Awake [ L.T Short Story ]

a pursuit of common interests

        "I hope this place is as "fabulous" as you spoke of it, Brooks." I said sucking in a sharp breath as I stared upward towards the restaurant.

       After watching the sunrise, we both exclaimed that we were extremely hungry. He suggested we go to this quaint cafe' a few blocks down. He definitely overcompensated on the walking distance. That's for certain. However, I was willing to trudge the length as long as their was a meal in pursuit.

        "I cross my heart. This place has provided me with the most delicious omelets of my life since I was a young child. It's the best destination you'll find after a one mile hike. You won't be disappointed. Well, unless you have some secretive vendetta against breakfast foods . . ."

        "There was this one time I received this horrid case of food poisoning from eggs . . ."

        He suspiciously cocked an eyebrow.

        "I'm joking with you. No animosity is in existence between eggs and I. But, I really did get food poisoning."

        Brooks simply smiled and began walking towards the door. I followed suit.

        He held the door open for me and once I entered, I recognized a common 50s theme carried throughout. It resembled that of a Johnny Rocket's considering a small juke box replica sat at the end of each booth.

        "Table for two, my dear Mona." Brooks called to a blonde girl who appeared to be in her late 20s. Holding up two fingers as gesture.

        She nodded and came around the L-shaped granite counter. A couple of plastic menus in hand.

        Mona seated us at a window booth and chatted a bit with Brooks about his welfare before she left for us to decide on our orders.

        "She's always been kind to me, that Mona. Helped me cope with my parents and all." Brooks noted. His eyes remaining on the emerald-lined menu.

        "How long have your parents been together?" I asked.

        "Twenty one years today. Ironic this is the day they seem to argue the most."

        "Sure is quite unfortunate. Why do you suppose that?"

        "I dunno. I guessed it reminded them of their mistake of marrying each other." He looked longingly out the window in a manner as if he was asking it a question that he could never properly answer.

        I decided to cease pestering him for the time being. He'd already seemed troubled enough as it is. He did not need a girl he just met questioning him on a topic he couldn't even understand himself, let alone explain it.

        No more than a second later, Mona returned. We both ordered a cheese omelet with bacon, jellied toast, and a Mountain Dew. After jotting it down, she left to give it to the fry cook.

        "All this time I figured I was the only human being that would request a soft drink at six in the morning. I took you as more of a sophisticated coffee addict considering that spilling incident." Brooks marveled.

        "You, Fitz, were way off any spectrum of my personality. I only brought coffee to keep me functioning. I find it bitter, but the caffeine does help. And. Honestly. I thought you were some pretentious human fortune cookie with a few messy friends due to the whole napkin carrying thing you've got going on."

        "Funny how first impressions work, yeah." He said his eyes traveling to the juke box.

        "Say, North, so do you have any quarters on hand?"

        "Um, I think." I dug my hand into my short's pocket and pulled out a twenty dollar bill and seventy-six cents.

        "Thanks." He replied sliding one of the quarters into his palm.

        He inserted the faded, silver coin in the slot and searched for a song." "You've Got A Friend" by James Taylor began to softly hum through the ceiling's spherical speakers.

        I could mentally picture my mother bustling around the dining room. Wiping down baseboards, singing along to James Taylor's "Fire and Rain."

        "Nice taste." I admitted.

        "You like James?" Brooks questioned.

        "Well, more like my mom influenced me to, but I still favor his music all the same."

        "Who else do you listen to?" He probed as he propped his elbows on the linoleum tabletop eyes filled with excitement.

        He must be a music buff or something of the sorts.

        "Um, I love Eagles, Queen, Radiohead . . ." My voice trailing off assuming he most likely has grasped any idea of my likes.

        "I'll be damned. You know, you're pretty cool, Malia." Brooks complimented while propping his chin within is right hand.

        "Really? I appreciate that."

        "Seriously. No one ever has enjoyed the same artists as me before. Never."

        "I mean, everyone I've encountered from this decade has a bland personality. No substance, no voice. Ya know?" He threw around his hands carelessly as he spoke. His dewy pupils not daring to make eye contact with a single soul in the diner.

"I agree wholeheartedly, Brooks." I eyed him in a discreet manner. It made my heart grow heavy by gathering knowledge that such a beautiful boy was so disheartened.

I hunched my shoulders and gave a thumbs up. "Glad I could have been of assistance in your pursuit of a person with common interests."

        He stared at me for a moment then turned his attention towards Mona. She stood in front of our table, shifting her body weight from one foot to the other as she carefully set down the two candy-colored cups filled to the brim with Mountain Dew.

        "Thank you." I told her.

        "No problem." She answered. Mona quickly bent down and whispered something in Brook's ear. He shook his head. She nodded, her mouth forming the shape of an 'O'.

        "I'll be back with your meals in a minute." She smiled and walked off to attend to an older gentleman sitting on the opposite side of the cafe'. A cigarette lazily dangling from the corner of his lips.

        I then took a sip from my drink and began to think that it sure was pleasant not to feel so lonesome anymore. I'm thankful that Brooks coincidentally happened to be an odd, overly-passionate boy that continuously carried around napkins with him. I really am.