About Time

by Danielle Torella

  The next morning I have a slight headache, not a hangover by any means which I am thankful for. I get up and shower and when I go to look in the fridge for something to eat I groan, when I see that it is practically bare. “You can at least buy more food after your dates eat all of our food…” I whisper into the air as I let the white door close.

  I make my way to the grocery store to restock the fridge. I grab only a hand basket, so I am not tempted to buy more than I can afford. I first head to the bread and grab a fresh loaf, then I remember that I am low on my favorite honey roasted peanut butter, so I head for that next. Then I have an idea to make some peanut butter cookies to put out at the library for tomorrow morning. I am in the dairy section when I go to open the door to grab a half gallon of milk when a hand beats me to it.

  “Hey girl!” Fancy greets me. She is in denim shorts and red loose tank top and a pair of cowgirl boots.

  I pull my milk out, “Hey!”

  “Stocking up to eh?” She asks me, grabbing a full gallon.

  I nod, “Yeah, even though I shouldn’t be the one doing it.”

  “Oh honey, no man will go shopping if he has a woman to do it for them.” She rolls her eyes and puts a hand on her hip. I like Fancy she is so sweet.

  “No, my roommate’s dates tend to eat more than just her on their overnights…” Then I cover my mouth as soon as I say it, because I know that sounded crude.

  She laughs and puts an arm around my shoulder as we make our way down the pasta aisle. “Oh, I knew I liked you.”

  “Sorry I am just a little cranky and that was wrong of me to say,” I admit to her, because I don’t normally speak that way about anyone, to anyone.

  “Oh no need to apologize, I like that forwardness and by the sounds of it she deserves it.”

  “Yeah, and honestly it felt kinda good to say too.”

  We stop in the bakery section where there is a table with free coffee and mini muffins out for the shoppers. She stops and dispenses the dark liquid into a small Styrofoam cup, “I hate that these are the only cups they have out, so bad for the environment. What would Ian say?”

  “Ian? Is that your husband?” I ask intrigued.

  She tosses her head back and laughs, “Oh, how I wish! No sadly. You don’t know who Ian Somerhalder is?”

  I shake my head no. Her jaw drops and she grabs her phone at rapid speed from her purse and taps at it for a moment and she is holding it up in my face. “This is Ian, he is the hottest actor that has ever walked on two legs.” She turns the screen back at herself and she blows the photo a kiss, I giggle.

  “He is very good looking,” I agree with her. “But why would he be against the Styrofoam cups?”

  “Oh, he is a huge environmentalist and I am trying to be a good little girl and do my part in saving the earth. Anything for that man…” She closes her eyes and smiles. I can only imagine the naughty thoughts going through that head of hers.

  I forgo the coffee, but grab a mini muffin.

  “No coffee?” She asks in shock.

  “No, I’m a tea girl.”

  She takes a big sip from her cup, “All the power to you girl, I on the other hand can’t get enough of the stuff or get through the day without it.” We have a laugh and make small talk. We talk about what she does for a living and her husband and daughter. She sounds like a great wife and mom. “You know, we are looking for some new players…”

  “As in roller derby? Me?” I raise an eyebrow and laugh it off.

  “Yes roller derby! I am totally serious right now! You got what it takes, you just don’t know it yet. Look, boot camp is this upcoming weekend you should come! Besides, I am sure Derrek would love having you on the team,” She nudges my arm with her elbow and winks at me.

  “Oh, I don’t know,”

  “What’s stopping you?” Her fists go to those killer hips of hers.

  What is stopping me? “Well, I work two jobs…”

  “Oh, honey so do most of us! You’re coming. That’s that. I will hunt you down and hog tie that little ass of yours and take you there myself!”

  I hold my hands up in defeat, “Okay, okay!” We check out and exit the little shopping mart together and my car is first in the same row we had parked in apparently.

  She points to my car, “This is your car?”

  I hold up my keys and unlock the door, “Sure is.” I load my two bags, which are paper, after Fancy explained that they are better than plastic, but I should use reusable bags, into my back seat.

