C3: Breakfast at Denny's

"Hey," Anders nodded his head in a polite greeting. As he waited for her to respond, he couldn't help but think how different she looked compared to their first meeting.

No heels or dress, but simple jeans, a plain black T-shirt, dirty trainers and her hair pulled back into a loose ponytail, with most of her curls escaping. She still looked pretty, even with the slightly perplexed look on her face.

Anders hadn't realised he was staring until she gave him a 'you're being a little odd' look.

"Sorry, um," he hoped she did actually remember him and placed his hand on his heart, "I'm Anders-"

"I remember," she interrupted and he felt relieved.

"And Den, right?" He pointed a finger at her and although he made it into the form of a question, he knew very well her name was Den.

She seemed impressed though and nodded.

"Good memory."

For the first time in his life, Anders wasn't sure what to say. He had all the lines and all his past confidence had garnered him the ability to speak to women easily, but...he couldn't think of anything. He thought of the first thing that came to his mind and looked back up at the sky.

"Looks like good weather today."

'Are you fucking kidding me?!' His own voice sounded back at him and he could have cringed. He looked back down to Den's face to see her glancing up above her as well.

"Yeah, sunny all day but not too hot," she looked back down at him with an amused smile and he had a feeling she was silently laughing at him.

"That's good," he nodded and tried to stop himself sounding like an idiot, "good weather. Means it'll be a...good day."

Den could see him struggling and despite herself, a wide smile spread across her face. Anders felt like his day had already improved, his nightmares long forgotten as he looked at her.

"Well," she took a step backward and looked regretful as she said, "I've got to finish my work and-"

"Oh, you work here?"

'She just said that you moron,' Anders couldn't believe how flustered. He'd talked to hundreds of women before, how was she making him feel like an awkward teenager?!

"Yes...I think I told you that when we first met," Den had a curious gleam in her eye and Anders had a horrible thought that SHE was thinking he'd purposefully come to find her. But he recalled their conversation and saved himself.

"Well, you mentioned it. You didn't say anything about working here, technically," he looked around himself and pointed with his thumb over his shoulder, "I um-I got a bit lost."

"Oh...well, if you take one right and two lefts, you'll find yourself on Kennedy road. Though, I'd avoid the bakery that's opening now. They say their stuff is fresh, but I doubt it," Den had a cheeky tone and Anders would happily follow any advice she gave him. But he really didn't want to stop talking to her.

"But you work here?"

'Stop repeating yourself!'

"Yes," Den nodded and looked a little proud when she added, "it's my bar."

"Wow," Anders was actually impressed and turned to look at the building, "does it have a speciality?"

"Not Wine," Den chimed, remembering how he'd asked her about Dionysus, "good food, good ale and great music."

Anders looked it over. He knew he should end the conversation here and let her get on with her day, but now he was curious. He had gotten straight up and jogged all that time...and he WAS starting to get hungry.

"What time do you open?" He looked at Den and watched as she checked her watch.

"Just under two hours. That's why I have to get back and finish off cleaning before we start the breakfast special for the regulars."

"What's the special?"

Den looked at him with a curious expression. She wasn't frustrated that he was keeping her, just...curious as to why he was there.

"Well, it's a full Scottish one."

"Scottish?"

'Yes, she's Scottish. Just let Axl punch you after he's had one too many energy drinks.'

"Yeah, pretty much like an English one except," she took a step closer and dramatically whispered, "better."

Anders couldn't help but smirk at her confidence. Den was momentarily thrown off by his smile.

"I-I have to go-"

'Just say something smart and keep talking!'

"I'd like to try this. You say you open in two hours?"

"Yes."

"If I pay double...do you think you'd let me sit in and wait for it?" He gave her a beseeching smile and hoped he didn't sound creepy.

"What...now?"

"Yeah," he took a cautious, confident step towards her, "I've got nowhere to be right now...plus, I like the sound of this breakfast."

Den didn't seem put off by him, just cocked her brow.

"Do you even know what a Scottish breakfast consists of?"

"Eggs, bacon, sausages, toast-"

"Ahah! But that's just the boring stuff," she stepped toward him and Anders saw the spark come to life in her eye as she began to explain, "the bacon AND the sausages are a specialty. Lorn sausages and black pudding, specially imported."

Anders was listening to her, but he was also looking at her face. The way her cheek and chin were streaked with dirt and grime from her cleaning. She was actually very cute.

'Cute? Jesus fucking Christ.'

"Oh?" He leaned in almost close enough to touch her and smiled, "And the other stuff?"

She paused for a moment, looking him up and down. She didn't know this man. She'd only spoken to him for about 15 minutes and then he turned up in front of her place of work by coincidence?

It was strange and suspicious, and normally, she would have decked him and called the police.

But...there was something trustworthy about him. He wouldn't hurt her, she knew that. How? No idea.

But she really wanted to talk with him some more.

"Double you say?"

He nodded and she nodded at him.

"All right. I don't usually do this, but...if you don't mind waiting until I've finished cleaning, I'll cook you up the first batch."

Anders readily agreed and followed her as she led the way around the back. He was led through an immaculately clean, but small kitchen and into what he assumed was the main bar area. He'd been in plenty of pubs before with his mates, but he really liked the look of this one. It was traditional, classy and it didn't smell like the other pubs he visited. Den actually seemed to take pride in her business.

The photos on the walls caught his eye and he stopped to gaze at them, surprised when he didn't find any sports pictures or memorabilia.

Instead, there were a large variety of faces, some groups with over 20 people and others with a few happy faces.

Den grabbed her cleaning supplies and held out a pair of rubber marigolds to him.

"Friends?" He inquired as he took them.

"Customers. Patrons...friends...family. If you notice, no one is in the same picture twice. Some people moved on," Anders noticed how sad she sounded when describing her friends, "some we lost but...well, when a large group gets together here, they make memories and they go on the wall."

Anders watched her bustle about as she polished the table and realised he still had the marigold in his hands.

'Wait, does she expect me to help her clean?'

"So...what can I do to help?"

'Wait, why am I offering?'

'Because you've probably put her out!'

Where had THAT voice come from?

Den looked up and must have realised she hadn't actually told him what to do.

"Oh...I'm nearly done here, but you could use the cloth to wipe down the photos," she tried to hide her smile as she looked away, "and the gloves are for your manicure. Didn't want you ruining your nails."

Anders couldn't help but laugh. He liked her wit and he technically HAD been getting his nails seen to. But not for a couple of weeks.

He was happy to slip on the gloves and clean away, letting the idle conversation take over. He just liked listening to her talk, only half-listening to the little voice in the back of his mind.

'Don't mess this up. She's important.'