As I suspected, I was grounded after missing curfew yesterday, so I had to drop off my application before school this morning. My mom and I came up with a deal that if I got the job I could go, but I'd have to come straight home afterward.
I asked Luke where Jess was when I stopped by the diner earlier, but he said he had already left for school. Weird, because it was kinda early, but who was I to judge?
I also got to stroll through town on the way to the bus stop this morning. It was so pretty I would have loved to stay for longer, but unfortunately school waits for no one, not even me.
I got a call after school from Luke saying that he reviewed my application, and I got the job! I'm on my way to the diner now, walking gleefully on such a beautiful day.
I wanted a job in the first place, so that I could start saving up for college. I've saved every cent of birthday and holiday money I have ever gotten in hopes of one day getting into a good college.
My family isn't exactly low on money, but I'd like to help out with the tuition as much as I can. Give me some sense of independence. Y'know?
I entered the diner and strode up to the counter wearing an award-winning smile.
"Hey Luke!" I exclaimed nonchalantly.
"Hey kid, so I'm gonna have Jess start training you today. We'll see what you're good at, and then we'll go from there. Sound good?" Luke asked.
"Yeah, of course! What's first?" I beamed.
I was happy to be put to work. It was a nice distraction from everything else going on in my life. School and my relationship with my mom puts a lot of strain on me sometimes. It's good to just get out of the house and do something for a change.
"Gross, I think you're getting your enthusiasm on me!" Jess said looking faux-appalled as he seemed to just appear out of thin air. He was just there, standing next to Luke behind the counter.
"Jeez, where did you come from? You almost gave me a heart attack!" I divulged while catching my breath.
"Warnings are for the weak. Anyway, I think bussing tables is a good way to start. What do ya say, Cassie?" I didn't even bother commenting on the nickname. Nobody calls me "Cassie," but to be honest I didn't mind it coming from him.
"Yeah sure. We start now?" I questioned.
"Unless you have something better to do?" Jess responded, and I rolled my eyes at him, "Alright, let the training commence."
"Be careful, those plates are real china!" I sent a deadly scowl his way, "Ok maybe they're not 100% real, but they do say they were made in China on the back."
I set the dishes down before I decided to chuck them at Jess's head.
"If you're going to backseat dishwash the whole time I think you might find taking customers' orders more worth your time." I remarked with ease.
"Not sure, I think I saw you squinting earlier. You might be going blind. I should be here to catch the dishes as a precaution." Jess insisted.
A woman and her daughter came into the diner just then, and I recognized one of them. Hey! That's the bitchy girl from school who thought it was my fault she was so fucking oblivious to the world around her.
Jess glanced at the door at the sound of the bell and physically recoiled. He looked just as perturbed as I was.
"You good? You look like someone just slapped you in the face," I looked at my watch, "If not, I think I have some time today to make that happen if that's something you're interested in."
Jess's lip didn't even twitch as he jumped down from the counter next to the sink; his eyes were following freaky blue-eyed girl all the while.
"Jess, are you ok?" I asked, starting to get a little worried. The look in his eyes was unreadable, but as I looked closer, I think I saw a little sadness.
"Just peachy," He responded as he snapped out of his reverie. It took me a second to realize the girl had noticed Jess and I and was staring back. I felt a little uncomfortable and decided to break the ice.
"Ok well, since you won't be bothered by customers, I'm gonna go take their order." And despite Jess's quiet protests I had already walked up to them.
"Hey guys, what can I get for you?" I spoke brightly. I may not like this girl, but I'm starting to like this job, so I'll play nice. For now.
"Hey, sweetie! Nice to meet you! I'm Lorelai and this is my daughter Rory. How are you?" The older of the two– Lorelai exclaimed with such energy it made my grin wider, "Um, I think I'm feeling spontaneous today, surprise me! But nothing too healthy if you know what I mean. Oh, and of course coffee."
"Hi Lorelai and Rory! I'm Cassandra and the pleasure is mine. I'm also doing great, thanks for asking! How do you feel about french toast?" I seamlessly replied as I wrote down her coffee order.
"I would just die for good french toast right about now. What about you, babe?" Lorelai inquired.
"Um, just a cup of coffee, thanks." Rory answered, clearly distracted.
"Ok I'll have those out in a jiff. Bye now!" I offered warmly.
"Thank you, bye!" Lorelai said, and of course Rory sat there still staring at Jess.
What is her problem?
I made my way back over to Jess and put the order in.
"I told you not to go over there." Was all Jess had to say upon my return.
