Not So Hopeless Romance - Temporarily On Hold

Chapter Seven-Silence...

    I slid into the kitchen on my socks, looked at the time, then faced my father. "I'm guessing it's too late for supper?" He looked at the time too, then shook his head. "Great, pizza it is." Then, before he could offer, I said, "I'll pay. You paid last time."

    He gave me a look, then sighed, "Sure thing, kiddo. I'll get next time." He went to ruffle my hair, but I moved out of range.

    I pulled out my phone and dialled the pizza place. I ordered a medium meat lover's pizza. Normally, I would go for Hawaiian, but Dad didn't like it. I only really got it when he wasn't here or from the cafeteria. Apparently, my father didn't like pineapple on his pizza, Tristan did though. I remembered how we always ended up fighting over the last piece, then we would play rock paper scissors to win it.

    The guy on the other end of the line said it should be ready for pick-up in twenty minutes. I hung up and grabbed the keys to Dad's truck. "Be back soon," I shouted, heading to the front door and putting my shoes on. It shouldn't have been that cold, so I stuck with my hoodie.

    Walking out the front door, I unlocked the beat-up, black Dodge and started toward the pizza place. I had my license, obviously, but I didn't have my own vehicle. It didn't matter to me, I could use Dad's truck when he wasn't and if not, I always had Casey to drive me around. That is the main reason she picked me and Dani up in the morning, plus it was easier to carpool. Saving the environment and all.

    I pulled up to Joey's and headed inside, the bell rung when I opened the door. "Hey, Joey. Was it a busy day?"

    "Decent enough," he replied with a shrug, whipping down the counters. "Shouldn't be too much longer."

    "Thanks," I smiled at him. Joey and my Dad had gone to school together, mainly throughout high school. They were friends, but drifted apart when they went to different colleges. They still talked every once and a while, but only when they ran into each other. Joey had slightly greying beige hair and brown eyes. He wore the staff uniform, which is more on the casual side, consisting of a black sleeveless shirt - you had a choice of sleeves or not - that has their logo and his name pin on it and cargo pants.

    I sat down at the bench in front of the window and looked around. This place hadn't changed since Joey's father opened it about fifty-five years ago, I've seen pictures, and named it after his son. While it had a slight diner feel, squared tables and a wall dedicated to pictures of our small town's history, it had a homey feel to it too. It's soft blue hues made it warm, inviting. Just as it was when I worked here the summer before.

    I took out my phone and started reading one of my many books. It was one of those semi-cliche romance plots, but it helped the time fly. About five minutes later, the bell rung again. Signaling the opening of the door to my left. I kept reading, stopping only when I saw a pair of blue running shoes entered my line of vision. I looked up to find Waren standing before me.

    "Oh, hey," I said, noticing he had walked over here from a group of guys. The guys, who I assumed to be his friend group, seemed to be "discreetly" watching our encounter. "A little late to be out for supper isn't it."

    "Coming from the girl who's most likely waiting on her own supper." He smiled. Oh. Yeah, I was.

    "I meant, assuming you and your friends are not just here for a pickup, that it's too late to dine in." I covered.