Rain

one

I sauntered over the puddle infested sidewalks and inhaled deeply. I felt the rain drops splatter against my hair and face. Soon my hair became a matted mess. I strolled around becoming extremely famished. I glanced around and decided I should eat before thumbing a taxi all the way to my childhood friend’s house. I shivered before my eyes landed on a fluorescent lit diner. I scurried across the block and I was greeted by the infatuating smell of bacon as I sat in a booth next to a window. There weren’t many people there, but there was a guy who was sitting across the room that glanced my way.

Soon a waitress stood by my side. “Why hello darlin’ how may I help you today!” she said in a funny southern accent which I assumed was fake since this is Los Angeles. Maybe it was to make customers feel welcome? You know that entire southern hospitality thing. I opened the menu that was set in front of me and soon realized the steak combo was ten dollars.

I rummaged through my pockets and took out a soaking five dollar bill. Okay so the steak combo was definitely out of the question so I scanned for a dollar menu or kid’s section. A bowl of cereal was three dollars and seventy-five cents. If I was lucky I could also buy toast or a cup of coffee.

“I’ll uh take the cereal and what cost less your coffee or toast?”

“Our toast.”

“Okay I’ll have cereal and toast.” I set the menu down with a rather embarrassing tone.

“Sure darlin’ what kind?” she scribbled on her note pad as if I was giving her the key to eternal youth.

“Huh?” I squinted up at her quizzically. She looked at me with indifference, “What kind of cereal would you like hun?”

I felt my blood shoot up to the apple of my cheeks, “Oh uh do you have raisin bran?” she nodded, “Then I’ll have raisin bran.”

She smiled, “That’ll be four dollars and um,” she smacked her lips and began to count with her long acrylic electric blue fingers, “Fifty-one.”

I sighed and slid her the ruined five dollar bill which she gladly accepted as she walked back to the kitchen and yelled my order. Soon my hyping plate of raisin bran and toast came and I dug in to the warm toast. Thankfully my raisin bran and milk came separately.

After finishing off my toast I began to pick at my raisin bran. I popped each raisin into my mouth and took a chug of milk. “You like raisins?” I looked up from my bowl of fun and spotted the kid from across the diner. I glanced back to where he was sitting when I first entered to make sure I wasn’t imagining this. I wasn’t.

I shrugged, “It’s really good for you,” I pushed my bowl towards him, “Want some?” He shook his perfectly quaffed head and smiled. I pulled the bowl closer to me and continued to pick at the raisins.

“Why are you wet?” he blurted and I laughed loudly because honestly it sounded like a dirty question.

“I left my boyfriend’s apartment.” I confided without a second thought. He seemed so warm and easy to talk to it just slipped, I would’ve just said I was caught out in the rain, but I felt no need to lie to him. He seemed vaguely familiar. His chiseled face and soft features made him almost irresistible and the way his facial hair was perfectly peppered all around his jaw line was almost as amazing as the rest of him. He had a simple white V-neck and black jacket.

His hazel eyes widened in acknowledgment as he nodded, “Oh was it a fight?” he grabbed some sugar packets and began to empty them out into the steel table. He began to doodle around with his finger casually waiting for my reply.

“Yeah he cheated on me and we broke up.” I laughed lightly and his eyes turned towards me. “Oh sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be. Kind of glad I got rid of the damn prick. What are you drawing?” I tried to figure out the upside down figure he was painstakingly trying to perfect.

“You.” He said simply and for the first time I recognized his accent, I couldn’t quite place where it was from, but it definitely wasn’t from here. I felt myself turn red, “Oh.”

“Want to see?” he smiled eagerly, patting the empty spot next to him. I got up and sat down and examined his master piece. I almost wanted to cry at the thought that this sugar portrait would be wiped away soon enough. “Wow you’re good.” I replied breathlessly.

“Eh it’s something I’ve picked up over the years.” He shrugged softly. “Well you my friend have more talent than I could ever possibly imagine.”

His phone rang out and he jumped up and answered it, “Hello? Oh yeah I’m leaving right now. Yes okay bye.” He closed the phone and got up. “I’m sorry but I have to head home.”

As much as I hated to admit it, it bugged me. Why couldn’t he stay a bit longer?

“Do you have a phone number?”

I shook my head. “Well can I take a picture with you at least?” I smiled and nodded. He pulled me off my seat and took a quick picture with his iPhone. He examined his picture, “Perfect. By the way I’m Liam Payne.”

“I’m Everly Kapowski.”

“Great name, oh shit. I really need to go. Bye!” he smiled brightly before scurrying off and leaving the diner and my life as fast as he entered it.