I tend to lose myself in a love story. This isn’t always bad only it’s a love story in my head. Not always the same one, but just a love story. I like the meet cute and the slow walk along their path of figuring out they are meant for each other. I develop back stories and situational scenes for my characters. And I get bogged down with all of these details when I try to write it all down. How do I bring up the details of a characters past when it has little to do with what is happening now? Is it important why the character is in a particular store or walking down a particular street? Will it detract; will it add to the story? I have one story that I’ve written a scene five different ways to see which works better. I’ve begun to actually fantasize of a different way the scene should take. I don’t know if that story will ever come to a close.
To battle my overwhelming daydreams, I sat down and wrote a scene stripped down more than my normal style. This is a bit of a fan fiction scene that I’ve been thinking about (and to be honest stuck on for a few months now). I have no major characters names listed in the story and needs work in terms of fleshing out the back story and where the characters go but I don’t know how I would use it in an original story. It may stay in the fan fic world of my head. So I will share it with you now. Enjoy.
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The diner was a little slow that night. Mama Ruth was at class and I was filling in for her at the restaurant while she was away as I always did on Thursdays. As I’m wiping down the counter one of my regular’s comes into the place. This time he’s not alone. He has a man and a woman with him. I stop what I’m going and I smile his way.
“Hey Handsome, take a seat anywhere and I’ll be right with you.”
He nods and smiles back. I like that smile. He’s been a regular for about two months now and I’ve called him Handsome since day one. I only work Thursdays and he comes in on that same day every week. I never ask if he comes in on a different day. I prefer to think he only comes in when I work.
I go and put away my rag and wash my hands. Walking over to where he and his friends are sitting I can’t help but notice that his two friends are on the opposite side from him.
Handing out the menus I say, “Hey Handsome, how are you today? I see you brought some friends to try our wonderful food.”
He smiles at me with some of his brown hair falling in his face. His tie is crooked as always and there is just something about that tweed jacket that makes me happy. People don’t wear enough tweed.
“I’m well today. Yeah, they wanted to eat here since I’m always talking about it.”
“Well good. I’m Claire,” I said turning toward his friends, “Mama Ruth made the chili and gumbo today so they are both excellent. What can I get you to drink?”
I filled their drink order and put the full order into the kitchen. I started helping Maria clean up her tables.
“So Claire, I see your man is here today” she says with a smile and wink at me.
“He’s not my man, Maria.” I said back with a turn to look at handsome.
“Oh yeah, why you blushing”
“I didn’t think my crush was so obvious”
I picked up the rest of the dishes on the table we were cleaning and started walking toward the kitchen. I could hear her giggling behind me.
“Stop”
“Stop? Really?” Maria says as we put the dishes down in the kitchen. “You of all people not taking a joke? You must really like him.”
I blushed more. I could feel my cheeks heating up. “Yes, he’s nice and smart and super cute.”
“And super nerdy” Maria said. “I think he’s perfect for you – nerd. What’s Ms Ruth think?” She pinched my arm, laughed and walked out of the kitchen.
I followed her out of the kitchen.
“Mama Ruth doesn’t know – so hush up” I gave Maria a wink in turn and started on refills for Handsome’s table. Looking up I could see their food was almost all ready to be taken to the table. I carried the drinks over.
“Here are some refills. The food should be ready any second now.”
I started handing out drinks and leaned in to get a drink to the woman in the corner of the booth when I felt something near my face and a soft kiss on my cheek. I looked to my left and froze. There he was eyes as wide as my own. He kissed me. I was in shock. I think he was in shock as well. It felt as if we stared at each other for half an hour. In reality it was only a few seconds.
“I’m …um…” Handsome stuttered looking for words.
“I, um, will be right back with your food.” I didn’t know what to say. That’s not what I wanted to say. Bolting up right I walked over the kitchen and grabbed the food on a tray and headed out the door. I looked up and saw Maria staring at my mouth wide opened forming into a smile.
Walking to the table I noticed he was gone. His friends remained but he was gone. I put the edge of the tray on the table and started setting the plates on the table. I looked up at his friends.
“Where did handsome go?” I asked, as if it was his real name.
“He left.” The woman said.
“What? Which way?,” I asked in a slight panic.
“Out the door and to the left.” The man offered.
“Oh crap.” I said and left the tray on the table and ran out the door.
Running it occurred to me that I was running after a man I only saw on Thursdays and had no idea what his name was because he always paid in cash. I knew we had similar interest and talking to him came easy. I never had to put on a fake laugh for him and because of his Thursday night visit I began to look forward to working Thursday nights after my regular work day. Was all that worth running after a man I hardly knew? Apparently it was.
“HANDSOME!” I yelled out as I saw him in a distance. “WAIT.”
He turned slowly his hands in his pockets and his face red from embarrassment. He was shocked to see me approach him.
“Don’t go.” I said as I finished walking toward him.
“I’m so sorry.” He said as I approached looking down at his feet.
“I’m not.” I said.
He looked up at me and stared at me mouth ajar. “What?”
I just smiled back at him. I reached up and pulled him down to my level.
“I’m not.” I repeated and kissed him on his soft lips. We stayed that way for a while, arms wrapped around each other.
*****
