Best Thing In Town - B. J. Armstrong

MILKSHAKE

Sid sat quietly in the paint shop. It was a slow early morning. The newness if her arrival was wearing off so not as many older people came in to shop and meet her anymore. She hummed and drew little doodles in her sketchbook while the little radio in the shop softly played classical music. Sid was interrupted by the sound of the store bell going off and alerting her someone had entered.

"Hello, welcome to- oh" Sid spotted Billie Joe all dressed up and ready for the day. She wasn't used to seeing him this early. She smiled and leaned forward on the counter. "What are you doing here this early?"

"Not sticking around, I actually won't be around later either. My mom needs helps at the restaurant so I have a job now" Billie hoe announced as she walked closer and scratched at his scalp.

Sid smacked his hand away from his head and laughed. "Well, don't be scratching your head at work, customer don't want dandruff and lice in their food" She gave him a big ol' smile like she always did and readjusted her feet which she was sitting over. She wore an oversized t-shirt either different sized red, bue, white, and black stripes going across it paired with denim carpenter shorts that made it just to her knees. And of course, her beat up chucks.

"hey!" Billie scowled at her but still moved his hand away from his head and shoved it in the pocket of his jeans. "I don't have lice... or dandruff! I think that's all you" Billie gave her a crooked smile and squinted his eyes as if looking for little creatures in Sid's hair. "Alright I have to go now, i'll try to see you another day. Oh you can come by for band practice"

"Or I can drop by the restaurant later, have a bite of lice food and keep you company" Sid suggested, leaning forward over the counter and raising herself up a bit. She barely sat on her chair anymore, on her knees and leaning over the counter.

"Yeah... yeah that sounds nice" Billie smiled and ignored the warm feeling on his face, he blamed the weak fan in the shop. "See ya then"

"See ya" Sid smiled and came back down on her chair. She picked up her pencil and went right back to what she was doing with a soft smile

A bell chimed as Sid walked into the dining establishment. Her eyes looked all around, taking in the warm and comforting view of the place.

"Sid!" Sid looked over to find Billie behind the counter. His hair was more controlled than usual and he wore an apron that held a notepad and pen along with a handful of straws.

"Hey Beej," Sid greeted with a smile as she went forward and took a seat at the barstool. "Not to hungry for food but watcha got for me?"

"how does a milkshake sound?"

"A milkshake sounds perfect" Sidney smiled. "Strawberry?"

"Yeah we got strawberry" Billie nodded and tuned his back so he could get to it.

"Oh i've got it" A third voice joined in. A lovely woman with a name tag that read Ollie.

"Oh, mom this is Sid, Sidney. She helped me and the guys paint the bookmobile" Billie quickly jumped to introductions as Ollie came over.

"nice to meet you ma'am" Sidney smiled politely and gave her a small nod.

"Oh! you're Sidney! The pleasure is all mine, ugh you've been quite the topic of conversation lately. Oh you're Lisa's girl aren't ya! How is she? Y'know we were great friends in our teens but we never quite kept in touch when she went away. Billie get that milkshake going, honey" Ollie leaned forward on the counter and started a conversation with Sidney.

Sid smiled and laughed at the turn of events. An embarrassed and pushed aside Billie turned back around and got started on making the best strawberry milkshake he was able to make.

"Oh she's doing great, we're doing great really! You could come by if you'd like, we tend to be home afternoons. Oh she's not home weekends much but weekdays afternoon tend to be great." Sid smiled and nodded.

"And your brother? I remember Lisa left when she was pregnant with him. What she end up naming him?" Ollie questioned, pulling a stool over and taking a seat.

"Isaac, his name is Isaac Avery" Sidney said lovingly. "He's doing great, went off to chicago to study some car stuff on building an' fixing them or something. But he's coming back in a couple of days... i'm real excited about that" She explained fondly.

"Sounds like we both like double names." Ollie smiled and looked over her shoulder to find Billie carefully putting whipped cream on a strawberry milkshake. She gave a small and knowing smile before turning back to Sid. "And you? She give you a double name?"

"Yeah, Sidney Faye" Sid said a bit quietly. She wasn't a big fan of using her middle name, just Sid was much better and wasn't a mouthful. "but please, just Sid is fine"

"Sure honey, but that is a beautiful name" Ollie reassured her as she got up. "I think Billie is about done with that milkshake, so ill leave ya to it." She began to leave but stopped by Billie to give him a warning. "Ya better not charge her"

"I know, I wasn't gonna" Billie made his way over to Sid and placed the milkshake in front of her. "So?"

"Well it does look quite good, we'll see how it tastes" Sid placed her straw in and took a long sip.

"Faye huh?" Billie added with a smug smile which caused Sid to pause her sip and scold him.

"Hey! that wasn't for your ears and, and, just shut up" Sid crossed her arms and looked angrily at Billie. "Now I won't tell you just how yummy I think this milkshake is" She turned his head away and peaked at him with a side eyes.

"You wanna hang out this weekend? Just you and I, i've got a place I wanna show you. A place I enjoy, it's by the train tracks" Billie asked, nervous as hell, but he hid it well. Sid was stunned by the sudden change in atmosphere. She sat normally and looked at Billie with a soft smile.

"Yeah, yeah I'd like that Billie Joe"