2 Hot Drinks

My books were all over the place. They didn't fit in my locker. Why can't they make them bigger, just a little? I sighed.

One of the many reasons I wanted to move away from here displayed in front of my weary eyes

As my books in some magical way were safely in my locker, I closed it shut as fast as my little body could manage. I wasn't looking forward to opening that again.

I twirled around and he walked right there.

Anthony Martinez. The school's bad boy and best Spanish talking person I ever have seen. His smokey black hair was swayed back with a whip of a hand. His emerald green eyes had this flair to them every girl dreamt about looking into. His face appeared so dark and mysterious I could easily think of him as James Earl Jones. He could definitely be a great Darth Vador. His eyes searched around the corridor, smirking, as girls gazed his way. His self-esteem hadn't changed since yesterday.

Ying and Yang, or rather, Nathan Jones and Samuel Henderson, wandered by his side. They checked out the girls there had excess time to send them a glance. They weren't ugly, not the slightest, but with that Spanish god walking in front of them, they looked like a fake Homer and Bart Simpson.

Their aftershaves together with a whiff of mint hung in the air. Anthony's gaze landed on me and the air got stuck in my throat.

His eyebrows narrowed as I glared and looked away. My heart was jack-hammering. It could jump out any second now.

They walked laughing past me and out of this damn school.

Fantastic!

I survived another day without getting noticed by the ultimate bullies and punch throwers. I should be dwelling in happiness, but I didn't like it. It was too happy for someone like me.

However, as I was about to let a spark of happiness light up in me, the Powerpuff Girls walked in. Not the real ones, more like a bitchy version. Cynthia King walked in front, showing off her new Gucci bag, there had been the topic of the last two days. Her blonde curly hair was tamed by her leopard sunglasses. Ocean blue eyes hunted the corridor. Behind her, her two minions, Anne Hill and Ruby Cooper strolled with their chins held as high as their heels.

And as I feared, Cynthia's eyes landed straight on my pretty face, smirking like the bitch she was. I didn't dare breathe, as she clicked her heels together right in front of me. Her cherry-flavored bubblegum drifted around my nose tip.

"Oh, look what the cat dragged in," Cynthia said, in a way to high pitched voice for it to be real. She pointed at me while glancing over her shoulder to watch if her slaves laughed at her silly joke. Sadly, they did.

I wanted to tell her to fuck off, but like every other time, the words didn't come further than the very beginning of my throat.

"Aren't you going to say something, nerd?" she asked and tilted that head of hers, you easily could want to cut off with a chain saw. She smiled in a way that never meant good, but I was already trapped.

Her bullying didn't make me sad, it just made my depression worse. Every time a word would leave her mouth, my heart would sink even further.

She rolled back her shoulders and observed as I turned around, hoping her heels twirled around and ran after Anthony instead. That would save my day by 90 percent. I let my hand rest against the lockers and sighed deeply. The coldness in my palms was sending shivers up through my scarred spine.

"What a boring tease you are. The chest club is way funnier than you, Watson." My name was like venom on her tongue and it gave me the urge to choke her with it until she took her last breath.

I didn't turn. I just stood still, waiting and praying for her to go. She didn't, she kept standing behind me, tapping her foot on the ground, chewing her gum obnoxiously loud.

Chuckles came from her minions in the background, together with their endless whispers. They were not more than a pair of imitators, but their actions grew to my head and I stormed out of the school, feeling their judging stares on my back.

As the sun finally hit my tired face, I breathed in the healthy air and pulled up my sleeve to check the clock.

2:13 PM.

I sighed. If I hurried I could make it home before my father and get to work on time.

I walked straight over the parking lot, swaying between driving and holding cars. As I came to the bushes, I crawled through a hole and ended up on the other side.

The pizza shop and the hairdresser were right in front of me and I could just see Tony walking around with his hot pizzas. A few college students from my class laughed as they walked in to get an afternoon snack.

I crossed the street and walked past both shops and walked along with the cheap apartments. They were all this boring gray color there could pull all life out of you.

Clouds shadowed for the sun as soon as I turned down my street, where all the smaller houses were placed. They all looked the same. Boring, lifeless, and white. Some had different roofs, but they all looked the same in my eyes.

I peeked over the rusty gate at our house to see if our old, rusty, navy blue Mercedes was parked in the driveway. Luckily, it wasn't and I mentally smiled. I was lucky today, that's for sure.

I opened it with my hip, taking in the creaking of metal against metal.

The pathway had a huge hole, so I took a big step over it and proceeded to the door.

It was quiet and dark. The curtains were still closed, leaving the sun no chance to light up any of the rooms. I shifted on the lights, looking around to see if my father had made a mess this morning.

He hadn't, meaning I could get to work on time, not half an hour late.

I speeded up the wooden stairs and turned right into my small bedroom. The bright blue colors irritated my eyes as I hurried over to my dresser and found my uniform.

Mrs. Green would probably be surprised by my early arrival. I couldn't wait to see her face when I walk in the doors of Green Diner at 3 o'clock exactly.

I stripped out of my normal skinny jeans and a baggy T-shirt and changed into the knee long brownish dress.

My name was printed right over the chest pocket, the red tone reflected in the yellow light from my lamp.

I pulled my long wavy brown hair up in a low ponytail and made sure no hairs were left out. I took a fast glance in the mirror, before heading out the door again.

It was colder in the dress, but the sun made up for it.

I was alone on the street since most of the people living here were either criminal or old grumpy people who stayed inside with their TV's and yelled at the newsman when he would say something less pleasing.

The world wasn't pleasing, they should know that by now.

