“Where’sFear of the Dark?” I asked, looking for my favorite Iron Maiden album.
“Should be in there,” Tommy said from the back. I found it and shoved it into the tape deck. “Fear is the Key”blared from the speakers, and I relaxed into my seat, enjoying the view passing by me.
I didn’t travel to this side of the city. This was more blue-collar, whereas I’d been raised in the upper-class part of town, and had moved to a house not far from my family. As we drove deeper into the city, I longed to be a part of this life, rather than the one I’d been given.
If I could only get pieces of both, the money and complete freedom, I’d be happy.
I shook the thoughts from my head as we pulled into a brightly lit diner. I forgot. I don’t get to be happy. I just get to be rich and immortal.
“Come on, Birthday Boy, I need a milkshake!” Mick grabbed my shoulders from the back and shook me.
“Does this place have beer?” I asked. It was one of those old-school ones, like fromGrease.
“Oh yeah. Don’t let the bright colors fool you. We all come here after our shifts and have a few beers every Friday,” Randy said.
I was the last to go in and blinked as I adjusted to the bright lights. Prince was playing from the speakers overhead. Everything was either pastel pink or mint green. I was still skeptical about all of my friends’ positive reviews but joined them at a booth in the back anyways. I was hungry and my buzz was wearing off. I needed a beer.
I sat on the end and peered out. It was pretty busy for a Saturday night at a diner. A shadow appeared and I looked up. For a moment, I stopped breathing.
“Hello, gentlemen. Do we need five menus?”
I couldn’t take my eyes off of the beautiful woman. Large curls were pinned in a loose, messy ponytail on top of her head. Dark black eyes were hidden under thick lashes. Her lips were deep red and so perfectly shaped. What had she said?
“I’ve never seen you here before.” Randy smiled at her. “You new, kitten?”
The stunning Hispanic woman almost rolled her eyes but caught herself. “I’m the night shift. I’m assuming you’ll want a pitcher?” she asked tightly.
“Yes, ma’am.” Randy sat up straighter and eyed us. “I’ll take a Pepsi. But a pitcher for everyone else.”
“I’ll be back.” She turned around. Her uniform was just a black skirt and tight top, nothing fancy, but she made it look sexy as hell.
“Damn, I should come here at night more often.” Tommy whistled.
Disappointment flooded through me as a different waitress came to our table with glasses and two pitchers.
“You look like you’re about to cry over there, Desiderio.” Mick laughed. “You that deprived?”
“I knew you still had a dick.” Randy grinned wickedly as he started to pour drinks for us.
“Did you guys get a chance to look at the menu?”
I was startled again, by the stone cold fox with the large gold hoops and slight Mexican accent.
“I got the chance to look at you,” Randy quipped.
“Is that your best game?” She raised a thick eyebrow. “Because I can come back later.”
Embarrassed, he dropped his head. I smirked.
She had a smart mouth. I liked that.
“I’ll take an olive burger,” Tommy blurted. “With cheese fries.”
The waitress pulled out a pad of paper from her skirt and began to write down everyone’s orders. Randy reluctantly looked up and opted for chili dogs. She got to me, and it was then that I realized I hadn’t even looked at the menu. I’d been too busy watching her. She hadn’t glanced at me once.
Her eyes fell upon me, and she took a deep breath. For a moment, we stared at each other, soaking in each other, as if caught in time, where it was just her and I. Then, she blinked and cleared her throat.
“And what do you want?”
My mind went blank, except for one single word.
You.
