Bad Memories // a.u.

chapter 21: the man

It's been two days since Keaton told me he loved me and it's been consuming my thoughts. That night after he said it, he ended up just holding me in his arms. It made me feel safe and I wanted nothing more than those words to fall from from my lips. I couldn't bring myself to say them and I knew it wasn't because I didn't feel that way. I was scared. I didn't want to let myself go anymore than I already had. 

Now, I walked down the street toward the diner to get breakfast. Keaton was working a double today and I was anxious to see him. Skylar wouldn't come with me because apparently she had to get her beauty sleep for her first official date with Drew tonight night. I was happy that she finally worked things out with him because she deserved it. 

The bell above the door chimed as I walked in, making me wish they didn't have that stupid bell as people turned their attention to me. I chewed on my bottom lip as I waited for the hostess and people went back to eating their meals or making conversation. Sam walked up, grabbing a single menu. "Just you?" she asked, her voice sweeter than normal.

"Yep. Since when are you the hostess?" I asked as I followed her to an empty booth.

"Yesterday. Way better than dish duty." She rolled her eyes and slammed my menu down in front of me. "Keats will be with you shortly," she said, giving me a smirk. 

I ignored her and opened my menu, even though I already knew what I was going to order. She walked away and I could see her out of the corner of my eye shaking her small hips, trying to get attention.

"Hey, Elle. The usual?" Keaton asked as he walked up to my table, a notepad in one hand. 

I nodded and tried to smile at him. "Yes please."

"What's wrong. Did something happen?"

"Uh, no. Just Sam being her annoying self. She's the hostess now."

"Yeah. Our boss thought she would make a better hostess than dish washer. She kinda sucked at washing dishes," he shrugged. "I'll go put your order in ok?"

"Mhmm," I said and folded up the menu, giving it to him. Our hands brushed causing butterflies to form in my stomach. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through Twitter for a bit while I waited for my food. After a bit, I noticed someone approaching my table and I assumed it was Keaton so I set my phone down and anticipated my drink to be set in front of me. 

"Don't freak out," the man whispered, as he slid into the booth across from me. He was dressed in a black sweatshirt, the hood pulled over his head. His face was scruffy with the start of a beard and his eyes looked somewhat bloodshot. He had a scar under his left eye and his fingers tapped on the table.

"Who are you?" I asked, even though I felt like I knew the answer. My voice and body were shaking with fear.

"Oh, you know the answer to that, Noelle."

"H-h-how do you k-know my n-n-name?" I stuttered.

The man reached forward to touch my hand resting on the table, but I jerked it away. "Oh, sweetheart. There's no reason to be afraid." He flashed a smile of yellowed teeth. "I just want to get to know you."

"I don't think that's why you're here at all," I shook my head and crossed my arms over my chest. I wondered why he was confronting me in such a public place. If he had done his research, he would know that my boyfriend was my waiter. 

"Then why am I here?" He leaned over the booth table on his elbows and I could smell the smoke on his breath. 

I noticed Keaton filling up a glass with ice and then with water. "My boyfriend is about to come over with my drink, so if I were you I would leave," I warned him.

The man leaned back now, looking over to Keaton. "Boyfriend, huh? He doesn't look too threatening, but I'll leave for now. I wouldn't want to cause any trouble here on my first day. I'll be watching, Noelle," he said, placing his hand on my shoulder before walking toward the door. The bell made the chiming noise, but it seemed louder than normal causing a chill to go up my spine. 

"Here's your drink," Keaton placed the glass down on my table with a thud, scaring me. "You alright?"

"Huh? What?" I asked, shaking myself out of the trance that I was in. Keaton took a seat in the booth, which I knew he wasn't supposed to do. "Keaton, you're working," I chastised him.

"I don't care, Elle. You seem more upset than normal. What happened? Is this about the other day?" he raised his eyebrows the slightest bit in anticipation.

I shook my head quickly. "No, but I am sorry about...that. Can we maybe talk about this later?" I asked, looking around me. The man's warning scared me a lot and made me think that he was still here somewhere. I'll be watching, Noelle. I shivered just thinking about his hand on my shoulder and the awful things that he did to my parents. 

"I'm only agreeing to this because I'm working." He reached across the table for my hand and I almost flinched, thinking to earlier when the man made the same gesture. "Noelle?" Keaton looked at me with concern. "Are you sure you're ok? I can take the day off and walk you home."

"No. I don't want you to do that. I'll be fine. I promise." I gave him a smile. A weak one, but it was still a smile.

He stood up from the booth and walked over to give me a quick kiss on the lips. "Ok. Your food should be ready shortly."

**********

I paid my bill and didn't wait to say goodbye to Keaton. I knew he was going to get after me for that later, but I wasn't in the mood for him to see me like this anymore. The door made that annoying chime as I walked out and I groaned. I remembered that I stuck my headphones in my purse at the last second this morning, so I pulled them out and plugged them into my phone. I turned on The Summer Set loud, trying to forget about what just happened in the diner, when two arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me into a van. 

Hi (: sorry for taking awhile to upload. I was so busy over the weekend going to my cousin's dance recital and my brother's baptism. but anyway hope you like this chapter! please vote and comment xx zoe