All the Boys

2. Call if You Need Me

           "What was that?" Said a gruff voice. Gideon. He was in a white button down and slacks, and, as always, black chucks. He was about fifty, but he looked- and dressed- around the age of thirty.  His dark hair was slowly starting to fade to grey.

            "Getting rid of loiterers, sir. One of them gave me money," I said, dumping coins into my apron pocket. Gideon nodded, his eyes narrowing under his glasses. He was unamused with most things, and had possibly the most monotone attitude in the entire world. If the world ended, Gideon would probably sit on the porch and have a kettle on.

            "Table three needs cleaning," he said, tossing me a rag before walking into the kitchen. Nina and Pavarti turned to me as I went behind the counter.

            "He was cute," Pavarti said, resting her head in her hands.

            "Sorry?" I said. She smiled and rolled her eyes.

            "That curly haired boy. Who was he?" Pavarti asked.

            "Dunno. But he gave me thirty pound for cursing out his friend," I sighed, grabbing a new set of table settings. Pavarti and Nina followed me to table three and sat down in utter fascination.

            "Thirty pound?" Nina asked. I put the place settings down on a nearby chair as I sprayed the table with cleaner.

            "Don't you lot have classes soon?" I sighed as I scrubbed the table.

            "Shit, it's seven, the bus comes in five minutes," Nina said, grabbing her bag off the floor and running out the door along with Pavarti, "We're talking after class lets out!"

            I laughed as they ran to the corner and caught their bus. They didn't come when classes ended, and I knew they wouldn't. They were both in higher level classes, and often had shit tons of homework. I wasn't surprised when I got a call saying they'd come visit me tomorrow.

            It was nearly ten thirty, and I was cleaning the tables. Gideon was behind the counter, putting away clean dishes. It'd been down pouring for the past few hours, and the rain slapped on the window that circled the entire building. Gideon had been playing music over the speakers, and the Arctic Monkeys blared overhead. I Gideon came across the counter and tossed me a set of keys.

            "Lock up, yeah? It's only the front door-"

            The front door opened, and a large group huddled inside. My heart sunk when I realized there were five of them, and one had iridescent blue eyes.

            "Can I help you boys?" Gideon asked, putting his coat back down on the counter. He turned down the music as Louis began to speak.

            "We know it's late," Said Louis, the blue eyed one, "But would you mind if we got some hot tea and coffee? We took a wrong turn on our way back to London, and our van broke down half a mile down the road. We- we'll pay double whatever you normally charge-"

            I have to admit, Louis was a spectacular liar; standing in the door like a lost dog. I turned to Gideon, silently praying he could read my mind, and tell them to get out and crawl back into their godforsaken stoner van and leave.

            "No worries, lads. I've got towels in the back for you to dry off. Charlie, take orders, will you?" Gideon asked. I scrunched my nose when he said my name. Now those boys knew my name. What if they follow me home and hunt me down and-

            "Charlie? Orders," Gideon said, snapping my mind away from my worries. I sighed and pulled off my gloves, leaving them on the table. I removed my cleaning apron and pulled on a waitress apron.