  “Cute!” She gives me a thumbs up and comes in for a quick hug. It’s an odd and yet comforting feeling to get a hug from another girl. Never had that kind of relationship before with a girlfriend.

  I smile as we pull away, “Okay, I will see you at boot camp. Here is my number…” I use the back of my receipt to write down my number, “Let me know the details.” She folds it and puts it down her top, I shake my head and laugh.

  “Damn straight chica,” She shakes her butt as she walks down the lot.

  When I get home Maddy is up and alone, thank God. I am pretty sure if I had to feed another guy, I would lose it. I set the bags down on the counter and start to put the food away in their rightful places. I leave out the peanut butter for the cookies I will be making later. She gets up off the couch and she is walking on the heels of her feet, I give her an odd look and she tells me, “Just painted my toenails.”

  I nod and go about boiling some water in my old as hell kettle and retrieve my favorite red packaged tea and a big mug. I squeeze in a good amount of honey into it and wait. I don’t say a word to Maddy, I am not in the mood and I am sure I would say something nasty if I do.

  “So you know that Michael guy you set me up with?” She is referring to Ms. Datton’s nephew. Damn it I have to speak now.

  “Yeah, what about him?”

  “He is hot as hell right and he is pretty decent in the bedroom too…”

  I can feel it coming on so I ask, “But?”

  She crosses her arms over her chest, “Did you know he is just in his junior year of college and doesn’t have a trust fund?”

  “What?” I snip.

  She rolls her eyes and goes to the fridge, “Yeah, like apparently his family has money, but they won’t give him anything until he has like a Masters or something. Like, what am I supposed to do with a guy like that?”

  “Oh, I don’t know, talk, have fun together, build a relationship and you know work!” I pour my water and slam the kettle back down on the burner, making a loud crashing sound.

  She pulls her head out of the fridge and slams that closed. Oh, looks like we are in a slam war now. “What did you say?” She eyes me.

  “You heard me. You only use guys for their money, never getting to know anything true about them. Just about where they get their money!” I take my mug and start down the hall. I need some book time, before I have to go into this evening and I am there until closing.

  She follows me and grabs my arm, causing my tea to splash out and onto her feet. She yelps out in pain and darts into the bathroom and runs the cold water in the tub and dups her feet it. “Thanks for the burn and now ruined pedicure!” She yells out at me.

  “That’s what you get for grabbing at someone who is carrying a hot fucking beverage.” I retort in a calm monotone. I enter my room and I look out across the hall to the bathroom and she is scowling at me. I use my foot to push my door closed.

  At the diner I get right out on the floor with my pad and apron on. I get started on the long night ahead.

  Everything is going good for the night, Tina isn’t working tonight, so that relieves me. I don’t know why she is so rude to me, or everyone for that matter. I don’t know what her problem is. Oh well, I suppose some girls just have a bug up their butts.

  It’s about an hour before I help close up and I see a group of people coming in through the parking lot. I take in a deep breath and ready myself for a long hour ahead. I go to the counter and start prepping glasses of
water. I turn to greet the group and I am rushed with a group hug.

  “Margot!”

  “Hey guys!” Okay I think I will be just fine now. I am greeted with Lacey and her husband the bartender, Vince I think his name was. Dawne, Fancy, Lola and Living Dread. I take them over to the big corner booth and pull another table to connect it, because they tell me that more are coming in. “How may all together?” I ask, not afraid.

  Fancy looks to Lacey and they count together, “Eight?” Lacey tells me, and Fancy confirms that number.

  “Okay, I will be back with some waters.” I start off and fill a round tray with the ice waters. I can’t see anyone as I start to lower the tray, so I start randomly setting them down. Once I am done, I pull out my order pad and pen. “What can I get for you all…?”

  “Hey Margot.” Justin is sitting right next to where I am standing, I nearly trip at the shock.

  “Um, hi.” I don’t know what to say, I shift from one foot to the other. Thankfully the girls start listing off their orders.

