The First Glance
It was a quiet evening as I walked down the familiar route I took to work these last few months. The once blue sky was now in a flaming battle with night, I always enjoyed sunsets. I squinted my eyes as the setting sun threw its final rays of blinding light through the distant tree line. Suddenly a slight breeze crossed my body as if dancing around me and leaving as quickly as it came.
Fall was here, my favorite time of year. As I approached the nearby diner in front of me, electricity buzzed as the fluorescent diner sign lit up. Jimmy's Diner, radiated a soft glow as I walked inside. I had only been working at Jimmy's for a few short months but I had gotten pretty familiar with the menu and the townies. Living in a small town Jimmy's was the only place you could go after hours for a bite to eat, so we would have all sorts of interesting people come in at a night.
Lana
I walked into the diner toward the open counter space that lead to the order window and kitchen door. A familiar smiling face looked in my direction.
" Hey Lana, Sarah had to leave early some kind of family emergency, so you'll need to help close up today.'' Jimmy said from behind the order window.
Jimmy would leave early a few nights in the week once the last tables order was sent out, to spend time with his wife. His kids were grown up and off to college so it was just him and the misses. He was always going on about how she was his soulmate. It was kind of sweet.
"Okay, Jimmy I don't mind closing tonight," I told him with an enthusiastic voice, I didn't exactly have a social life.
From behind the order window the stove was sizzling with orders, the dinner rush was just beginning.
Through the kitchen door came Elena, my closest friend, carrying a tray of ketchup.
"Lana, thank god for you, Sarah bailed on me and left me with six tables," frustration oozed from her voice.
Elena was super out going, which was the opposite of me. She was always the life of the party and I was always the mom. It didn't really bother me too much because I didn't care to party. I always liked when we worked shifts together because she would always take the tables of boys when they came in. Give me an old married couple to wait on any day, I always hated waiting on people my age.
The night was finally winding down and we had just a few tables left finishing up their meals. As I was taking a tray of dirty dishes into the kitchen, Elena slide a quarter in the jukebox and Six Underground by sneaker pimps started to play. I really loved this song.
I heard the bell that hung above the diner door ring, another table just came in, Elena can get it, I thought; it was 10 minutes 'til closing. She'd have to turn them away. A few moments later she came into the kitchen with the biggest smile on her face.
"What's got you smiling?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"The hottest guy just walked in, has horrible taste in coffee, black no sugar but cute none the less...maybe I could be his sugar," she said chuckling.
I rolled my eyes, "Oh my god El, are men all you think about?" She snickered, "Hey a girls got needs!!!" I looked at her annoyed, "Did you tell him we are closing?"
She shook her head, "Yes of course, but he only wanted a coffee." She left the kitchen with the coffee in hand and the biggest grin on her face.
I chuckled and started humming to the song playing on the jukebox. After spraying off the last dirty dish and placing it on the drying rack I walked toward the kitchen door. I had two more tables to bus. I walked through the kitchen door and was suddenly hit with the most unusual scent, it was like fresh air right before a rain storm, mixed with a earthy pine smell. Where was it coming from?
I walked around the counter and looked toward Elena, she was blocking the guy she was waiting on. But in the next moment she moved and his eyes met mine.
He was...…gorgeous. Jet black hair, golden eyes, wearing a leather jacket; he had that mysterious bad boy look to him and he was looking right at me. A shiver ran down my spine. I began to sweat and my heart began to race. It felt like he was looking into my soul.
Elena cleared her throat, "Lana, jimmy told me to tell you not to forget to clean the mats in the kitchen out back," all I could do was nod, it was like I couldn't formulate words. What was happening to me.
Once I felt the blood finally rush back to my limbs, I darted into the kitchen. Once inside I leaned again the nearest wall and tried to catch my breath. I'd never felt anything like that before in my life.
I finished cleaning the mats, it took me longer then I thought because I couldn't get my mind to focus on what I was doing. I walked back inside nervous and excited to get a glimpse of the mystery man that literally excited and scared me at the same time. To my disappointment he was gone.....
