I'm Fine

Chapter 13

The next morning was cold. My entire room felt eerie and surreal. I woke up with my hand underneath my pillow, gripping my phone tightly.

I shook my head in annoyance. My window was dotted with droplets of water, creating an image my mind had no will left to process.

I groggily readied myself for breakfast with Harly, sneaking some chocolate into my purse before I left.

Annette drove me over to Harby's Diner. My fingertips were too numb to feel anything. We drove silently, not even the radio could brighten my mood.

Harby's Diner has a familiar scent that made me smile. Not fully, but just a twitch.

I sat down at a table for two and waited. I stared down at my table, not really looking at it, lost in thought.

"Would you like to order?" asked a voice. I looked up and saw a guy.

He wore a Harby's Diner uniform with their logo stitched onto his left side, a notepad and pen in his hands and a faint grin plastered on his face.

"I'm waiting for a friend," I replied, checking my phone. I send a quick text to Harly and then turn back to the guy.

"Sorry."

"No problem. Business is slow this morning," he said with a shake of his head. His blond hair shook wildly but went back to place as he look back at me.

I took a look around. He was right. There was only an old man eating by himself in the corner, a red-headed lady and her son...and me.

"Do you get a good pay?" I asked, mindlessly chatting.

"I guess so. The manager is pretty cool."

"Who's the manager?" I asked, wondering if by coincidence his name is Harby.

"My older sister, Alice."

I stared at him for a second.
"Oh."

"You don't know how many people ask us if the manager is named Harby. Well, actually that was my grandfather. This is our business," he said. I nodded in response.

"Haven't seen you round here though," I said, still looking at him. He shrugged.

"Started working here today. My dad finally thought it was time for me to get a job, and also Alice didn't want to pay to hire employees."

"Cool."

"I'm Brody, by the way."

"Imogen."

"Imogen...hmm."

"What?"

"Nothing," he said shaking his head.

"Okay." I looked down at my phone. It was nearly quarter past ten and Harly still wasn't here.

"Imogen?"

"Yeah?" I looked up at him.

"Hi," he said. There was a twinkle in his pale blue eyes and a chuckle in his words.

"Hi," I replied, without missing a beat. He sat down beside me and my cheeks flushed.

"So, what school?"

"Oh, uh_"

"Imogen!" cried Harly, suddenly crashing through the door. Brody jumps up in surprise as Harly comes running towards our table.

"I'm so sorry I'm late! My little brother had this thing, and my Mum was all 'you can't abandon Alex' and ugh." She looked at me and hung her head. "Sorry."

"It's fine, Harly. It was only," I looked at my phone. "20 minutes."

She nods. Then she looks up. And notices Brody standing next to me. She gives him a small wave.

"So ladies, would you like to order now?" he said with a glint in his eyes.

"Finally, yes," I said with a laugh. Harly gave me a sheepish grin but nodded too.

We gave him our orders and he walked off towards the kitchen. I looked down at the table and tapped my fingers on my knee.

I looked up.

Brody's blue eyes connected with mine and in a split second, he turned away.

I took in a gasp of breath.

He looked back. He looked back at us.