Just The Two Of Us <Sweet Pea FF>

76. If the world was ending

The door opens, squeaking, and a small ray of sunshine falls into the room.
I groan, shifting in my bed.

"Wake up, julia. Have you forgotten what day it is?" Fps deep voice makes me turn around again. Sitting up in my bed, trying to adjust my eyes the little light that pierces through the dark room.

"Taco tuesday?" I hear my sleepy voice as I rub my eyes.
A small chuckle echoes through the room "Thanksgiving kiddo. It's Thanksgiving"

"Oh yeah right. I'm sorry I won't be able to do something. I promised Veronica to work at pops since she is at Archie's community centre throwing a party for the kids." I say, swinging my legs from the bed and getting up.

"What about pop?"
"He is celebrating with his family" I pull up the drapes "And I'm happy to do it so that they can spend the holiday with their family. I'm responsible fp" I announce with a strong voice as if I wanted to convince him.

My shift starts at 2pm and now it is only 12. But I guess there is no point in falling asleep again so I hop in the shower and get ready.

Fp is out working and jug is at his school with betty. I don't even want to know what they are doing there... alone.

"Goodbye Jellybean" I scream while putting on my coat. A distant response reaches my ears and I open the door. A wave of icy wind blows into my face. Great, and I can walk to the diner.

Don't look back in anger by oasis blasts from my headphones and I start walking, clenching my coat tighter around my body.
It is bitterly cold and windy, a great combination that makes riverdale seem like Alaska.

"That uniform is too damn short" I mumble into my jacket before I walk up the stairs to enter pops chock'lit shop.

"Cold?" The other waiter laughs at me
"I have never seen so much sunshine" I respond to him mocking me.
"Yeah, well, wait until later when it starts to snow and everything freezes. Maybe the door freezes and we can't get out" he puts down two plates and walks behind the counter where I join him.
"If we are lucky" I chuckle, putting my bag down.

The diner is pretty empty for a holiday which is probably due to the ice storm outside which is getting more intense every hour.

"I'm not mad that it's not that busy" Aiden, the day waiter, leans on the counter.
"Yeah, me neither. And Ronnie was scared I would mess up or something bad would happen" a smug smile crawls on my face.

The bell rings and I turn around to welcome the new customers.

"Ah, it's so cold" luciana shoves off her jacket "Your lips are a bit purple" she giggles at sweet pea.

Oh crap.
"Hey, welcome. Sit anywhere you like" that smug grin turned into an uncomfortable smile.
"Hi Julia. Not that busy, huh?" Sweet pea looks around.
"Nope" my hands meet behind my back.

We haven't talked about what happened on Cheryl's birthday and it's okay. I realized that it's best this way.

Some time passed and the only costumers are sweet pea and luciana and fp and Alice who came in about half an hour ago.

"Julia, dear. Wasn't it you Birthday last week?" Alice asks as I put down the plate in front of her.
"No, it was Cheryl's"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just not good with remembering dates" she laughs and I join.
"No worries"
"Julia doesn't like to celebrate her birthday anyway" fp adds.
"Yes. After all you're just as old as you feel" I smile putting the glasses on the table and walk away.
"Which makes me nothing years old" I mumble to myself as I walk over to sweet pea and luciana.

The bell rings again, which is surprising since nobody should be outside during this icy weather.
It's Hiram and Hermione Lodge. Fp and Alice wave them over to them and start a conversation.

"Everything good?" I look down on the two.
"Well, we are kind of trapped here but that's ok. In fact, I think storms are kind of sexy" lucianas focus shifts from me to sweet pea.
"Yeah,me too" he answers, looking up into my face. A tempting smirk playing around his lips together with this obvious allusion to detention night.

"I'm gonna make this clear hiram, I'm not your puppet. When I took this job I pledged to serve and protect riverdale not to do your bidding" fps loud voice travels through the empty diner and becomes centre of attention.

As fp did, hiram stands up.
"How about you sit down again" he whispers provocatively.

"Okay. Everybody calm down. Why don't I seat you to another booth" I walk over there and Aiden follows me.

"You know what we should do?" Fp still screams at mr. Lodge.
"Calm ourselves?" I whisper nervously. I can't risk a fight, ronnie would kill me.

"No, you know what?" Mrs. Lodge turns to me and aiden.
"Omg, are we supposed to answer?" He mumbles into my direction.

"Why don't you show us another booth"
"Of course, follow me" aiden takes them to the other side of the diner while I walk around the counter.

"Oof, the tension is rising in here" he sits down on a stool in front of me.
"I know, right. I mean they are adults" I role my eyes.
"No, I mean the sexual tension... between you and the tall guy" his eyebrow raises teasingly.

"Sweet pea? No, we are just friends"
"But you were a couple once?" He shifts in his seat
"Yeah, but that's in the past now" I wipe down the counter.

"You know I recently read that when a couple breaks up and they are still friends, either there never was love or the love is not gone" a grin tucks on his lips
"Read it? You mean on Instagram?"

"Well, you heard her. This storm is turning people on more than alcohol and low self esteem" aiden adds impersonating Luciana.
"I mean, I saw how he looked at you" he wiggles with his eyebrows.

I guess it's going to be a long night.