“Oh yeah yeah. I work from home so all I do is work and exercise.” I maintain adult websites, but that’s not something you say to people.
“Oh cool, wish I could work from home then I wouldn’t have to wear this,” she stepped back and gestured towards her waitress uniform, which was really old fashioned. It was a light blue mid-thigh length dress with a white apron over it. On her feet were running shoes, which she wore without socks. Man, she had not aged a bit.
A look of horror flashed across her face as she saw a man outside leaning against his car. “Sorry, excuse me a second”.
“Sure,” I watched her walk off, the dress she wore was nice and tight, oh man what a sight. She turned and caught me checking her out and smiled at me. I watched her walk out of the restaurant to talk to some shady looking guy who seemed very angry. She never looked him in the face, just at her feet as this guy seemed to be working himself up more and more as he went off. Then he grabbed her by the shoulders and started shaking her.
“It’s go time,” I muttered to myself, got up and headed outside. I’m no white night, I usually stay out of people’s business, but I still had a bit of a crush on her even after all this time. “Hey shit head,” I yelled! “We got a problem here?”
He stammered a bit not expecting anyone to have noticed his antics. “Your lady friend here is behind on the rent. I don’t run a fucking charity. She needs to pa-”
“Oh, so you thought you could shake it out of her,” I retorted interrupting him? “Bet you’re a real tough guy huh? Wanna see if you can shake rent money out of me?”
Without hesitation, he launches towards me, but I was watching his posture and expected it. I side stepped to his left. He turned around just in time to catch a right hook to his face that knocked him on his ass. He blinked, spit a bit of blood out and wiped his mouth. Which put a little fear in me. I’ve seen that before, on Bruce Lee.
“You little BITCH! Your boyfriend here just got you evicted. So consider the lock changed and all your shit on fire!” He stepped into his car and peeled out of the parking lot.
She seemed to be shocked and withdrawn by all of this. When our eyes met she gave me a small embarrassed smile while I raised my eyebrows at her to diffuse the intense situation. Suddenly she fell into me crying and sobbing. I felt like shit, I just ruined her life. It took her some time to calm down, but she did.
“Sorry, that wasn’t your fault, it was a long time coming. It’s just that I’m so relieved and worried. I’m out of that shithole, but now I have nowhere to go.”
That time in high school was all coming back to me now. Only this time I have more than words. “Remember back in high school, when I told you anything you need from me just ask? Since I got you evicted, you can come and live with me.”
“Really,” her eyes flashed with elation?
“Of course.” I gave her my address and number and told her that stop by and that if she needed help, let me know. She dried her eyes smiling and thanking me as I walked her back inside the restaurant, I didn’t want her getting fired on the same day. We talked a bit more in between her tending to her section. She was as much a pleasure to be around as she was in high school. We even practiced a bit of Spanish as well. Funny how things seem to come full circle.