Anti Blue Skies

I was right about dad’s eyes, I think his big baby blues even started tearing up a bit. Appreciative was never the word I would have used to describe him, when mom left it tore him apart at first, but eventually it made him a better person. I hated her for leaving, but I was glad she did. He appreciated my present, it wasn’t a luxurious cruise that Leslie and Joe were taking him on, but it was my gift that struck his heart strings. He loved cooking, that’s why he owned a bar and grill called Fletcher’s. Named after all of us, of course.

After dad opened his presents and practically ate all of his cake, Leslie and Joe went home to their newly bought mansion, as I liked to call it, and I was putting on my shoes getting ready to leave. I worked later tonight at Fletcher’s and I wanted to be able to put on something a little more comfortable, I would never be caught dead wearing a strapless dress to work. Being a waitress often meant serving the casual customer I called Boobie Bruce, it’s a shame I was lacking in that department.

Dad approached me while biting down on a toothpick, whips of frosting sporadically rested in his speckled grey hair, obviously he struggled getting all of it out after the food fight. “For whatever you said to Lucy, you’re a lifesaver.” He pulled me in for a hug. “She misses you, we both miss you.”

I rubbed his back aggressively. “Just doing my job, dad.”

He pulled away from me, a bright smile spread across his face. “Let me in on your secret, would you?”

I giggled, thinking of my connection with my little sister. She started having such a better time once she changed out of her school uniform and came downstairs to show off her new haircut.

“There is no secret, really.”

He lightly punched me in the arm jokingly, something he’d done since I was born. “Don’t be modest young lady. I know you have something I don’t.”

“And I’m gonna keep it that way, alright?” It was my turn to punch his arm, playfully.

“Well, I think I’m gonna stay home with her tonight.” I nodded my head knowing that was for the best. I remember never wanting to go out with my friends when I got too down in the dumps, I only wanted to stay home and play Monopoly with my dad.

“Plus, I’m my own boss and I say I’m not working on my birthday.”

I let out a breathy laugh, “Sounds like a plan. Stay home and grill, make some burgers or something. Just take her mind off her epilepsy and that brat, Kenzie.”

Dad’s face fell before he grabbed my shoulders, pulling me to him for another bear hug. He thanked me for the billionth time for his gift and helping with Lucy and I almost didn’t want to leave. I had only been living on my own for a little less than a year, and I was doing good for myself, I was forgetting all about high school and how much I struggled.

It was about six thirty when I got back to my apartment, work started at seven, so there wasn’t much time for me to clean myself up and change my clothes. I could tell there was still frosting in my hair, but I could just messily tie it into a ponytail.

As soon as I set my purse on the table and took off my jacket I could smell the familiar scent of cigarette smoke and the place was a mess. How many times did I have to tell my roommate to quit smoking in the apartment? It was too small to get away with it.

When I first met her, she told me she was quitting and that it wouldn’t be a problem when she moved in. She had a friendly face, brown eyes, blonde hair, straight teeth, good eyebrows. I’ve always said eyebrows can either make or break you, I know it sounds strange, but never let a girl with bad eyebrows give you advice about life.

I cupped my hand over my nose, disgusted by the smell. My mom smoked. I marched straight down to the end of the hallway and vigorously knocked on the door.

“Quinn! Just because I leave does not mean I’m never coming back!” I had to yell over her rock and roll music. She made me hate that genre of music, she usually only blasted it when she knew I was going to yell at her for something... which was always.

“Whatever.” It was faint, but I heard it. I rolled my eyes, choosing to leave it at that. I couldn’t get into another fight with her, there was no time for that.

I changed into a navy oversized sweater, grabbed a granola from the kitchen, and drove myself to work. The atmosphere of my dad’s bar was just like any other night, dark, drunken, and indulgent. Behind the solid wall in the middle, was where I worked. I waited tables and took orders, I didn’t like to deal with the bar side, it made me very uncomfortable to never know what to expect.

I strolled over to the first table closest to the window. Jeff and Mary were committed customers, always making time to have a meal every other night, and they were easily my favorite couple to ever have met. They were most likely in their sixties and not married yet, but they had been dating for over thirty years, that took courage and I looked up to them for it. It seemed like they never argued or had any problem whatsoever, if they did, that was their business and I wished my parents kept that stability while I was growing up.

