“Why are we here?”
The sun set on the horizon, adding warm colors into the Stitz Diner. It brought the yellow hues in Alex’s hair. Logan took a moment to take in her confused face. He had learned to enjoy her obliviousness. It became an endearing feature about her.
“To celebrate!″ He exclaimed, making it sound obvious.
They sat on opposite sides of the booth. Logan decided to wear a white jacket over his black hoodie. When mixed, it might look like his project partner’s dark grey hoodie.
Alex took a deep breath, barring her lower teeth. She squeezed her eyes shut. She had enough of cryptic words. She most certainly didn’t need more, “Celebrate what?”
“It’s Friday!” Logan said, brimming with energy, “Plus we finished the project!”
That and you had been down in the dumps, he thought to himself. Since the meeting they had yesterday, Alex hadn’t been the same. Well—she seemed more like her old self, the time he first talked to her this year. He couldn’t blame her but he also didn’t want to be at the receiving end of it anymore.
“Don’t you have practice?” She pointed out.
“There’s a game today. Coach wanted to go and support it. He cancelled practice so he could attend” Logan shrugged. He picked up the menu from the stand. He read the items, “I heard Colin say the pizza here is good too.”
Alex scratched the side of her neck. She intended to go straight home for her date with Emily. But then, Logan came out of nowhere. He normally had practice and let her use a skateboard to get home. Since he was free, he insisted on driving her.
It turned out to be a kidnapping.
“Don’t be such a downer” Logan interrupted her thoughts, “It’s a rare occasion for me to not have practice and hang out with you. Just thought an outdoor one is a change of pace. I also asked Emily’s permission if you were worried about that.”
“You just thought of everything, did you?” Alex snorted.
“Since you finished most of the project while I was at practice, I’ll be paying for today.”
“That isn’t—”
Logan took the other menu and presented it to her face, “Just shut up and order.”
Alex took the menu, flipping it over. The savory meals were on the other side. She looked over the list of pizza flavors. Her eyes landed on one immediately. As if the forces of the universe were at play, one world came out of her and Logan’s mouth.
“Pepperoni.”
“I haven’t said it before but why do they call it flavored coke? What about Pepsi?” Logan asked, “Pepsi should have flavors too. This is discrimination.”
“Maybe it’s the same reason why people say ‘Kleenex’ instead of ‘tissue’ or ‘Xerox’ with ‘photocopy’ or ‘ChapStick’ for ‘lip balm’” Alex commented, “The list goes on. Maybe they just let it stay that way to keep the 50s theme.”
“Well, that sucks.”
Using a playful suggestive tone, she added, “It could also be a different kind of coke.”
Logan looked up from the menu. He gave a deadpan expression to her wiggling eyebrows, “That would be illegal.”
“How would you even know when it’s flavored?”
“Is this the kind of thing education taught you?”
“At least, I know how to count the scoops of detergent I use.”
Logan’s face grew darker. A fit of giggles escaped Alex’s lips. Then, it turned into a full laughter. The longer the dark cloud around him hovered, the funnier she found it. How was she to be blamed though? Anyone would unlikely forget about that incident.
“Well, then” Logan grabbed the complimentary glass of water. Before he took a sip, he said, “At least, I was polite enough to ignore elbow macaronis when they appeared in front of me.”
Alex kicked his leg under the table. He jumped on reflex. The water in the glass spilled onto the table. Logan set it down, glaring at her. He reached for several tissues. Then, wiped his mouth.
“You didn’t exactly ignore it for the rest of the time” Alex reminded him.
Logan lifted a finger, “At least, I wasn’t the one who informed you.”
“Hello, I’m Sister Aina” a tall slim woman introduced herself near their table, “We’re currently understaffed today. I’ll be taking your order.”
Her ebony hair reached her shoulders, full bangs curling inwards. She had a plump in her cheeks that made her baby-faced. She wore a white shirt and denim jeans under a purple apron. The smile on her lips glowed radiantly. Any customer instantly felt comfortable around her.
