I walked down the steps and out into the light of the diner through the curtains. I yawned and walked behind the counter. I looked out the window where Rory was walking. I smiled and watched. But then right behind her was a tall boy with hair that looked like an opened book on his head. That must be the 'boyfriend' Luke was talking about.
Luke rushed out of the kitchen next to me. He saw what I was looking at. So I quickly looked away at the counter.
"His name is, Dean, by the way." Luke said still watching me. I was quiet.
"I don't care who the hell, Dean, is" I said looking around. "So let's get to work, and give these hungry people some food."
"Okay then" he said picking up a coffee pitcher. "Just pour this in their cups. And then get ready for school."
"Sounds easy enough" I said snatching the coffee. "The coffee part anyway." I walked around pouring coffee and picking up plates for half an hour. Then went up stairs to get ready. I walked back downstairs and out of the diner. Then across the street. I saw Rory snuggled up next to Dean, with his arm rapped around her. My first day at school was already not great.
Class wasn't so bad. Except I already Knew a lot of the stuff they were teaching. But I still didn't care and didn't pay any attention. I have two classes with Dean, and one with Rory, and no Dean. When I got "home" I read a book that I'd brought with me. I heard two familiar voices echo through the staircase.
I raced down and saw Rory sitting at the counter with Dean. "Hey" I said walking behind it.
"Hey" she said looking up at me.
"Hello?" Dean said confused
"Oh, Dean, this is, Jess" Rory said. "Jess, this is, Dean."
"Boyfriend?" I questioned.
"Yes" Dean said pretty loud.
"Sorry you didn't say." I said with a straight face looking at Rory. "Now, what can I get you two love birds?"
"Two coffees would be fine" Dean said putting his hand on Rory.
"Really? This late in the day, how long are you planning to stay up." I said sarcastically. "Are you gonna watch a horror movie marathon? Cause wouldn't you need permission from little 'ol mommy first." The sarcasm continued.
"What's your deal man?" Dean said scrunching one of his hands into a fist. I just smiled and stared at him.
"Hey if you just wanna leave, please do."
"Let's go, Rory" he said standing up
Luke walked out of the kitchen with two plates of food and saw Dean's face. I just stood there smiling.
"What's going on?" He asked putting the plates down.
"Nothing. Just me asking a question." I said shaking my head.
Luke sighed and asked "what kind of question?"
"A simple question like the one you just asked."
He raised his eyebrows "how about going over to that table and delivering their food."
I rolled my eyes and picked up the plates he had put down. "Yes sir" I retorted again nodding my head.
He watched me walk away with the plates. When I put them down I heard dean ask Luke "what's his problem?" And I didn't bother listening to the rest.
At the end of the day, I found myself sitting on the floor of a library. I had my nose stuck in a book: The Great Gatsby, for the third time. Until the owner walked over and told me it was closing time. So I walked around town for a while. But nearing 10pm I found the diner and walked in and up the stairs. I laid on my blow up mattress. After a while I ended up thinking myself asleep.
The next morning I got up ready for Friday. As I combed and gelled my hair looking into the mirror I saw Luke walk up behind me. Since we lived in an apartment that was right above the diner, there wasn't much privacy.
He stared at me in the mirror. "Do you ever worry that a bird will fly into your hair, and not come out?" He said still staring at my hair.
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. I put the comb down and walked away from the mirror and dresser.
"What!" He exclaimed.
"Lay off" I mumbled back. I put on my jacket and ran down the steps down to the diner. I could hear his footsteps to assure he was following.
"What's your deal?" He said grabbing my shoulder. I wiped around staring at him.
I truly did know what my deal was. I just couldn't open up, I did once, I did twice. Never again will I open up. My dad took off only hours after I was born. My mom sent me away from my home. I have no friends. The one person I could get along with is with 'book hair' all the time. There's more, but I can't explain them all now.
"I said lay off!" I yelled. "You took me away from my home, my friends, my family, so ya I'm a bit cranky!"
The entire diner quieted after my first couple words, so the next sentence was heard clearly to everyone.
I stormed off out the door towards the school building.
If I had never spilled my guts like that, then I would have been spared some trouble.