The Last Time

Chapter Two

Lei and I arrived at work fifteen minutes early, feeling like overachievers for once, but Tristan beat us there. The owner, Judy, was sitting behind the counter and she looked up when we came in.

"Lei and Aubree?" She asked with a big smile. I had been in the diner a few times before and she was always in a bright and cheery mood and joked around with the customers. She should be a petty good boss.

"That's us," Lei said, brushing her reddish-brown hair over one shoulder. She had dark green eyes that were big and round with pale, freckled skin that boys always found cute.

"Well, good. You're early. I have things to take care of, but Tristan can show you what to do." With that she left us with him.

Lei looked away awkwardly, and we all stood there quietly for a moment before I finally looked at him. He was tall, at least a half foot taller than me so around 6 foot. His skin was perfectly smooth and pale. His long black hair fell into his eyes, so I could barely see the stunning bright blue irises and his long pretty eye lashes. His lips were just as smooth as his skin, but interrupted by the metal loops of his snake bite lip piercings. He was wearing his work uniform but I already knew his usual style was skinny jeans with a band t-shirt and Vans. I didn't ever really notice him in school except for the one time we had a project together last year. I never spoke to him once; just sat beside him and did the work while he occasionally corrected something.

"Well, you'll need uniforms," he said. "You're both working tables." He seemed like he was not quite sure how to interact with another human. But his voice was cool and even, much different than I expected. Have I ever heard him talk? The history teacher hardly, if ever, called on him for a question last year. He sat quietly in the back, slipping by anyone's notice.

We got our uniforms which were pink and red aprons that said 'Judy's Diner'. Tristan told us we needed to wear black pants and plain red or white shirts everyday. Then the diner opened and we started our first day of work.

Our town was small. Not so small that everyone knows everyone, but you do know most people. So I wasn't surprised when I recognized most of the faces who came in. Mr. and Mrs. Porter, my elderly neighbors, were the first ones in the door.

"Tristan! Hey there, son." Mr. Porter said. He turned a bit and saw me at a table. "Aubree, you too? This must be the hit place to work."

It was a hit place with the high-school students to hang out. "Yes sir, Mr. Porter. What would you like today? The usual?" Tristan asked. His attitude improved with a customer, but I still had not seen him smile.

"Yes, please. What about you sweetheart?" He turned to his wife and she smiled at him, giving Tristan her order. I loved seeing older people still in love.

I went to their table after he left. "What would you like to drink?" He never asked.

"Coke." They both said.

I saw Mr. Porter's face pinch up and he grasped at his chest. "Honey are you still having chest pains?" His wife asked in worry, reaching for his hand.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine."

~~~

After work Judy stopped us from leaving. "Are you girls going home after this or do you have plans?"

"Umm, no. No plans," Lei said slowly.

"Then you should come with the rest of us." She said gesturing toward Tristan and the two cooks, John and Gray. "We'll go see a movie, my treat, to celebrate the first day of summer."

This is weird. How do I politely say no? I think. "Uh, okay. I'll tell my mom."

I called her in front of them, praying she would say I could not go. Of course, she said it was fine. So, Lei and I took off our aprons and headed out to Judy's SUV and got in. Me, Lei, and Tristan were told to sit in the very back and Lei forced me into the middle. I tried not to look at Tristan but when I accidentally did he was already looking at me, and I quickly looked the other direction.

In the theater, I bought a popcorn to share with Lei and she bought us a large drink. We sat on the very top row and she and Tristan sat on either side of me again, the others on the other side of Lei. Oh my God. Go away, Tristan.

"I don't want popcorn," Lei decided to finally tell me.

"Dude, since when? I got a large."

"I've had too much recently, and I don't have a taste for it right now," she told me.

The previews came on and feeling rude, I offered Tristan popcorn.

"Popcorn?" I asked, and held the bucket toward him.

"Thanks." He mumbled and took a handful. He looked up, and his baby blue eyes met mine for just a moment. In that moment a tiny smile appeared on his lips. It was gone after just a moment, but it was there.

He looked away and I almost wished he would look back and smile again. I looked back at the screen, and tried to focus as the next preview came on.

"I want to see that." Lei said.

"See what?" I asked.

"How did you miss that? It looked terrifying."

"Oh, yeah. I wanna see it too," I lied.

The movie finally came on and I put the popcorn bucket between me and Tristan so he could eat it. Somehow I was not too hungry anymore.

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If you like story also check out my story Broken Whisper:)

-Bunches of love,

Alexa

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