Chapter 19
Nineteen
Jaclyn
It’s a week before thanksgiving.
Things have been uneventful since my incident at the hospital.
A day after we got home, my mom left and she said that she will see us in California for Thanksgiving. She left saying she loved me with a kiss on the cheek 'goodbye'. She told me to start answering her calls from now on or else we will have another fight.
I have been catching up on school and the things I have missed. I also have been working a lot more. I managed to finish both of the essays on Hayden before I got admitted to the hospital so I’m happy I don’t have to worry about that.
Because of the accident on Halloween I told Natalia I’m going to take a break from partying which she was super understanding with.
When she and Chris visited me at the hospital, they kept apologizing to me, even now whenever I see them, they still do. I know they feel bad and I told them that they shouldn’t because my diabetes is my responsibility and I don’t expect them to watch me every single second.
They still feel pretty bad though.
I hang out with them at the diner whenever I’m not working or doing homework with the rest of the group.
Hayden is there sometimes. Most of the time we don’t talk to each other. I catch him staring sometimes but he doesn’t really talk to me much. Whenever we do talk to each other, it’s just us throwing insults.
I still kept his flowers though. I don’t know why I did but I put them in a box along with his note. They were really pretty flowers and I wanted to keep them.
Nothing more, nothing less.
“Table 13,” Franky says, ringing the bell and placing an order on the expo line.
I grab the plate and say 'thank you' to Franky.
He gives me a playful wink which I just smile at.
Franky and I have been working a lot more together. I like working with him because he always has interesting things to say. He talks to me about books and business which I think is cool to learn about. He tells me about the crazy things he has experienced when working here which I always love hearing.
Andy works with me too and that’s my time to complain and rant because we love complaining to each other.
Whenever Lisa is around, we talk too. She tells me about things Andy has done in her childhood. She feels like a grandma I never had before. When I told her I was in the hospital she was super worried about me and was going to send me home but I begged her to let me stay because I needed the money.
I place the plate in front of the customer and give them a smile. They smile back at me before I leave the table.
The bell rings, making me look towards the front. Lucas walks in with a book and he smiles when he sees me.
“Didn’t think I would see you again,” he says, sitting at his usual table while still staring up at me.
“Well I should be saying that to you. I work here.”
“I came here like a few weeks ago and they told me you were gone for the week.”
“I was just taking a small break,” I say, not wanting to worry him. “But I’m back and feeling good. Ready to take on some orders.”
“That’s always good to hear.” Lucas chuckles. “Glad to have you back. I don’t need a menu by the way. I think I want to have just a mocha latte and pumpkin bread. ”
“Sure. You want the bread warmed?’
“Yea, that’d be great.”
I nod my head at him and go to the back of the bar, preparing his latte and putting his bread in the toaster.
“That guy is giving you puppy dog eyes as you move behind the bar,” Andy says, leaning against the counter while staring at Lucas, I assume.
“Totally agree. He is a nice kid though. Reminds me of a golden retriever.” I hear Franky say, making me look at him through the expo window. “What? You can’t tell me he doesn’t give golden retriever vibes.”
“What makes you think he is a golden retriever?”
“The way he looks at you shyly. He has this whole good guy persona going on,” Franky says before he nods his head and snaps his fingers at Andy. “$20 that he asks her out.”
Andy smirks at him. “You’re on, old man. We’re still going on for that other bet though.”
I furrow my eyebrows. “What other bet?’
“Nothing you need to worry about.” Andy gives me an innocent smile but I know it’s anything but.
“God, maybe I should have found different coworkers.”
“Hey, you're the one who decided to stay. It’s your fault now.” Andy shrugs.
“You know, kids like Hayden are like doberman boys. I think that's what I heard my girls saying when they showed me pictures of these boys they liked,” Franky says with a teasing smile on his face.
For some reason, my cheeks blush. I don’t know why and I wish I could get rid of it.
“Yes!” Andy snaps her fingers at Franky. “And then I think Kayden is like either a doberman or a husky guy.”
“Since when do you give boys a dog stereotype?”
“Since it became a thing,” Andy says in a ‘duh’ tone.
“She just doesn’t understand, Andy.” Franky shakes his head lightly before going back to work.
I ignore them and continue to make Lucas' coffee. Once it’s done and the bread is warmed I put them both on a plate and go to his table.
“Here ya go,” I say, placing them on the table.
“Thanks.” Lucas puts his book down and I can’t help but look at the title. He’s reading The Inmate by Freida McFadden. I’ve heard great things about the book but haven’t had the chance to read it for myself. It’s on my to-be-read list though. “Have you read the book?
I look away from the book and look at Lucas. “No, but I hear it’s good. I’ll read it one of these days.”
“Kind of scared to get to the ending,” he says with a small smile on his face.
“You have to let me know how it is. I love books with crazy endings or plot-twists.”
“Love a good mind-fuck.” He laughs. “Also I wanted to ask, I hope you don’t mind. Would you like to go out sometime?” Lucas asks in a shy tone.
I wish I could look behind me and glare at Andy and Franky who are for sure burning holes in my back.
“I would love to. Maybe after winter break though? I’m going to be busy with finals in December.”
I want to say no but I feel bad. We can go out as friends, not necessarily anything more.
Lucas nods his head. “Totally understandable.” He writes on a napkin his phone number and slides it to me. “Text me and we can plan something.”
“Of course. I’m excited.” I smile at him before leaving, not wanting to see his reaction. I go behind the bar and Andy and Franky are giving me “I told you so” looks. “I don’t want to hear it from any of you,” I say while slipping the napkin in my jean pocket.
“We told you,” they sing before laughing at me while my face just turns red.