Waiting for Amber Skyy

Chapter 32

Once we sat down at our little table, the furthest we could get from the door, Speck started to ooh at the menu options. Of course, she would be at ease, and of course she chose the busiest restaurant on the planet. We were wedged into our little two-person table between a family celebrating a birthday and a group of old farts catching up with each other. It didn't help that the family had two little kids running around like maniacs. With the hustling and bustling of the waiters, the squeals from the kids wanting more soda, and the oldies laughing about that one-time Jan flashed her ex, I was definitely on edge. I was gripping the menu so tight in my hands I managed to bend it backwards and almost knock over Speck's glass of water.

"Amber, everything's fine!" she whispered, catching it and placing it on the other side of her.

"Is it?" I buried my nose into the page, not even reading anything, just focusing on the sounds around me. I was waiting for the crash of an Eraser running towards us, or the bang of a handgun, or the growl of a dog, or the breath of hot saliva, or-

"What can I get for you ladies today?"

I jumped and proceeded to knock over my glass onto my plate, splashing it up and onto my clothes. Speck flared her eyes at me as the waiter quickly moved to wipe it down. I breathed heavily and unsuccessfully tried to dab away the water with my napkin. I repeated my sorries to her as she constantly replied, "Don't worry, it happens all the time!" Once all that was done and my shirt wet again, she smiled at us while I flushed in embarrassment, "Now, what would you ladies like to drink?"

Speck beamed at her, obviously liking the hospitality radiating from her. "Could I get two Sprites please? And a cherry chocolate milkshake? And a-" She winced as I kicked her shin with my foot. We matched eyes and I gave her the glare to not order so much. She blushed and went back to the menu, "Sorry, um... can I just have the milkshake please?"

"For a drink?" the waitress questioned, raising her perfectly drawn eyebrow.

"She likes to have dessert first," I butted in, kicking Speck's shin again. She stuck her tongue out at me, rubbing the area. "She'll have that and then maybe a Sprite later?" Speck lowly nodded with a pout on her face. Good, we don't need to attract more attention. We already got a few stares just because of our green-blue scales over our bodies. I glanced over the drink menu again. "I'll have a lemonade, and a Sprite later too." The waiter nodded and closed up her notepad, and said she'll be back with our drinks.

I let out a shaky sigh and looked over the menu again. As much as I wanted to just run from this whole situation, my stomach yearned for some grub. Plus, Speck was loving it. I glanced over at her, forcing a smirk as she bounced in her seat. "Look Amber, they even have steak here!" she pointed at it as her eyes glazed to another item. "And pasta! Ooh- shrimp and mushrooms in the taga- tagla... tagatel-" She frowned at the word.

"Tagliatelle?" I spoke, reading the pasta dish.

"Yeah! Doesn't that sound delicious?" she hungrily stared at the menu.

I knew I couldn't beat her in being worried. We were finally getting a break from it all. But because of it, my gut was telling me it wasn't right. Like the quiet before the storm. Letting out a shaky breath, I decided on a meal and an appetizer, knowing it would help fuel us in our journey. Once the waiter came back around, we placed our order for fried pickles and asparagus as our appetizer, the tagliatelle dish with extra mushrooms for Speck, and a grilled burger with bacon and tomatoes with a side of sweet potato fries for me. We were also planning for dessert afterwards.

Once she left, flustered with the amount of food we ordered, I leaned back in my chair to stretch a bit. Sitting here, being able to feel just a little bit more human than I've ever had, strangely felt good. It brought back several memories of me sitting with my parents, my fake parents, as I stuffed myself to the brim with a sundae only a sumo wrestler could finish. I lightly smiled but it quickly faded at the thought of them again. What if I grew up with my real parents? Would I have experienced everything up until now? Would I have ever been created into this... thing?