ILLICIT AFFAIRS | WLW

Everything Has Changed

Thursday nights at the diner were usually predictable—a steady stream of regulars, with the occasional late-night study group stopping in for coffee and fries. The bells above the diner door jingled as Blair pushed her way inside, the humid warmth of the kitchen mixing with the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Blair stifled a yawn as she tied the pale pink apron over her ridiculous, bubble-gum-coloured uniform. The uniform she wore, a relic of some retro-themed marketing gimmick from years ago, felt tighter than usual, the polyester fabric clinging uncomfortably to her body. She tugged at the hem of her skirt, adjusting the matching headband that held back her curls, and tried to focus on the task at hand. It was Thursday, which meant another long evening of taking orders, wiping down tables, and trying not to think about Catherine.

But it was impossible to stop thinking about her. Ever since that moment in Catherines office earlier that day, her mind had been a whirlpool of confusion and conflicting emotions. Her thoughts spiralled and looped back to the same moment over and over again: the warmth of Catherine's touch on her wait, the light brush of her fingers against her skin. And then there were the words Catherine had spoken, the teasing and challenge – We shouldn't do what? The memory was like a film reel stuck on the same frame, making Blair's pulse quicken whenever it surfaced.

The heat of embarrassment flushed her cheeks again as she thought about how flustered she'd been. Catherine must have seen right through her. Hell, she practically admitted it outright—Blair was attracted to her. And what had Blair done? Denied it. Run away.

The clatter of dishes behind the counter pulled Blair back to the present, and she shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She couldn't afford to get distracted. Not here, not now. She picked up a tray and started making her rounds, checking in with regular customers and taking down orders from new faces. She greeted each person with a smile, even if her mind was too distracted .

The shift seemed to drag on endlessly, each tick of the clock sounding louder in her ears. It was in the middle of wiping down the counter that she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder, pulling her back to the present.

"Earth to Blair" A voice cut through the haze, "Are you okay?"

Blair turned to see Grace, a newer hire at the diner, sidled up to her at the counter. Grace had only been working there for a couple of weeks, but she had quickly proven herself to be a friendly and easy-going coworker. Her messy ponytail bobbed as she moved, and she had these bright, curious eyes that always seemed to be on the verge of laughing at some secret joke.

"You've been washing that coffee pot for at least five minutes," Grace pointed out, giving Blair a wry smile. "You planning to serve some existential dread with that once it's clean, or...?"

Forcing a smile in attempt to mask her inner turmoil, Blair shook her head, "Yeah, sorry, I'm fine. Just... distracted. Some of my professors are really testing me this week." She kept her tone casual, not wanting to give away how a particular professor had deeply gotten under her skin.

Grace raised an eyebrow, her expression turning playful yet knowing. "Oh, I get it. Let me guess... Miss Kingsley?"

"How did you know that?" Her breath caught in her throat, her smile faltering for a split second, and she stared at Grace in surprise.

"You're a languages student, right?" Grace said nonchalantly, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes.

Blair simply responded with a nod, trying to remain casual despite the sudden jolt of unease that crept up her spine.

Grace then shrugged, turning back to the counter to stack plates, "I've heard things about her around campus," Her tone was light, almost dismissive, but Blair couldn't help but detect a subtle tension beneath it, like Grace was choosing her words carefully, "She's a bit... infamous, you know? Sharp as a tack, and some say she's got this way of making you feel like you're the only person in the room."