The song that changed my heart

Not the way you wanted to meet

Talking to Vincent was easy. Finding the time for it was hard. They had been busy almost all day. People rushing in left and right. Even when he had the time it was quickly stolen by someone needing something. As Rody was leaning against the wall waiting for another dish another pair of customers came in. Lauren walked up to them, and quickly sat them down. Rody looked over and immediately froze. His heart began to pound in his chest as the elderly couple he could assume were in their sixties. Both had gray hairs sprouting. Though the woman still had the same ginger hair he did. The woman was lighter than her husband. With the man's skin color matching his own. He didn't need to look the man in the eyes to know they matched the color of his own. Compared to the woman's hazel one. Rody looked back to see the order for his table was ready. He quickly dashed over to it. Trying to remain as subtle as possible as he brought the dishes over to the customers. Throughout the entire shift he could feel their eyes on him. His eyes would look to see them turn back to each other. He knew they knew, but he refused to speak to them. It was best he pretended to not know who they were. Afterall, it had been nearly three years since he last talked to them. There were so many things he couldn't let them know. Some many things he could never tell them, and many things they could never know. His eyes watching all the meals they brought. Appetizer, side, main, all that was left was desert. Then they should be gone, and Rody would be free. If it weren't for Lauren. "Hey Rody you don't have many tables left, do you think you can cover mine? I really gotta pee." Rody gave a blank stare as Lauren gave a smile. "Most of them have desserts, and a few are about to be checked out." Lauren explained as Rody shrugged. "Thanks." Lauren said before springing towards the bathroom. Rody was left baffled by it. As much as Rody was chill with most people, that was a straw too far. "Why didn't he just say go ask Dillian?" Rody sighed. It was fine he could make it through this. A pair of customers that Lauren had been serving had begun to walk to register. Rody walked over to the register as he took the euros checking them out. Receiving a hundred dollar euro for a tip. Next was a side for one of his tables. He walked over. Lauren had placed five meal tickets on the counter. A table for four, and a table for one. Rody could feel his heart pounding knowing his parents' meal tickets were already there. In the midst of the cogs of the machine. Too far gone to pull them out. Rody just grabbed the sides and went to serve table four. He figured he would get past this as a single desert was placed on the counter. Rody knew it wasn't for his parents as another wasn't placed next to it. This desert was for a party of one. Rody quickly delivered it to the table while a party of two that Lauren had been serving walked to the register. Rody walked over and checked them out. Fifty dollar euro tip. Then on the counter were two desserts. The two plates he had been dreading. He walked over and placed them on the platter as he began to walk to their table. He placed the plates in front of them without another word. It felt awkward, but fear grabbed hold of him making him unable to speak. "Thank you." The man said as he looked up. His eyes were wide and he seemed stunned. Upon seeing him. Rody quickly walked away as he could hear whispering between the two. "He couldn't even acknowledge his own parents now. Even after three years without contact." He quickly cleaned up the other two tables. Feeling the eyes on him once again. It was then his breathing was beginning to accelerate. He couldn't stand to be in there much longer. Grabbing what trash there was and taking it to the back. Dump it in the bin before grabbing the bag. He looked at Vincent. Being met with his midnight eyes. He nodded ever so slightly as Rody opened the door leading to the alleyway. Rody walked to the dumpster and threw it in. He leaned his back against the wall as he heard the employee entrance being opened. His eyes looked over to see Vincent walking out. "Lauren's covering for you, so you have a break." Vincent explained as he shut the door behind him. Rody nodded as Vincent pulled out a cigarette. "You want one?" Vincent asked as he offered it to Vincent. Rody shook his head. "You smoking them is enough." Rody replied as Vincent shrugged. He grabbed his lighter and lit it. The smell of tobacco filled the air. Providing a decent distraction from the rotting garbage. Rody still felt shaky, his breathing hadn't picked up any faster, but he still felt like he was suffocating. Vincent placed a hand over his. "Take a deep breath in." Vincent said as Rody did so. They held it. "Exhale." Vincent said as he removed his cigarette. Blowing a ring out. Rody watched as it disappeared into the air. The sight itself was mesmerizing. Giving him something else to think about. They sat there for a few minutes. "When you're done I need to see you in the office." Vincent said. Rody looked over at him and began to feel fear in him. "It's not anything bad." Vincent replied, as Rody relaxed again. Vincent removed the cigarette from his lips before pressing a kiss to his cheek. Rody leaned his head on his shoulder. "We will have to go back inside soon." Vincent replied. "Yeah." Rody sighed as Vincent took another inhale of his cigarette. Before they went back inside.

