Roxy waited on the steps in front of her apartment building, just sitting on the stone steps. She laced her fingers together and hummed a soft tune to herself. Today, Roxy wore a simple outfit: flip flops, a pair of jean pants, and a short-sleeved green shirt. Her jet black hair hung at her shoulders, as usual, and her bangs where gently slicked to the side; the black eyeliner outlined her eyes, giving her pale blue eyes a haunting effect.
Roxy looked down at her watch and saw that Sonny was running a little bit late, but she didn't mind. She waited for a few minutes later before she started to daydream. She wondered how the day was going to play out. She had to work from noon to six that day, so maybe Cecilia could come over and watch a movie or something since Cecilia had the morning shift only that day.
Roxy snapped out of her daydream when she heard a car horn beep at her. She looked up from the concrete ground and looked up to see a dirty, grey Jeep Comanche parked in the side of road in front of Roxy's apartment. She smiled and stood up. She ran over to the Jeep and opened the door to see a grinning Sonny.
"Hello beautiful, ready to go?" He asked as Roxy got into his car.
"Yeah, I'm ready." She replied.
"Good, because I'm hungry, are you?"
Roxy nodded as Sonny pulled out from the apartment and into the main street. "Kind of."
Sonny looked over at Roxy. "When you where sitting in front of your apartment you looked upset, are you okay?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking about stuff. I guess you can say I was in la-la land." She laughed, making Sonny chuckle.
"What were you thinking about?"
"Just what I might do later is all."
They drove in silence for the next couple of minutes. Roxy just stared out of the window and examined the scenery. The tall, green trees stood above the car and casted a lingering shadow and caused a sensation of coolness to overcome Roxy.
Sonny kept glancing over at Roxy from the corner of his eyes. He didn't know why though and that is what made him wonder. Why was he acting like this and early he called Roxy beautiful… he never did that, not even when they joked around. His head began to throb so he placed a hand on his forehead. Roxy noticed at turned back to her friend.
"Hey are you okay?" She asked concerned.
Sonny licked his lips as he turned onto a different road. "I'm fine, I just have slight headache is all."
Roxy tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as they approached the 'busy' part of town and near the diner. "Maybe if you eat something your headache will go away or you can take an Advil."
"I don't have any Advil on me, so I guess my only option is eating, huh?" He asked playfully as he parked the car in front of the diner. He looked over at Roxy as she got out of the car. He got out as well and followed her into the diner. Roxy noticed Sonny was wearing a blue wife beater underneath a dark blue Hawaiian style shirt, cargo pants, and his infamous red trucker hat.
Inside, Roxy waved to her friend Cecilia. "Good morning doll, how is your shift so far?" Roxy called to the red haired waitress.
"It's been going fine." Cecilia looked behind Roxy to see the blonde male. "Oh, hiya Sonny, how are you?" She asked as she picked up a plate from an empty table.
He shuffled his feet. "I'm alright, and yourself Cecilia?"
"I'm mighty fine."
Roxy and Sonny walked over to an unoccupied table and sat down one on the opposite side of the other. After a moment or two, Betty came over and smiled at the young adults.
"Hey there Roxanne, didn't know you where stoppin' by this morning." Betty said, placing down two menus in front of the customers.
Roxy bit her lower lip and looked down the table. "Yeah, well, Sonny invited me for breakfast at the last moment."
Betty's smiled only grew. "So, is this your first date together?"
Roxy coughed and Sonny blushed.
"T-this isn't a date." Sonny stuttered.
"Yes!" Roxy blurted, "It's just a little get-together with a friend; nothing more."
Betty cocked an eyebrow. "Whatever you say, Miss Roxanne. What would you like to drink?" The waitress asked.
"I'll have a glass of apple juice." Roxy replied giving Betty a death glare.
"And I'll just have a cup of coffee." Sonny answered.
"Any sugar or milk?"
"No thanks, black is fine."
Betty gave Roxy a wicked smile before turning her back. "I'll get your drinks." She said walking away.
Roxy blushed and gently touched Sonny's hand that was laying on the surface of the table. "I'm really sorry about Betty; she tends to say whatever comes to mind. She's a free spirit."
Sonny scratched the back of his neck and chuckled nervously before quickly looking through his menu. "It's quite alright. My father also has a free spirit, I guess you can say."
Roxy only blushed harder, making it noticeable to Sonny. He grabbed Roxy's hand and tenderly squeezed it. "I said it was okay, there is nothing to be embarrassed about." He replied.
A few moments later Betty came back with cups glasses in her hands. She set down the apple juice in front of Roxy and the glass of coffee down in front of Sonny. He nodded as if you thank her.
"So, are you two ready to order?" Betty asked taking out her notepad and a pen.
Roxy shrugged her shoulders. "I'm ready, are you?" She asked Sonny.
He grinned. "Yeah, how about you go first."
"What a gentleman." Betty butted in.
Roxy kicked Betty from under the table. Roxy looked over at Sonny and smiled shyly. "I'll just have the egg special, scrambled please."
"What kind of toast do you want?"
"Um, I'll have white toast."
