Twice in a Lifetime \\ KELLIC

18

It had been a week since I saw Vic. It had been a week since I had been home. I had no communication from anyone back in town. I didn't bring my phone after all. I just got in my car and drove until I ran out of gas. Now, I was staying at a motel which doubled as a gas station and had a diner which I spent most of my time in. Tonight was the same as all the other nights.

"Hey hon, we're closing up soon," the fiery haired waitress woke me from my daydream.

"Right...sorry. Lost track of time," I said. I looked at the clock on the wall. It was eleven at night.

"I guess it's easy to lose track of time when you're staring into oblivion for hours," She said. She was right. I got lost in thought and didn't even realize she had completely closed up, except for kicking me out and locking the front doors.

"Walk me to my car?" She asked.

"Sure," I said with a nod and got up.

We left the cozy diner and went outside to the chill night. I waited as she locked up, then we headed over to her car. This was the third night in the row that she asked me to walk to her car. I didn't blame her. It was late, it was dark and there were a lot of shady people hanging around here.

"Thanks," she said as she stopped at her car, "You know I've seen you here all day every day for a week and I don't even know your name."

"It's Kellin," I answered.

"Nice to meet you, Kellin. I'm Hayley," She said.

"I know. Name tag," I nodded to the silver tag on her shirt.

"Of course," she smiled with a giggle. I wondered for a moment if she was about to hit on me. I was getting that sort of vibe from her. It wouldn't be the first time a girl did.

"So...I've been wondering something. Working here I see a lot of guys like you. They show up on their own and then they leave a day or two later. But you're sticking around. Something stopping you from going home?" She asked.

"Maybe," I shrugged.

"Or is there something stopping you from leaving town all together and not stopping?" She asked.

I thought about it. I could have kept going. I could have forgotten about my life and started over fresh. It was nice being away from home. I didn't have so many reminders of why I was so depressed. I didn't have any expectations or stress. I could be an entirely new person.

"It's complicated," I said.

"It always is, but complicated or not, you're not gonna get anywhere staying here," She said as a matter of fact.

"Why not? Here is nice," I said.

"Here is a dump, kid," She said.

I gave a small smile. She was right. A few months ago I would have turned my nose up at a place like this, but I guess I just didn't care about stuff like that anymore.

"Listen, I can get you a job here if you wanna stay. Owner of the diner owns the motel. You could probably get a pretty sweet deal on the room price," She said.

"Nah, I have a job," I told her. That's if I even did anymore. I missed way too many days lately.

"Well, there's your answer," She said.

"What?"

"About whether you're staying, going home, or leaving. You're still thinking about your job back home," she said, and she had a point.

"I guess..." I mumbled.

"So, what's holding you back?" She asked.

"You're really nosey for a stranger. You know that right?" I said.