#54 And Me

The Aftermath

When I get downstairs, I see Kyler pulling out of my driveway. What? Him and I need to talk, but he is just leaving?

I open the door to holler at him, but I see my dad just got home from work.

"Oh hey honey, Kyler said he had to go asked for me to take you back to work," my dad said walking to the door.

Biting my lip, I turn to grab a jacket, "Umm, yeah I'm ready, I know you are tired so I can just walk." I say stepping outside.

"No worries, hope in. Plus, half the town is out of power." He says, turning on his heels back to the car.

Pulling into work, all the lights are off. Oh no, I guess we lost power too. I hug my dad and get out.
"I will walk home tonight, or Adam will give me a ride Pops," I said before closing the door.

My dad works way too hard in the Texas heat for him to have to run me everywhere. Him and I made a deal if I saved $6,000 dollars he would buy me a car. He's not asking me to buy it myself, he just wants me to be able to afford everything on my own and not struggle so much when I go to college and I don't have him to work on my car or maintenance it.

Walking into the Diner, Adam greets me, " I tried calling you to let you know, but you left all your stuff here including your phone."

"Ummm, yeah I am sorry but since I'm here is there anything you would like me to do?," I ask avoiding eye contact.

"I sent everyone home, but we can start doing some deep cleaning, I have about four flashlights in the back," he says.

"Okay, I'll meet you in the kitchen.," I say taking off my jacket and work shirt, wearing my tank underneath.

3 hours later, the deep friers, oven, and floors are cleaned.

"Wow, we are a great team, the deep frier has never been so shiny," Adam says as I close the door to it.

"Thanks, today has been extra frustrating and I took it out on the frier," I say smiling, standing up from the floor.

Adam swallows thickly, and says " So Lizzie, I have been meaning to....." his voice breaks, clearly he's nervous, " been meaning to ask you would you like to go on a date with me?"

My smile fades, Adam is good looking, sweet, kind, but I have never seen him that way. I don't want to hurt his feelings, at the same time I don't know.

"Ummm, Adam I don't know what's going on in my personal life right now, but maybe one day." I say with my sweet smile.

Adam shakes his head, "Okay, I guess I'll hold you to that. Listen, I think we are done here, would you like a ride?" At that time, the lights come back on.

"Oh, I think I want to walk. I love the way our town looks after a rain storm, it's so pretty," I say dryly.

We lock up the Diner, say our good nights, and part ways.

I stop by the little corner store Kyler's mom owns. Since his dad and mom divorced Kyler doesn't talk to her much. I normally stop in there to grab a slushee after work.

"Hello, oh hey Lizzie," Anna, Kyler's baby cousin, says when I walk in. "Coming to get a slushee? Where is my big dumb cousin?" She asks.

I bite my lip, lower my head, "Probably at home, or with his football buddies." I say faking a smile.

Kathy, Kyler's mom comes out from the back, followed by her stupid boyfriend who put his hands on Kyler and Kathy last night. From what I can tell Kyler got a few good hits in. Ha that's what you get fucker, my subconscious spits.