The Next day
Sundays the shop was closed, and Trucker had introduced Lisa to Zo. She was happy to see her Uncle in love. I had been a long time since she's seen him, and he still looked good for his age.
Zo could see within Lisa's past and quickly enforced Trucker to get them all some drinks.
"Lisa, You have to tell someone. This burden is hurting you" Zo said and looked straight into her eyes.
"What burden? I'm not holding anything back." she denied, but her eyes danced with worry.
Zo placed her hands on hers and closed her eyes and Lisa felt instantly calm.
"How did you do that?" Lisa asked, but Zo smiled and welcomed Trucker back.
"So Lisa, Do you hear from your dad at all?"
She scuffed at him and he knew.
"From time to time. Usually to see if I need money but he usually keeps the distance and I prefer to keep it that way."
"Your mother raised you well. She'd be very proud of you." With those words from her uncles mouth, she smiled.
"Thank you Uncle T." She hugged him too and they continued their conversation.
"I see you didn't eat last night, must have been pretty tired."
"Yea, but Thanks for tucking me in."
"I didn't tuck you in. I just saw the empty sandwich and Zo and I went to bed. Maybe Priestly did it."
"Priestly?" she smiled at the thought.
Zo saw her eyes light up.
Lisa felt happy to be safe. Away from the life she fell into back in PA. She felt her phone buzz in her pocket and knew she got a text.
She pulled it out of her pocket.
I WILL FIND YOU! I PROMISE. it read.
She got shivers from the message. She knew who it was, and that she had to not reply or answer the messages or he would find her.
Her tense was killing the room. Trucker to tell and knew something was wrong.
"Who is it?"
"It's Nothing. I just need to change my number." she said trying to keep as calm as she could.
"So, you don't mind that I work at the shop?" She asked with Shrugged shoulders. Something she always did when she was unsure or worried.
"I'm glad it's you and not some teenager. Plus you can run my books and help out a lot. I'm happy you're here" he said and kissed her head.
Later in the afternoon, Lisa and Trucker went down to the beach. The waves were big from a storm in the pacific ocean which made great for surfing. Lisa caught a few good ones and forgot how great it was to visit Trucker.
The Next day she woke up and the sun was just peaking out. There was a note with a set of keys.
WENT SURFING OPEN SHOP 9 LOVE UNCLE T
She wore a light green tank with white capris and pulled her hair back. She walked down to the front door and let herself in, locking it back up after she was inside. Randomly turning on lights and playing the radio. She counted the money and set in a register drawer.
She saw Tish and Piper walk to the front door and she rushed to let them in. It was almost 9 and everything was ready. Priestly came shortly after with electric green spikes in his hair and another sarcastic tshirt which made her giggle.
"Aww, you two match. That's so cute." Tish said, and noticed Lisa turn pink from blushing.
"Yea, I guess it is." Priestly added and jumped over the counter and into the kitchen.
The door bells ring as the arriving customers enter.
By eleven thirty the place was getting packed. Tish and Piper took the orders as Lisa moved into the kitchen with Priestly to help keep the service moving until Trucker came in. He was running late and she figured the waves were too great to leave. She knew he trusted her with the shop, after all she helped her mom with their business.
" I need three roast beef and two chicken sandwiches to go, all 7 inches." Piper yelled to them.
" Four minutes " Priestly yelled back as he and Lisa were working together. He cooked the meat and Lisa prepped the sandwich.
" Two ten inch tuna Ready" Lisa said to Tish and Handed her the tray of food. She grabbed it and handed them their food. "I've never seen it this busy."
In the minutes that passed, the two waited for more orders, which have slowed. Then it was over, the rush had gone.
"So, What did I miss?" Trucker said as he walked in with his sunglasses still protecting his eyes and a smile.
Tish scuffed and walked right up to him.
"What'd you miss? We just had an explosion of people in here. we never had this many people in the shop."
"We were fine Trucker. Lisa did pretty good running the shots of the shop." Piper commented, and moved to the tables to Wash off the dirty tables.
"Well, I have to say… My plan worked…"
The staff looked at him with questioning eyes.
"Plan?" Lisa asked.
"I made a flyer this morning, put it up on the beach. The other sandwich shop is closed today for renovation. Come in from eleven to one for our Lunch special. I swear it was like watching seagulls fly around for fish. I had to test you Lis, and you nailed it."
Lisa scuffed and nodded "Of course I did, I'm your niece." She added and punched his arm, then moved to take the trash out.
Trucker watched Priestly observe Lisa and he smiled.
"Piper" he whispered to her and motioned her to move to him. She tip-toed to him, and he pointed to Priestly. She could clearly see.
" Looks like someone has a crush." she stated and nudged him with her elbow.
As Lisa took out the trash, her phone buzzed in her back pocket…. she knew it was him, threatening her again… but she wasn't going to read it. She threw the phone in the trash along with the garbage, but it still buzzed making the rusty can rumble and ran from the noise back inside.
Priestly was cleaning the equipment in the back sink. As he was moving to the other side of the room a small body crashed with his and made them both fall back opposite each other. He simply lost his balance, swaying backwards as the person who ran into him was now on the floor.
Lisa hit the back of her head on the ground and took a second to register what just happened. Then Sheer embarrassment rushed to her face.
"you okay?" He asked and kneeled next to her. She was leaning up but suddenly got dizzy and rested her head again. "Careful, you must've hit your head pretty hard." He added his hands, one to the back of her head and one to her hand.
"Story of my life, Always running into someone." she joked, but he clearly felt guilt. If he was paying attention she wouldn't be on the ground.
They both looked at each other for a while. Her eyes were glassy for a moment and he suddenly got lost in them.
"I think i'm okay, Could you help me up?" she asked getting him out of his zone. He laughed and grasped both of her hands and pulled her up.