The familiar red and golden brown building with the big green G over the two glass double doors came into view. A few cars held in the little parking lot in front of the Diner. I noticed Mrs. Green's rust-red Audi 80 from 19-something right away. It stood out compared to the newer and fancier vehicles.

I opened the door, making the little bell ring through the Diner. A few looked up but returned to their food in a hurry.

Mrs. Green came wandering out from the kitchen, flashing a white smile. Her eyes widened as they locked with mine. "Nina? Is that you, darling?" She asked and laid her two hands on the counter.

"Yes, ma'am," I answered, sitting down on the lipstick red high chair in front of her.

She rubbed her eyes with her fists and blinked. "It sure as Hell looks like it," she exclaimed and found her billion dollar-smile again. "Perfect!" She clasped her bony hands together. "Then let's get to work."

I nodded and found a note and a pen from behind the counter. I took a deep breath. You can do this. You can talk to people like a normal human being.

I rushed my pep talk through my mind a couple of times before I became aware of a middle-aged man laying down his menu and glancing around the room.

I strolled over to him and forced myself to put one of my famous fake smiles on my pink lips.

"What can I get for you today, sir?" I asked politely and prayed to the Gods that I could be a good employer for just one day without screwing up.

"A Green Special burger with chili fries and one big water, thanks," he said. I scratched it down on my note while nodding so he knew I had heard him.

"Is that all?" I ask, even though I knew it probably was.

"Yes." He nodded, tapping his thick fingers on the table.

"Good, it'll be right up." I tucked my note down in my chest pocket and fidged the pen between my fingers, as I walked away.

I leaned over the counter, so I could get a clear look into the kitchen. "A number eight with chili fries to table seventeen," I yelled into the kitchen.

Andrew, the chef, gave me a fast glance. "Coming right up." He winked and danced away while humming the same song he always sang.

I jumped over the counter and found a big glass and some ice-cold water from the fridge, that I filled the empty glass with.

Elegantly I made my way towards the man again and placed his drink before him and smiled. "Your water, sir."

He glanced up from his phone, "thanks." He took a quick sip and I twirled around, strolling back to the counter.

I leaned back, gazing my eyes around the room, to see if anyone needed me. An elder woman sat with two kids. Probably her grandchildren. The kids spilled fries over the table and laughed while throwing them at each other.

The oldest, a girl, rumbled her arm into her soda, splashing it over herself, the table and the chair.

I shook my head and took a whole lot of towels and made my way over to the table.

Their grandmother looked apologizing up at me. "I'm sorry," she mumbled and dried some of the liquid up with an already soaked napkin.

"No problem. It happens all the time." I flashed her a warm smile and reached a towel for her to take.

I helped her and the children clean up the mess.

"Thank you, miss-" she read my name. "Watson." She finished up with a smile there reached her eyes.

"Glad I could help, ma'am," I answered and collected all the towels before leaving and letting the towels dump down in a basket.

Someone pulled up in front of the Diner. As usual, I looked up and out of the clear windows.

Outside, no other than Anthony Martinez and Cynthia King pulled their beloved cars up in front of the Diner. I still stared, when they walked out, followed by Anne, Samuel, Nathan, and Ruby.

I tore my eyes away, looking everywhere else than the door, there soon opened. The ringing of the bell made me shiver.

"Table seventeen's order is ready to be delivered," Andrew sang from the kitchen, placing the plate on the counter.

I silently thanked him for getting my thoughts away from the holy people who had just walked in.

I picked up the plate, walking towards the man with the phone.

"What is this place?" Cynthia asked somewhere behind me.

"Just a local place we used to visit," Nathan answered casually.

Chairs were being pulled out, scrubbing the floor. I reached the man and gave him his food. "Here you go. Hope it tastes good." He nodded in acknowledgment and went into his burning hot food.

I turned away, keeping my breath as natural as possible.

"Hey, waiter, I want to order." Never in million years had I been so terrified to hear a voice like his. So smooth and elegant.

I gulped and walked with my head fixed on the ground. My heart rate raised for every step. I reached their table. Cynthia grumbled, "even their service is bad."

"What would you like to order," I asked, keeping my voice low.

"Two cheeseburgers with fries, one Special burger without fries and three salads," Samuel said, trying to catch my eyes, but I made sure he didn't.

I wrote it down faster than humanly possible. "That's it?" I tried. I really tried to sound polite, however, it didn't happen.

They didn't seem to notice though.

"No, we would also like one water each and two black coffees."

In a fast moment of weakness, I looked up and caught Anthony's eyes before I turned around and ran to hide.

"Wait."

Oh, Lord.

"Haven't I seen you before?" He asked while I kept cursing in my pretty stupid head.

"I don't think so."

With that, I walked further away and over behind the counter, where Mrs. Green calculated the money.

I fixed their water pretty quickly and placed the two coffees under the machine. I watched as the smoke flee from the hot liquid and danced around in the air.

It was finished, sadly, so together with the waters, I carried it over to their table. As I approached, Anthony stood from his chair and barked directly into me.

The water spilled over him, while the coffee drained Cynthia and slightly touched Ruby. Cynthia screamed before anything else could be done and I flickered away.

"It's you!" She seemed surprised for a moment before anger took over. "Watson you little bitch! You did this on purpose!"

She should be grateful our coffee was so bad, that it wasn't even burning hot.

I didn't do or say anything before Cynthia tried to lift her hand. Memories, visions, they all burbled forward and I flinched away, waiting for the pain.

It didn't come. Nothing other than silence hunted me. I didn't dare open my eyes or breathe for that matter.

This was bad. Really bad.