Bad Influence

III. Rude Behavior

I slept on the idea that I would see Harry again when I went to school next. I had no idea that I wouldn't see any trace of him for the week and a half. When I see him next, it scares me to no end.

He's angry, that's very clear to me with his eyebrows knotted and mouth frowning. He has a large gash on his left cheek, a black eye, and cuts on his eyebrow. It all looks fresh, so whatever happened to him must've went on a couple days or so ago.

"What happened?" I ask, stopping him in his tracks to a table of the restaurant that I work in. The angry look is replaced with a quizzical one, then he realizes what I'm talking about.

"Oh, just a bit of a fight." He shrugs, as if it's nothing. "You work here?"

"Yeah." I nod. "I mean, obviously, Harry." I say, gesturing to the uniform I'm forced to wear every time I work. "I wouldn't wear something this ugly in public for free." This gains a laugh from him, and I'm glad that I thought of something clever enough to make him chuckle.

"Are you gonna be my waitress for the evening?" He asks me as he sits at a nearby table.

"Sure can be." I tell him. "Any other people joining you?" I can feel myself getting anxious that he might say that he can have a girlfriend, and the thought of him having a girlfriend instantly makes me jealous for no good reason. I don't like Harry. He's just a guy that I have a ride to one day. That's about it.

"Katie is supposed to come with her man-friend, but that's it." He says.

"Do you want to wait on them to order?" I ask. "I can go ahead and take your drink order."

He nods then tells me his drink order. I'm quick to go and fix it, then bring it back to find Katie here with a dark-haired, blue-eyed guy sitting beside her with his arm around her.

"Ahh, the rest of our party has arrived." I say. "What can I get you two to drink?" As dude is ordering his drink, Katie sends me a friendly smile then orders her something. I'm quick to bring them their drinks.

Then I leave them for a few minutes to decide on what to eat. I go around the restaurant and tend to other tables then head back to the counter, where a fellow employee decides to talk to me about that "guy you seem to like."

"I don't like him." I tell Jen, who rolls her eyes. "Jennifer, I don't. If I liked him, you'd know."

"You do like him. I can read it on your face." She claims. "Stop lying to yourself." I instantly roll my eyes, stick my tongue out at her like the immature college student that I am, then head back over to Harry's table.

"He can pay for his own food, Katie." I catch the end of the guy, who's name I still don't know, say. Harry shrinks in his seat. I can tell that Katie isn't happy with what this guy has said but puts on a smile and turns to me.

"Everyone decided on something?" I inquire as I dig my pen and pad out of my apron.

"I think we have." Katie says.

"We'll need two tickets, please." That guy informs me. "One for him and another for she and I." I don't like his attitude.

"Uh, okay." I nod. I take Katie and dude's order, tear off the ticket to hold, then turn to Harry.

"I'm alright." He says. "Just the drink." I inhale, glance back towards the kitchen, then look back at Harry.

"Ya sure?" I ask. He nods, simply. I let out a sigh but nod myself then go put in the orders with the chef.

"Hey, Randy." I call out after I've hung up the order. "Can you make my usual and have it ready with this order?" I tap their order a couple times.