Waiting Tables

2

I've never been in love before. Romantic love, that is. I feel like that's relative to mention. When you're gay in a small little conservative town it doesn't happen. No one else is, or at least, they'd never admit to it. 

So I shouldn't of been surprised that when I came out to my parents, the night of my 18th birthday, after I'd had a bit too much to drink at the party, that my parents immediately threw me out. 

Somehow I was surprised. I guess I had some ounce of naivete in my body. But considered I'd never dated girls, or even talked to girls, I guess that my parents remained naive too. 

I had to couch surf for a while, then I scrapped enough money (plus my savings) to by a junkie car (driving carefully because I don't have insurance), and now I can barely afford my tiny apartment. Yay me. 

I have nightmares about my 18th birthday every time I fall asleep. It replays in my head. And it was only two months ago. I haven't talked to my parents since.

I wake up at around 3 p.m.. I have to be at work at by 11 so I guess I had some time. I get up grab a shower, and make a bagel to eat. I check my phone, empty per usual. 

Eventually I just go back to bed, get a few more hours of sleep, and by 10:45 I'm back at the best job on earth! Yay. 

It's empty, for a Wednesday it makes a bit of sense. Once people see the closer, they take it as their hint to go home. They don't actually care for me or who I am, but just that I'm there to replace them.

I greet my manager while she leaves and start my shift. Per usual, I sit at the counter and work on my courses. I don't know why I'm taking them, I don't have career goals. And it's just another bill for me to pay. But I felt like I needed to do something. 

I find my self just waiting for him to come in. I've had a few tables in the meantime, so I've kept sorta busy. But once the clock hits 2:30 a.m. I just assume he's not coming. Well, until I heard the door creak open a minute later. 

Once I see his tall figure through the glass door I jump up to greet him at the counter. 

"Hey! I didn't think you'd show up." I say with a grin.

"Well I did tell you I'd be here." He replies.

I can tell his demeanor is a little different than yesterday. He's being nice to me, but it's obvious he seems pretty stressed. I lead him to the same booth as last night. And get out the $50 bill he gave me.

"You gave me the wrong bill." I say.

"No? No I didn't?" He replies confused.

"Yes, yes you did. There's no way I can accept this much." I insist.

"The service was great, and you didn't even make me pay for my meal. Please take it." He insists.

I pause for a moment, staring at him before finally accepting.

"By the way, I never got your name." I ask.

"Alex." He answers.

I nod, making a mental note of it. 

"How is your night going so far?" He asks.

"It's fine. Boring, but fine." I chuckle.

He gives a slight laugh with me. 

I get his coffee, grab his food order, cook it, and deliver it to him. He motions for me to sit across from him, so I grab a coffee for myself and do so. I noticed he drin

ks his coffee black, I could never.

We really sit in silence while he eats. I try not to stare at him, but he eats very neatly. He finishes and I grab his dishes and sit back down with him. 

"Do you always work the graveyard shift?" He asks curiously.

"No not always, but a lot of the time I do. It's okay money." I admit.

He nods along, listening to me intently as I talk about my job. I've never talked to someone like this. And no one's ever listened to me like this. I tell him about my life, and about what happened with my parents. But he didn't judge me. 

I did notice that he wouldn't talk much about himself, any time I asked a question about him he just gave me either a plain answer or just deflected it. 

"I really enjoy talking to you." He says.

This makes me blush slightly. "Me too." 

He checks his watch. I glance over at is as well. It's almost 5 a.m.

"I think you need to get going." I say.

He sighs. "Maybe I should." 

As he's getting up to leave a group of guys come in. I wince in disappointment. I know these guys. These guys do not like me.

"Welcome to the Diner." I say blankly.

"What's up bitch?" one of them says. The others laughing along.

After that they launch a lot of hurtful words, slurs, and anything else they can think of before seating themselves at a large table.

The only thing I see next is blood. I expected it to be mine, but it wasn't. It was theirs. Holy shit. Alex was beating down on them. I didn't know what to do. I take a step back, not sure what to do. The men are trying to fight back but Alex is just so much stronger. 

"Get the FUCK out of here!" Alex yells.

They scramble out quickly, Alex throws money down on the counter in front of me, and leaves without saying a word. 

I'm not sure if I should be scared or impressed.