“We’ll have a pepperoni pizza” Alex smiled back, “And I think I’ll try the root beer and Sprite combo. Emily raves about it.”
“I’ll have a Pepsi” Logan said, looking over at the menu, “We will probably have a dessert. How does… chocolate mousse sound?”
“I think I want a lasagne.”
“Oh, you’re looking at the new additions to our menu” Sister Aina remarked, “I’d say the lasagne is a good choice. Although, everything is good.”
“Then, a lasagne and a chocolate mousse. Plus a Pepsi, root beer with Sprite and a pepperoni pizza” Alex placed the menu back. She stretched her arms behind her back, one hand clasped on one wrist.
“Alright” Sister Aina wrote on her pad, doing a quick recap, “Then, I’ll be back with your drinks!”
She strolled away from the table and went behind the counter. Instead of the window, she headed for the kitchen door. The chefs greeted her warmly. Answering them back, she washed her hands and went to an empty workstation. She grabbed a bowl of dough.
They may be understaffed outside but no one could take her away from her kitchen too long.
“Head chef!” A worker shouted, “Did you find another table to personally serve and cook for?”
Sister Aina sprinkled flour on the dough and began to knead it, “You bet I did.”
“What is it now? Another teenage couple on a date?”
“Oh, please. Stop being salty. Maybe then you can get your own date.”
A series of “ooo’s” surrounded the room. Sister Aina chuckled at their energy. She ignored them and rolled the dough. She needed to hand toss it soon. That way she could have the pizza cooking. Then, she could check on the lasagne.
“I need to use the restroom but I don’t want to,” Alex sighed.
Logan frowned, confused, “Why not?”
“Because the men’s room is scary.”
Just the idea of it made Alex shiver. She avoided public bathrooms in Woodlands—unless necessary. She’d be lucky if it was empty. The first time she didn’t have any luck. For the most part, she kept her act together, at least.
“Do you… want me to guard you?” Logan suggested. It must be awkward to enter it. Alex could portray as a boy but she was still a girl. The restrooms were somewhat intimate places.
“It’s not the first time I’d do it. I just find it unpleasant” Alex shook her head and stood up. She tucked her hands in her hoodie pockets, giving Logan a salute, “If I don’t come back in 10 mintues… don’t eat my lasagne.”
Logan snorted, “Just go.”
Alex dodged passing customers and servers. She kept her head low—even inside the men’s room. The smell didn’t turn out as bad as she thought. She commended the diner’s sanitary team. Two people were inside, she only saw their feet from the corner of her eye.
She picked the first stall. Most often people thought no one uses the last one and would go there. Since a number of them thought that way, it didn’t hold much truth now. On the other hand, the first stall always seemed to be passed on. What people thought of the last stall turned out to be true for the first one.
It also happened to be nearest to the door. Something Alex liked about it.
Another reason why she loved her hoodies was because she could hide her feminine stuff in it. Its size wouldn’t create a noticeable bump around her feminine wipes.
In no time, Alex made her escape and left the danger zone. A huge sigh of relief lifted the weight off her shoulders. She could proceed with the day in peace. Her next restroom break should be at her aunt’s house. She couldn’t possibly be lucky the second time.
Alex kept her chin raised on her way back. The smell from the kitchen just built up her appetite. Different spices such as garlic, ginger, cumin, cloves and thyme wafted in the air. It made her mouth water. She couldn’t wait to dig in.
She made a turn and searched for Logan. He faced the direction she was in, his presence quickly standing out from the rest. Other than their booth, everyone seemed to be hunched over and eating. His back leaned straight on the bench.
“Logan, I—”
He looked up but the next words died in her mouth. Alex reached the booth, turning her head towards the bench she sat on. Time moved in slow motion. The blood on her face drained. Her pupils dilated in horror, eyes slightly widening.
Wavy black hair flowed down like a waterfall around her face, Skye flicked her gaze at the sound of Alex’s voice. A soft smile painted on her lips, she said, “Why hello! And who might you be?”
