First Impression II: At Second Glance

Chapter Seventeen - Tell Me Why

Chapter Seventeen - Tell Me Why

 

It was the Saturday after the election and I was simply basking in my victory like a contented cat in the window seat of the restaurant where I worked part-time. Pure bliss. Unfortunately, it was not to last.

“Oi little miss, teenage lovey dovey couple up in front,” Daphne, my co-worker said, walking into the restaurant where I worked part-time. “I just seated them.”

Then she shoved the tray she was holding into my arms and handed me the menus. “Now, stop grinning like a cat and go,” she said and slapped me hard on the back.

“Why me again?” I whined. This was the third time I had been sent out to serve customers.

“I'm allergic to couples,” Daphne retorted, “Wouldn't want me sneezing over their food, would you?”

I made a face, “Then I'm getting all of their tips.”

Daphne shrugged. Then she paused for a while and then pretended to ponder thoughtfully, “Autumn is almost ending. The outdoor warm won’t last long. So how long before they gonna start making out? Ten minutes? Three? One point five?”

I ignored her and went to the little garden in front of the restaurant.

“Hello, here are the menus,” I put on my best customer-service voice when my voice suddenly caught in my throat and I froze.

Tell me why...

Tell me why.

Irene was sitting there. She was dressed in a beautiful lace dress the colour of rose ash, with a light white trench coat folded over the handle of the chair. Her golden hair fell simply to her shoulders. She looked the picture of sophistication.

“Oh, thank you,” Irene said. “Eleanore?” Irene’s eyes widened in surprise.

The guy opposite her looked up and to my shock, I realised it was Adrian. He was dressed in a striped pink button-up shirt with the collar peeking out of a dark sweater.

Humph. Under the gentle light of the restaurant, he looked more charming than at school.

“Hi there,” I said, knowing exactly what to feel about both of them at the restaurant together. And I suddenly became very aware of the restaurant's uniform. I was wearing a dark green dress with an extremely frilly white apron, equally frilly stockings and a very lacy white cap to top it off, literally. I had always found the uniform hilarious. I mean if you had the frilly apron, why be greedy and add the lacy cap? And both the apron and the cap had more frills and folds than the number of dishes on the menu.

 “Oh I’m so sorry,” Irene smiled apologetically. She fidgeted, gesturing awkwardly with her hands. “I didn’t know you worked here…”

“Um, haha, no, it’s alright,” I tried to laugh it off. This was surprising. Despite my long stint at this restaurant, I had yet to meet someone from school here so I had no idea how to react.