The next morning I pulled up outside my favourite run down diner, The Station. I pulled opened the heavy door and walked inside.
“Mornin’ Steve. Isn’t it a beautiful day today?” I said cheerfully, shutting the door behind me.
“You bet your left butt cheek it is, Missy.” I had picked up the southern North Carolina twang over the years, but Steve took it to a whole new level. “The usual, my dear?”
“You betcha.” I said with a wink, leaning over the counter. “It’s damn hot though. I was about to walk outta my house with no clothes on!”
“I’m sure the gentleman folk will love to see that.” He said, nodding at some men staring at my ass.
“Oh, Steve you old pervert.” I said with a laugh, turning around and flipping the men off.
Just then the door jingled and people who looked horribly out of place walked in. They headed straight towards me and I sighed.
“Gosh, I don’t think I made my self clear to you guys last night.” I said pulling my lipstick out and using the straw holder as a mirror. “Is it my accent? You must have noticed it’s changed since we lived in New York.”
“Look, Juno, we just want one calm civilised conversation.” Ian said, trying to make eye contact with me.
“How does it feel to be back in the South after so many years? I sure loved being back after those five years we lived in the Big Apple. Too many people.” I said digging into my breakfast.
Ian leaned in, his voice dripping with hostility.
“Listen to me. There is too much that you are not telling us about that night that we need to know.”
“Hey, is there a problem here?” Steve interrupted looking like papa bear protecting his cubs. “Cus’ I don’t know how you city folk do your thing but here in the south we treat ladies like angels.”
“It’s alright Steve. We’re just having a friendly chat aren’t we guys?” I said flashing a smile. “Now listen to me here and now boy,” I said leaning in, my voice matching the hostility Ian used earlier. “I will speak to you when I am damn ready too. Then and only then will I speak and not now and not before. You got that?”
I could see the spark of anger igniting in Ian’s eyes, the disappointment in Joseph and April’s eyes and the uncertainty in Jamie and Zack’s eyes.
“Come on guys, lets go.” April said, giving me one last pitying look.
“Oh my heavens!” A shrill voice said from behind us. “It cannot be!”
Panic rose up in me. I recognised the ladies voice. All that I had spent the past couple of years on trying to make myself up a story of why a young girl was living all alone in the smallest town in North Carolina, was about to crumble. Still I turned around and plastered a fake smile on my face.
“Well, slap me and call me Cindy! Mrs Willoughby, what in the heaven are you doing back in North Carolina?”
“Really? Slap me and call me Cindy?” I could hear Zack laughing behind me.
“My dear Juno! My kids are all grown up, they don’t need me anymore. So me and Mr Willoughby moved back here to live a more peaceful life.”
“Well, that’s just great!” I said trying to find a way to escape.
“My god how good is it to see all the Blaque siblings back together again. Look at you all, all six of you together again.”
Shit, busted.
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I'm A Sweet Talkin' Southern Bell Killer (ON HOLD)
Teen FictionJuno moves back to her home town in North Carolina after living in New York for the worst five years of her life. She makes a new life for herself and even falls in love, but trouble seems to follow her everywhere. Well, she's just going to have to...