"Someone had to take their order, and might I add, flawlessly. I don't know what was going on with you and that girl, Rory, but Lorelai was a doll." I added with pride oozing off me.
"One, nobody says "doll" anymore, Mrs. Doubtfire," He laughed but it sounded hollow, "And two, that's my ex."
Ouch.
"Shit, I'm sorry! I had no idea. Are you ok?" I was concerned, "Believe me, I know how hard it is to deal with exes."
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's been a while since the break-up, and I am totally over her, but she still comes in every day."
"To do what? Torture you? Because I think I have that covered."
His frown finally lessened, and he looked at me. "I really don't know."
"Well, I thought she was a bitch anyway. She ran into me in the hallway at school and blamed it on me! Even after I helped her pick up her books. She didn't even recognize me. I don't know what world she's living in but it's not this one." I ranted hoping it would cheer Jess up.
And it did because after I was done chattering, I looked back at him and saw his wonderful smile had returned.
"Alright enough chit-chat. I think I saw a grain of salt on the last plate you washed. You're getting sloppy."
I moved to walk past him and stomped on his foot. He flinched, and I saw his eyes water.
"Sloppy my ass. Those plates are spotless."
After my first day at the diner, things have been looking up. When Rory comes in, Jess and I usually move to clear tables to make us look busy, forcing Luke to help her. My grades have been the best they've been in a while, and I'm no longer grounded.
Jess and I have become closer friends, too.
We hang out a lot during and even after work. Whenever I get off a late shift and it's dark out, Jess always agrees to walk me home. His only excuse being, he doesn't want me to get lost in the woods and eaten by a bear.
That made me cry a little.
We swap books every once and a while, and we both prefer fiction over non-fiction by a long shot. I'm grateful for that. It means he's not a sociopath.
"I'm telling you; Dumbledore was the villain! If it hadn't been for him, Lily and James would've made Sirius the Secret Keeper instead of Peter! Sirius was James's brother; he would have rather endured a slow and painful death than betray them!"
"Oh, come on Jess, if he was really the villain, he wouldn't have told Harry about the horcruxes, and he wouldn't have been able to defeat Voldemort! Dumbledore also made sure that Harry was safe from the dangers of the magical world, even if that meant living with Petunia and Vernon!"
"At least tell me you're not one of those JKR groupies."
"Hell no! She's a racist, homophobic, transphobic, antisemitic, bitch who just happened to be able to be able to string a few good words together."
"Thank fucking God, I thought'd have to run you over with Luke's pick-up."
But about a month into working at the diner, I showed up to see Jess nowhere to be found and Luke looking pretty pissed.
"Hey! Where's Jess?" I asked, and Luke looked up from what looked like murdering a coffee pot for not working fast enough.
"That juvenile delinquent just got himself into another fight. He's upstairs cooling off. See if you can talk some sense through that thick skull of his, would ya?"
I nodded and headed through the back and toward their apartment upstairs. I've heard of the numerous fights Jess has gotten into, but this was the first time I was actually present during the aftermath of one.
He's always told me the bastards had it coming. I wondered what happened this time.
I opened the door with the spare key Luke had tossed me in case of emergencies and looked around the cluttered apartment for Jess.
"Hey Jess? Where are you?"
"Go away."
Bathroom. Got it.
I strode over to the door and knocked. "Jess, stop pouting and open the door! Luke sent me to smack some sense into you!"
"Look, I don't need sense knocked into me!" Jess opened the bathroom door and stalked closer to me. The look in his eyes wasn't playful and now I was more alert and getting a little nervous as he backed me into a corner. "I just need you to leave, now!"
I flinched at the harshness of his tone and looked away, trying to burrow myself into the wall. Not again. Why does this always happen to me?
"Yeah, ok, have it your way." My voice sounded more strangled and desperate than I would have liked as my eyes teared up.
So what? I cry when I'm emotionally distraught. If you have a problem with that, then fuck off.
I couldn't bring myself to look back at him as I unlatched myself from the wall and ran out of the apartment, down the stairs, through the diner, and out the door. I didn't bother stopping for either Jess's pleads or Luke's words of confusion.
I ran all the way home and by some miracle my mom wasn't there. I made it to the bathroom and locked the door before I stripped and stepped into the boiling water. Hot showers usually help me clear my mind, but this one wasn't doing shit.
And then the tears came.
And I think you can guess the rest without me explaining it to you.
But for those of you who lack common sense, I cried a lot.
Author's Note: Hi! I hope you guys enjoyed chapter 4! Sorry not sorry for leaving y'all on a cliffhanger. I have some fanfic recs in my profile if you're interested! See you next week!
-taylor's version 2.0
