Night & Day

Droplets began to come down bursting against the concrete into a million pieces. Oliver was on time to get me I could see his car in the traffic. I knew Derek wasn’t too enthusiastic about me getting rides from him but it was generous of him. I ducked my head running to the car. His monster was nearing the end of the lot.

“Hey, Miller. How was school?” He made a right out of the parking lot.

I shrugged. “It didn’t go by fast enough. How was your day?” I looked at his eyes. They were in my head all day today. My dream was so accurate they looked identical. I hadn’t realized how icy they looked until I told myself last night.

He smiled. “It wasn’t too horrible. There was some guys who played a prank on a freshman from the team.”

“The team?” I studied his eyelashes. Had they always been so long?

He stopped at a signal. “You don’t want anything to eat right?”

“No…I’m fine. Thank you though. Wait what team?” I pried.

He chuckled. “Are you always this persistent? The football team Nancy Drew. My father has had me in it since I was big enough to hold the ball. It was one of his dreams for me. It helps with college applications that’s why I keep doing it.”

“Do you ever play my school?” I peered out the window to see where we were.

He nodded. “Yeah your school is fun to play. No one ever knows who is going to win. I think we’re playing them in three weeks…maybe two.”

We pulled into the diner parking lot in the back. “Hey I don’t want to leave my backpack in the diner can I just change in your car? I’ll be quick.”

He smirked. “Do you need some help?”

I pushed him. “No I’m moving to the backseat. Can you just make sure no one can see me?” He jumped out of the monster and closed the door.

I threw myself into the back seat and hid behind the seat. Quickly I pulled my sweater over my head and switched it with the silky tank top Chuck gave me.

I got out of the monster and walked towards the diner. “You aren’t even going to wait for me? After I just stood watch for you? Do you know how difficult that was?” Oliver ran to the door to open it for me.
I stopped in the threshold. “It must have been tough standing next to a door. I’m sorry, Oliver.”

“It wasn’t standing watch that was difficult.” He winked and guided me to the back of the diner. Did he mean what I thought he meant? That would be typical of playful Oliver.

“Where’s Chuck?” Oliver asked a brunette girl slouched over at the cash register.

She had gorgeous eyes I was jealous. “He’s at home he said you can lock up tonight.”

He turned to me with a shrug. “I have to stay until ten o’clock tonight…No one even comes in past eight on a weekday.”

I smiled back. “Don’t worry I can work on homework here.”

“Who’s the baby, Oliver?” The brunette eyed me.

“This is Emily.” Oliver rolled his eyes and went to the back.

The brunette stared me up and down. “How old are you?”

“I’m fifteen. How old are you?” I tried to sound polite, but I think I sounded stuck up.

She cocked her hip. “Nineteen. Are you sure you’re fifteen? You look too small to be in high school.”

I shrugged. “I’m short for my age. I’ve always been small.”

Oliver came out in his work shirt. “You’re both cute okay? Get to work.” He rolled his eyes at the brunette girl. “Emily come with me. You can follow me around all night. Just watch what I do. Kate stay at the register and try not to scare anyone away.” So that was her name…Kate. I had a new hater on my list.

There were a few tables with people I knew, but I didn’t associate with them in school. Oliver had this special charm when he waited on tables. The customers would smile and practically beg him to stay at the table longer. Taking the orders seemed simple, but carrying the drinks would be a challenge. An hour had gone by quickly there was constantly a new table to wait on.

Outside I could see Derek and his football buddies. I glanced at Oliver to see what he wanted me to do. “Go sit them Emily, and I’ll be right there to take their orders. Can you run these orders to the back after you sit them?” I nodded and grasped the papers from his hand.

“Hey guys welcome the Shore. Would you like the counter, table, or booth?” I smiled to Derek.

He smirked. “A booth please.” I led them to an open booth near the counter.

“Your server will be right with you.” I smiled and walked the other orders to the back like Oliver had asked.

When I came back Oliver was standing at their table. “Can I start you guys off with anything to drink?”

The guys ordered their drinks nonchalantly. “Em, that shirt looks great on you.” Derek winked at me. I started to turn scarlet red.

Oliver turned around and met eyes with me. “Miller, go get their drinks.”

Oh, dear. I knew I wasn’t ready to carry drinks. Kate watched me filled the glasses with a sneer on her face. The tray made the drinks easier to balance but the tray felt heavier than me! Oliver shook his head. “Miller back to the counter.” I sighed and brought the tray back to where Kate was.

Oliver took my arm and placed the tray on it securely. He squared my hips. “Hold the tray like this. If you don’t you are going to drop it. Chuck hates when we drop things.” I broke his posture he set up for me.

He placed his hands on my hips trying to adjust them again. “Now try and walk it over there. Steadily I made my way to Derek’s booth. I kept my hips aligned the way Oliver had showed me. I could tell by Derek’s expression he didn’t appreciate Oliver helping me. I had made it to the table without any casualties. “Here you guys go.” I passed a soda to each of them. I shrugged once I glanced at Derek.

“Did he already take your order?” I asked with a smile.

They all nodded. “Yeah.” They replied in unison.

