What We Do To Each Other

Changes to us all : Chapter 2

I'm frozen. My sister is frantically talking, words combining into slobbers of sounds not making sense to my ears. I blink, once, twice, as if it'll help me make sense of everything. "...h-he's back?!" I exclaim, my voice carrying across the whole kitchen. All noises seem to halt, as if even the smallest of sound would break me.
I stare at everyone and they stare back. Steve looks at me worriedly and I just shake my head. "Yeah he came by looking for you a-and we were just so surprised s-so we told h-him where you were and I-I know we shouldn't have but-" she stammers. "YOU WHAT" I scream, hysterically.
"Liv! Cmon! We weren't sure what to do! He- we- I just.." A sharp breath comes out of me when I hear the door open. I peak out and tears rush to my eyes. "Ella. I have to go." I rush out. "Liv-" I hang up with shakey fingers. I'm still staring at my phone when Chloe comes in. "Girl! What are you still doing? There's a hot guy at table 12 - you got this one, babe."
Nonononono no. I can't. She's been obsessively trying to set me up with a guy. Even though I already have Justin, but she doesn't think we'll last. Neither do I. nonono. I love him and he loves me.
       I'm brought back into reality when Chloe shoved a notepad and pen into my hands and pushes me out the doors.
I trip, steadying myself on the wall. I anxiously wipe my hands on my pants and start moving towards table 12. I can't do this. He's not going to get to me. Just like he didn't get to me last time. I stop at the table, bring up the fakest smile I can muster.
"Hello! Welcome to Marla's Place. I'm your waitress for today. How may I help you?" Im staring down at my notepad, determined not to look up. "Hello, love." My head snaps up at the voice. It's not him. Relief immediately rushes through me. Wait... it's not him? I don't realize I'm staring at the blonde, green eyed boy until he laughs nervously. "Oh- I'm so sorry- I-I just-... I'm sorry. Are you ready to order?" I stammer.
       He looks at me, amusingly and lazily takes out his menu, scrolling through it. After a minute or so I open my mouth to excuse myself. "If you're not ready yet I can-"
      "I would like a regular burger, extra Mayo - nothing on it and a side of onion rings." I snap my mouth shut and hurriedly start writing down his order. "Any sauces?" Nope. "A drink?" Sprite, okay... "Is that all?" "Yep." He says, winking at me. I immediately cringe, but smile and walk away shaking my head.
       As I'm walking past the bar I see a head full of brown, curly hairs. I stop breathing, frozen in place. Chloe, standing next to him is talking animatedly smiling furiously. I'm staring but I can't help it. He's different. Oh, so different. But... a good different. His neat, gelled down hair is now free. His old glasses are gone , his bright silver eyes open for all to see. I'm still staring, I realize. He hasn't seen me yet, I also realize. Let's keep it that way.
       I put my notepad in my pocket, staring at the floor, rushing to the back - away from him. I'm almost past the tables that lead into the kitchen when Kennedy, a newcomer comes running out of the doors with a tray full of glasses and crashes right into me. Fuck.
       I'm on the ground, my shirt covered in beers and other sticky drinks. I curse and get up, picking up everything that spilled. Kennedy is frozen, staring behind me. I'm still cursing when I start to hear everything. And when I say everything I mean them.
        "Oh, god." I mutter. The whoops and hollers used to make me uncomfortable. But now, I'm used to them. It's that time of night when the drunks become assholes and the sobers become drunks.
       "Ooooh I would like a piece of that" Like you would get any if you weren't drunk? "Yeah, baby get on your knees for me. Yeaaaahhh" Dude. Shut up before I personally kick you in the balls. "heyyy babbbeee stay juust like tha-" The last one is cut off when I'm roughly pulled up by my arm. I stumble in the hard grip.
        I stare up into silver, hard, cold eyes and shiver. "Liv" My breath catches and I take a step back. "Uriah." His mouth turns into a straight line at name, and not my nickname for him. We stare at each other for a second more and then he turns around, lightning fast when a guy yells again about my "smoking hot ass which he wants some of it" . But before he can doing anything I immediately put my hand on his shoulder, as if we were 15 again.
        By the way his shoulders tense up, I can tell he's thinking about the times I did the same while we were dancing. Or hugging. Or... I blink back the memories and snatch my hand back from his shoulder. He looks at me and grabs my hand and pulls me into the storage room. He closes the door and stands there, watching me. I can imagine all the things he finds different about me. Maybe he sees the new lipstick I'm wearing. Or smells the new perfume Justin got me. Or maybe- Justin.
        Oh god. How am I going to explain him to Justin? Justin, who was there for me. Justin, who is not here today because it's his day off. Justin, who is my boyfriend. God, how do you explain to your boyfriend that the guy you kept crying over came home? And just in time for you birthday?
         Uriah is staring at me. And I'm staring at him too. I don't know what to say. We've changed. His eyes aren't the same. His hair, the hair I've always told him to let loose is finally crazy enough for me to run my hands through. And I so want to put my hands through.
         "Olivia.." I startle when I hear my name. "Uriah?" ... the awkwardness is so different than our usual comfortable conversations. I'm so exhausted and tired from the day though, and I don't want to stay in here any longer. "What are you doin here Uriah?" I ask, not caring if my words are colder than his eyes. He looks at me, not expecting the harshness in my tone. " ... " He doesn't answer. Of course he doesn't. He was always the type to make you work for his words, never giving freely.
        I shake my head, already over his new yet familiar attitude. "Of course, what do I expect from Uriah Waters? A conversation? Never." I mutter bitterly, moving towards the door, ready to escape the small room. He takes in a sharp breath when he realizes I'm leaving. Grabbing my arm, he finally says "Wait Liv! I- you - I just - I wanted to see you again."
        I gape at him. Seriously? Holy fuck he's serious. I laugh, not believing what he is saying. "What? Seriously Uriah? You come here expecting me to jump into your arms as if you didn't just leave me here, alone? You just expect me to forget everything? Not care that you didn't even call me before you left? Or texted me? Or left me a note? That's fucked up man."
      I fling off him hand and storm through the door, heading towards the kitchen to grab my stuff. Following me, he storms in after me. I roll my eyes, and text Dani a simple sentence. "Uriah is back". Speaking of him, I can feel him behind me, staring at me. I glance behind him and see Chloe looking interested... yet jealous. Oh goodness... I can't handle all this drama.
"Liv. Cmon. Can we talk?" He asks. More like demands. "You didn't want to talk then. So we aren't talking now." I say, determined to wait him out until Dani comes. She better be here fast. Or I'll kick her butt.
"You just don't understand, Liv. I had a lot going on and you-" I cut him off, really pissed now. "We all have shit going on in our lives, Uri. That doesn't mean you cut your friends off and never talk to them again and expect them to forgive you the second you come back." Too late, I realize that I used his nickname. I glance at his face to see if he realized, but he seemed confused by what I had said.
"You had stuff going o-?" He exclaims. "Don't be an idiot. Everyone does. Don't expect perfection Uriah. You especially." His face darkens and his eyes lower to ground. He opens his mouth as if he was about to respond but is again, cut off. In the best possible way. For me at least. It'll be hell for him.
"Where's the bitch at?" Pushing through the doors, Dani, my best friend and formal friend of Uriah's, bursts through the diner making the grand entrance she was made for. And from the look on Uriah's face, he knows he's in for it. I smirk, and think finally.

——————————————————————

Sooooo ... any thoughts? Any suggestions? Orrrr writing mistakes I could fix? Hope y'all liked it ! Not sure how to end it exactly so any and all ideas are welcomed!

With all love,
Em 🧍🏼‍♀️✨🧍🏼