I got back to the diner, Crown followed me for some reason. I opened the glass door and got in. Emily looked at me and Crown. "Who's the boyfriend?" She asked.
"Boyfriend? Not even close," I said as I sat back on my seat. Lily is not there, her plate is already empty. "Where's Lily?" I asked. Crown sat next to me.
"Lily went to the back, she's helping me take the trash out." Emily replied.
"Ah, child labor, truly the best thing that ever happen to Capitalist America," I said. "Not that I have a problem with capitalism." I started eating my breakfast.
"Best system ever I say, so lover boy, what do you want?" Emily asked Crown.
"Umm... Lover boy?" Crown stuttered.
"I know that look anywhere, you like her right?" Emily asked Crown.
"Leave him alone Emily, the dude just got friend zoned," I said taking a sip of coffee.
"Damn girl, you find a nice young man and you said no huh? Well you're missing out," Emily said as she pat Crown's shoulder. "Firm shoulders, if I was younger and not your mom's age, I'd bang," Emily joked before going to the back.
"What was that about?" Crown asked. He looked at me, his face was red.
"Don't ask me man, I don't know shit that goes on in her mind," I said as I took a sip from my mug. Just as I sat the mug back on the table, the door swung open, and Lily walked in.
"Holy shit, it's Officer John Crown without uniform, I thought police officers just get put inside a locker when they're not in use," Lily sat on her stool. She looks at me, and then got off her stool. She walked behind me and sat beside Crown. I could hear her whispering loudly, "You're trying to get with my sister?"
"He already got friend zoned," I said as I took a fork-ful of protein in my mouth.
"Tough luck man, she's a bitch sometimes, well most of the time."
"Lily have you heard of the idiom that sounds a bit like: don't bite the hand that feeds?" I asked her with a smile.
"No, I flunked English class,"
"That explains a lot actually," My eyes shot up.
I finished my meal, and I sipped the last bit of coffee I had. I placed the cash on the counter and I waved at Emily, "Keep the cash!"
"Altruistic today aren't you honey!" Emily replied.
I got up from the stool, grabbed the large bag of cat food and Lily followed suit. Crown stood up, he paid for his coffee, and was about to open the door for us when the door flew open, smacking his face hard. The bikers came in, loudly. Crown's nose was bleeding, the wooden outer frames really messed his nose. I was about to reach my hand out to him when Lily yelled at the bikers. "Hey dumbfucks! Apologize to my friend," She pulled Crown to the side.
The large biker looked at her and Crown. He stared down at them and said condescendingly: "What if I don't?". That's first degree assault right there, plus, Crown was already at the door first. It was glass for god's sake, how could they not see him? Why am I defending him? Fuck.
"For fuck's sake..." Crown groaned as he placed his hand on his bleeding nose. He stood up and looked at the biker in the eye. "I just got rejected today, and I am holding a very large shit in right now." I could feel his bloodthirst. He's in a fighting position. He snapped. I looked at them. This could be fun. Or not? Fuck that shit, I have work later.
"As much as I want to see you fuckers fight, I have work tonight." I said as I walked to Crown. I placed my hand on Crown's head and bowed his head down. "We'll be on our merry way now," I continued as I opened the door and walked out. Lily and Crown in tow. Maybe the outside air gave him more oxygen because the moment we got out he became embarrassed as hell. Just by looking at him I could tell that he is so fucking ashamed of himself. I guess it is kind of cute. Not like "Baby Lily" cute, but cute as in scrawny Manhwa character cute. Fuck it. I guess with Lily here, I suppose I can have some fun before I die. "Saturday, at that pub, meet me at 9," I told him. "It's a date." His face shot up. Lily looked at me shocked.
"FUCK YES!" Lily suddenly exclaimed. "MY SHIP SAILS!"