I turned on my heels and took the tray back to the counter. “Not too bad Miller.” Oliver smiled.

“She’s still slow, Oliver.” Kate rolled her eyes.

Oliver sighed. “Ladies, please don’t make this more painful than it already is working with the two of you.”

I frowned. “I didn’t say anything.”

Kate stood up straight. “Please, she isn’t even worth my time Oliver. I don’t argue with babies.”

“Kate go home. Your shift is over anyway.” Oliver looked at her with a pained expression.
Once she was gone I felt comfortable. Maybe she would request another shift. “Why doesn’t she like me?”

Oliver shrugged. “You’re hot. She’s afraid that you’ll get all of her tips. She’s the bad girl that the teenage boys want to tip. On the other hand, you’re the girl next-door type that every teenage boy wants to…tip. You intimidate her and she doesn’t like it.” Did he just call me hot? I think I am turning scarlet red. No, I know I am.

“How do you know that?” I looked up at his icy eyes.

He pulled cash from the register and handed it to the busboy. “Hey, Tyler can you give this to table four?”

Tyler smiled. “Sure. Who’s this?”

“I’m Emily.” I went to shake his hand but they were both full. I felt embarrassed.

He sat his things on the counter and shook my hand. “Nice to meet you, Emily. I’m Tyler.” He walked off to take the change to table four.

I looked up at Oliver. “You didn’t answer my question.”

Oliver shrugged. “Kate is always bugging about tips. She relies on them and when she feels threatened she becomes feisty. Clearly, you sparked something. I just assumed that was why.”

“You think I’m a girl next-door type?” I handed him a cup for him to refill for another table.

He chuckled. “Do you always ask this many questions, Miller?”

I half smiled tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I guess. This is a new town so I don’t know much about anything here.”

“Don’t worry Miller by the end of this month you will know plenty. Do you think you can manage carrying some food with me? Or do you think you will drop it?” He held out a tray.

Taking the tray, I placed four plates on it. “I think I can handle it.”

We both walked over to Derek’s booth. Oliver distributed the plates on his tray and I followed his suit. “Would you like anything? A refill, perhaps?” Oliver waited for them to mull it over. They all shook their heads.

“No thank you.” Derek smiled at me.

When Derek and his friends left I couldn’t be more relieved. It seemed like once they were gone everyone stopped coming in. Once the clock hit eight I went to get my bag from Oliver’s monster.

My backpack sat on the counter while I did my math homework. It wasn’t too difficult all I needed was a few more problems.

“Did you want something to eat, Emily?” Oliver handed me a menu.

I giggled. “Are you eating here too?”

“That all depends on you. If you don’t want this tonight we can go get something else.” Oliver pulled out a paper.

“I’ll have some chili cheese fries with pickles.” I slid my menu over to him.

Oliver scribbled it down on his paper. “Pickles huh… that’s kind of weird.”

I shook my head. “Don’t knock it until you try it.” Smiling he scribbled another item down. He took the order to the back and returned to the register once more.

A bell went off at the front door. There was an elderly woman making her way to the threshold. Oliver ran over and let her lean on him as he escorted her to a table. She squinted her eyes at the menu and murmured something. Oliver scribbled down her order and advanced to the kitchen. He was actually smiling. The woman closed her eyes and drew circles on the table.

“That was nice of you.” I kept my eyes on my graph paper.

His voice was light. “May is one of our regulars. Her husband passed away a year ago.”
Staring up at him I pouted my lip. “How terrible.” I felt like crying. Older people always made me feel lonely.

He nodded. “She has her bad days like all of us. I’ve driven her home a few times. Sometimes she will ask if her husband is still in the restroom. He was supposed to meet her here the day he died.

I clasped my mouth. “Oh my gosh. That’s horrible!”

He grinned. “She’s amazing, though. Sometimes she knows her husband is gone. She snaps out of it some days. The other days when she is in another place she needs a bit of reassurance. I’ll be right back.” He took her glass of milk to her.

She sipped the straw and smiled murmuring something intelligible to me. Oliver sat down and started to say something. They were there for quite sometime. He rose and walked to the back. She waved me over.

“Hi, can I get you something?” I smiled at her. The winkles in her face made her smile wider. She waved her hand gesturing me to sit down. I complied.

“Ollie says you’re quite the keeper.” She continued to draw circles on the table with her fingertips.

I giggled. “He did? Well he’s a great guy. He practically runs this place.”

She nodded. “Good someone notices. Whenever I come in here he is always nice to everyone. Even a poor old lady like me.”

“You’re not a poor old lady, May.” Oliver smiled placing her plate of chicken in front of her. He tapped my butt signaling me to scoot over. “Don’t listen to her, Emily. She wants you to think she’s older than dirt. She tells me this all the time.”

She waved her hand at him. “Oh nonsense! This boy never lets me pay for my own food. I tell you he is a keeper. Paying for an old lady he hardly knows…” She began to trail off.

“I don’t think you can say I hardly know you May. We’ve been friends since I started working here.” He smiled and passed her a napkin.

She dabbed her mouth. “Pish posh, Ollie. You are a young boy who needs to be saving money for an education or a woman his own age.” I giggled.

