Hello, Sweetheart

C H A P T E R 4

I slowly move my gaze away from the door and fold the napkin with his phone number on it into my back pocket. I massage the bridge of my nose and get up, slowly making my way to the janitors closet to grab the mop. 

I feel multiple eyes on me as I open the door and pull out the mop bucket and set it by the corner table. I let the mop soak up all the lemon smelling bleach and put the mop on the floor. It lands with a "plop". 

I continue mop up the floor, my mind replaying the way the charming man's voice glazed over the word "Sweetheart" and "darling". His accent was faint, but it was there, there enough to make me daydream about it. I wonder what it would sound like if he said my name. 

I put the mop back into the bucket and place it behind the booth and walk towards Dorothy. Shes looking at me with that "I saw that" look. I bite the inside of my cheek and smile at her. 

"Now, if I know any better, you just lived a hallmark movie deary. I saw the way that fool winked at you before leaving!" she elbows me in the side, chuckling softly. I roll my eyes. I want to say she's thinking too much into it...but if I'm being honest...I definitely saw that wink; it was definitely aimed at me...Or even it could have been a "Goodbye!" to the diner? I don't know, it could be like a polite farewell gesture. 

"Don't think much into it Dorothy...It could easily be a goodbye to everyone, I mean a lot of guys wink as a "goodbye" gesture to the diner, he could of been saying goodbye at you and Alex!" I shrug my shoulders. 

Dorothy puts her hands on her hips and shakes her head in disbelief, "Well last time I checked Me and Alex wasn't sitting in that corner booth." she nudges her thumb in the direction of the booth. 

I laugh softly and watch a group of girls my age walk in, they're wearing different colors of summer dresses, some with sleeves, some without.  I grab my notebook and pen from my apron pocket and turn to Dorothy. 

"I'll go serve them Dorothy." I smile at her.

"Good, good, my luck they'll talk my ear off about some new pop artist." she mumbles and walks off to the back. 

My mind instantly goes to Avery. She would fit perfectly in this little group, her bright shiny self, with her blonde wavy hair and how she's constantly wearing pastel colors, but mostly pinks. She loves pink. Her room is pink, her clothes are pink, her energy is pink. 

I clear my voice, so it sounds cheery. "Hi!! How may I serve you beautiful girls?" I smile happily at them.

They all stop laughing and look up at me, with a bit of disgust. I mean I don't blame them, I'm drenched in sweat, my face red from either blushing or the heat and pieces of my hair sticking to my forehead due to the damp texture. 

"Oh uhm...just 6 strawberry milkshakes please, with whip cream and cherry..." the brunette with green eyes speaks first. Shes wearing a white sundress with a flower crown in her hair. Shes wearing white sandals with fake daisies on the strap. 

I nod and write it down, "Of course, that'll be right out...!" I walk away from the table and hear faint giggling and whispering. I take a deep breath and walk behind the cash register, placing the milkshake order on the table behind me. I see a few girls glance over at where I'm standing and they turn around quickly, sharing a group of giggles with the other girls. 

I sigh and grab the milkshakes behind me once they're ready to be served and walk over to the table. I feel my anger crawling at my skin, eating me alive. Begging for me to release it when I see their disgusted little faces. 

I grip the milkshakes and my eyes rest on that snobby little brunette, I watch her roll her eyes at me, disgusted at just the look of me. The slow annoyed roll of her eyes sets me off. Before I can stop myself, I watch the milkshake fly into her hair and unblended highlighter. 

My eyes go wide, realizing what I just did. Her frustrated shrieks fill my ears, but I ignore them, I turn around and see Dorothy cheering me on after I pulled that outrageous immature act. 

"You little-!!" The girl yells, her face turning a slight red with anger...or maybe its the strawberries glued to her face. I wipe my hands that have a bit of milkshake on them right on her neatly ironed sundress. I walk away, ignoring all her useless yelling and Dorothy is jumping up and down with excitement. 

For her being in her 50s she has the energy of a 6-year-old...well only when she's out of her work mood. When she's in her work mood, she's cursing and yelling at anyone in her sight and pushing people out of her way. 

"YES LACEY!!" she continues cheering and grabs me by the shoulders "Thats the most anger I've you've ever shown, I didn't know you could even be angry. You're always so bubbly...and nice-." she stares at me in shock and smiles wide.

I laugh. "Well, first for everything I guess..." I shrug my shoulders. 

I turn around and realize the same bitchy brunette is still yelling. "OH YOU JUST WAIT UNTIL MY MOTHER TELLS YOUR MOTHER!!!" she screams and stomps out, her little minions following her hesitantly. 

Dorothy scoffs "Now, forget about her and the little plastics, take your shift off early, congratulate yourself for finally taking no one's shit, because honestly I was tired of defending you. Now for once in your life, get out of my diner!!" she nudges me towards the door. 

I hold up my hands in defense and nudge the door open with my hip. "Fine! Fine! I'm leaving, I'll see you later!" I laugh and grab my canvas bag from the hook nearby and let the door close on its own. The sound of the bells jingling behind me. 

I take one look at the beach a few blocks away but turn the other direction toward the house, even though I most likely got strawberry milkshake in someone's nostrils I still wave and smile at everyone I walk pass. 

I finally reach the door to the house and search for my keys in my canvas bag. My hand glides across the napkin with the mysterious no name man's number. I ignore it and grab my keys which is right next to the napkin and unlock the door. 

Once I walk in and take my shoes off, I go to open my mouth announcing im home early. But once I look up, I see my mother standing in front of me. Her arms crossed with anger and my dad a few steps back from her, almost like she's fire to a house and my dad is just there to help if anything extreme happens but is cautious. 

Most accurate comparison between those two. 

But honestly. How quick can one call her mother and instantly share to another. Apparently Kimberlys older sister Kelsey can.  

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