I'm a Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Chapter 4: Numb

A/N

So I know Amber's emotions may be a little all over the place, but I do that on purpose. I don't want to give anything away, but I'm trying to show that she's struggling to cope and she isn't just crazy. Her thoughts and actions come from a place filled with pain and I'll try to explain that more in future chapters, but I just want my readers to know that Amber is a person (character) with feelings. Obviously this is a work of fiction, but just try to be open-minded throughout this, please? I know it's probably going to be hard to feel anything but hatred towards her after a while, but I'm trying something different with my writing and I guess we'll see how people react. This is just a rough draft anyways, so criticism (constructive) is appreciated.

Chapter 4

My eyes follow the spicy food that flies through the air over the pan as the professional chef prepares yet another appetizing meal for a regular customer. He snatches a pepper shaker from above the oven on the wooden shelf where all the spices sit idly. He moves his hand around over the pan and a deep crackling emits as the pepper makes contact with the sizzling food.

I lick my lips hungrily and pry my eyes away from the chef as he begins to place the meal in a freshly cleaned glass plate. My stomach rumbles, but I ignore it as I pick up the two drinks for the table with the cute elderly couple, waiting patiently as they talk and smile at one another.

My heart throbs in abandonment, silently telling me that that should one day be me and Derek. We should be the ones growing old together and laughing at old memories, not having to worry about anyone coming between us because deep down inside we know no one could.

The dreams of any of that happening for me and Derek are demolished as a sour picture of Zoey's face invades my mind and reminds me that she's ruined my whole life. Literally. After all, Derek was my whole life.

My hands connect with the freezing glass of soda and almost slip from the condensation building on the outside surface. I keep a firm grip and make my way to the table beside the front window that overlooks the center of town. Busy people pass by in a hurry and I catch a quick glimpse of a few costly cars parking in the spaces aligned in front of our restaurant. I set the sodas down in front of the two overly cheerful customers and reach in my dirty apron to retrieve straws.

"Are you two ready to order?" I ask, glancing at both of them. They both smile and nod, the man picking up his menu after putting on a pair of 80's styled glasses. I begin writing down their dinners and can't help my eyes from wandering outside as a group of teenage guys and girls fills my vision. I recognize a few of the kids from school, but others aren't as familiar to me.

One particular blonde girl sticks out most from the large group and my knuckles involuntarily tighten around the pen in my hand as if it were the girl herself. I want that witch no where near our restaurant. She and her stuck-up, insensitive and witless so-called friends need to return to their expensive cars and keep driving until they're at least a five miles away.

"Excuse me, Miss?"

A bland voice interrupts my angry thoughts and I quickly take my eyes off the group of students who are now entering our restaurant. "I'm sorry?" I question politely, guilt eating at me because I just completely ignored the couple as they were reading off their orders. I want to kick myself for being unprofessional, but instead duplicate their words onto pad paper as they recite them and pick up their menus to return to the register.

As my right foot hovers above the ground, about to head to the kitchen to give the chef the next meal to prepare, someone's shadow falls over me, stopping me in my tracks. My eyes wander up to the male presence in front of me and I become face to face with a guy I recognize from school.