Jasmin

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

"Hey Marcus, Eric. What can I get for you guys?" Standing in my clean jeans and a nice plain blue golf style shirt the the diners logo, and of course my black apron, I was happy to see the guys walk in. Saturday afternoon shift is slow. I make more tips on the two evenings I work than any afternoon, but Marleen lets me bring in homework on the weekends so I love it.

They had come in during mid afternoon lull, walking quietly yet with purpose, not like how you would expect a group of 'unruly teenage' boys. Marcus being last to come in actually shocked me just a little bit. Watching the boys at school usually the largest and oldest seemed to lead the group while others follow them. I have seen leadership qualities about him before, yet never really contemplated them before, he is quiet at school and so not a leader of any one group, but listening to his stories of his friends I admit to picturing him up front. Clarity of thought, strength of character, always walking around with his shoulders back and his head held high. It is who I see when I look at him, not the last to enter, bringing up the rear.

"David, Tim this is is my girlfriend Jasmin." The guys all were seating themselves, as they had entered when I was behind the counter and Marcus did not introduce me until I came up to the table. He had seated himself at the edge of a booth at the back of the restaurant.

"Well hello beautiful, why has Marcus not told us more about you." Spouts the older of the two new boys. Taller and skinnier than Eric and Marcus, shorter hair in a GQ type of way. The sardonic smile reminds me of easily of the men on magazines.

"David be careful, Marcus can kill you." says Tim blandly. "If Sherri doesn't get to you first." He looks like a young Eric without the glasses and also with shorter hair. His comment makes me giggle. Tim nods politely in my direction at that but doesn't comment more.

Wondering why the two guys who school in the city have 'traditional' long hair often pulled into a leather thong, while the two that stay in town have short hair. I don't think of that for too long as it is the bare arms in t-shirts on a cool day with snow on the ground and a mild wind that makes me shake my head, Marcus at least wears long sleeves, he always does, today is a brown hoodie with a black shirt underneath. No coats is crazy. The snow isn't too thick but the temperature outside is a time for thick parkas. Boys always think it makes them look tough to not dress for the weather. I think its stupid, as I have gone without many times and thank goodness the winter coat I found two years ago still fits me. Those coat drives are packed every year and I am getting too big as most donations are for the kids.

"Behave you too." Eric turns to me. "Just coffees all around I think."

"Coming right up." I smile at Marcus. He is still looking at David and I think the taller boy is a bit crazy with his lazy smile. I shake my head at him and go grab some coffees.

"They giving you any trouble?" I hear quietly from Buster through the passthrough. I saw him staring out of the kitchen as soon as I turned from the table, his short greasy black hair plastered to his skin, his cheeks puffed out larger than they usually were. His eyes narrowed at the group of guys quietly awaiting me to return with their drinks. I have never had any issues with Buster, I though this is only the third shift we have shared as the evening cook is Rosa a short filipino lady in her fifties that I have a hard time understanding sometimes.

I grab a tray of cups and bowl of creamers in one hand while absentmindedly smiling over in Busters direction, "No, thats my boyfriend, they will be very well behaved." The cook doesn't look quite convinced, eyeing the dark haired boys. "Marcus has been here before." Trying to remember if Buster was here when me and Marcus came a few times for supper.