She looks at me from beneath long mascaraed soaked lashes. It's in this instant that I think two things: damn, she has beautiful eyes and who drinks a milkshake at 1:00 a.m.? When she's done sipping from her straw she smiles at me. Not the "oh my gosh why is he staring at me?" kind of smile but something rather genuine. At first I smile back but remembering how lopsided and awkward my smiles have always been, settle for nodding back instead.
Bill comes back to the counter and hands her a slice of piping hot blueberry pie. She smiles once again and thanks him. I'm sure a smile like that could put any Hollywood starlet to shame. As she picks up the fork and digs in I find myself wishing that I had a camera, or was at least serious about photography. I feel like it's this kind of nostalgic everyday situation that artists use to make a name for themselves in NYC galleries. The look out the corner of her eye reminds me that I'm still staring though. It's probably already too late to avoid making myself look like a creep, but I quickly look away.
I think about reading over the biology textbook settled between an empty cup of coffee and my iPod but it doesn't happen. I convince myself that I've studied enough. I fumble with the cord of my headphones and flip the music over to something a little chiller.
There are two truck drivers sitting further down the counter from the girl. One can't take his eyes off her. The other can't take his eyes off the TV flickering in and out of focus in the corner of the restaurant. Both are chowing down on greasy burgers, fries, and beer.
A kid- not more than seven or eight- is in the back of the diner. He's the waitress' son. I don't come to this place much at night, but whenever I do he's always there, in the same booth, facing the same direction. Usually he's doing his homework with his mom coming back and forth to help him out but tonight he's coloring in a coloring book. Right now he's scribbling with a red crayon. I wonder what he's coloring.
Janet, the waitress, stops by his booth on her way to one seated with two cops. One cop is on his phone, texting away while the other is waiting eagerly for her pancakes. She smiles at Janet as she sets down the plate. They exchange a few words that I fail to hear before Janet is running back into the kitchen. Meanwhile the girl at the counter is savoring the pie as if it'll be the last slice she'll ever have. Now, Bill's pies have always been good, but I've never seen anyone eat them like her. It's not done in a creepy weird way or anything, but in a way that -if I was Bill- I'd take as the best damn compliment of my life; but I'm staring again. I can see it in the sideways glance she's giving me.
I look back down.
I wonder what a girl like her is doing here at this time of night anyway. She doesn't seem like a student. No, she looks like she has her life too put together to be that. She's fully dressed with skinny jeans and an over-sized sweater on. She's clean and for the most part makeup free with her long blond hair pinned back. In other words, there's way she's a prostitute on her break. Like I said, she has her life too put together.
So could she be waiting for someone? A boyfriend maybe? If so what kind of guy would leave his girl waiting in a neighborhood like this? It's not the best place around this time; never has been. Hell, if it wasn't for this diner and its damn good pies and burgers I wouldn't come anywhere near this street. So why would a woman as beautiful and well put together as her sit around here at 1:20 am?
I think briefly about the club around the corner but she's not dressed for that sort of place and besides, who goes to a nightclub on a Tuesday night?
The girl is finishing the last bits of her pie now. When she scoops up the last piece with her spoon she slips it into her mouth- pass perfectly pink lips that I imagine would leave behind a hell of a kiss mark - then slowly pulls it back out making me swoon in my seat... lucky ass spoon...
My phone vibrates on the table as a text comes in. The sudden noise makes me jump and I look down at the screen. It's from a friend; something about borrowing a book. As I reply back I catch a glimpse of a man passing by outside. He stops by the window near me and pulls out his cell phone. His voice is mumbled by the glass as he has a conversation with someone on the other end.
"Want some more coffee, hun?" I didn't even notice Janet approach me.
"Um, yeah sure." I say. She smiles and refills my cup from a glass pitcher. She's humming what sounds like a hymn though I don't recognize it. Once Janet moves I'm able to see that the girl at the counter has ordered another drink. Girl loves her milkshakes.
For a moment I think about going over to introduce myself. I can use the excuse of ordering something from Bill as a cover; ask her what she thinks about the milkshakes here. Pretend I've never had it before and ask her if she'd recommend it. Maybe, if I try hard enough, I can even come up with a clever joke or two. Girls love a guy that can make them laugh, right? My experience with girls is pretty limited to only two: my high school girlfriend Kat and Tonya, who I broke up with last year after she transferred to a university in a different state. Aside from them I haven't had much luck with women. Still, I'd have to be an idiot to let a girl like this slip through my fingers without even saying a word.
Car headlights are washing in through the window. I take a sip of coffee, a few deep breaths, and try to run over a couple of things to say.
Just be cool. I tell myself in the end though I have a sinking feeling that I'm about to screw this up.
Just stay calm and play it cool. This is no big deal, okay? I convince myself because if it doesn't work, it just doesn't work. At least I can say I tried.
Another gulp of coffee and deep breath and I think I'm ready to approach her. Just as I'm about to get up from my booth though, I hear a loud noise; kind of like a broom handle snapping followed by glass breaking. Everyone in the diner jumps and the police officers spin around towards the sound. The woman turns around too. Another booming noise and I feel an excruciating burning pain. I gasp. I grab the side of my neck and there's something wet there running down into my shirt. The woman's eyes grow wide as she looks at me. I think that I should at least wave or something but I can't really bring myself too; the pain in my neck is too much and my brain is growing fuzzy.
I remember hearing screaming; someone's screaming but I can't figure out who. More bangs. I slump over against the table. I feel so weak. Why do I suddenly feel sick and tired? Out the corner of my eyes I see people sinking down beneath the tables and counters. The cops are freaking out. I look over at the girl and my god she looks gorgeous even when she's horrified.
I wonder if she'd really say yes to a date. I'll have to ask her out once everything stops... stops becoming blurry and I... so tired. So tired... I'll just close my eyes for a second then I'll ask her. I'll just sleep for a second and then....
END
