Hearts, Scars & Horseshoes

Chapter 43 - Toby

"So where's Isaac?" I asked Jane, the two of us leaned against the counter like we were it's main support.

There was a guy named Sean in his place. She looked up at me, a smirk on her face.

"Believe it or not he gets a day off every once in a while too."

"Yeah, no, makes sense." I said awkwardly.

I still hadn't figured out if Isaac disliked me or not. I guess I didn't really care, it's just easier to know how to respond to someone if you know whether their indifference is directed solely at you or the entire world.

"He likes you." Jane said, untying her apron from her waist. "No worries." She tossed it on the counter, breezing over my awkwardness like it wasn't even there. "God we are dead."

"Probably doesn't help it's pouring outside."

"People still gotta eat and drink if it's raining Toby." She countered.

I smiled, unfolding my arms from my chest. I currently had no tables. Jane had a regular who apparently sipped coffee slower than a dead person and ate the same ham melt every single time he came in. From what I gathered, he wasn't into chatting. His eyes hadn't left his tablet since he walked in. Jane would top off his coffee every so often, she had already dropped the check off and now we just waited.

"How long have you worked here?" I asked.

"I was 16 when I started. I stopped for a little while when I went to college. I missed it though." Her voice was warm like this little cafe was more than just a job, it was apart of her.

"What'd you go to school for?"

This was the first time where we had been slow enough to actually have more than a passing conversation. I didn't know jack shit about Jane other than her name was Jane and her physical appearance.

"Graphic design." She told me, tucking the hair that wasn't shaved behind her ear. "Waste of my time. Couldn't find a job that paid enough to survive."

"That sucks."

She shrugged her shoulders, hopping onto the beer cooler, her back to the restaurant. "That's life. What about you Toby, what's your story?"

I stared at the brunt red tile that covered the floor. I had a sticky drip of god only knows what on the toe of my shoe. I had a feeling it wasn't going anywhere.

"Nothing exciting." I said.

"Bull shit." She deadpanned.

"What?"

"You heard me, that's bullshit. Tell me something."

Jane wasn't very tall, she wasn't very big to start but she was like this tiny little force. She wasn't afraid to dish some crap, I'd heard her with a customer who was bitching about their bill. I didn't know someone could be so mean while being so nice all at the same time. I had decided it was an art form, one I was thankful Stella didn't know. She was just sitting there staring at me, waiting for me to cave under her gaze.

I shrugged my shoulders. What the hell, it wasn't like she knew anyone I knew. Faith in particular. At least I thought.

"I had a heart transplant earlier this year, graduated high school, no plans for college, and I skateboard." Pretty much summed up my life.

"A heart transplant?" She asked, her eyes wide.

I get that it wasn't the world's most common thing to announce, maybe even less common coming from a young, fairly fit person but crazier things had probably happened. I didn't think it warranted the shock that had spread across Jane's face.