Chapter 4: Chapter 3 - Caffeine Jitters
His leg jumped nervously. He had been sitting at this damn counter for two hours, silently praying that the alarm would go off and he would have to run out. But nope, he was the Irishman with no luck; it was going to be another quiet night.
The night before, after they had gotten back from the call, he had debated going back to the diner. He had inwardly warred with himself so much; he started biting the heads off of the other guys in the station.
"Jesus, Ayden, go to bed." One of them yelled back at him.
"Sorry, guys," he said ashamed and went to sleep it off.
But from the moment he woke up, she was there, dancing through his mind. He cleaned and inventoried equipment, checked gear, went through paperwork, but she was still there. He fought with himself, going from "I'll go back tonight, just see if she is there," to "Are you stupid? Just stay at the house," and to "I met her last night, why the hell am I thinking this much about a waitress?"
As ten o'clock approached he was pacing so hard that he was starting to sweat.
"O my God, McKay!" One of the guys had screamed at him, "You may be my friend, but I will kill you to save my own sanity."
The pacing subsided for a few minutes, before he was back moving round the room at a furious pace.
"Get out! Get out!" "You are driving me insane! Get out!" Brandt had screamed as he then started throwing books, papers, and whatever he could get his hands on at Ayden. He ran out of the door with a barrage of profanity following behind him.
So, now he sat. 12 am again with another cup of coffee. The elderly waitress looked warily at him as she poured him refills, though it wasn't the caffeine that had him jumping all over the place.
What was it about a little waitress that had him going insane? They hadn't spoken more than a few words to each other the night before, but he just couldn't get her out of his head. It had been a long time since he felt this way. So much so that it scared him but it also felt more exhilarating than fighting any fire had. That was always the dangerous part.
A few minutes after 12, the front door flew open, sounding the bells.
"I am so so so so so sorry." She was still in street clothes, the pepto pink uniform flung over her arm. A back pack was seated on her shoulder and her long brown hair whirled around her.
"The bus was late, so I'm late. I'm so sorry." She continued her apologies as she disappeared into the ladies room.
Just at the sight of her, he calmed. His leg stopped jumping, his fingers stopped tapping. He just sat pensively, waiting for her to reappear. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that his change in demeanor was not unnoticed by the other waitresses gathered around the hostess desk. They sounded like a brood of hens clucking in a barnyard.
He replayed her appearance over in his mind. Her hair was a long mass of brown streaked with blonde that stretched to the small of her back. Her well worn jeans were much better at defining her curves than that waitress uniform. She had on an over sized hooded sweatshirt instead of a coat. He found himself frowning at the thought that it may be her boyfriend's, since it was so big.
"Back again?" Her voice was the song to sooth the savage beast.
"Yup."
"Ah, my man of many words."
He felt a warmth in the pit of his stomach at her use of the possessive wording.
She was tying her apron, her hair still down. "You must love the coffee here." She smiled pulling a rubber band out of the pocket of her apron. She smoothed her hair with one hand gathering it up in the other. She flipped it up and pulled it halfway through. Smoothing her apron and skirt she sighed and flashed a smile. Was she happy to see him? He wondered.
"So you want something to go with that coffee, Sugar?"
"Um, yes. Just not sure what I want yet."
"Well that is a problem I can definitely solve."
She stooped behind the counter and produced a worn, vinyl menu. "You take a look at this and I'll be right back to get your order."
He wondered about the strange little waitress. Though he had never seen her before, she looked as though she had worked here for ages. She bantered effortlessly with the customers and other waitresses alike. She wove expertly between the tables, He watched as she stopped to check on the few other customers. She talked to each person in the same charming way she did to him. His stomach stirred and fell. Somewhere in his head, he had thought her attitude was meant just for him. He tore his eyes away and threw them back onto the menu.
"You want another refill?" She said as she approached him. She had collected most of the salt and pepper shakers on a large circular tray. She carefully slid the tray onto the counter.
