Shutter Speed

I.

"Go! Get out of here! Run!" he screamed, his free hand waving toward the door, while the other held a gun, aimed and ready to fire.

Although he was fighting and pretending not to be terrified, I could see the urgency in his eyes. The urgency of wanting me to get away, of hoping I'll be safe once I cross the threshold into the outside world. But I couldn't move. Too afraid to leave while he could die. It was as if my feet were nailed to the ground, preventing me from exiting.

"Lana! Run!" he screamed again, just as a shot was fired. I didn't see where it came from, or who it was aimed toward. Then I felt it.

-THREE WEEKS EARLIER-

One more hour until I get to go home. Today has been an unusually long and busy day. I've never seen the place so packed before. Fortunately, The diner is officially closed and as my coworker, Amy, flips the sign on the front door to closed, we all do a little dance.

"Now, it's time for clean up." Amy says as she makes her way over to her section of tables and starts wiping them down.

Clean up usually takes an hour if everyone does their part. Since the days has been so hectic, I know everyone will be working as fast as they can so we can all go home.

"Somebody throw some tunes on!" Calls Jeremy, one of the cooks. We all like to listen to music while we clean up and we each take a turn picking the music every night. Tonight happens to be my turn.

"Hang on, Jeremy!" I say, fishing some change out of my pocket and inserting them into the jukebox. I know what you're thinking, a jukebox? Well it's New York and this town has never been opposed to it. Sally's, the diner I waitress at, has been in business for fifty years with very little changes. Everything has always worked in favor of the diner and nobody wishes for this old soul of a place to change. Scrolling through the songs, I pick one of my favorites. The jukebox may be old, and I hear we're supposed to be getting a more modern one,  but this one has some pretty good songs on it.

The music starts and the first few notes of Frank Sinatra's "I've Got You Under My Skin" floats through the air. I go back to my section and start wiping down the tables, while we all enjoy the music. When the song is over, Jeremy comes from the kitchen.

"If you're going to play Sinatra tonight, you have to play New York, New York."

"Well of course. You can't play Sinatra without New York, New York." I chuckle, stuffing another quarter in the slot. The famous tune begins and everyone begins to cheer before we all break out into song.

"START SPREADIN' THE NEWS! I'M LEAVING TODAY! WE'RE ALL A GREAT BIG PART OF IT! NEW YORK, NEW YORK!" We're being loud and I'm sure if our boss was here, he'd frown upon it, but for now the diner is our stage. When the song finishes, we all get back to work, but this time we decide to play music from a phone and hook it up to the speakers. That way we didn't have to use so much change, but it's always fun while it lasts.

"Hey, Lana, want to come to the Big Mike's with me once we close up? It's about time we have some hot look in' guys to take us out." Amy says wagging her eyebrows at me and I have to laugh at the action. 

"Any other night I'd be up for it, but my dad is taking me to dinner tonight." I've been looking forward to this all week. My dad comes for a visit a few times every other month or so and it's always a highlight for me. I don't get to see my dad very often since he's always traveling for work. 

"Okay, well you have a good time with your dad." She replies kindly, going back to work. I thank her, smiling politely knowing I should finish up as well.

---

It's quarter after nine by the time everyone is able to leave the diner and we all walk out together. Some of the guys light a cigarette as soon as we're outside, but go their separate way from us, making sure to shout out a goodbye while the rest of us walk in the same direction.