UNEXPECTED | UNEDITED

05 | Brave

Jason was dressed in his officer uniform when he entered, he looked around the restaurant before Carly and he made eye contact. He started over to the counter immediately before he pulled out a seat at the bar and sat down. Carly smiled at him before she looked over her shoulder nervously, she could still feel Ron's eyes on her. Out of fear of losing her job, Carly began her robotic waitress script.

"Welcome to Stonelin Diner. Can I get you something to drink to start with?" Milvers eyebrows furrowed at her greeting. When Carly glanced over her shoulder to the kitchen once more, Milver noticed and his eyes followed her glance. From Carly's perspective, it looked like he gave Ron a displeasing look.

"I'll take coffee." He said dryly, still staring into the kitchen before he turned his attention to Carly. He smiled at her sending butterflies through Carly's body, she loved his smile especially when it was directed at her. She nodded and went to work pouring him a cup of the black liquid into a clean, white ceramic cup. She set it down in front of him as she watched the elderly couple from before leaving the restaurant leaving Carly alone with a watchful Ron and an unreadable Jason.

"Will you look at me for a second?" Carly looked over at Jason, who was pulling out his phone as he pressed some buttons. "Smile." He directed as he brought the phone up to take a picture. Carly gave him a smile but instead of a joyful smile, it was more of an awkward and confused smile. "No, give me a real smile. Just trust me." Carly followed his direction and it felt like she was taking school pictures.

"What was that for?" She asked him as his fingers skipped the screen of his phone rather quickly. After Milver seemed satisfied he sat his phone onto the counter, face down.

"I needed a photo for your contact picture," Milver took a sip of coffee, what he next made Carly blush." plus I like being able to see your pretty smile." Carly looked down at her feet before she looked back up at him.

"You think it's pretty?" She asked quietly in a soft tone. Carly had never been told that she was pretty ever by anyone besides her family. So having a very attractive guy tell her that he found something about her was attractive was something that took her back a step.

"I think you are beautiful Carly." Milver smiled at her as he reached for her hand. He wrapped her smaller hand in his as he looked into her eyes. His eyes looked at her but their moment was cut short by the bell above the door. Carly looked past Jason's shoulder to see a larger man walk in, Carly pulled away from Jason's hand and gave him a small smile before she left to greet him.

The night went on with Carly doing her job and Jason watching patiently. It was almost as if she was a zoo animal in an enclosure and he was the behavioral scientist trying to learn more about her. The night went on rather smoothly besides Ron giving her another, 'I'm serious' talk.

As the end of Carly's shift neared Jason was still around. He still sat on that barstool now sipping on a glass of ice water. The rest of the other patrons had left the restaurant and retreated to where they were staying for the night. As soon as Carly had finished her duties Jason spoke up.

"Go get your things, I'll drive you home." He said standing up and stretching out his legs.

"You don't have to, I can walk."

"No. Go get your things, Carly." Jason looked down at her, his fingers on her chin. He was so close that Carly was sure that he was going to kiss her just because of the proximity. Instead, he just smirked to someone behind her. She nodded submissively as she turned around to go collect her belongings. Her heart stopped when she realized that Ron was standing there watching the entire interaction. Ron didn't look happy.

The cook and her boss followed her into the kitchen, he watched her as she gathered her purse and put on the oversized black hoodie. "What are you doing?" He asked her almost like she was his child. "Does your dad know about this?" Carly's jaw dropped at the comment but she closed her mouth before anything bad could come out.

"No, there isn't anything to tell him about." which was true, Carly didn't need to tell him about anything. There was nothing serious going on between the two besides this was the third time she had seen the man. Why was Ron so upset about it? Before Ron could get another word in Carly spoke up once more. "I have to go, Jason is waiting for me." With that, she turned and stormed out of the kitchen. In retrospect, it probably wasn't the greatest thing she had done but Carly was tired and didn't like the idea of being tattled on like a child.

When Carly exited the kitchen Jason was where she had left him, "You ready to go?" He asked, wrapping his arm around Carly's shoulders displaying the height difference between the two. She smiled up at him; she gave him a deviant smile before she nodded and the two went out the doors. Carly felt Jason look behind them once again. A fuming Ron stood in the kitchen entry with his arms crossed.

What could Carly say? For the first, for some unknown reason, Carly felt brave. This bravery would probably get her in trouble and unbeknownst to her be her downfall. But for the moment, Carly enjoyed the feeling of being free and of not caring. She wasn't sure how long the feeling would last but she knew that she was going to hold on it for as long as Carly could. 

EDITED 6/29/2020