Living With Elliot | ongoing

oi.

"Hi, my name is CJ Reynolds, and I'll be your waiter for the evening. What can I get you?" My eyes were still stinging with previous tears and the not - so - subtle glances Mike was taking at me were driving me insane.

I pushed my melodrama aside and focused on the task at hand: make it through the evening.

The diner was brimming with customers and Dylan could barely keep up. After all, Friday nights were when the students and residents of Aberdale took leave of their houses and classes.

"Cheese burger and a vanilla milkshake." I snapped out of my daze and looked at the customer, a fellow peer from Aberdale High I never failed to forget. My eyes lit up with excitement just as his started to glow with the same, "I was starting to wonder when you would notice me."

I laughed and put down his order - a small grin finding a place on my face. "I'll be right back with your order Alex."

He nodded and raised his hand in a salute. I chuckled quietly to myself, earlier worries and tears were forgotten. Alexander Dean was here.

My whole world has just been lit up. Best friends since the first grade, Alexander ( or Alex as we all call him ), has been my best friend; till sophomore year of high school. And somewhere along the way, I started to have feelings for Alex.

But even if I haven't told him yet, our friendship is valued and right now, his raven headed presence has brightened up my Friday night.

"Alex's order up, CJ." Dylan handed me the tray and I untied the apron I was wearing. He eyed me, "Uh... CJ? Where are you going?"

I flashed him a small smile, "My day sucked Dyl - now Alex is here. It's better. I'm going to spend my shift with him. And besides, Anna is here; she can cover for me."
Dyl laughed and took the name tag and apron I handed him, placing it in the drawer.

"You have fun, Christin Jacklyn!" I laughed at my full name. I reached Alex's booth and slid in opposite to him, "Cheeseburger and vanilla milkshake."

"Weren't you supposed to be my waiter for the evening, CJ Reynolds?" I rolled my eyes and took a sip of the milkshake, pushing it back to Alex.

"Alone, now are we?" Alexander Dean had changed over the summer. The guy who played the Chello on the band, who had a scrawny frame but still looked good, had buffed up. He wore a tight fitting faded MCM band tee that hugged him right.

Ah, CJ, he's never going to love you back now.

Alex took a long sip from the vanilla milkshake, his nose scrunched up and his eyes were docked with flecks of blue. "Why does it taste like strawberry?"

A faint blush started to appear on my cheeks, my eyes widened, my mouth was agape. Alex momentarily looked surprised but was soon to recover from it, he laughed and licked his lips, "At least," he started to say, I wiped my mouth and closed it, my ears burning with embarrassment, "-- you taste good, but I would rather try out the flavor for myself than have it tried out as a trial on a straw CJ."

My ears were as hot as the sun now. I could possibly contribute to global warming if he kept talking like that, God, Alexander Dean had grown up to sophomore year just right.

I tried to retort, hiding my ears behind my hair, "Sorry, I don't date guys like you." I rolled my eyes, mostly at myself for the lamest and worst comeback ever then at him, you couldn't roll your eyes at someone like Alex. Even before the whole body take over happened with him, Alexander Dean looked stunning. Girls drooled over him, he wasn't Damon Salvatore worthy, but he was definitely a Matt.

The bell above the diner went off and in walked another customer, two girls were by his side, Alex turned around and his neck grew red hot, he gripped the table so hard, I could feel the pressure dwindling down and shaking the table, "Alex!" I grabbed his hands and tore them away from the table, but his eyes were still locked on the boy who had just walked in.