when dreams come true | x |

i. June 28th, California, 2014

I. JUNE 28TH, CALIFORNIA, 2014

PARKER WATCHED THE girl from his window, a bottle of beer hanging from her left hand and her flip flops on the right. She stared at the shore of the beach with a smile on her face, a smile that screamed that she was happy. Maybe even more than happy, if that was possible.

She had a shawl draped over and she seemed to be making sand art with her toe. The moon light made her silky brunette hair look like a shiny black.

She lived nearby, at a small bungalow, maybe a five minute walk from his small house. He often watched her leave at early mornings to swim at the beach and watched her return home from a bar, perhaps slightly drunk. Sometimes she had company, sometimes she didn't.

She looked at his way and smiled. She waved a little bit too.

Parker immediately shut his curtain drapes. He cursed.

He then walked away from the window, looking for something to distract himself with. Yet nothing seemed successful. His mind swerved back to the girl.

What was so special about her anyway?

She just liked reading books, and seemed like a very quiet person and seemed to smile all the time. Except for when she is reading a book. She also wears glasses that look bigger than her face (he thinks she looks cute) and her hair always seems to be messy. In a good way.

Parker seems to be developing a crush.

He went inside his mother's room to give her the insulin needed. He sat beside her and stared at her sleeping form. His mother wasn't very old. She was forty two. Yet almost all her hair had turned gray. Her eyes turned dull and cold, she could barely move anymore for weakness. Her smile never reached her eyes. Not since the day his father had abandoned his whole family for another woman.

Parker hated his father.

But he always dreamt of having the perfect father. His dreams never came true.

: : : : : : :

Parker woke up the next morning at the usual time, four twenty six am. It was a weird time set on his alarm, but he got used to it.

As per usual, he put on a shirt and jeans. They needed to be washed, it smelled awful. He noticed the girl from yesterday.

She was walking towards the beach, wearing a laced shirt over her red bikini, and waiting for a moment when she was in front of the blue sea. She closed her eyes and stayed like that for moments.

Parker had memorized every of her movement. He knew what she would do next. He knew she would run towards the beach and start swimming as soon as she was in deep enough.

When it was five ten, and the girl had returned to her house, Parker set out to work.

Parker didn't hate his job unlike many other workers. In fact, he loved it. There were some regular customers he adored (some he disliked, but whatever) and each day, along with his daily earnings, he earned a fair bit of tips too. He always saved up the tips and spent the rest on his mother.

He put on his work cap and washed his hands and started wiping the tables.

FINN : Hey Park.

Finn was another one of the waiters. Parker didn't know if he was his friend or not, but he liked Finn very much. He was extremely jolly and always smiled. He almost earned double more tips then Parker ever did.

PARKER : Hey Finn.

FINN : I needed a favor.

PARKER : What?

FINN : Do you mind covering up for my night shift? My sister invited me over to her house and I couldn't really say no. Just this once.

Finn worked night shifts on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Parker really didn't know why. Finn had a huge house and his father owned some kind of a huge business.

PARKER : Yeah sure, why not?

Finn broke out into a huge smile.

FINN : Thanks dude, I really appreciate it. I am sure you'll get a lot of tips today, it's a Saturday.

A man with a huge belly and double chins sat at a table nearby. He must be giving a huge tip. Parker and Finn raced towards his table.

Finn won.

: : : : : :

Parker came back from home, his hair wet and his body smelling like cheap soap. Not that the smell was bad.

It was six, and Parker started his first night shift. It was a bit weird since he didn't know anyone this time (he never took night shifts). He finished wiping a very greasy table and returned back behind the counter.

It was only six thirty and the bar was almost full. There were people here and there laughing and talking. It was a bit noisy. Parker loved it. He loved it when there was a rush. He liked keeping himself busy.

He was waiting tables for an old couple near the counter and a group of boys right beside them.

SOME BOY : Hey you! You boy!

He looked behind to see a boy calling him. His name tag read Doug.

DOUG : I need you to wait the table at the far corner. There is no one else left.

He immediately took out his tiny notebook and rushed at the corner. It was that girl.

His palms immediately started sweating and he got nervous. Why was he nervous?

PARKER : What can i get for you, ma'am?

GIRL : The usual.

She didn't even look at his face, staring at the menu.

PARKER : Um, I am sorry but I don't really know what the usual is. I am uh. New?

She looked up.

GIRL : Hey! You're that creepy stalker guy.

Parker immediately blushed. She knew that he liked staring at her.

PARKER : Um, your usual ma'am?

GIRL : (laughing) It's fine, you don't have to get embarrassed, I am Fiona.

She had her hand stuck out for him to shake. He shook it slowly.

PARKER : Parker.

FIONA : Is this your first day?

PARKER : I take morning shifts

FIONA : Well, my usual is (laughing again for some reason) just an iced tea with Brownies.

She had a huge smile on her face. She looked beautiful. And who ate brownies with ice tea?

PARKER : Okay, the food will be ready in fifteen minutes.

FIONA : I know. It was nice meeting you Parker.

PARKER : Uh, yeah. You too.

He quickly hurried away from her table and into the kitchen. After shouting out her orders to the chef, he got out of the kitchen to clean the table where the old couple sat. He checked the money. He got a 5 dollar tip.

He slid it inside his pocket and wiped the table. His eyes occasionally went back to glance at Fiona, who was reading a book.

After another awkward 'hey' from the girl when he served her food and an awkward 'bye' from her after she left, Parker went to wipe her table.

She left a hundred dollar bill. She left a tip of 92 dollars for him.

Dedicated to fariha because she is my BAAST FRAND and also made that boombastic banner at the side.