Sunset Over Bethany

Chapter 2 - Rowan

Chapter 2 - Rowan

            What’s good today? What do I feel like? Omelet with the works and tea? Yeah that sounds good.

            “Hi there sir, what can I get you?” asked the waitress.

            “Oh hi, can I get French toast with bacon on the side, crisp them till their black, and a coffee? Black with three sugars please, thanks”

            That wasn’t what I was thinking of getting at all. Whatever, what I just ordered sounded better. He paused to take a look around the diner, the seats of every table and booth filled, whilst customers not seated were waiting in line outside.

            Hmmmm, there’s a lot of people here today. I’m pretty sure they’ll have to put someone else with me to fit that family that just came in.

            He searched about for something to do while waiting for his food to arrive, which was surely going to be awhile, judging by the throngs who decided to dine here today.

            I’ll just read the newspaper while I wait for my order.

            “Excuse me, do you mind if I sit here?” He looked up and saw this girl. She had straight brown hair that fell on her shoulders, and green eyes that matched her shirt almost perfectly.

             “No, I don’t mind, be my guest,” he said with a smile. Heh heh, I don’t mind at all! He looked back at his newspaper and pretended to read while sneaking a glance at her through his side view. She dresses very nicely, he thought, very smart, almost professional in a way. He put down his newspaper, “I just wanted to say you look very nice.”

            She looked up at him from her menu with a smile. “Thanks, you look nice too,” she beamed. She looked back down at her menu, folded it back and put it aside on the table. She reached out her hand, “I’m Abby, nice to meet you”.

            “And I’m Rowan, same goes to you,” he smiled as he shook her hand. Her grip was strong but her hands were delicate.

            “What were you reading?” asked Abby, “You looked pretty into it.”

            “Oh this?” he folded up the newspaper and put it aside, “I hate the news. I think it’s just a bunch of phonies economizing on something that’s happening on the other side of the world or just a bunch of facts they’ve made up and decided to write about.”

            She burst out laughing. “That’s exactly what I think too!”

            I bet she's just saying that to sound smart, he thought. In earnest, it wasn't truly what he thought of the news, just something to get her laughing. It gave him the desired effect, which brought a smile to his face.

            Just then, the waitress came up to their table, “Can I take your order?”

            “Oh, I’ll have the eggs benedict with another slice of toast – buttered please, and a coffee two milk three sugars. Thanks.”

            She turned back to him. “There’s a crossword on the back of this right? Why don’t we do it togther!”

            “Alright, I’m pretty good at these, hope you can keep up,” he said as he took out the newspaper again.

            “I can definitely do that! Let’s see … 1-across. Five letters, Mr. Gosling’s.”

            “It’s Ryan’s,” he said quickly.

            “What?”

            “You know, it says Mr. Gosling so it has to be Ryan, and the clue indicates a possessive so you make it Ryan’s, get it?”

            “Oh, that makes sense, though it is a little weird.”

            “Yeah, you just gotta get used to it, it’s not my favourite crossword but it’s fun when you don’t wanna try.”

            They worked on the crossword while each having their breakfasts, and by the end of it all, they had finished about three quarters of it. Rowan sat back. He looked at his watch.

            “Oh, I’ve gotta get going – umm – Abby. It certainly was a pleasure to have met you and done a crossword together, maybe we can see each other again?”

            “Certainly Rowan, I’d love to,” she smiled with a slight blush. The red of her cheeks brought out her eyes. “Here’s my number; I’m not doing anything Friday night so maybe we can go watch a movie or something?” She handed him a napkin that she had written her number on.

            “Yeah that sounds swell,” as he took the napkin.

            He walked out of the diner and got on his Vespa. I like this girl, there’s just something special about her, but I don’t know what. Oh god, when should I call her? If I call tonight, will I come off a little desperate? Maybe she’s the kind of girl who likes a guy who doesn’t wait a few days to finally call her. Nah, she’ll probably think I’m clingy or something. Damn! I haven’t played this game in a while, I’m getting rusty.

            But in the back of his mind, none of it really mattered. He felt warm and fuzzy on the inside, a feeling he hadn’t had in a while. And who knew, maybe it was because of Abby.