Slider's Diner. A little corner burger joint located 2 blocks from the hotel. It was a short walk, filled with homeless individuals, dressed in rags, begging for change at every corner. Nick and Joe agreed to finding Slider's since Nick looked up 'Burger Joints in San Francisco' on his iPhone. Thankfully, it was very close in walking distance.
The interior of the restaurant was black and silver, sort of an old-fashioned theme. I liked it, but Nick and Joe loved it. Anywhere that sold hamburgers was the home away from home to the Lucas boys. I, being a strict vegetarian, ordered a grilled cheese with a side of potato salad. I ate cheese a lot, actually, grilled cheese sandwiches were what I always ordered when I went out somewhere. I couldn't cut myself of the habit, I absolutely love cheese. Therefore, I am definitely not a vegan.
Joe and Nick, on the other hand, both ordered King Kong sized cheeseburgers. Seriously, these boys are going to clog them up an artery eating the way they do. On Nick's, extra pickles, tomato, spread sauce, which was really just Thousand Island dressing, lettuce, and mustard. On Joe's burger, pickles, tomatoes, spread, lettuce, mustard, and onion. Joe really loved his onion.
"Wanna take a window seat?" Nick nodded over to barstools set up next to the window, a ledge sticking out of the wall to set food and drinks.
"Sure." I grabbed my grilled cheese meal and bottled water and headed towards the barstools. In this restaurant there were barstools, only a handful, which weren't being occupied at all, and then there were tables and chairs, which were occupied being by what seemed to be a girl taking a break off of work.
She was small framed, like myself, with long blonde hair, straightened. She sat with her legs folded, her chin resting on her left arm, as that rested upon the table. She sat there, alone, eating French fries, dipping them into ranch. She wore a blank stare and she looked either miserable or exhausted, I really couldn't tell. But leave it to Joe to sit in the barstool nearest to the only other girl in the room.
"Hi." Joe smiled down, across to the girl eating her French fries. "I'm Joe." He was showing his flirty, half smirk. Nick and I ignored Joe's attempt of being flirtatious and we began eating, we were so used to Joe's sense of humor and attitude.
"Are you here alone? Or is your guest in the bathroom?" Joe spoke again, trying to crack a joke towards the girl who seemed to not notice the tall, dark, and dorky Joe Lucas at all. "Excuse me? Miss?"
"Hmm?" She titled her head to the side, her arm dropping out from under her chin. "Oh sorry." She turned to look at Joe. She looked frightened, somewhat startled. "Sorry, I'm just a bit tired. I'm a little out of it."
"Do you work here?" Joe looked down at her uniform like apparel.
"Oh, no. I work down the street, at a coffee shop. I have had a really long day, I just got off. I have been working 4am." She picked another fry up, dipping it in her ranch dressing and popping it in her mouth.
"Wow. That's early, and that's around the same time I've been on the go." Joe nodded, just now unwrapping his burger from the paper it came in. "I just got into the city. I'm from New Jersey." He smiled, taking a bite of his burger. Joe was sitting, instead of facing the window like Nick and I were, facing the girl, behind us.
"You travel?" She asked, her face starting to look interested. I couldn't help but watch from out of the corner of my eye, this was intriguing for some reason.
"Yeah. I'm a part of a band. You might have heard of it. It's called JONAS." He nodded, an attempt to be smooth. "My brothers and I are in it, we have a show tomorrow at the Aquarium on Pier 39." That was Nick's cue to bring himself into the conversation.
"Hey there, I'm Nick." He turned slightly in his barstool and nodded towards the girl. Nicholas wasn't much of a talker when he was eating, so he spun himself back to the attention of his burger.
"I'm Macy." I smiled, offering myself into the conversation. I turned my body around like Joe had his and looked down at the girl. "I'm traveling with the band."
"Kevin, the guitarist for the band is back at the hotel. We are staying a few blocks up." Joe smiled, taking over the conversation again.
"Oh, that's nice. I have heard of you guys." The young girl smiled. I couldn't figure out her exact age, but I could tell she was around my age. "My name is Natalie by the way. It's really nice to meet you guys." She giggled a little. "I mean, guys and girl."
Obviously, this girl had a sense of humor. I laughed with her, as well as Joe.
"Well, I should get going. I live a little while from here so I should head off before I fall asleep." Natalie stood up from her chair, grabbing her purse, tray, and pushing in her chair.
I smiled at her, now noticing that she was most likely my height, 5'1 or so, which is relatively short.
Joe stood up along with her. "Oh, are you sure? I could get you a ride back to your place if you would like?" he offered. He was still attempting to flirt with her.
"No, thank you. I need the exercise. It was nice to meet you Nick." She smiled over at him. Quickly, not wanting to be rude, he turned to look at her, his mouth full of burger, he waved. "Macy." She smiled at me, nodding slightly. "It was nice to meet you."
"It was nice to meet you too Natalie." I smiled, giving her a friendly wave.
"And.." Natalie paused when she looked at Joe. She obviously didn't know his name. Low blow for a guy who just tried for minutes to hit on her.
"Joe…" Joe said, in a sort of a 'duh' voice. That pissed him off, I could tell.
"Joe." Natalie smiled. "It was nice to meet you all." She began to walk towards the door, dumping her trash in the trash can and setting her tray on the top.
"Hey Natalie." Joe followed her to the door. "Our concert is at noon tomorrow, if you would like to come. It's going to be at the aquarium on Pier 39." He was now repeating his words. "If you would like to come? I mean, if you don't have work or aren't busy."
Natalies' smile seemed very friendly, I liked that about her. "Yeah, I will see if I can make it." She smiled and walked out the door swiftly. Most girls would trade phone numbers with Joe or give him a wink. Natalie was different; she didn't even flirt with him. That amazed me.
Joe walked back to his barstool and smiled over at Nick and I. "That girl right there, she is hot!" He winked and took another bite of his burger.