"Oakie dokie, and what about you handsome, what will you have?"
"I'll have the pancake special with whole-wheat toast." Sonny replied, picking up both his own and Roxy's menu before handing it to the older woman.
"Thank you, okay, I'll give these orders to the chef."
"Thank you Betty." Roxy said waving and giving her a fake smile.
Betty waved back and muttered something under her breath.
Roxy rolled her eyes. "Again, I am so sorry about her."
"I said it was alright, Roxy." Sonny reassured his best friend.
Roxy looked over at the opposite end of the diner and saw an elderly couple sitting opposite of each other, much like herself and Sonny. But as she observed them, she noticed something. They didn't talk to each other. She watched them for a minute or two, just taking in everything they did. Both of them ate, drank, and wiped their mouths and once they were done, the man was given the check, the older man got up and paid it. The older woman got up also, walked to her husband, and left with him… all of this, still, without saying a word to each other.
Sonny noticed that Roxy was paying attention to the elderly couple and he turned his head and watched them too for a moment. He turned his head and gently tapped Roxy on the shoulder. "Hey there, you keep staring into space and ignoring me."
Roxy sharply turned back to Sonny. "I'm sorry." She muttered. There was silence, except for th constant tapping of Roxy's finger nails against the table's surface, before she leaned into the table and stared straight into Sonny's eyes. "You wanna know something I noticed about that elderly couple who just left?"
Sonny shrugged his shoulders and looked uninterested. "What?"
"During their entire meal neither of them spoke the whole time. Isn't that strange?"
"What if they had nothing interesting to talk about?"
"That's never the case, even now where talking and a moment ago we were silent." Roxy retorted.
Sonny sighed. "Okay Roxanne, what's going on?"
"I do not want to turn out like that woman. I don't want to be married to a man and then have absolutely nothing to say about anything. How do we even know they're in love? What if their whole relationship is based on a lie? What if I turn into her? What if I marry someone I don't even love? I don't want my relationship based on a fib."
"Why do you care Roxy? That woman is not you and you will never, I repeat, never turn into her. You always have something to talk about."
"That's not my point. I don't want to marry someone I don't love."
"Who said you have to marry someone you don't love. Marry your childhood sweetheart for all I care. But you are the exact opposite of that woman, Roxy, and you will never turn out that way."
Roxy sat back into her chair and looked away from Sonny, feeling embarrassed. "I get carried away sometimes… just ignore it." She whispered, but she made sure Sonny was able to hear it.
Sonny was about to say something when Betty came back with the two plates of food, placing the right one in front of the correct person.
"There ya go, is there anything I can get the love bugs?"
Roxy slammed her palms onto the table, making people around her stare and Sonny jump suddenly. "Jesus Christ, Betty, drop the subject alright?" She said annoyed with the waitress's attitude towards her and Sonny's relationship.
"Jeez kid, I was kidding. No need to get your panties in a bunch." Betty replied with a smile.
Sonny looked up at Betty, "I'm sorry about Roxy, I said a comment that upset her."
"It's alright, honey, I know how bi-polar Roxy can get. Have a good breakfast." Betty responded. She then walked away to a man a few tables away.
"You didn't have to lie to save my ass. I wouldn't care if Betty thought I was on my period."
Sonny leaned in. "Please say you're not."
His comment made Roxy give a hearty laugh. "You're safe, Sonny, you don't have to worry."
Sonny smiled, picked up a knife and fork, and began to cut his pancakes before taking a fork full of pancakes and stuffing it into his mouth. Roxy grabbed the pepper shaker and sprinkled a little bit of pepper onto her eggs before grabbing her fork and taking a bite.
Just then, a young, tall, male with short, but curly, brunette hair and beautiful cobalt blue eyes walked over to the table and greeted Roxy. "Heya Roxy."
Roxy looked up and beamed at the attractive man. "Hi Paul, what you doing here?"
"Having breakfast, the same as you and Sonny." He replied, placing a hand on Roxy's shoulder and messaging it gently.
Sonny saw this and he gripped his knife as tightly as he could, making his knuckles turn white. Sonny was jealous of Paul's intimate actions towards Roxy. Roxy detected this and tilted her head to the side softly.
"Sonny, is something wrong?"
Sonny shook his head. "I burned my mouth."
Roxy nodded her head. Paul turned to Roxy. "I haven't talked to you in a while, maybe you can come over to my place and we can catch up on things."
Roxy gave a genuine smile. "That sounds wonderful, I would like that every much."
"Well, I'll let you guys finish breakfast. I'll see you two later."
"Bye, Paul!" Roxy called happily as Paul walked away from their table and to his own (he was with three friends).
"Bye." Sonny muttered. He looked down at his pancakes, "So Roxy, are you and Paul close?"
Roxy took a sip from her apple juice. "No really, we're just friends. We barely know each other. What about you two, do you know Paul well?"
Sonny put his knife down and grabbed his cup of coffee. "We're just friends." Sonny said softly, taking a long drink from his cup
***
After Sonny and Roxy left the diner an hour later and got into his car, Sonny realized something.
