Chapter 10: Ache (For You)

Lulu was frozen. She was asleep, right? Or maybe she was seeing a mirage. Can you have those when you're not in the desert? It's a daydream. I'm looking into space and when I snap out of it he'll be gone. Wait; can you know you're daydreaming?

She watched him make his way over to her. He sat on a stool in front of her. Everything in the air was still, all the molecules were frozen, the atmosphere stiff. Not to mention the twenty pairs of eyes staring at her and him. Or she was imagining Yeah that was it.

"Um… to be honest I've never ate here before," he said looking at a menu. "What's good?"

He couldn't have known that it was one of their many places. He couldn't remember how his favorite was Mike's famous burger and a large order of fries with his coffee black and stocked with tons of sugar.

Wait there was no way she was dreaming. He was real. She struggled with her brain contemplating telling him she was busy and letting another waitress get his order. But something in her finally snapped.

She was a Spencer and Spencer's weren't afraid of their past.

"I recommend Mike's famous burger with some fries. It's my favorite."

"Sounds good. Can I get that to go?"

"Sure," she said somewhat disappointed. She was about to put the order up when he called out to her.

"Wait I also want to know what you would recommend for someone counting calories."

Had he met someone else already? Was Logan right? "I wouldn't know. I'm kind of like a garbage truck. I eat everything and don't care about calories."

"Tell me about it. I think it's so stupid. But I promised so…"

"Who's it for? Your girlfriend?"

"No, My sister. She says there's really good food here."

"Oh um… how about a salad? Do you know her favorite?" she asked trying not to smile at the good news.

"Caesar salad is her favorite. But maybe with a little dressing it won't be as fattening?"

"Sure. Coming right up." She went to the back and submitted the order. When she came back out Kelly's was deserted.

"It looks like the food has something wrong with it." She laughed. "Are you sure you want to get your order?"

"Oh I'm up for the challenge."

She laughed. He loved the sound she made. He loved how her eyes lit up. Her smile was infectious and somewhat familiar. How did he know her? Did he know her at all? His eyes fell upon her breasts, which are a great size, and then up her neck to a silver chain. On the chain was a beautiful medallion. It looked like Saint Joseph. It was familiar. He had seen it before… no his mother had the same necklace. She said it was from his church in Canada. She must have gotten one too.

He asked, "Where did you get that necklace from?"

She hesitated. Had he remembered something? "A friend of mine gave it to me to hold on to. I'm just keeping my promise and hoping he'll keep his."

"Well he's a lucky guy."

"Thank you."

"Anyway what's your name?"

"Order's up!" Mike hollered from the back.

"Hold that thought."

Lulu ran to get the order. Maybe he remembered… she rushed back to the front to see a huge crowd of people. She knew she needed to attend to them but she and Johnny were just starting to connect again and she didn't want to stop.

She went to hand him the bag. "There you go."

"Thanks. So… Your name?"

"Um excuse me? Could we get some service please?" A man demanded.

"One second," Lulu said closing her eyes squeezing shut in frustration.

"Instead of flirting with that guy maybe you should take our orders so we don't take our money elsewhere." The woman next to him said haughtily.

Then Johnny's phone rang. "Listen you're obviously busy and I'd better go get my sister this food. But I'll stop by here soon. I've heard the coffee is amazing here."

Lulu laughed. Whether he could remember or not. He was still Johnny. "It is!"

He walked out of the door with a smile. He got into his car. Where had he heard about the coffee? Claudia didn't drink coffee, she drank alcohol. He sat in his car for a while thinking it over. After thinking for five minutes he brushed it off. "I must have heard someone say it while I was passing them on the street." He muttered to himself. But he couldn't shake the feeling.

- - -

Lulu couldn't be happier. Although their talk was cut short she had noticed they still had a connection. She rejoiced in the fact that he didn't have a girlfriend. They still had a chance.

She looked down at the necklace around her neck. She kissed it softly and went back to work. Knowing how rude these people were, it was going to be hard to resist spitting in their food.