Their shift went by fast. Until he and Vincent were the only two remaining. Rody walked back into the office as Vincent was busy packing up some paperwork. "What did you want to see me about?" Rody asked as Vincent looked back up and walked over to them. "Who were they?" Vincent asked as he grabbed Rody's shoulders. "What?" Rody asked. "The customers that made you uncomfortable, who are they?" Vincent asked again. Rody swallowed hard as his hands began to shake. "My parents." He whispered. "You're what?" "My parents." Rody replied as Vincent looked back at him. His stare was a blank stare. One that was cold and deadly. "They didn't do anything bad I swear. I just haven't really contacted them in a while." It wasn't entirely a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either. Vincent sighed as he looked down. "I won't ask anymore than you don't want to say. I want to make sure you are okay." Vincent replied before quickly bringing his lips up to meet Rody's. Rody grabbed his hips, and made it last a bit longer. The two parted with Rody giving a smile. Vincent gave a small smile back. "Alright. Let's get out of here." Vincent said as he grabbed the paperwork before the two left. With Vincent locking the restaurant behind them. As they walked into the parking lot a blue car stood out to them immediately. It looked relatively familiar to Rody. In a way that upset his stomach. He stepped a tad bit closer to Vincent. It seemed he took notice. "Don't pay any mind." Vincent muttered. Rody kept a straight face. Not sparing a glance as they made it to Vincent's car. "Do you think you could drive me home? Just in case of them?" Rody asked Vincent nodded, but as soon they reached Vincent's car Rody heard the car doors open. "Rody." A woman's voice said, causing Rody to freeze. Vincent paused alongside him. Rody turned around slowly with Vincent in tow. Rody could feel his heart pounding out of his chest. He never wanted to be face to face with them. Not like this, not right now. But of course it just had to be today. They couldn't come back tomorrow or anything. How long had they waited? Hours? Minutes? Just waiting for his shift to be over. The dedication was admirable, but not for the reasons he would want it to be. "How do you know my name?" Rody replied back stupidly. It was a mere trick, and one they saw right through. "Rody Lamoree, is this how you treat your mother after cutting contact with us for three years?" Rody swallowed hard at his fathers words. "I mean, y'all never called me either." Rody said as Rody's fathers face turned into a scowl. "It's not our responsibility to contact you. Especially when you moved. We have a life, you know, and it's not waiting on tables like you're still doing. You flunked out all because of that girl." Rody heard a slight rustling sound. He looked to his left. Vincent was giving his parents the most unpleasant death stare. He was sure if he gave him the word he would fight his dad then and there. "Which one?" Rody replied back quickly. It was a nice save, though no confidence showed in his words. "You never liked any of them." Rody replied back a bit more confidently. Though it was quickly shattered by his mother. "Wasn't it Miranda? Or Melody? Or..." "Manon?" Vincent asked quietly and coldly. His parents snapped their heads in the direction of Vincent. They then quickly moved back to look at Rody. Once again ignoring Vincent. "You had another girlfriend and you didn't tell us? What despicable wench did you decide to date after you moved out?" Rody's father shouted. Something about that made Rody snap. Sure Manon was his ex, but she was a good person. "Maybe it's because you would berate her like every other girlfriend I had. She was a genuinely good partner, and I wouldn't want to put her through that." Rody shouted back. His parents were once again stunned into silence. It lasted for a few beats. "And where is she now?" Rody sank back into himself. She wasn't with him anymore. A satisfactory smile appeared on his father's face. He could tell they won, and now they looked at Vincent. "Apologize for interrupting your evening sir, but we can take it home from here. Afterall..." "That won't be necessary." Vincent's words came out like ice. It was clear any friendly customer service charade he did manage melted upon sight with Rody's parents. "Pardon?" Rody's mother asked. Vincent grabbed Rody's arm. "I wouldn't trust Rody to go anywhere with despicable pigs like you. Let alone trust you with the location of his housing." Rody could see the offense seething under their skin. "Now you listen here." "No, Now YOU LISTEN HERE!" Rody's father moved back upon Vincent's shouting. "I don't want to see harassment like this around the waitstaff. I am taking Rody home, and that is FINAL." Vincent kept eye contact with his father as he grabbed Rody by the hand. Only breaking it to quickly rush to his car with Rody in tow. Rody didn't complain. He was processing what all had been said. He had actually stood up for himself. In a weird way. It wasn't much but maybe it was a start. Vincent opened the passenger door for him. Allowing Rody to go in. Rody got in with Vincent shutting the door behind him. He looked at the rearview mirror to see his parents still standing there. Still almost stunned. They didn't move until Vincent shouted at them once again before getting in the car. "We're stopping at my place for dinner. Then you need to explain what the hell that was about." Vincent said as he started the engine. Rody didn't say anything. He just nodded as they pulled out of the parking lot. Leaving the blue car, and Rody's parents to disappear once again from his life. Hopefully to never be seen again.