"Shit." He muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets and searching for something, but he failed to find it.
"What's wrong?" Roxy asked as she put her seatbelt on.
"I think I left my I.D. card at my house, do you mind if we stop there before I drop you off?"
Roxy grinned and shook her head. "I don't mind at all."
"Okay." And that was all he said before pulling away from the diner.
For the entire time they spent in the car, Roxy and Sonny just talked a little bit. Mostly about when they were in high school, reminiscing and such. When they were close to Sonny's house, they both saw Willie and Darryl, the kids of Ryrus Cooper, running towards the car. Roxy undid her seatbelt and leaned over Sonny as both the young adults started talking to the young kids.
"Hiya kiddos, how are ya? I haven't seen you guys in a while." Roxy said as Sonny drove slowly up his dirt, driveway.
"We're fine, Miss Roxy." Darryl replied, keeping up with the car.
"You boys gettin' into any trouble?" Sonny asked.
"No, sir, we are good kids, we ain't like them other kids around here. They like gettin' in trouble with the law and stuff, but me and Darryl know better." Willie responded, smiling.
Roxy raised an eyebrow before giggling. "Good job boys, you stay like that and you won't upset your daddy. He's a good guy and he doesn't need to be bothered with you two getting' in trouble."
"That's very good advice." Sonny squeezed in as he stopped and turned off the car. Roxy opened the door and stepped out, but she stopped in her place. Sonny also got out of the car, but stopped when he saw his father Hank holding a shotgun in his hands.
"Tell them to get the hell of my property."
Sonny took a few steps in front of the boys while Roxy stayed in placed. "You put that thing down."
"We came by to see Sonny and Roxanne." Willie said.
"I don't give a damn who you came by to see," he looked over to Sonny, "get 'em outta here right now."
There was a lingering silence between Sonny and his father.
"Tell them, they're your buddies, tell them to get out of here."
Willie and Roxy looked over at Sonny to see what he would do, but he just stood there.
Hank scowled, "Well what are you waiting there for?" And with that, Hank raised his shot gun and fired into the air; a warning shot. This sent Willie and Darryl running for their lives. Roxy would've too if she where their age, but she still stood in the doorway of the car. Hank fired one more shot.
Sonny just stared at his father as Roxy's eyes fell to the ground, afraid to look up at Hank.
"You watch your ass, alright?" Hank warned. He turned on his heel and walked back to the house.
Sonny turned to Roxy. "Let's go." He said, opening his car door and getting in. He slammed the door behind him.
Roxy climbed in. "What about your I.D.?" Roxy asked, her voice low.
"Fuck it." Sonny snapped, turning on the car.
He drove away as far as he could and once he was far enough away, he parked the car on the side of the road and turned off the car. He hit the steering wheel as hard as he could and he groaned. "Why does my father have to be such a fucking racist prick?"
"Sonny," Roxy cooed as faced him, turning in her seat, "you have to remember what time period your father and grandfather grew up in."
"It doesn't make it right!" He yelled.
"I never said it was, Sonny. I know it's wrong, but you have to be tolerant with them."
"If I have to be tolerant with them, then they should just keep their fucking mouths shut! I hate it so much when they say racist shit, I fucking hate it!" He yelled again. He rested his forehead on the steering wheel and his breathing was heavy.
Roxy didn't know what to do, so she just started to rub Sonny's back in a reassuring way. After a moment, Sonny sat back up and looked at Roxy.
"Can I ask you a favor?" He said, this time his voice was gentler.
Roxy looked deeply into Sonny's brown eyes before she replied. "Sonny, you can ask me anything in the world."
"I don't wanna be rude, but do you mind if I crash at your apartment tonight? I really don't feel like going home to my dad yelling at me."
Without hesitation, Roxy responded. "Of course you can crash at my place, you're my best friend and you don't need to act all shy around me when you ask stuff like this. But how are you going to get your things from your house?"
"I'll sneak in after my dad leaves for work and then I'll just leave my things in my car until later."
"Hey," Roxy said thinking about something, "today you practice for the execution for that cop killer, right?"
Sonny sighed with frustration. "Yeah, why do you ask?"
"Well, you guys go to the bar afterwards, for an early celebration, right?"
"Yup."
"Why don't I meet you at the bar after my shift at the diner and then afterwards you can just drive us back to my place?"
Sonny nodded idly. "Sounds like a plan. What time do you get off?"
"Six o'clock, but I have to help out with talking to the new girl we just hired about the job, I think her name is Leticia. So I'll probably get to the bar at around six-thirty."
"Okay."
Roxy looked down at her watch and cursed. "Shit, I have to go and talk to Dr. Milton about my mom." Roxy said as she unhooked her seatbelt and got out of the car. Sonny rolled down the window. "I'll see you later tonight, okay Sonny?"
He nodded again. "Sure, but do you want me to drive you to Milton's?"
Roxy shook her head, "I'll be fine, don't worry about me." And with that Roxy turned her heel and began walking towards where Dr. Milton's office was located in town. Sonny waited for a second before turning on the car and driving back to his house to grab the things he needed for that night.