2

'I hate world history.' Katherine mumbled to herself. The subject its self is quite interesting; it's the teacher that sucks the life out of it with his uninterested monotone voice. I sit at my desk doodling on my worksheet. My eyelids becoming more and more leaden with each syllable reverberating around the classroom.

'DDDDDIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGG!!!!!'

I suddenly jolt up straight. all sense of fatigue leaves my body with the screeching of the bell. I gather my books and head to the bathroom to wake myself up. As I lean over the sink I can't help but notice the deep red spot on my pale skin. I blush at the memories of Michael's lips on my skin igniting the uncomfortable tingling throb in my nether regions. I dry my face with a paper towel and check the time on my phone. I have thirty minutes to get to Penny's Diner. That is where I work.

After a short walk you the bus station and a 30-minute bus ride I finally make it to the diner. The diner is run by a short, little, fat man named Daryl Crow. Knowing I am already late I run to the back and throw my bag in the corner of the office. As I am greeting everyone I see with a short wave and buttoning my uniform Daryl waves me over to his office.

" This is the third time your late this week. You need to step it up."

I nodded to my boss.

" I know," I said meekly. " the bus has been late lately."

Daryl nodded and waved me off.

I quickly went to the front and started bussing the tables. I took my trolly and started picking up the dirty dishes and wiping the tables clean. After an hour passed Daryl came out and said good night. I took my trolly to the back and unloaded the dishes. I washed my hands and looked around the empty diner. I smiled wanly enjoying the nostalgia from the bittersweet memories I have from when my mother was still alive. My mother was the best brightest person I knew. She was the type of person that could make a blizzard feel like it was only light snow. both her and my dad used to bring me to this diner before that fateful day. The day my father changed forever. The day my mother died. The day my father found out she was cheating. I set a pot of coffee to perk and got to work on the dishes.

The tinkle of the bell above the door brought me back to the front.

" Welcome to Penny's Diner," I said cheerfully while drying my hands on a towel "would you like a table or a booth?"

I looked up at my guests. Angel and Lindsay.

" A booth. Duh." Lindsay says 'Are you that stupid?'.

"Ok, right this way," I say picking up two menus. My hands shake as I lead them to the nearest booth. I don't have to look back to know that they are following me. The clicking of Lindsay and Angel's shoes is enough. I place the two menus and two sets of silverware on the table and step aside for them to enter.

I watched them slide in and asked if they knew what they wanted to drink.

"Water," Lindsay ordered. "With a lemon wedge on the side."

"Me too." echoed Angel.

I nodded my head and returned to the back of the bar where I make their drinks and then brought it out to their table.

I take their orders and have sam, the chef makes the food so I can take it out to them. The night runs surprisingly smooth and before I know it is time to close. Before I can lock the doors a drunk teen barge in and stumble up to the bar.

" One shot of Don Jose." the blondie slurs." And make one for yourself."

" Oh come on, it won't kill you will it?" I pierce my lips knowing that arguing won't help. I grab two shot glasses and put some water and lemon juice in them and place them at the bar in front of him.

" Be a doll and put a cherry in them will you?" he asks

I bend down to the mini-fridge and grab two maraschino cherries out of the dish and plop them into the shot glasses.

"Cheers," I say taking the glass that is not in his hand. I empty the contents of my shot glass into my mouth the way they do in the movies and place my shot glass in the sink along with his.

" On to the next bar!" he hoots and then leaves. By this time I am utterly confused but hey strange things like this happen all the time.

I wash the glasses and wish Sam a good night and then lock the door and leave. I walk home knowing that there are no busses after 8:00 but I only make it about a block. I am starting to feel light-headed. My feet feel like lead and my eyelids are heavy. I feel myself staggering and them no weight at all. I am looking at the sidewalk. "That's odd," I murmur before my world goes black.