Chapter 23
Theo
I woke, realizing that I did, in fact, fall asleep but still had a headache. Maybe I needed to get something to eat. I went to sit up slowly because I didn’t need to fall off the bench. No more ambulances for a while, that was for sure. I reached in my pocket for my phone but realized I didn’t have it still. I needed to go and get it from Claire’s, but really didn’t want to see her. I couldn’t afford a new phone, though.
First things first, I needed to grab some grub. I reached for my bag and looked inside to see if I have some money left. I had a little. I grabbed it and decided to head to the diner. Part of me just wanted to have a quiet meal, but there was another part of me that wanted to run into Serenity again. Either way, I needed to eat something. I got myself up, then stood there for a second. I realized that I was swaying back and forth. This was going to be a fun walk. I started to walk toward the diner and noticed a couple walking hand in hand.
A bit of envy came to me as I watched them walking together, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company. The more that I thought about Serenity, the more that I realized that I want that life. I wanted to be able to walk with her holding hands. Serenity laughing at my bad jokes while I just stared at her in disbelief that she chose me to be with her. But maybe she didn’t want to be with me like that? Maybe I was just a fuck to her? Maybe I was just fabricating everything in my head and she felt none of it. Or maybe she did feel that way? I stopped and grabbed my head because I couldn’t stop all the back and forth that was going on in there. It was too much and I couldn’t make it stop.
“Are you okay, buddy?” someone asked. I looked up and realized I felt a tear falling down my face. What the fuck? I quickly brushed it off and moved past the guy who was talking to me. I was in no condition to talk to anyone. I started to jog down the path and try to get to the diner as fast as I could. Just when I was about to run out of breath, I stopped right in front of the diner. I looked up at it and remembered the last time that I was here. I was with my brother and ran out on him. She was here too. I walked through the front door and the door dings its welcoming tone. I walked over to the booth that was in the back so I could see if she came in. I sat down and kept looking around because maybe she was here already?
“What can I get you to drink, sweety?” I brought my attention back to the waitress in front of me. It was the same lady from the day before.
“Uh, water is fine. Thanks.” She put her pad away and with a half-smile walked away but left a menu. I grabbed it and tried to hold it, but I realized that my hands were super shaky. I was not trying to bring more attention to myself, so I put it down.
“Here you go. Did you want to order? Or do you need some more time?” I reached into my pocket and grabbed out the money that I have and counted it quickly.
“What can I get for six dollars?” When I looked back up at her, I saw sadness in her eyes along with caution. I had always been good at reading people’s eyes.
“I’ll have them whip something up for you, okay?” I nodded with acceptance. She was probably going to have them make one egg and some toast, which was fine as long as I got something in my stomach. I sat there and heard the door open and hurried to look up, but it wasn’t her. Instead, two cops came walking in. Shit. I felt myself starting to panic a little because I knew that I had drugs on me and I was not looking to go to jail. Let alone did I want to call the one person that I knew I would have to call.
They went and sat up front and one of them glared around the room as if assessing who was in here. Then he locked eyes with me. Fuck. Look away, Theo. But I kept eye contact. I really needed to look away, but it was as if he was challenging me or something. Were we in the fuckin wild or something?
“Here you go, sweety. If you need anything else don’t hesitate to ask.” I was broken out of the staring contest I was having. When I looked down, I saw everything from eggs to pancakes to French toast.
“This is too much. I don’t think I can pay for all this.” When I looked up, she just smiled at me.
“Don’t worry about it, I got you, honey. Now eat up before it gets cold.” I guessed the world wasn’t full of all shitty people. I couldn’t even talk, but I managed to at least say one thing.
“Thank you.”
She smiled and walked away. When I looked up at the cop who was looking at me, he was turned around and drinking his coffee now. I looked back down at the feast that was placed in front of me and didn’t even know where to start. I grabbed the fork and dug in. It was like heaven in my mouth. It felt like it had been forever since I had eaten anything. It didn’t take me long to get through the majority of the food, but when I got to the toast, I was already full. I sat back and held my stomach because I didn’t remember the last time I was this full. I took a drink of my water to try to push some of the food down.
“Was everything all right, sweety? Did you need a box?” I looked up at the waitress and finally read her name badge. Moreen.
“That would be great, Moreen.” I gave her a slight smile because it was about the only thing that I could give her, aside from the few dollars that I have. She smiled back and walked away. A few minutes later, she came back with a small box along with another box already closed.
“What’s this?” She sat next to me and grabbed my hand.
“It’s something for later, in case you get hungry again. Just know that you’re not alone and you will get through whatever you’re going through, honey. Your life does matter, young man, just know that.”
What was it this week? Save Theo week? What she said hit me right in the gut and didn’t help that there was a ton of food there because now I felt kind of sick.
“Thank you, I mean it.” That was all that I could say. She got up and walked away. I grabbed the few dollars that I had and left them on the table. I grabbed my two boxes of food and walked toward the door.
“How are you doing, son?” I looked up, not realizing that I was staring down as I was walking. The officer that was eyeing me was talking to me now.
“I’m fine.” I kept walking, but he grabbed my arm. “Do you need a ride somewhere?” What the fuck is wrong with this guy? I didn’t do anything.
“No, I got it.” We stood there staring at each other for the longest time.
“Officer Bill, did you want some more coffee?” Moreen was talking to him now and when he turned to address her, he let me go and I hurried out the door. Thank goodness for Moreen. I started to walk down the sidewalk and reached into my pocket. I pulled out the card that the paramedic gave me. I looked down at it. Fuck it. I looked at the address and started to walk.
Marco Sanchez, here I come.