Going Nowhere

Run For Your Life - Chapter Six

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Excuse the mistakes

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I don't know why I'd chosen to meet Ronnie at Campbell's Diner.

I never liked the food here, no matter how many times RJ and Ethan had dragged me here after a gig. To me, soggy hamburger buns and limp, brown salads just didn't give me the feeling of throwing up. It gave me a whole other feeling, but I'm not going to gross you out by describing it. RJ and Ethan on the other hand? They did all but slam their faces against the plate and suck up the food like a vacuum.

Maybe that's why I'd chosen the diner, though. No; not because of the lackluster food. It was because there were some many good memories I had at Campbell's, like when RJ "accidentally" poured a strawberry shake down Ethan's pants. Hopefully today, I could add another one to that.

"What can I get you, Lindsay?" I looked up to see the waitress named Donna standing next to me table, notepad in hand. I'd been here so often with the boys that the waitresses, and even the cooks, knew us by name. We weren't exactly a quiet table.

"Can I just get a Cherry Coke and some curly fries?" I asked, and Donna nodded. It was my usual order, since they were the only things I thought were actually somewhat good. I didn't know if I'd be able to eat the fries, though, since my stomach was in knots.

Donna walked away to turn my order into the kitchen, I stretched my legs across to the opposite side of the booth, and I let my head fall back against the top of my seat so that I was looking up at the ceiling. My guitar case was wedged awkwardly between my body and the inside of the booth, since I had band practice after this meeting, and I tapped my fingers against the hard case in a random rhythm.

To any other diner patron, I probably looked like I had either taken a detour during a walk of shame, or I was incredibly hung over. My hair was sticking up and out in random places, and what small amount of eye makeup I had on last night was now smudged underneath. My clothes, which were a collection of mismatched colors and layers, were wrinkled and some had holes. I hadn't slept well last night, and my appearance today was paying the price.

"Lindsay White?"

My head snapped up to see Ronnie standing next to the booth. Her hair was pulled back in a half ponytail, and she was wearing a semi-casual pair of black skinny jeans and a light purple shirt with a sort of woven collar. I didn't even entertain the idea that I should've dressed up because I didn't have the energy to even make the effort.

"Hi," I said, pulling my legs off if the seat across from me. My voice came out hoarse, and I swallowed to try and relieve my suddenly dry throat.

"Sorry I'm a few minutes late," Ronnie replied, sliding into the booth, "I had a work call that ran a lot longer than I'd expected."

"It's fine," I said, crossing my arms across my chest tightly. Donna came over before Ronnie could say anything, and she dropped off my order of fries and Cherry Coke.

"Can I get you something?" She asked Ronnie.

"Coffee would be wonderful," Ronnie replied, and Donna nodded before walking away to get it. While we waited, the table fell into an uncomfortable silence. I had so many questions that I wanted to ask Ronnie, but I didn't know how to word them, or even if I should ask. In a way, that was stupid seeing as the whole reason I was meeting with Ronnie today was to ask questions.

After Donna dropped off Ronnie's coffee, I bit the inside of my cheek and mustered up the courage to ask the question that pressed most on my mind.