Madelaine

Chapter four

The sound of silverware clinked against plates while people ate their food as waiters hustled from tables getting orders out to the costumers. My feet ached terribly while I walked orders to the red and yellow tables in the diner. The whole place was bustling with noises from the kitchen and the voices of the dinner rush, but thankfully I only had half an hour left. Today had been a long, slow day and I was just ready for it to be over.

Our chef whacked his yellow spatula against the small bell signaling that the food was ready for us to take. My co-worker Shelly ran up to the counter where the chef placed the plate and quickly walked it over to a small booth in the corner. I walked around the diner picking up menus that read Diane's diner across in cursive writing. I looked to my right as I saw the mess of plates scattered on the long bar centered towards the back near the chef window. My feet carried me to the counter where I cleaned up the mess of plates and grabbed the pot of coffee. An old balding man sat at the bar, eating a slice of pie and sipping on an almost empty cup of coffee. "Hey Joe," I greeted as I poured more coffee into his cup.

"Hi Madelaine, life treatin' you good?" he questioned as he took the cup to his mouth, drinking the coffee black.

"It's pretty good," I said with a shrug. "How's the wife?" I asked before setting the pot back on the coffee machine and wiping my hands on my yellow waist apron.

"As stubborn as ever," he replied, but the love shown clear in his eyes as he spoke of his wife of forty years. A smile crept up on my face as I left Joe to eat his cherry pie and drink his coffee. I hoped I would be able to have a love like their's one day, it was pure and true, that's all I wanted.

   The bell above the door rang signaling a new customer. The tall blonde hair, blue eyed girl stepped into the diner. She lit up when her eyes landed on me, waving at me. I waved back with a smile and walked towards her. Her 5'9" frame towering over my 5'2". "Hey girl! I didn't know you worked here!" Aurora said while hugging me. She released me from her arms, smiling wide at me.

   "Yes I do. Are you wanting to get something to eat?"

   "Yes please, I'm starving," Aurora said. We both laughed as I walked her to a booth.

   "What can I get for you?" I said as I took my note pad out of my apron along with a pen.

   "A strawberry milkshake and cheese fries please." I quickly wrote her order on my pad of paper before putting it back in my apron.

   "Okay," I said with a smile, picking up her menu and walking towards the kitchen. "Hey Randy can I get a strawberry milkshake and cheese fries?" I asked Randy, the head chef.

   "Sure thing," he replied. I told him thank you, then went back to asking customers if they needed anything else or drink refills. Soon Aurora's order was ready. I took the milkshake glass and plate, bringing them over to the table.

   "Here you go," I said placing her order on the table.

   "Thanks! So hey I was wondering if you wanted to hang out after you're done with work?" She asked excitedly. "We could go to the mall to get smoothies and shop. There's this frat party on campus tomorrow and I'd really like if if you came, we could go look for an outfit to wear to the party tomorrow. It'll be fun I promise," She said enthusiastically. I've been to a couple parties during high school and they were, well not that great. So many people dancing and drinking makes me anxious. I could tell Aurora is a party girl and very popular with the male population. We're pretty much complete opposites, her being outgoing and me being more of an introvert. But maybe branching out was what I needed to do for myself.

   "I don't know... Parties aren't really my thing."

   "Come on you'll enjoy it, and if you do get uncomfortable or want to leave then just tell me and we will get out of there."