"Fuck. Are you on drugs?" I asked her confused. She didn't answer, she went to Crown and she pulled his head down, whispering something into his ears. Apparently she whispered it properly this time. I didn't hear a thing. I sat the bag of cat food down and I sat on the fire hydrant on the sidewalk. Fire hydrants are just very unergonomic chairs.
"Luna what the fuck are you still doing there? go to work, Crown will take me home," Lily said.
"I'm not in my work shirt, and my shift hasn't even started yet." I said.
"Then just go back home, I'll stay at the diner for a bit." Lily replied annoyed. How the hell did mom handle 11 teenagers.
"Fuck it then, just don't be too late," I said as I left the two.
"Bye Luna!" The two yelled.
Handful lots.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Lori asked.
"Can't you just fucking trust the GPS?" Lincoln replied as he took a sip of Redbull.
"Just asking, you don't need to get emotional, jeez," Lori replied as she turned the radio up.
"Emotional? Bitch you've been drinking shitty booze out of, mind you, a flask for half an hour. AND THEN, you decided to ask me the same question for about an hour. Sorry if I get emotional." Lincoln replied angrily.
"Just making convo man, don't need to get pissed off." Lori replied. Lori straightened her seat. "Oh yeah Linc, I never asked you this."
"What?"
"Why do you have so many companies in your belt? Like the publication company gave you enough cash to buy at least 200 kidneys a year,"
"I love cash, if I can buy 200 kidneys a year, I'd want to increase the amount to 2000 kidneys per year,"
"So tenfold the amount of kidneys?"
"Why are we even using kidneys as a metaphor?"
"I don't fucking know, you have a PMC for fuck's sake, I'd assume that you have at least a few skeletons in your closet, or kidneys if we are playing with the metaphor."
"I am a businessman not a slaver," Lincoln changed the radio channel.
The radio host buzzed. "Coming to you live from WSSS, I'm here with Sam Sharp with us today in the studio!" A radio host said.
"I'll be damned, Luna's ex-wife is on the line," Lincoln said.
"Thank you for the warm welcome Malcom," Sam's voice blared through the radio.
"Before we start anything, how are you Sam?" The radio host questioned.
"Pretty great actually, especially today because I am getting married in a month!" Sam's voice blared again.
"She sounds happy," Lori said.
"That is fantastic news Sam! Do you have any plans for the future?" The radio host said.
"Oh yes, I do."
"What are they?"
"I'm gonna make sure that my ex-wife knows that I am happy now, after aaaaalllll that abuse she gave me" Her voice sounded bitchy.
"Are you talking about Luna Loud?"
"Yes I am,"
"Is she fucking stupid? That's libel," Lori said. "I'd sue her if I was Luna,"
"Same." Lincoln replied. The day is getting darker.
Around 9
I sat behind the counter, eating a pop tart. No one's in. Jim already went home, I'm bored. No one has been here since 7. I sighed. I went to the fridge and I grabbed a purple Gatorade. I paid it at the counter with my money and went back to my seat. It's gonna be a quiet night. Why the fuck did I stock the shit up fast? I looked in the mirror behind me and I saw the black eye still apparent. Fucking hell, when is it going to disappear? I really need a haircut too. I turned back around, and I waited. Waited. Waited. Until finally, the bell on the door rang. A girl walked in, she had a red blouse on. She went straight to the condoms and grabbed a pack. She sat it on the table and she paid for it. She left. No words spoken.
I felt my eyes getting heavy. I was about to fall asleep, when I heard the door open. I stood up.
"Disculpe señorita, ¿hay un baño aquí?" An old man asked as he walked to the counter with a girl behind him.
"Papá, estamos en América, no hablan español." The girl scolded the old man. "Sorry miss, my dad wants to borrow the toilet," The girl said. I pointed my finger to the back door.
"Out, to the left." I said.
"Thanks," The girl said as she lead the man to the back door. Another meaningless interaction. Who cares? It's not like she's going to be a named character in my country life.
"No problem." I sat back and I took the final bite of my pop tart.