She smiled and his stomach lurched. If he didn't watch himself, he would be drooling soon.
"No refill on the coffee, but I think I am ready to order some food?"
"Sure, Sugar," she said reaching into a pocket on her apron for a notepad and pen, "What can I get ya'?"
"A bacon cheeseburger, extra bacon, with everything and an extra order of fries," he finished sheepishly.
"Anything else?" she was still looking at her notepad.
"An order of meat loaf with mashed potatoes and gravy."
"Anything else?" she didn't flinch.
"An order of mozzarella sticks."
"Anything else?"
"Can I get a second order of everything to go?"
"Okay, I'll put that all in for you, Love." She turned on her heel and walked back to the kitchen without batting an eyelash. Usually, the waitress had some sort of commentary, "You are quite the growing boy" being the most used, along with "Are there more coming to join you?" That was why he would resist eating as long as he could; he hated the commentary and the attention.
Quick as she had left, she was storming back through the doors carrying large containers of salt and pepper. She started refilling the salt and pepper shakers she had collected.
He pretended to read the paper in front of him but he was watching her out of the corner of his eye. She was singing along with the song on the radio. Her hips bobbed with the rhythm, which she had a very good sense of. He had to consciously remind himself to not let his tongue loll out.
She seemed to like to keep busy, he thought watching her moved her way through the shakers. Her fingers were long and graceful, the nails painted a dark shade of purple. She wore a few rings, none on her left hand, which he was relieved to see. She wore two silver bands on her right thumb and ring finger. They looked to have a Celtic design on them. Interesting…
"Not a man for small talk are you?" she said. Her eyes never moved from what she was doing.
"Nah," he said, feeling his cheeks grow hot.
"Shame that, small talk is much more interesting than pretending to read the paper," she said, the corner of her mouth turning up in a smirk.
He rolled his eyes and looked up at her.
"Caught, ya'" she said, rolling her eyes to the corners to look at him.
When her eyes locked onto his, he felt like his entire body was on the verge of combusting. Her eyes were grey. How had he not noticed that before?
"You did," he said in husky voice.
Now, she looked to be the one caught off guard.
She sunk her teeth into her bottom lip.
He swiped his tongue across his bottom lip, lost in those grey eyes.
"I'll, I'll be right back," she stammered. She stumbled haphazardly through the swinging kitchen doors.
When she returned, she had a plate of mozzarella sticks.
"Here you go, Sugar," she said as she put the plate down on the counter. Her eyes were focused on the plate in front of him, her eyes refusing to meet his. "I'll put that second order in for you as soon as your other food is done, so it won't be cold."
"Thanks," he said, chuckling at her sudden bashfulness.
She went back to filling the shakers, humming along to the music that played.
He finished the appetizer quickly and pushed the empty plate to the center of the counter. With his appetite stirring, he felt bold, so he turned to watch her.
"Do you like the oldies?" he asked without thinking. She had been singing along under her breath to the song playing on the radio.
"I like most music," she answered while she kept filling.
"But you seem to know the words to every song that has played."
She smiled and turned to look at him, "I listen to a lot of music. When I'm on the bus, when I'm studying, when I go to sleep. The words just stick."
Ayden rubbed his hands on his knees, stuck on the "when I go to sleep" part. He shook his head, trying to regain his senses. This was ridiculous.
"I'll be right back," she said as she grabbed an empty tray and disappeared into the kitchen. She arrived with a tray of steaming food. His mouth began to water at the smell. Kyle put all of the food in front of him.
"Can I get you anything else?" she asked after clearing the tray.
"No, I'm good." His hand was inching its way toward the fork.
"Ok, just give me a yell if you think of somethin'," she said as she picked up the tray of now full shakers and walked away to replace them on the tables.
He started slowly picking at the various meals, savoring the flavors. Then he picked up speed, shoveling the food in with his fork. By the time she came back, all three plates were empty.
