How to Help Howell?

Part 16

Phil's POV

I woke up the next morning in the bed that happened to be in the back room of the restaurant. I looked next to me to find Bella still asleep.

Last night had been amazing. I met the most amazing girl in the universe and I felt as if I were king of the world. Nothing could possibly stop me. I put my shirt back on and left the back room to go into the dining room.

It was empty, as the restaurant hadn't opened yet. I went over to the table that Bella and I shared last night to find a note sitting on the table from Dan.

I had completely forgot that I had left the keys on the table the previous night.

"Phil?" Bella called from the back, at which I ran to the room to find her sitting looking rather tiredly on he bed.

"You're still here?" She asked confused and I could hear a hint of annoyance.

"Um...Dan left so I was going to ask if you could give me a ride home?" I asked sheepishly, slightly embarrassed that I didn't have a ride home by myself.

She looked at me with disgust. "You can catch a bus, kid." I felt really puzzled.

"Kid? Do you not remember what happened last night?"

"Yeah, that's a common thing. I pick up kids like you on my shift all the time," she replied as if it was obvious.

"Oh...well before I leave do you want to give me your number? I enjoyed being with you, maybe we could do this again?" I asked hopefully, still a bit deterred by the fact that she "picks up kids on her shift all the time".

"Yeah, I don't think so. This is a one time thing and we're never going to see each other again because you won't come back here. Got it?" She replied with a spoiled tone.

Without another word, I turned and left the restaurant. No thank you, no goodbye, nothing.

I made sure to take out the stick of gum I had in my pocket, chew it up a bit, then stick it under the podium before I left.