Of Course

Chapter Four

If the door had thrown itself open, it would have made a prettier sound. She stormed in, slammed the door so hard that everyone in the diner jumped, and marching over to the counter, slammed her hand down on it.

"You are such a downright liar!"

He finished topping the pancakes with butter and syrup, and turning around, placed them on the counter next to her. "Mr. Elswith and Embry!" And he turned to the back counter and began fiddling with various items of no real importance.

"How could you do that? I told Andy you were coming, and you just skip on him? I get that you don't like me, that you hate me, but how could you do that to Andy?"

Not a word.

"Grayson, you'd better answer me, or I'll call up your mom right now!"

"You wouldn't dare," he said over his shoulder.

"Are you trying to test my patience?"

He whipped around suddenly.

"I went, but you didn't see me."

She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

"Andy didn't see me either."

"And why would that be?"

He shrugged. "I guess you just weren't looking in the right places."

"Right. Because you can hide from me."

He looked away. "I've had a lot of practice."

There was nothing for a moment.

He straightened uncomfortably. "Is there anything else you want?"

"Uhh... maybe for you to keep a single freakin' promise?"

He glanced at her. "I went, didn't I? I only said I'd come. Not that you or Andy would get to see me."

He gathered up a few of the dirty plates and walked through the kitchen doorway.

---

As he walked through the arch, Clarence looked up.

"Don't open your mouth, Clarence, I went."

"Why didn't anyone see you, then?"

"'Cause I left early."

"Why'd you do that?"

"Carl."

"What?"

"He was there. He's a jerk." He shrugged. "Didn't feel like staying long."

He mixed the cake batter for a few thoughtful minutes, a frown worrying his brow.

---

It was after their shifts that he finally spoke more than one-word sentences.

"Clarence," he said as they hung up their aprons, "you have brothers, don't you?"

"Sure I do. Why?"

"You think maybe I could stay over a night or so?"

She was startled. "Say what? You want to stay at my high-strung barn?"

He sat down on the bench and hunched his shoulders, beginning to twiddle his thumbs. "It can't be that bad, right?"

She stared at him; she sighed. "Oh, alright. I'll see." Picking up up her backpack, Clarence headed toward the door. He followed.

She looked over her shoulder. "Where are you going?"

"Uhh... to your house?"

She shook her head and chuckled. "I don't think that's a good idea right now. Why don't you just hang out here for a while?"

"Oh. Sure, I guess."

She smiled a tiny smile and waved. "Bye."

"See ya."

He watched her disappear around the corner, and headed back into the kitchen. Plopping down onto a stool he sniffed.

"Hey Hal--what's that I smell? Something good, I bet."

"Get out, Grayson," chimed Hal and Silvia.

"Geez, you guys are mean," he remarked, heading for the stairs.