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Chapter 4: Disappointment (APOV, a couple of hours after the last chapter)

It was noon, and I was still waiting. He hadn't come yet, but I couldn't let that fact put me down. It wasn't even time for him to come yet. He was due to be here in one hour, when it was pouring rain outside, and as I looked out the windows, into the thick, blanket of rain, I knew that today would be the day.

I was still sitting on the same stool as yesterday. My night was a very interesting one, considering that only one other worker was with me. At times, I would close my eyes, pretending to sleep, but then I would open them up again and look at him with questioning eyes when I would hear him approaching. He just widened his eyes and turned the other way whenever I did that.

More people were staring to enter the diner now, and them bringing company along with them indicated that they weren't planning on leaving anytime soon. I internally groaned at that realization. My throat was already starting to burn again.

I kept looking at the people entering the diner, my mood worsening with every passing second, but I immediately cheered up when I saw Susan enter. She stared at me and seemed relieved that I was okay. She walked towards me, a smile on her face, and I couldn't help but return the gesture.

"Alice, you're still here!" Susan laughed, walking behind the counter.

I turned around to face her. "Yup, I still am."

"Hoping that boy will show up today?" She asked, leaning closer, her voice almost a whisper. I nodded my head and she chuckled, getting a towel on wiping off the counter. "I may not know you enough, but I must say, I already love you because of your determination."

I smiled, touched. "Thank you. I just have this feeling that he's going to come today, and I don't mean to brag or anything, but I'm rarely wrong."

"I love that you're so strong like that. It's almost as if you know what's to happen." Oh, if only she knew the complete truth behind that statement. "Nice to see you're different...in the good way, of course. A lot of women around here aren't determined like you are." She sighed, shaking her head. "It's a shame, really."

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion, resting my head on my hands. "What do you mean?"

She shrugged, looking around the diner. "It's just that so many people aren't sticking to what they believe in. Why, just last month, a good friend of mine named Lisa came to visit me. She was headed on to another state to meet John, someone she cared for deeply."

Why did those names sound so familiar?

"Anyways," she continued, "she kept babbling on about how much she loved the man. She was so sure that he had invited her down for something important, but she didn't have hope that it could be what she always wanted. She doesn't think of herself as beautiful, you see, so the whole time she was here, her eyes held tears and sighs escaped her mouth more than words."

"That's awful," I said, frowning. "I'm sure she's very beautiful."

Susan nodded. "That she is. The good news though is that she called me just a few days ago, laughing and talking about how the guy had asked her to marry him. I knew she had nothing to worry about all along, but I'm just the kind of woman who finds it sad that people don't have enough hope to try and make something they want happen."

At that statement, a wide grin formed on my face. I knew I had heard those names before, and sure enough, it was the couple I had saved just a few days ago. The man had asked her to marry him, and I felt ecstatic knowing that it was my kindness and desire to do good that had made it possible.

"Alice, why are you smiling like that?" Susan asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.

I waved my hand. "Nothing really. I'm just the kind of person who loves happy endings."

"Me too. Her situation does remind me of you though." She said, smiling.

"Me?"

She laughed, nodding her head. "Mhm. You see, she was waiting for someone to come, or vice versa. The point is, even when she thought things wouldn't work out, or something else was going to happen, the best thing possible occurred. It all started because she was waiting for him."

I was still confused. "What does that have to do with me?"

She looked at me as if it was completely obvious, which it probably was. "Aren't you waiting for someone?"

If I could've blushed, I would have. "Yes, but Susan, nothing's going to happen. I barely know the guy! Really, it's just a friendly get together."

"Doesn't mean anything," she said. "You never know. Besides, you are willing to wait here all day and night for him. You have to have some connection with him."

I rolled my eyes playfully and turned around, looking out the window. It was raining hard now, and I became excited that his time of arrival was almost here. I was faintly bouncing in my seat, the grin on my face stretching wider every second, if that was even possible.

"And you say nothing's going on," she laughed, shaking her head.

I waved my hand. "There really isn't. Now go and do your job. I'd hate for you to get in trouble because of me."

She nodded, walking off to do her job. I turned back around and looked out the window, trying to find any traces of someone coming this way.

Hours passed, and he still didn't come. It was already past one o'clock, but the hope inside me that he would show up and meet me never faded. As more hours passed though, I realized that my vision was wrong again. He wouldn't be coming anytime soon, and my mouth pulled down at both ends. All my waiting and excitement had been for nothing, and I found it heart breaking that my dreams were going to be crushed like they had so many times in the past.

It was now midnight, and all I could do was sigh and spin around in my chair continuously. Susan was finishing up an order, and she looking in my direction, frowning when she saw my disappointed face. "Alice, I'm sorry."

"It's okay," I muttered. "It's my fault for getting my hopes up."

"Don't say that! I love your optimism and determination, and I'd hate to see it go away because of this one time!" She said.

It may have been only one time, but it was the time. I needed this to happen, but now it wouldn't.

"Well, I have to go now," she whispered. "I'll really sleep better tonight knowing that you're not sad. And if you go to a motel or something and stop waiting for that boy, as he's probably not going to come, I would feel better too."

I shook my head. I had come this far, and I wasn't going to go back only to find out that he was still going to come. "I'll give him one more day," I decided. "If he doesn't show up, I'll leave, but I just don't feel like leaving is the best idea right now. I've waited too long, and I'd hate to give up now and walk away with my head down, you know?"

She sighed, but nodded her head in agreement. "One more day, okay? Just give it one more day. You don't have forever." Oh, but I do...

"Go and get some sleep," I urged.

"I'll come back and check on you tomorrow," she promised. "If you're still here, that is."

"If he comes or if he doesn't, I'll still be here to see you again," I assured her. "Now stop worrying about me and go worry about yourself!" I laughed, pointing towards the door.

"Okay, okay, I'll go," she chuckled, holding up her hands in defeat. "Bye." With that, she ran out the door into the pouring rain and out of sight.

I sat, frozen in my chair, for a couple more minutes, waiting. The minutes turned to hours, and the smile on my face turned into a frown. I looked at the ticking clock, and if I could be crying, I would. I sighed and put my head down on the counter, choking back tearless sobs. He wasn't coming.

***

(Unknown POV)

I sloshed through the rain, my head down, my hands in my pockets. Images of the past kept flooding into my head, and although a stabbing pain coursed through me when I knew I wasn't there, living in those moments, I didn't feel the need to go back. It felt like I was supposed to go my own way...live my own life. It's better this way...

For the first time in these long, rainy days, I lifted my head, finding out where I was.

Phillidelphia.

***

If none of you know who the mystery person is...wow. xD YOU SHOULD ALL KNOW!!! And on that note, this mysery person being introduced should give you a clue as to who is going to be introduced in the next chapter. ;D Hehe...

I hope this chapter made you guys happy and satisfied! I know...I haven't updated in a while... O.o Sorry about that! I was busy! You know...school. It's the last year of middle school and I need to do good! xD I finish this torture in 11/2 months though...so YAY! I actually had this chapter finished for about...a month...but I forgot to post it. xD

Please review! Next chapter should be up in a week or so! Maybe less!

I'd also like to apologize for the shortness of this chapter! There wasn't really much I could do here without dragging on or giving something away! Next chapter will be longer though! Promise!

Thank you to all who read this or put this on your favs and/or alerts! I appreciate it, and you guys are awesome! =D