coffee. She didn't believe what he said but didn't protest to keep from fighting with him. He was to kind to loose as a friend yet.

She laughed bitterly. "That jerk broke my heart… a couple years back… I can't believe I'm still wearing this." She said pulling at the opal. "Wait. Please don't break it…" Shane said hoping to spare the rock's nonexistent life. "It looks beautiful on you." He smiled.

"How much is it?" Mitchie asked as she got up. She had to leave… She told them she'd be out for an hour or two… It was getting close to three and she had at least a mile to walk before getting home.

"On the house."

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