Breaking Free from Everyday

Chapter 14: Monster

Chapter 14: Monster

Melanie

2:02.

I can't believe that I was going to be late to work. Again.

I am so mad that I slept until 1:26 in my truck. I'm typically an early riser, my usual is around 7:30 on a Saturday. That's impressive for a teenage girl.

And again, it was all due to Parker.

I don't know what he did that made me pick him up yesterday; I'm not really known for sympathy.

The weirdest thing was that he was gone when I woke up, but he had left the sweatshirt he was wearing last night in the car, with a little note.

Thank you.

I felt my heart beat a little quicker as I looked at it, and then I set the little piece of paper right on my dashboard so I could see it at all times.

I don't know why, but I couldn't make myself get rid of it.

He wouldn't know anyway.

I was changed into my diner uniform, and had put my hair up in a messy bun, in all of its curly wet glory, racing to the diner.

I know that Amy wouldn't fire me, since the diner wasn't exactly full of employees, but I wasn't usually late, and I didn't want my reputation to be tainted because of her stupid nephew.

I saw the neon lights of the diner glowing in front of me and parked quickly as I raced in, hanging up my purple sweatshirt. I tied my apron on with extra vigor and yelled to no one in particular, "I'm here!"

Parker suddenly busted through the double doors with a few empty plates. He placed them down and he turned around facing me.

I think I was dreaming because Parker's lips actually turned into a smile.

He smiled at me.

I felt my stomach flutter, but ignored it as I felt myself grin in return.

"Hey," was all that lamely came out of my mouth.

He took a few steps towards me, not even replying. His curious gray eyes were locked on me.

He was two feet away from me when he stopped moving, but his eyes never wavered.

"How are you?" I could practically feel his smirk through the words he spoke. 

"Could be better. Sadly, this creepy guy called me at two in the morning last night and made me play babysitter for him and I fell asleep in a really awkward position in my car." I played the part of smart-ass extremely well, if I do say so myself. 

His smirk widened. "Creepy?" He attempted to raise one eyebrow, but it didn't really work too well for him.

I felt the corners of my mouth twitch into a tentative smile. "Extremely."

"Funny, that's not what you used to think."

I decided to go in for the kill right there. "You know, it is funny, how much a guy can change in three years. You think you know a guy, and then bam! They are not the same as they used to be."

No way was I falling for his crap, even if it was me that ruined things. He didn't have to be fake with me. He didn't owe me any favors.

His eyes hardened slightly, but he tried to hide it. 

His mouth opened slightly, then it closed, and his gaze turned thoughtful as he leaned in a hair closer. His voice was barely a whisper as his eyes bored into mine. "Answer this then Mel. Why did you answer me yesterday? What made you do it?"