  “You’ll have to excuse them; they get pretty hungry after a practice.” Vince has his eyebrows raised and Lacey punches his shoulder and he rubs it. They are so cute together.

  “What can I get for you?” I ask an unfamiliar face that is sitting next to Justin. She has long bright blonde hair with black underneath. Her eyes are soft green color and she is beautiful.

  She tosses her hair back, “Can I get a BLT, with the mayo on the side and onion rings?” She doesn’t look at me when she orders, only when she holds the menu up in my face waiting for me to take it from her.

  “Sure thing.” I tell her and Justin nudges his shoulder to hers and makes her break her resting bitch face, making her laugh for a nano second.

  I go off to put the order in and go about my normal waitress duties. I bring the food over when it’s done and they all thank me. I check in on everyone to make sure they are all happy and they were. When I brought them their divided checks as requested during the order phase I see new girl kiss Justin on the cheek. Funny, he said he didn’t have a girlfriend.

  He catches me looking and I hightail away from the table, behind the counter to the register. I am somewhat safe back here, because he isn’t allowed behind the counter. Weak I know. Before he can get a word in, the girls start coming up with their methods of payments and make small talk with me. They are a riot to watch and talk to. Justin pays for his and blondie’s meal and she starts calling for him at the door. He wants to say something but, he just walks away.

  Fancy, comes running back in and hands me a flyer. “Here, we had some flyers made up and I had some in my car. Here is all the info you need and remember I will hunt you down if you don’t show!” And she runs right back out the door. I look down at it, expecting to find another bout flyer, but this one was different. It had a drawn derby girl and a pink steak with the words “FRESH MEAT” on it. What the heck does that mean? I continue reading and it’s information on tryouts for the team.

  I will be stashing this one at home right away, so there is no chance of Josh seeing it and calling it more bad names.

  I fold it up and slide it in my back pocket. I collect the dirty dishes and take them to the back. I notice that one of the trash cans is completely full and I puff out in annoyance that they can’t keep it taken care of back here. It isn’t my job to clean up front and back here. I pull out the black bag anyways, tie it and go out the back door to the dumpster, which is where the back parking lot is too.

  I toss the bag in quick, because it’s dark and there is only one light in the lot. I turn to rush back in and I see a single car out there under that light. The driver’s side opens and a tall figure starts to approach me. I take another step into the door way when the person kicks into a light jog. Holding up a hand, “Margot, hey, what up!”

  Before I know it Justin is right in front of me, “Jesus! I thought you were some serial killer who was out to kill under paid and underappreciated waitresses.”

  He laughs, “No, sorry to disappoint, it’s just me.”

  “What’s up?” I ask him.

  “Well, I noticed that it’s late and dark obviously and I wanted to make sure you got out okay. Can I follow you home?” He puts his hands in his pockets.

  I look back inside and everyone is doing clean up, “Nah, I am fine I have done this so many times. I appreciate the concern though, I am sure you have some place to be…” I want to say somewhere to be with someone, but I refrain.

  “I don’t actually…”

  I bite down on my lip, “Not tonight I am way too exhausted. But I will be at the library tomorrow if you want to stop in. Mrs. Brown doesn’t mind if I have visitors, even though I don’t usually have them.”

  “Sounds good and get home safe,” He kisses me on the cheek, which catches me off guard.

  “I will and thanks,” He returns to his car and I go back to work.

  At home I realize that I never did make the cookies as I had planned earlier today, because I didn’t want to be out in the kitchen and run in with Maddy. So, I decide even though it’s super late I decide to bake the cookies now.

  Maddy is in her room asleep or passed out from another guy, I contemplate making a lot of noise to annoy her, but that would mean another face off. So, quiet it is. I get the dough made up in a jiffy, thanks to my favorite and very pricey mixer and before I know it I have my yummy peanut butter cookies. I put them into a glass container and push them into the corner so maybe she won’t see them, she doesn’t deserve my cookies. I decide to let the pans and bowl soak and head to bed.