“How’s everything going for you folks?” I asked casually, like I was talking to my own relatives.

Jeff finished off the last bite of his steak before sending me a welcoming smile. “Everything is fantastic as usual, Lydia.”

His laugh was contagious, so I couldn’t help but join in while I relieved him of his dirty dishes. Mary was delicately eating her side salad.

“Please tell me the name of the boy you have stuffed back there tonight? He’s a very nice young lad, good chef too.”

I furrowed my brows, wondering who the replacement chef was. “I don’t know, actually I haven’t gotten the chance to look yet.” I kept racking my brain for who it could be. “Is it Ron?”

Mary shook her head vigorously, her stringy white hair whipping back and forth. “God no. Ron does nothing for me.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her displeasure, Ron was not my favorite person either. He was a decent chef, but he had no manners and pretty much dressed like a homeless person. I was surprised dad hadn’t fired him yet, but we were kind of desperate for cooks.

“I’ll make sure to pay your compliments.” I started taking a few steps backwards, still holding a stack of plates. “And if he’s as nice as you say he is I might just have to snatch his number.”

Mary smiled tenderly, reapplying her coral lipstick and giving Jeff a stern look when he reached over to steal some of her breaded mushrooms.

I made my way to the kitchen, passing by unfamiliar faces but smiling friendly anyways. As soon as I was about to push the door open myself, it swung open from the other side, smashing into me. I dropped every plate I had been holding, the crash filled my ears and everyone else’s as the plates hit the floor. So much for my calm and collected self.

I bent down quickly to retrieve them, not wanting to look at the stranger in front of me knowing my face would be as red as a tomato, luckily the conversation at the bar picked up where it left off so not much attention was on me.

“I am so sorry. Let me help you.” His voice was husky, and his accent sounded better than mine, which was weird to admit, but it voiced through the air like a tidal wave, distinct and kept others eager to ride.

The blood rushed out of my head enough for me to speak, embarrassment subsiding. “It’s not a big deal. Feels like my first day of work all over again.”

He laughed, and I recognized it, I recognized it too much. Now that I stopped to process it, I was staring down at those worn and tattered brown boots.

Finally the plates were back in my arms and we both stood up, but that didn’t stop me from trying to avoid his face.

“Well thanks.” I stepped around him, but he grabbed my shoulder, turning me around.

“Lydia?” He questioned with a look of surprise. His eyes, his voice, his hair, it was all the same. The only difference might have been his muscles and his build, he filled out more since graduation. That didn’t help my situation any, I was kind of hoping he had gotten fat.

This wasn’t fair... “Nope. Excuse me.” I knew he saw my face, he knew it was me, but it was worth a shot. I tore away from him and entered the kitchen, a flood of memories chasing after me as well.

If he knew better, he wouldn’t chase after me either, too bad he didn’t know better. I heard the thud of the door while I dropped the dishes into the sink to soak.

“I’m not an idiot.” He chuckled slightly. “Long time no see.”

I couldn’t move, I was stuck in my place by the sink. He wasn’t supposed to be here, this wasn’t supposed to happen, I never wanted to see him again.

“Don’t feel like talking?” There was a long pause. Was I supposed to answer? I wasn’t going to. “Funny, I think you owe it to me to say something.”

Why was he still talking? I didn’t owe him anything, he was so far off it was ridiculous.

“We have a lot of work to do, Harry.” My voice was shaky and hard to hear, but that was all he was going to get. I started washing the dishes like my life depended on it, praying he would get the hint.

He sighed, I could tell he was frustrated. Good, he should be. An emotion that was any way shape or form painful or disturbing, he deserved to feel. I’ve had my fair share of them, so could he.

“We’ll catch up later then, yeah?”

No... one thousand times no. It was like he didn’t have a clue that everything that happened to me was because of him. He was the most clueless person on the planet. The door behind me creaked shut and I peeked over my shoulder. He was gone.

I felt the sting of tears behind my eyes, but instead of letting them take over, I leaned my head back trying to blink them away. The simple tactic hardly ever worked, but I’d be damned to let them win. That would mean Harry won, too.

I just wanted to go home and faceplant onto my bed, but I still had another four hours of work ahead of me. Deep down I knew I wouldn’t be able to avoid Harry that long, but I would try.