Robert shuffled slowly down the sidewalk, not making any attempt to avoid the puddles. His sweat pants dragged under his Adidas sneakers, both laces were untied. His head hung under the hood of his sweatshirt and he stared at the sidewalk three feet in front of him. The rain poured down on him making his sweatshirt heavy, but he didn’t care. He saw it was raining when he left his apartment, but he didn’t bother to grab the umbrella from the closet.
Robert rounded the corner and could just make out Donny’s Diner through the downpour. The neon lights of the diner’s sign glared at him and made him feel uneasy. He wanted to turn around, go back to his nice warm bed, sleep off the awful hangover he had. She’d be pissed though. She’d be pissed that he was already twenty minutes late, but if he didn’t show up at all, she’d be really pissed. For a split second he considered the possibility of her wanting to meet him this early because she was breaking up with him. He could faintly remember what the single life felt like. He figured it was soaring like a bird through an endless sky, always flying towards the horizon, towards a sunrise. Dating on the other hand was like falling out of the nest, lying on the ground unable to move; then watching a cat make its way towards you slowing, not knowing if it was going to bite your head off, or just tease you a little bit until you begged for mercy.
Robert reached the door of Donny’s. He tried to look through the diner’s windows to see if he could see her in there sharpening her nails or polishing her gun, but it was too dark inside to make out any images. He took a deep breath, stood up straight, and gave the handle a firm tug.
Inside the diner the air was hot and it reeked of maple syrup. Robert tried to hold his breath, but the smell seeped in through his pores and made him nauseous. A waitress hesitantly approached the drenched man as if he were a wet rat.
“Table…for…one?”
“No, I’m meeting someone.”
His eyes darted around the room and he spotted Sarah at a booth near the window. She was dressed nice, wearing a light pink blouse and black slacks. Her hair was swept up in a clip but a few strands had fallen out and were lying gently on her shoulders. The slight imperfection made Robert feel a little less uneasy as he made his way towards her. He would brush the strands away from her face as they talked; it was an easy excuse to ease the tension that he felt on the phone when she called him at 4:30 am.
“Hey, what’s up?” he said sliding into the booth.
Sarah looked up from her coffee cup that was clutched between both of her sweaty palms.
“You’re late. I said meet me at 9:00.”
Robert knew this was going to be a long morning. He decided to be on the offensive rather than the defensive that way things went more smoothly.
“I know, babe, I’m sorry. What is it you wanted to talk about?”
Sarah stared at him silently. She studied his face, his eyes. Were these eyes of a cheater? Did she even know what the eyes of a cheater looked like? