Another Day

Chapter 8

Linda called in sick for work, so I had to serve with a girl I didn’t know too well. Her name was Susan and she was still in high school, two years younger than me. She was bland and loud, but had a knack for getting customers to buy expensive food.

The day wasn’t very busy, so I spent most of the time loafing around the kitchen chatting with James.

“So, Mr. Handsome home?”

I nodded, ignoring the sarcasm in his voice.

‘You don’t seem too thrilled about it.” He prodded, looking at me out of the corner of his eye.

“We just had a bit of an argument this morning.” I said, trying to sound casual. I sipped my tea. “He’s leaving again soon.”

“How soon?”

“Two days after today.”

He sighed. “Donna, I know you love him and all but he is gone an awful lot.”

“I know”

Susan wandered into the back, effectively ending the conversation to my relief. I really didn’t want to get into this with James right now when I was having enough of my own doubt.

“Everyone’s gone, can we close up?”

“Is it closing time?” I chided, sounding bitterer than I intended. “Seven fifteen.” Susan retorted, pursing her lips. “Then it’s not closing time.” I said sarcastically.

I reached for another cup of coffee. The other two did the same, and we sat on the floor in the kitchen, talking for a while, having a bit of a bonding moment.

The bell on the door rang and I stood up. “I’ll get it.”

I walked out into the diner, snatching my notepad off the counter, not paying much attention.

I plastered a smile on my face and grabbed my pen, looking up. “Hi what ca-” I started, and then stopped. George came striding towards me, grinning stupidly.

“Hey Donna”

“What are you doing here?” I spat, although I hadn’t intended to. He didn’t seem much effected anyway.

“I just wanted to see you.” He slid into a seat at the bar right it front of me.

I was flabbergasted. It was quiet for a moment as I struggled to think of something to say, and before I could stop it, the question I’d been milling about for hours popped suddenly out of my mouth.

“Why’d you do it.?”

He knew what I was talking about. I could see it on his face though how surprised he was at how much I had obviously fixated on…it.

“Cause I like you and I wanted you to know.”

I laughed, out of surprise and nervousness and because that simple truth couldn’t be more complicated. “I’m involved with someone else, I hardly know you. I’m not going to give up all that I have just for a fling with a celebrity.” I said shrilly.

He scratched his head awkwardly. “I just thought you seemed nice and gave it a shot Donna, I didn’t ask you to give up anything.”

I hesitated, extremely embarrassed. My heart plummeted to the bottom of my shoes. Leave it to me to make something a bigger deal than it is. I looked away and couldn’t help but feel a touch of rejection. Foolishly, I had read too much into a little kiss and let my train of though derail into a fantasy land where famous people spontaneously started to fall in love with me. I felt like a three-year-old, very small and very immature.