"I'm sorry about that. I didn't see you coming" he said, apologizing for his actions.
"It's okay, i'm still in one piece. Don't get soft on me now Priestly, we're still getting to know each other." She said and patted his chest. She walked three steps before checking back on him with a smile.
His smile was small, but he was right. He barely knew her, but he wanted to know more.
Piper was welcomed by Julie and Noah as shop came to a close. Tish had left a few minutes before to meet with a guy who she met at the shop earlier that afternoon. Trucker sat in the back booth with receipts and a calculator. Priestly was sweeping and Lisa was cleaning the remaining tables.
Zo came inside and waved to Lisa.
"Hey Zo." Trucker said and welcomed his wife in the booth with him. He kissed her and she hugged his head gently with her hand.
Both Lisa and Priestly walked in the back to give them a moment of privacy, and to finish cleaning the back room.
"Okay, back to our conversation… Seth Green and Robot Chicken" Lisa started but he held up his hands
"Oh now, Not the whole doll animation crap again. The guy needs to stop playing with toys! It's just too sad" He defended and she couldn't help but laugh.
Overhearing the laughter Zo looked in the corridor where Lisa and Priestly were.
"So, How is she?" Zo asked as she moved her hair away from her face
"She seems happy. What to you think?"
Both of them looked at her cleaning and smiling at one of Priestly's jokes.
"I think she will be alright, Prietly seems very fond of her."
"You see that too huh?" trucker added and she nodded.
"He seems to be himself with her. Not trying to impress her is making her like him more."
Both walked out laughing and turning the back lights off.
"Uncle T, We ready?"
"Yea, I think…"
But Zo interrupted him "You know I have something that I need to fix at the store. I could really use your help Trucker."
"Course Zo, I'll be back later Lis. Lock up before you go to bed." Trucker said.
As they walked away Trucker whispered.
"What was that about?"
"I'm giving Priestly his chance, besides I have plans we can't do with your niece in the house" she responded, making trucker smile.
Lisa locked the store and made sure the door was secure.
"So, You wanna walk me to the house?" Lisa asked.
Priestly's eyes grew wide. "Sure" he said. She lead the way and he caught up.
He didn't know what to say and he was nervous.
"Funny isn't it?" She started saying shoving her hands in her pocket.
"What?" he asked.
"Zo and My Uncle. At their age they still found love. Don't get me wrong, They are totally having sex tonight."
He was in shock and had to know
"Woah,woah, How do you know this?" serious tone was behind his voice and she giggled
"Well, if I know my Uncle and you know Zo, You don't make those noises with company even if it is in your own house."
They got to the staircase and she climbed about four steps until she turned around.
"Would you like to stay for dinner. I'm gonna be alone tonight. It would be nice to have some company." She offered, hoping he would accept.
His eyes wondered in-between the door to the house and her eyes.
" If you want me to join you, I don't want to immpose?" He said.
"You're not imposing Dummy, I invited you." She said, and it made him smile. "Come on. I'll make you dirty spaghetti"
His eyebrow curled…"Dirty spaghetti? Do I dare ask?" but she shook her head.
"No, you'll see, you'll try, you'l like. Trust me." Lisa added and opened the door accessing him inside.
After an hour of mixing several different kinds of pasta, mixing different kinds of sauces and adding two different types of meat, the two ate dinner.
"This is very weird." He said after taking a few bites.
"I know, isn't it. Like it?" She said with food stuffed in her mouth.
"Shockingly yes. Very creative."
"It was my mom's recipe. We made it all the time. Kind of a last resort type of deal." She started then she explained leaning her elbows on the table to go closer to Priestly.
"See, when we didn't have enough money for dinner, we always ate one type of pasta, and one type of sauce. That became tiresome after a while and she went mad, put everything into one pot and boon, the birth of dirty spaghetti."
He didn't say anything, he just captured her in his mind. She told him a story about her past and shared it with him, he felt honored. Lisa couldn't think about why he was looking so serious.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You are just not like any other girl I met before. You are just…you. You're not pretending to be anyone else."
"Is that a good or bad thing?" she asked, playfully scooping the noodles in her mouth.
"It's good in my book."
She leaned in more closer to his face.
" So Trucker told me that you stopped by last night, were you the one who covered me with the blanket?" Lisa asked and his face hid in the table.
"If that made you feel awkward, i'm sorry"
"No, it was actually kinda nice. Very thoughtful actually."
"I'm only nice to people I like" he said leaning inches away from her face.
"I like you too Priestly"
Both of their hearts were racing, Both so close to touching their lips together until she could hear her Uncle climbing up the stairs. Both casually leaned back and smiled, collected their plates, and walked to the kitchen as Trucker came inside.
"Hey kids. Sorry that took so long, I see you guys ate"
Lisa and Priestly smiled and knew the reason for his Late arrival.
"It's cool Uncle T. We totally understand."
Priestly grabbed his backpack and walked to the door. Lisa joining him.
"I'm gonna head out. Thanks for Dinner. You're a good cook." He complimented.
"Thanks for joining me, I feel safer with someone here with me." she added. They both gave each other a casual hug, a friendly hug if you may. He pulled away and glared past her into the kitchen where Trucker was stuffing his face with the leftover pasta.
"Trucker- I'll see you tomorrow man."
"Gdnght" he muffled and waved farewell.
Lisa closed the door and walked into her own room and laid on her bed.
These feeling for Priestly were growing, but it scared her. What if the man with the text messages finds her and hurts Priestly. She couldn't let that happen. If it came between Priestly's safety or her's she'd put herself out so noone else were involved.
These feelings have to stop, for Priestlys sake.
Thank you for Reading, please Review :) LisaBGreen