“Hey, Piper!”
My eyes move from my laptop, my fingers still hovering over the keys, watching Heidi approach. I had come in early to get some writing done on one of the papers required for English Lit, hoping to get most of it done before my shift started in a couple of hours. With any luck, I’ll be off in time to go home, shower, and find something decent to wear to the bar tonight. I think I might be insane for going tonight but I won’t know unless I push myself.
“You gonna check out Johnny’s tonight?” she asks as she leans down, laying her elbow on the table next to my laptop and resting her chin on her hand. Her smile is wide as her eyes gleam with excitement. “Oh, c’mon! In the few months you’ve been here, I’ve never seen you go out and have some fun. You’re always studying.” She’s right. Of course that’s not the only reason I don’t go out. She just doesn’t know me.
I smile back, trying to be sociable. “Maybe.”
My eyes widen as she places her hand over mine on my keyboard. “We’ll meet you there. Shelley, Trina and me. It’ll be fun. You’ll see.” I look up at her expectant eyes and let out a sigh. She pats my hand. “I swear if you don’t go, I’ll come find you and drag you there.” I roll my eyes and can’t think of anything to say so I just shrug. I startle when she jumps up. “Yea! We’re meeting here out front. Eight o’clock – sharp! Then, we’ll walk over together.” She claps her hands, and I find I’m caught up in her excitement.
“Okay. But I don’t know how late I’ll stay.” She crosses her arms over her chest. Heidi’s a beautiful girl, about a year older than me. She has long dark brown hair that matches her eyes, a gorgeous smile, and her skin has been definitely kissed by the sun. A lot. She gives me a smirk. “Don’t worry.” I smile. “I’ll be there for a while.”
She spins around and starts walking back to the counter, looking over her shoulder. “You don’t know,” she says in a sing-song voice. “You might have so much fun you won’t want to leave early.”
I hardly think that will happen.
Mondays are always busy. Some people hitting the shop before work, others studying before classes and some returning after them. Then there’s the beachcombers who come in after a day of laying out or swimming. There’s also those who are retired but live further away but they love our shop whether it’s to get coffee or a sandwich or a burger for lunch. Yes, our shop has a wide range of food. The owner Bea, who used to be retired, said, ‘You have to keep up with everyone else. There’s tons of small food joints around. Best to have a variety.’ And she was right. She hired mostly college kids but the bad part is they don’t stick around long enough. Some start out going to the same junior college I do and then head off to a job or even an out of state college. I’m sure it must be frustrating, always having to find replacements but she just tells me, ‘Honey, that’s the way of the world and around here, the normal.’ She’d smile and pat my arm. Such a sweet lady.
Once I get home and take a much needed shower, I stand in my closet trying to figure out what to wear. I’ve never been one to dress up. Normally I’m in shorts or jeans and a tank top. Trying to find my confidence, I let out a breath and put on my blue silky dress. I mean, it’s a grand opening, even though it’s a bar. I should dress up a little, right?
Everything feels strange as I walk down the street, right away noticing the long line outside Johnny’s front door. No one is waiting at the coffee shop and I’m a little late. Maybe they thought I changed my mind and went to the bar. Smoothing down the front of my dress, my black heels feeling odd on my feet, I look both ways while crossing the street. So out of my element, in every way. I pass the chatter and laughter of people as I walk to the end of the line, keeping my eyes on the cement sidewalk. I’m not shy, not really. I just choose to keep to myself, unless approached. I mean, how many times in my life do I need to trust the people who say they’re my friends, then stab me in the back or stick their nose up at me later? I’m done being the victim. Overdone.
“The line moved.”
Swiftly, I look at the girl over my shoulder, chopping on gum and looking at me with a shortness of patience.
“Sorry,” I mumble as I face front and take the few steps to the person before me.
Standing behind a group of girls and guys, talking animatedly, I check back over my shoulder to see the line has grown since I got here. Another thing I absolutely hate. Crowds. Being an introvert, this is the last place I should be. As the line begins to move, I take a deep breath and pull up my “big girl panties”, figuratively speaking. About a half an hour later, I’m standing by the front door.