The morning rush seemed endless, and she was thankful when the lunch hour finally ended. She sat in the back on the lumpy couch the owner had provided for them, obviously left over from a 70's revamp on his house. But the bumps in the couch were somewhat comforting to her tired aching body. She propped he feet up on the chair that held her hastily thrown clothes, hardly caring that her jacket was collecting more wrinkles. A few moments passed, the Stephannie walked back and sat down in the chair next to her with a hard thump and a sigh.
"Geeze! Every day just gets worse 'n worse, don't it?" she exclaimed as she let herself fall back into the wall. "Thank god fer breaks!"
"Where do they come from Steph?! The food insn't that good here!" Melany asked, still in exhausted disbelief.
"Cheap," Stephannie said with a disgusted nod. "Speakin' of cheap, there was some guy in here askin' 'bout ya the other day." She winked at Melany.
"Really?" Melany asked, her head tipped with curiousity. "Who was it?"
"Don't know. He wouldn't tell me. Said he'd be back another time," Stephannie answered with a shrug. The bell at the front of the cafe rang expectantly as another patron entered.
"Alwell, I guess I'll have to wait," Melany said as she stoop up, straightening her skirt. "Here we go again?"
"Knock 'em dead, hon!" Stephannie exclaimed, waving her fist in the air. Melany smiled a disgruntled grin as she grabbed her tray and walked out into the newly gathered storm of noise.
Melany sighed with relief as she wiped down the last table for the evening, watching Stephannie walk into the backroom to get her things. She couldn't wait to fling herself on her rumply couch and enjoy the rest of her Friday evening.
Stephannie walked up to her, pointing to the last customer. "There you go, hon. All fer you," she said.
"Stephannie," Melany said with an exasperated groan. "Isn't he your customer?"
"He sure was. Paid me handsome, but he's askin' fer ya. I told him I'd let ya know," she replied, putting on her coat.
"What?" Melany asked, now looking at the man incredulously.
"He's that guy I was tellin' ya 'bout. He said he'd be back," she answered. "Do ya want me ta stick around fer a minute?"
Melany looked back over at the table. He was sitting there, drinking the last few watered-down dregs of his soda, his back turned to her. "No. It'll be all right. I'll just leave after I'm sure he's left," she said, turning back to Stephannie.
"Suit yerself then," she said with a shrug, then smiled. "Have a good evein' dear." She pecked Melany on the cheek and walked out the door, the bell rining loudly behind her.
Melany finished cleaning the table, glowering at the man. From behind, she couldn't recognize who it was. Grumbling, she walked to the counter and threw her rag into the pail, then started across the room to the table.
As she got closer, he turned around, and she stopped, eyes wide in disbelief. She saw his green eyes and memories began to flash back into her mind from the dusty, long-ago forgotten past. She remembered looking into those eyes so long, so full of love. Standing in the rain, soaking wet, yet warmed by the fire within those green seas. Hearing the music, dancing close, but yet, always searching for those eyes. It was those hidden memories that had kept her alive and moving ever since her parents had passed away.
"Jimmy," she whispered, finding herself unable to do anything more.
"Melany?" the man said with a hopeful questioning look, starting to stand.
Before she could stop herself, she had crossed the distance between them and was hugging him close, laughing in excitement. "Oh my god! Jimmy! What...What are you doing here?!" she exclaimed.
"I had a business meeting the next town over, so I decided to take a few extra days off and look up some old haunts and hauntees. I'm so glad I found you!" he answered with a smile from ear to ear, his emerald eyes glinting in the dim candlelight. "Were you busy?"
"Oh! No," she replied. "I was just getting ready to get my things to go home."
"Great! Would you mind if I walked you home? You know...'Like old times'?" he offered.
"I'd love that. Just a minute and I'll go get my things," Melany said and rushed into the breakroom, hastily grabbing her coat and purse.
