Crossing Boundaries

The Rude Girl

Mr. Blackbourne came to a stop in front of the diner. It was close to 6 p.m. and Sang was tired and hungry after a long day at the shelter. "This is where we will part Miss Sorenson. You should go in, find North and Luke," said Mr. Blackbourne turning to her with the engine of the car still idling.

Sang nodded, she had had a lot on her mind during the rest of the trip home and felt exhausted after the emotionally taxing day. But she didn't want to leave Mr. Blackbourne, they had shared so much over the past few hours, and to part from him was a bittersweet feeling.

"Where will you go?" Sang asked. She wasn't used to asking Mr. Blackbourne about his day, but she wanted to make a habit of it. She wanted to know more about him.

"I have to give Kota some instructions and visit Dr. Green at the hospital. I'll be here and there pretty much the rest of the night."

"I think you deserve a break." Sang was shocked at her own audacity. She'd never been so blunt with Mr. Blackbourne before.

"Soon enough, Miss Sorenson. Maybe we can take a vacation together, how does that sound?"

Sang whipped her head round to look at Mr. Blackbourne in disbelief, but he had a smirk on his lips. She didn't know whether he was bluffing or genuinely speaking the truth.

With her heart in her throat, she swallowed a few times and whispered, "I'd like that."

Mr. Blackbourne gazed at her with a soft, tender look. He placed his hands on hers and squeezed.

"Run along, Miss Sorenson. North and Luke will be waiting."

Sang got out of the car and walked up the steps of the old church. She turned round and waved at Mr. Blackbourne, he waved back and revved out of the diner parking lot. She watched the car down the road until it turned the corner and out of sight.

Sang made her way inside the diner. She had worked behind the counter on and off over the past couple of weeks and knew some of the regulars. She suspected that most of the customers who visited the diner were Academy members. Some of them waved at her and she greeted them with a 'hello'.

She saw a girl she hadn't seen before working behind the counter. She cautiously walked up and said, "Hi, I'm here to see Luke?" The girl eyed her suspiciously and shot back, "I'm sorry, only the staff are allowed to go back to the kitchens."

Sang didn't know what to do, she pressed her fingers to her lips and tried to peer round the girl to see if she could get a glimpse of any of the boys.

The girl brought Sang's attention back to hers when she asked, "is there anything you'd like," the way the girl said it didn't sound particularly pleasant, in fact it sounded like the girl wanted to get rid of Sang.

"Umm...can you tell Luke or North that Sang is here?"

"Sang? What's that?" Now the girl just sounded downright rude.

Sang hesitated, she wondered whether she should just go back out. She didn't want to stand out here looking like a fool.

"My name is Sang, I'm here to see North and Luke, they are expecting me."

"Well, they didn't tell me anything about someone named Sang. Why should I believe you?"

Sang stared at this girl with mistrust and nervousness. She fidgeted on her feet and decided to just head back out. She'd go to Nathan's or Kota's. At least she didn't need a written invitation to see them. She was about to say never mind and head back out when Gabriel's head popped round the door to the back.

"Sang, there you are, what are you doing standing there? Come on back," he said cheerfully.

Sang sighed in relief. She rounded the counter and entered the kitchen door. She glanced back at the girl and was surprised to see a barely suppressed anger on the girl's face. Sang didn't know what she had done to make the girl angry at her. She hoped it wasn't anything she had done or said.