Sun & Moon

three | night owl

Ricky didn't want to go to work that day.  He much preferred sleeping with his cat on his chest.  It took a few minutes for Ricky to get going,  but eventually, he forced him off to work, pulling over on the way to watch the sunset for a moment.  

Vinny was just packing up as Ricky came into the diner, stuffing his papers into his backpack before dumping the whole thing out on the table again and searching through the mess.  Ricky looked over all the empty water bottles, crumpled receipts, and pebbles.

"What are you looking for?" Ricky asked, sitting down and beginning to organize the mess.  He found several lighters that had all been his at one point that just got snatched over time. 

"I have a book for you... and weed for Ryan." Ricky found the pill bottle quickly while Vinny pulled the wrecked book out from another pocket in his bag.  They exchanged the items quickly and Vinny cleaned up, running off.  

Ricky thumbed through the book, bringing it behind the counter and using the bottom of the hot coffee pot to partially iron some of the pages.  He curled up with the novel in his hands, reading under the counter and smoking until the doorbell jingled.  He stood up carefully, his feet asleep.  

"How can I help you today?" Ricky asked, not paying attention to who was there.  He looked up and saw Vinny again, breathing heavy. 

"Ya like the book?" He asked as he collapsed in his booth, dropping an envelope on the table.  Ricky nodded and held on the counter as he wobbled to sit with him. 

"Ya' know, I'm not really into romance novels but it's really well written," Ricky admitted. He preferred more horror and mystery, occasionally a biography about a serial killer or someone, but rarely any cheesy love stories. 

Vinny sighed and began to count on his fingers, pausing for a moment to look Ricky in the eyes. "I've been trying to get this dude to take you out because you're hella similar but he keeps saying he doesn't really want anyone." Vinny went back to counting, making some tally marks on a sheet of paper before opening the envelope and dumping out a few bundles of bills.

"I'm perfectly fine on my own too..." Ricky huffed, scrunching his eyebrows together as he watched Vinny. "Where'd all this come from? Are you prostituting yourself or something?" He asked in a low voice as he took a stack and flipped through it. 

"I sold my car and I've been working for my dad on the side kinda sorta." Ricky raised his eyebrows, waiting for an explanation that he never got.  Eventually, Vinny went running off into the night, Ricky snickering to himself.  Vinny was really determined for being a rather slacking senior in high school.  He didn't dream of college. Instead, he worked his way to create a life he'd just be happy in.  Ricky really admired that about him.

Ricky went behind the counter again, settling in for the night.  There weren't even any cars on the road, so he imagined that there was a very slim chance anyone would stop by during his shift. 

By daybreak, Ricky only had two more chapters until his book would be done.  He bookmarked his page and set it on the shelf he always kept his book on, seeing one of the order pads laying there with a few words scribbled down. 

"Ironic. Name? Shift?" Ricky smirked and responded quickly, flipping the page so he could write clearly with his rather large print. 

"Ricky.  Night.  Keep it calm sassy pants." Along with a small heart in the corner of the page, he doubted Ryan would even see.  It made him as giddy as a little girl just knowing he drew it there though.

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