Trepidation || j. g ||

| G a z e |

JAKE HAS BEEN coming to Augustine's for four weeks straight. During his now usual time of 6 am, Jake has only two cups of black coffee and four pieces of toast which had to be buttered and cut into equal sized triangles.

Athena found the notion of his request very interesting, as he would inspect the shapes to make sure the line was cut with precision before eating it. He was neat, everything in front of him claiming a certain spot. The menu would be in front of him, very neatly angled. His coffee would not touch the menu, as he would place the mug on the left side of the plastic sheet along with his napkins. His plate with toast would sit above the menu after he checked the sizes thoroughly.

Athena noticed this all, her eyes lingering a bit too long on his hands as he maneuvered the objects to his liking. She hadn't fully realized that she was indeed working, as Nancy hit the bell harshly in front of her. The loud ding made Athena almost crash into the wall beside her.

"Why don't you go talk to him? I've got Allie back. She'll take care of our 6 am."

Athena shakes her head quickly, her curls moving abruptly as she pushed her glasses up her nose.

"No, not ever. Are you kidding me? Look at him, he's like some marble statue crafted by the Greek gods-" she mumbled, her eyes wandering back to the somewhat muscular man as he now held a book down in front of him. A black pencil in his grasp as he seemed to scribble onto the pages beneath him.

"Allie can wait on him, I'll take our reg-"

"-that's how you're treating me on my first day back? Dude, we've known each other longer than that to be happening." Allie protested as she tied her chalky white apron around her torso.

Allie York was a blonde haired, blue eyed beauty. She was the only friend of introvert Athena Williams, and the only person the curly haired girl truly trusted with her world. Allie was away from Ike for a week for an amazing opportunity for university. She was great with people, her charm was infectious as was her smile. People just gravitated towards Miss. York, and it worried Athena greatly. She didn't want her best friend to leave her all alone. The subject of the matter killed her inside.

"Al, you know I didn't mean any malice by it. I just can't." Athena sputtered weakly, her hands trembling slightly as she flattened her apron on her waist.

"Fine. Just this once. He's yours tomorrow,"

"-if he even comes."

"Which he will. He's been here every day for the past few weeks." The blonde haired girl retorted, a small smirk on her features as she winked at her friend before walking out of the kitchen and onto the diner floor.

Athena watched slyly through the order window, her eyes widening as her best friend neared the table of the man she has been watching nonstop for the last few weeks he's been in. They speak briefly, the man nodding a few times with a slight smile. Allie was the most flustered, seeing Jake up close was very different from watching him from behind the kitchen.

He was mysterious, Allie thought, her lips parting at his sudden request. Her lips curving into a smirk as she nodded in agreement.

"One moment, I'll be right back."

The blonde almost jolted back to the kitchen, her smile reaching ear to ear as Dan rolled his eyes.

"Here we go," He mumbles as Allie reaches her hands out in an excited manner.

"He wants to talk to you." She almost bursts, as Athena physically throws herself back onto the wall behind her, her hand clutching her chest in horror. She did get straight A's in her theater class.

"I'm not here, I'm off today-" she begins quickly as Allie shakes her head with a smile.

"Not today, he saw you. He said it himself. I'll take over while you go over-"

"-Allie why are you doing this ?" She asks defeatedly, her voice dropping all its pitch as sadness enveloped her tone.

Athena didn't want to embarrass herself, and she wasn't confident in anything except for her memorization skills. She knew that a girl like her would never be with a guy like Jake Abbey. He was just too good looking, and she believes him to be more than just those stories she heard in High School. There was substance to him, though she wasn't sure if she was the one who was good enough to find out.

"If you don't go and talk to that guy who obviously wants to get to know you-I will never talk to you again."

Athena sighed, her cheeks beginning to flush even before being face to face with the mysterious Jake Abbey. With slow steps, Athena turned the corner and stepped out of the staff quarters as she slowly neared the dark wooden table.

Upon her arrival, Jake had slowly pushed the second mug of coffee on the opposite side of the booth. The scene looked sad in a sense, a man sitting alone across from a steaming cup of joe...seemingly waiting for an arrival. Then there she was, in front of him.

"So, you don't want to wait on me I hear." Jake smoothly asks, his lips tugging upward slightly as he picks up his ceramic mug and takes a sip of the coffee.

Athena felt as if she had a heart attack on the spot, her hands folding in front of her and she seemed to shake. The girl hated confrontation, as she would much rather wallow in whatever animosity a person had for her in private.

"That's not true," Athena said, her voice actually coming out normal as she swallowed back her heavy breaths.

She never interacted with anyone unless it was forced, this situation highly uncomfortable for the young woman as Jake eyed her up and down. He slowly motioned for her to sit, as to which Athena shook her head slowly.

"I'm working." She timidly replied, Jake Abbey, scoffing at her reply.

The action made Athena's heart lurch, his smile lighting up his whole face. The matter made Athena inch a bit closer to the table, Jake taking notice immediately.

"Your friend said it was fine. There's no one here anyway," he counters, folding his arms in front of him as he looks to the other side of the empty booth.

Athena looks around briefly, before slowly easing into the booth.

"I'm Jake. Jake Abbey."