NANOWRIMO 2020

11.02 Table For Three

 Song kept tucking a loose piece of hair behind her ear and shuffling her feet back and forth on the cobblestoned path. She would look up into her reflection of Cibo Elaborato's storefront and then hurriedly back down, unsure if she liked what she saw. She peeked again and saw herself with her wild eyes and rosy cheeks. She grimaced and clasped her hands to her clutch like it was a security blanket.

Hair carefully pulled back into a half bun, but loose hairs were peeking out and her face an alarming red for the cool night air. She let out a long, slow breath and checked the time yet again. "Just a little longer," she whispered to herself. Emiline was late to their dinner date. At least, Song was hoping it was a dinner date. In no clear words had she declared it to be a date other than the time, location of the meal, and its inherent one-on-one characteristic.

"Maybe we could grab dinner together," Song had said. "Since we have to stay late and it'll take too much time to make something..." She could feel her face getting redder thinking about saying those words, and Emiline's blank expression transitioning to an aha! Moment and nodding enthusiastically.

"Of course? When and where Song?" There was a stuttered answer and Emiline smiling and agreeing and waving goodbye to get to her next class. Had she really done that? It didn't feel real, it didn't feel like it was happening and seeing as it was already half past eight without any sign of Emiline, it seemed like it was going to stay a dream. She sighed and felt a little bit more of her heart break off.

Lane watched Song's shoulders slump in defeat from inside Cibo Elaborato. The girl had been pacing back and forth in front of the restaurant for the past hour and Lane felt a pang of pity for her. She had wanted to invite her in but the last time she opened the door and walked out Song jumped and looked so petrified Lane had to walk back inside before bursting out into laughter.

Song paced a little ways away from the window after that.

Lane felt a little guilty and stole glances at the stalking patron outside frequently. Every time she seated a guest and came back to see Song standing there, checking her watch, Lane felt her heart ache for the young woman. She'd probably been stood up. That was unfortunate, seeing as how much effort she'd put into her appearance.

It wasn't extravagant, per se. But Lane could see the winged eyeliner applied with a meticulous hand and the soft brush of blush overlapping her steaming pink cheeks. It didn't look bad, it looked like she had tried, maybe consulted a dozen or so YouTube videos, and finally asked a friend to apply it because she didn't know how. Yeah. That's what it looked like. It was undeniably cute, but she seemed uncomfortable with it.

Too bad, Lane thought. She was just her type.

Song kept tugging at the sleeves of her blouse and fidgeting with her clutch, which, as Lane had thought, were all borrowed from her roommate who was cheering her on from her phone screen.

Lane pretended to fiddle at the register and watched as the clock ticked and Song stopped her pacing to wait dejectedly by the door. Lane felt a frown form on her own face as Song's shoulders drooped lower and lower, until all the fight seemed to have drained out of her and she stood there, unmoving.

Poor girl, Lane thought. She moved to open the door again, slowly this time. She was going to invite her in, date or no date and offer her her condolences.

Song looked up at the movement.

Emiline was crossing the street and smiling at her. Song perked up and a smile broke across her face and Lane was stunned. It was like time had stopped. The awkward girl she had watched for the last hour blossomed in that split second into a beautiful woman. Her eyes shone and her smile was perfectly fitted onto her rougeish face. She ducked her head in a small acknowledgement and the lamplight (since when the fuck was there a lamp at this streetcorner?) gave her a halo the likes that Michelangelo would be proud of.

Breathtaking.

"Sorry, were you waiting long?" Emiline asked. "I dropped by my house to change and grab some things."

"Not at all, I just got here a little early," Song said, out of breath even though she was standing still, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. Emiline, as always, looked pristine and unhurried. Long hair beautifully combed and in stark contrast to the mess Song's hair had become over the past hour. "I heard this place is delicious."

Lane stood planted at the door, like some busboy waiting to let them into the restaurant, entranced by Song. "Of course it is, it's downtown," Emiline laughed and Lane snapped out of it to see Song blush and stare at the ground while Emiline brushed off her embarrassment with a forced smile.

Lane felt her heart drop.

"Should we...?" Song began, but Emiline clapped quickly and pouted in what Lane assumed was supposed to be cute.

"Great! Yes! I happened to run into Lorraine on the way here and told her she could join us. The more the merrier right?" Emiline moved to the side and sure enough there was another woman at her elbow, just as beautiful as Emiline but with no charm or grace to hide her distaste at being dragged out this late at night.

Song said nothing, but her eyes were wide and Lane imagined she could hear the softest, saddest shattering of glass as Song's heart broke off a little piece in the lamplight.

"Hello ladies," Lane cut in brusquely. "Would you like a table for...three it seems?"

Song looked at Lane, noticing her for the first time and ducked down, trying to hide the tears in her eyes. Was it embarrassment or shame? She couldn't tell.

"Oh no yeah that's perfect," Song spluttered out. "A table for three, please,"

The waitress looked at Song for a long second and gave a slight nod. "Right this way. May I offer our special menu..."

She led the group into the restaurant and left them to their waiter. She stole glances at Song the entire time, but she seemed to be holding up well enough. She smiled and she laughed and she looked beautiful the whole while.

Before they left, Lane ended up gifting a cheesecake to Song. With her phone number taped on receipt paper holding it closed.