Difference

Chapter 3

A/N: I know I haven't updated in awhile. I'm sorry but school started getting busy and others things were going on but I'm going to start spending more time writing from now one. I should be posting a new chapter every 2-3 weeks and if I don't you have full right to yell at me. 

Anyways, hope you enjoy this chapter!

After hopping on the bus that runs from school to a neighborhood a few blocks away from the diner, I began my shift. When I walked in, Jed was already sitting down, at the counter this time, looking scornfully at what must have been today’s math homework. I felt a slight smirk pulling at the corners of my mouth despite my best efforts to contain it.

 When he looked up and saw me walking over his expression changed from one of crumpled worry to an easy smile. I felt another god damned smile threatening to cover my face but I quickly swallowed it before he could notice.

 “Please help me again.” Jed begged.

 “I do have to work you know,” I replied jokingly.

 “I do have to pass math you know!” Fake outrage was splattered on his face until it faded into a smile.

 “Fine, Fine. I’ll help you out before and after the dinner rush.” I said giving in. It was the damn smile. It gets me every time.

 Oh god, I sound like a soap opera.

“I knew you would give in…” he started. I walked away and waved my hand behind me to shush him.

 The next few hours were a blur of rushing around to get customers what they demanded. Jed didn’t say anything to me other than to order a milkshake and a slice of pie. Soon the dinner rush faded and I only had a few customers still eating dessert. Once a few more people left the diner I headed over to where Jed was sitting.

 “More pie?” I asked.

 “No.” He replied, “Just help.” His left foot was bouncing up and down repeatedly making an odd clicking sound that fit in perfectly with the other noises of the diner.

 He did sound desperate. Every trace of confidence that had once layered his voice was gone. When he asked for help there were no jokes and no slacking off. He sincerely wanted to pass math. I noticed the way his shoulders slumped over his papers and his fingers were threaded through his hair tugging at it slightly. There were bite marks running up and down his pencil, obviously a nervous habit.

 “Yeah of course. What do you need help with?” I asked.

 So we sat there for hours while I helped him with math. I kept reminding myself to check the clock and make sure I got home on time, but then I would get lost in the way he scrunched his nose when he got a question wrong, or the small smile that played on his lips after getting one right. I got lost in our witty banter and teasing. I got lost in us.

 This was our routine for the remainder of the week. Everyday when I got to work Jed was already sitting at the counter fretting of what work he had that day. Everyday I would work the dinner rush and then settle in to help him, and every night I lost track of time. On Friday there was a disruption in the system. I walked into the diner and Jed was sitting in his usual seat at the counter, but his usual look of disapproval and worry was replaced by something much more relaxed.

 “You’re not slacking are you?” I asked playfully.

 “It’s Friday, time to live a little.” He answered.

 “I’ll pass,” I replied curtly, without even thinking about it. Parties were not really my thing. Neither was “living a little” as Jed so nicely put it. Basically, I didn’t have a life and I liked it that way.

 “Come on, it’ll be fun. I want you to meet all of my friends…” He trailed off.

 “I have to work and my mom is expecting me home and I have homework and…”

 “We’ll go after you get off work, call your mom, and you have all weekend to do homework.” He cut me off.

 “I don’t have a phone.” I mumbled, almost hoping he wouldn’t hear me.

 “Here,” He said, “Use mine.” If what I had said had fazed him in the least he didn’t let on. He must have seen my look of hesitation because an encouraging smile tugged the corners of his mouth upwards.

 Damn it. The smile. Before I knew it I was grabbing the phone out of his hands and dialing my home number. What was happening to me?

When I hung up the phone Jed glowed with pride. “We’re going to have a ton of fun tonight Izzie, you won’t regret this.”

 I swallowed hard and tried to believe that too.