Need You

CHAPTER O4

The two ladies at the table had their eyes glued to their phones as I placed the plates on the black food mats.

They lifted their heads and I was met with two familiar faces.

"Gina." I mentioned.

"Harry." She smiled when she recognised me.

"You know him?" The lady I had assumed was Derrick's girlfriend asked.

"Yeah. We used to go clubbing all the time." That was right. "I haven't seen you and Derrick in such a long time. Where have you two been? Do you work here now?"

I ignored the first question.

"Oh no." I responded too quickly. "I'm just helping out. They are understaffed today and Nikki is my friend so I decided to help out."

"You are friends with Nikki?" The other lady asked.

"Yes," I said.

She nodded slowly. I hoped that I was convincing.

"Well enjoy your meal then." I said went back to the busboys' station.

I made it through the day, washing dishes and eating leftovers, but as the restaurant was getting ready to close for the day, it hit me that I had not gone in search of Derrick and I had no idea where I would pass the night.

I roamed the streets, considering walking until daybreak. I didn't want to spend another night on the bare ground.

After a while, I couldn't fight the exhaustion. My legs were sore. I found myself back at Ethel's Diner.

In the small parking lot, I sat with my back against the wall and my knees held to my chest.

Feeling a gentle tap on my shoulder, I raised my head from the head support I had created from folding my arms over my knees.

Looking at me was the woman from last night that had the manager tag on.

I shielded my eyes from the bright orange light the street lamps emanated. I had fallen asleep.

My eyes adjusted to the bright surroundings as I stood.

"Were you sleeping there?" She asked with concern.

I did not respond.

"You're the guy who lost his wallet yesterday." I was hoping that she wouldn't remember me or that incident. "What are you doing here?Where do you live? Maybe I could drop you off?"

I didn't have an answer for her.

She stared at me intently and asked, "Don't you have a place to stay?"

I did but I just needed someone to take me there — Derrick.

"I can't help you if you don't say anything. I'm not comfortable leaving someone in the back of my restaurant."

"I'm not homeless. I just having a slight problem with my accommodation." I said.

"Can I help with that problem?"

If she knew where Derrick is, she would not have just helped, she would have solved my problem.

"You know what? Let's go." She said, moving towards the only car in the parking lot.

I couldn't tell exactly which colour the sedan was with the beam cast on it by the street lamps.

"Where?"

"To my house." She said nonchalantly. Her house? She didn't even know me.

"You don't know me. I could be a criminal for all you know."

"You could, but most criminals don't admit that they are criminals and so I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt." She said. "Get in. It's late."

I was taken aback by her kindness. Without asking, I voluntarily let her know the truth about me, carefully leaving out the part about my incarceration.

I feared that her kindness would change.

"So how did you get fired from your job?" She asked

"They had to let go some workers and unfortunately I was among those they decided to let go."

"Sorry about that."

"I have tried applying elsewhere but with no home, it's not so easy."

"What's the problem with where you stay?" She asked and I sighed dramatically. It would help with what I was going to say.

"It's very complicated."

"We're here." She said as she pulled the car into the driveway.

I realized that it was the same semi-detached building the taxi had dropped me off at.

She led me inside. Her living room was cosy. The brown furniture matched the orange walls.

The colour theme of the dining room matched that of the living room.

"You can sit." She said.

Reluctantly, I sat. She went into the room behind the two-person sofa I was in and brought me a bottle of water.  "Thank you."

"Are you hungry?" She asked. "I have rice in the fridge."

"I'm okay." I was hungry but giving a positive answer on the first ask wasn't polite in my opinion.

"Are you sure?"

I was waiting for her to offer it again and when she did, I did not refuse.

"Thank you very much." I said to her after eating. "I'll sort myself out soon." I hoped.

"It's okay. If there's anything I can help you with let me know."

"Thank you very much." I didn't think someone would treat me so nicely considering my story.

"She doesn't know your entire story." My subconscience chipped in.

She smiled at me and said, "Try and get some sleep."

She had laid a blanket and a pillow on the armchair of the long sofa that was directly opposite to the TV on the wall.