Maybe I Hate You

5 - Dan's Diner

Jane's P.O.V.

The car ride was comfortable and quiet the whole way to the diner.     I can't say I've been here before now, but it looked familiar. I enjoyed the night so far and I tried to not let my intrusive thoughts ruin them. There was a feeling I couldn't ignore as we pulled into the restaurant, almost as if I had been here before, but I didn't have any memories of it. I told myself I was just anxious and brushed it off. I stared off at the sign that read "Dans Diner". For some reason, the whole atmosphere was making me think of my mother, whom I hadn't seen since I was a little girl. I didn't notice I had zoned out on the sign until I saw my door being opened by Tyler.

"You ready?" His tone sounded more like are you okay?

I blinked a few times and smiled. "Yeah, I'm fine."

He smiled back and stepped back so I had plenty of room to step out of the car. "I used to come here a lot as a kid, they have some of the best ice cream around."

I stood on the other side of him as he closed the car door and locked it. He turned and put his hand on the small of my back for a few moments, almost guiding me toward the restaurant. It wasn't the first time tonight he had put his hand there and every time he pulled it away my skin tingled in its absence. I know Scott said to try to allow myself to like him, but my anxiety couldn't help but question if this was really the smartest thing I could be doing. He is kind of cute, though.

Tyler opened the door for me, again. The diner was small and retro as if the owner refused to get with the current times. There was a sign that said to seat yourself a few feet from the entrance. He gestured for me to follow him and I did just that. He took me to the back of the diner, where there was a small booth just big enough for two under a window. It stood alone in a nook of the building, further away from the rest of the tables. Perfect.

I smiled at him again as we slid into our seats. "This place is cute."

"Yeah, I love it here. This is my favorite booth, too." Tyler looked down as he finished talking. I had the sense there was a deeper story behind this booth, but I chose not to ask him about it. For the time being, anyway.

A few moments later the waitress came. She had a black apron on and a few different things in her pockets that weren't visible to me. The years showed on her face but she was still full of life. "Hey, hun! It's nice to see ya, haven't seen ya around in some time now."

"Thanks, Debra. How have you been?" Tyler was relaxed around her.

"Oh you know, just another day in the diner. Kids are good, their kids are good, what more can ya ask?"

"Good," Tyler chuckled.

"Well, I guess I can ask, what drinks I can get you started with?" She looked at me.

"Just a sprite, for me," I said shyly.

"We are here for the ice cream, Deb. Someone hasn't had it yet." Tyler nodded in my direction.

"I got it hun, don't you worry." She gave him a knowing look before hurrying away.

"You'll love it, trust me," Tyler said to me.

"We'll see." I smiled.

"You sure you haven't been here before? It's rather popular around here." He questioned me.

I looked around at the walls, the pictures of the diner from years past, and the people who worked here over time. The wallpaper was a small floral print, hardly noticeable from afar. The tables a deep wood, chairs to match. The booths were a classic white. Nothing was identical to the other but it all flowed beautifully. "Not that I remember, at least."