The Beauty of Everything

chapter one

"Florence, won't you at least consider taking the job? It'll be tons of fun, I swear!"

If your best friend ever asks you to waitress with her, do not do it. I repeat, do not do it. My summer so far has consisted of taking orders from obnoxious tourists, to washing a countless amount of dishes, to having to deal with the drunken hands pawing at me. I'm only eighteen, for Pete's sake.

"It'll be tons of fun."

Renee couldn't have been more wrong. The only perk to working in this dammed bar and grill was that it sat right on the Florida beach. That and the fact that it was a bar and grill. The fun part of the job was late on Saturday nights after closing, Jase would open up the bar for employees and a few invited friends. Even while we weren't allowed to drink alcohol, Renee and I were allowed to stick around. We usually just sat in the corner and drank sparkling grape juice out of champagne glasses.

"We have to at least look like we're old enough to be drinking alcohol."

Renee was all about trying to seem older and all mature. She was constantly dating older boys and sneaking out late at night. More times than I can count, Renee has stayed the night at my house to sleep off a buzz. I have never done anything near as exciting as her. The only thing she has ever convinced me to do was take this stupid job. I mean sure, I wouldn't mind earning some money this summer. I need to replace my bike with something that runs on an engine.

There was one bright spot to this job though. On those Saturday nights, while I was sitting with Renee in the corner, I would watch Jase and his group of friends. Particularly, one of those friends.

Chris Bakley.

He's been the boy of my dreams ever since I walked into prom junior year. He was waiting against the wall outside the gymnasium dressed in a classic black tux with a black bowtie. Eden Brookshire, another girl my grade, had invited him to be her date. I later found out they had been dating since the summer before, and they are still dating to this day.

There isn't much to say about Eden Brookshire. She's the typical blonde beauty. Renee once told me that she'd modeled for some huge agency. It doesn't surprise me. She's any boys dream girl.

I guess she was Chris's dream girl.

So here I sit, watching Chris and Eden sit up at the bar. Jase doesn't mind her sitting at the bar. If I even tried to sit up there...

"Florence? Florence are you listening to me?"

"Oh, uh, yeah. You were talking about how you thought Keith was cute."

Renee just looked at me, the corners of her lips pulling up slightly. "You were staring at Chris again. You know, you could go talk to him."

"Why would I do that? He's dating Eden."

Renee laughed. "That doesn't mean you can't talk to him."

I could feel my cheeks heat. "Eden would think I was trying to steal him. And honestly, what business do I have talking to him? He wouldn't want to talk to me."

Renee stood up. "Well, we may as well find out. Come on." She tugged me to my feet and started pulling me to the bar.

I tried to pull my hand back. "Renee! I can't just go up there!"

"Sure you can! You talk to Chris, and I'll talk to Keith. Everyone's happy."

I dug my heels into the ground to try to keep from moving too much farther. Renee just stopped to look at me. She tilted her head in the way that I knew she was about to start.

"Honestly Florence, it won't kill you to talk to a stranger. You never know what could happen. Maybe you'll find yourself becoming his friend."

"You really expect me to believe a guy like Chris Bakley would be friends with me?"

"Oh, come on!"

I let Renee pull me over to the bar. She sat me to the left of Chris. With Eden to his right, his back was facing me. Renee sat down to the left of me, Keith was on the other side of her. Ellie ruffled her hair and winked at me before she turned towards Keith. She tapped him on the shoulder.

"Excuse me, would you mind passing me the bowl of peanuts?"

Keith turned to Ellie, clearly surprised by her sudden appearance. "Sugar, you don't want to eat any of those. You never know who's hands have been in that bowl." He winked at her. Ellie, knowing she had him hooked, flicked her hair over her shoulder.

If Ellie could talk to a boy that easily, why couldn't I? I looked over at Chris's back. Maybe I could actually talk to him.

Just as I was debating tapping his shoulder, Eden stood up. She kissed Chris quickly on the cheek before walking away and out the front door.

"Now's your chance. Better do it before she comes back." I jumped in surprise at the sound of Ellie's voice so close in my ear. I looked to see her turn back towards Keith.

Just as I raised my hand toward his shoulder, Chris stood up. I pulled my arm back so I wouldn't hit him as he turned to step around his bar stool. He and Jase walked over towards the pool table.

I guess I wouldn't be talking to him after all.