  “Oh, Margot, that is so very sweet of you to bring in a treat,” Mrs. Brown gushed as I sat the dish of cookies on the front counter. She picks one up and gives it a big sniff first and she smiles. Takes a bit out of the chewy cookie and does a little happy dance. Funny thing is I do the same thing, I wonder if that’s a trait I had picked up from her over the years of being here.

  “It’s my pleasure, you know how much I love to bake.”

  She takes another cookie, “Oh I know my dear, and you were always taking home baking books. Now, I’m going to take this cookie and head into my office to get some work done. Are you all set here?”

  “Of course.”

  Off she goes and I start right in on the typical librarian work. I unconsciously keep looking out to the front to see if Justin is coming in. He said that he would be here, but that doesn’t mean something or someone came up. I like that we hang out here, it’s a comfort thing for me I think. This is a safe place and no harm can be done. I like that I have a safe place here, I never had one growing up. I look at my watch and see that it’s noon, so I head into Mrs. Brown’s office, “It’s lunch time can I get you something from the café to eat?”

  She lowers her reading glasses from behind her wooden desk. She has a few piles of stacked books around her and she has to shimmy a stack to the side slightly to get a full look at me. “I am all set dear, why don’t you go have lunch there and come back in an hour.”

  She tells me and I don’t question it. I smile and thank her and assure her I wouldn’t be long anyways. As I am making my way out the front door I hang the “Lunch Time” sign in the glass door window, switch the lock and close up behind me.

  “Ugmph!” I grunt out as I hit something hard and warm as I go to turn off the single step out the door.

  “Woops, sorry about that.” I look up and see Justin’s blue eyes and cute smile, “I figured I would come in on my lunch break and treat you to lunch. Where are you headed?”

  I start walking next door and I motion with my hand for him to follow along. “Just next door. I figured a sandwich and iced tea would suffice today.”

  He opens the café door for me like a gentleman, “Sounds good to me.”

  We are waiting in line and I’m unsure of what to say. I figure I would wait for him to start. Finally at the counter I place my order then he jumps in and adds his to it. I eye him, does he really think I am treating h
im to lunch? Just as the guy at the counter gives the total, Justin hands him some cash. “Oh, you don’t have to pay for mine, here…” I start to dig into my wallet and when I look up he is smiling some more and he winks at the guy and waves his hand off to me. He makes this face like I am a crazy lady.

  “I got this,” he tells me.

  I tuck my hair behind my ears, “Thank you.” I tell him. We move down the counter to wait for our order. “So,” I start.

  He grabs the tray of food from another younger guy at the pickup spot and we walk to a table by the window. The sun coming in, is only hitting on one side of the table, being the gentleman he is, her offers me the shaded spot and I take a seat. If I thought his eyes were blue before, they are amazingly bright and clear in the direct sunlight. Wow.

  “So…you were saying?” He picks up his sandwich and never takes those blue topaz eyes off of mine.

  I have to shake my head to reformulate my thoughts, “Right. So, like I was saying…last night when you all came in and Fancy came back in to give me information about boot camp and tryouts, I thought about it … well she threatened me to say the least to come and give it a shot.”

  “I had no idea she went back into give you the flyer.” He tells me. “So, are you?”

  “As crazy as I feel for even giving it a second thought let alone deciding that yes, I will be there to try out, but what even crazier is the fact that I haven’t been on a pair of skates in well, ever.” I am talking fast, because I am nervous about the whole thing, but yet excited and this is so very new for me.

  He sets down his food and smiles a goofy, food filled smile and holds up a hand for me to high five, really? I laugh and decide not to leave him hanging. “You know, I can help you with some strength building exercises, which will help you greatly out on the track?”

  I suck in my lip and think about this. Should I train with another guy? Well I certainly wouldn’t be telling Josh about any of this, and besides Justin is a professional. He does this sort of thing for a living. Right money. “I can’t afford to pay for personal training…” I look down at my half eaten turkey with, cranberry sauce on it.