“Look at this girl here Ollie! Can’t you see yourself having a good time with this young lady? She is more than polite and if she’s working here she has her priorities straight.” She dabbed her mouth once more.

Oliver shook his head. “Yes, May she is a lovely girl. You still aren’t paying for your dinner.” My cheeks grew warm. He was so sweet to this woman and warm.

The busboy, Tyler, left for the night, so did the kitchen staff. May finished her meal and drove away in an old Volvo. Oliver and I began to stack the chairs on the tables and lock all of the doors in the diner. After grabbing my backpack I pulled the chains on the neon signs, while Oliver set the alarm.

We made our way out to his monster in the rain. The pellets of rain almost drenched us completely. He revived the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. The waves crushing against the shore were almost invisible. The darkness blended in with the black water making it look like it was nothing past the sand.
When he pulled up to my house the rain was still coming down. “Miller, before you go I wanted to give you something.” He reached into his pocket and produced a wad of cash. “I wanted it to be s surprise. You made a lot of tips today.”

I giggled slightly and smiled. “Thank you for surprising me.” I paused. “You know you aren’t so bad…”

He rolled his eyes. “What are you talking about?”

I half smiled and shrugged. “You’re good at heart. The way you acted with May. That was really sweet.”

He rested one and on the wheel. “She is just a really nice woman. It doesn’t make me anything Miller.”

I shook my head. “You’re stubborn I think that’s your problem.”

The window had fewer droplets on it. “I think it’s safe to go. Thank you for everything Oliver.”

“Here I’ll walk you.” He jumped out of the car and walked me to my door. “Don’t worry about it. Giving you a ride isn’t that big of a deal.”

I shrugged unlocking my door. “Yes, but you paid for dinner. You didn’t have to do that. I’ll pay next time.” I waved my wad of tips at him.

He chuckled. “No you won’t.”

I pushed the door open. “Dad I’m home!”

“Is Oliver there?” My father walked over to the door.

Oliver stepped forward. “Right here, sir.”

“How would you like to come over for dinner tomorrow?” He rubbed his chin.

Oliver shoved his hands in his pockets. He glanced at me unsure of how to respond. “Sir that would be great. I have football practice after school tomorrow. Would you mind if I came over around seven?”

“Seven will be just fine. See you tomorrow. I’ll let Emily say goodnight.” He shrugged past me and walked out to his car to leave for work.

I turned to Oliver and smiled. “It’s just dinner, Miller. Your father invited me not you.” His eyes made me cold.

“So then we aren’t best friends forever yet?” My tone was sarcastic.

His lips curled into a smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Miller.” He strolled into the rain. The sapphire in his eyes shone as he looked back at me.

Shivering I swiftly made my way into the house. I was alone after a whole day of having eyes on me. The silence made my ears vibrate. The thought of a warm shower was appealing to my frozen flesh. I hadn’t realized how cold I was until the water hit my skin.

I wondered what it was about Oliver that made my father like him so much. Maybe his father came into the hospital frequently. Oliver was stubborn and…polite I suppose.

The manner he slipped into when May was around was mesmerizing. His tone changed and he seemed determined to hold onto her. She was like a mother to him. I had wondered if she said something profound to him that made them click instantly.

Maybe it was the same feel I got around Derek. Not the urge to touch him, but the need to talk to him constantly. Maybe he had that constant desire to hear all of her thoughts, stories, and troubles.

“Hey, Em.” The voice made me jump.

Derek sat on the bed in flannel pajamas. I giggled to myself. “You brought pajamas.”

“I figured you’d appreciate them. How is my working girl?” He pulled me in.

The feeling of his arms around me made my body loosen up. It felt like I hadn’t been with him for an eternity and yet he still made my body melt in his hands.

A sigh released from my lips. “Work? It was interesting. The cashier, Kate, doesn’t like me. Apparently I’m stealing her precious tips.”

“And that Oliver guy? I saw him with his paws all over you.” His eyes went cold.
I shrugged. “It wasn’t like that. He was showing me how to stand so I wouldn’t drop the trays. I’ve seen
the others walk the same way. He’s just a friend…if he even considers me that.”

He still seemed cold. “Whatever. Are you ready for bed?”

I didn’t like angry Derek it didn’t suit him. His eyes weren’t as perfect and neither was his smile. What was the big deal? Oliver didn’t like me. He doesn’t like anyone.

We crawled into bed both unhappy. “So my mother wanted to have you over for dinner this weekend.”

He grumbled his words. Anger really wasn’t attractive. I wanted my favorite smile back.

“Okay, that sounds good. When is the next game?” I turned to my side facing away from him.

“This Friday. I know you work so don’t worry about it.” He faced the other way too. I was beginning to feel uneasy.

I murmured. “I’ll figure something out. Goodnight, Derek.”

The field was still wet from the rain and the aroma of grass went on for miles. The boys went to their formation, as did the other. There was a fight after the tackle. What the…? The referee pulled apart two boys from opposing teams. Their jerseys read Mason and Anderson.
Anderson?! As in Oliver Anderson? Stop it!