Liesle

Is He Just Nice?

As we drove down Main Street, I couldn't help but notice my bra was soaking through my henley.  I didn't want to say anything though.  Maybe he didn't notice.  And plus, if he did, I could kind of resemble one Hollister girls with the see-through shirts... I guess.

"Here we are!" he said.  It stopped raining.  Now it was just extra water running off the leaves.  "Let me get your books." he insisted.

I stepped through the door to the diner.  The light was low and the place was lined with white christmas lights on the ceiling.  I chose a seat at the counter and plopped my backpack on the ground next to the stool.  He was wrighting a bill; but I didn't know why.  There was no one in the diner except for me.  The man looked middle aged, and was wearing plaid shirt and a backwards baseball cap.

"Coffee" he asked.

"Sure." I said.

He took a coffee mug down from the shelf and set it down on the counter, slid it across to me, and muttered, "Serve yourself."

"Come around the counter and,"  I was puzzled.  "Am I allowed to do that?"

"Fine by me."  He said.

"Well, in that case, can I get another mug?"  I asked.  He just waved his hand like, whatever.

I grabbed another mug and poured two to the brim with coffee.  No room for cream; I can't get the full satisfaction with a bunch of fillers in my energy source: caffeine.  I took two small pie plates and looked in the refrigerator at the pie selections.  Finn jingled through the door.  "What kind of pie do you want?"

"Minced apple, please!" he said, shaking off the rain in his hair.  "It's pouring out there."

"Here's your pie." I said handing him the plate.

"And you poured me coffee too." he said.  He hung up his coat and took an apron off the hook.

"The coffee is not for you.  I need double of my life support."  I sat down, and kicked off my sopping shoes.  I took a sip of my best friend and suddenly, my senses were filled with the aroma of pure caffeine.  "Strong."  I said opening my eyes.  "Why do you have an apron on?"

"I work here.  That's why we didn't go to my house." he said.  "I have a job for the school year so I'm not bored during my free time."

"What about homework?" I asked, giggling at the stupidness of having free time when you're in high school.

"I get my homework done in my easy classes and study halls."

"Easy classes like what?"  I took another sip of my coffee and bent down to reach for my binder.

"Easy classes like math, and study halls." he said taking out the whipped cream.

"Study halls aren't classes.  They're time wasters.  And how is Mr. Wright's math class easy?"

"I like math.  It comes to me."  He replied.  "Whipped cream?" he offered towards my coffee.  I shook my head but took the canister for my pie.  I sprayed some in my mouth.  "I can help you with it if you want." he offered.

Mouth full of whipped cream I replied, "That would be great!" I gave him a thumbs up and nodded and winked.

"Where's the restroom?" I asked, assuming that I looked like crap.  He was drying a cup and nodded toward the back of the building.  Sloshing through the diner with my drenched socks, I made my way to the restroom.

I locked the door and looked in the mirror.  My braids were all tangled and falling out.  I squeezed them dry and shook my braids out.  I failed at doing a bun, but I guess a ponytail would do.  Even if half my face framing layers are falling out.

I reentered the diner and got out my math homework.  Looked at number eight and gave up.  "So, what time do you have to go home?"

He just took a bite of his pie and said, "Don't worry about it."