"You need a refill on the drink, Love?" She said while stacking the plates on her forearm, her purple fingernails wrapping around the edge of the plate. A charm bracelet dangled from her wrist, jingling as she moved. He rubbed his hands on the knees of his pants to keep from reaching out to touch it.
"Coffee, please," he said as he stifled a burp.
She walked back to the kitchen with his dirty dishes. When she came back, she carried a large shopping bag. She stopped to fill a mug with coffee.
"Here's all your to go food, Sugar," she said setting the bag on the counter. She set the coffee cup in front of him. She reached into her apron and pulled out the check. "You take your time now; I just figured I would give this to you."
She smiled at him, tilting her head to the side. A large piece of hair had worked itself free, and fell across her eye. His stomach pitched and his heart started to pound in a new tempo. He didn't want her to go yet.
"Kyle's an odd name for a girl isn't it?" He didn't know how to start a conversation, so he just picked the first stray thought that wandered into his brain. He had been looking at her name tag.
"My dad had wanted a boy. So, mom let him name me." Her face remained neutral but he heard bitterness in her words.
"I like it." He said before he could stop the words. He really needed to work on his casual conversation skills.
"I didn't for a long time, but now I think it fits me." She smiled again, smaller this time, but it touched her eyes and lit them up like starlight.
"I'm Ayden," he said offering her his hand.
"Nice to meet you Ayden," she said, putting her hand in his.
Her hand fit perfectly into his, even though it was easily half its size. He knew he held on for too long but he couldn't help himself. When he did let go, he saw how flushed her cheeks had become. He liked making her blush.
"I'll be right back. I have to check on my other customers." She stammered as she backed away, shaking her head slightly. He knew then that he was having the same effect on her as she was having on him.
As he sipped his coffee as he watched her walk away, maneuvering her tray with ease. She itched the back of one leg using her other foot. Her legs were smooth and looked soft. For how little she was, her legs sure seemed long. He began to gulp his coffee. His throat was not the only thing on fire. This is ridiculous he thought again.
She made her way back to him. She smiled playfully, resting her elbows on the counter and then putting her chin in her hands. "So, Ayden the firefighter…"
He smiled as he spoke, "yes, Kyle the sometimes waitress…"
"How long have you been a firefighter?"
"Eh, a few years now. I bounced around to a few houses before I found the spot I am in now. I am around the corner, Engine 6, Ladder Company 66."
She straightened up and stretched slightly. "Oh, I pass there when I got to and from school."
"Where do you go to school?" he asked, noting to keep an eye out for her during the day.
"I take classes out at Temple."
"What are you going for?"
"Education with a minor in history."
"Really?"
She laughed at his surprise, "Why is that so surprising?"
"The education part isn't so surprising, but the history is. You don't find many people interested in the old parts of the world."
"I think there is a lot to be learned in history, tons to learn and discover."
"Has anyone ever told you, you are an old soul?"
Kyle laughed, "Yes, all the time."
"Well, I guess I had better get back to the firehouse," he said while taking the money out of his wallet and laying it with the check she had put in front of him.
"I don't blame you. Bar crowd will be coming in soon and I am sure you do have to get back to work too. I'll get you your change, Sugar," she said looking down at him under dark long eyelashes, her grey eyes clear and cool.
"Don't worry about it," he said getting up. He tilted his head toward her and flashed that charming smile, "I hope to see you again Kyle. G'night."
"G'night," she said breathlessly.
"I hope so too…" she added in a low voice she thought he couldn't hear.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Lorelai_M
Lorelai_M *** Small change. The fire company that Ayden works with is now Engine 6, Ladder Company 66. Sorry about that, but it just fits the story better.
*** Also, whoever is reading this, if you can rate or do whatever to let me know you are liking this story i would really appreciate it. As a new writer posting i just want to know if i am on the right track. thank you so much in advance!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone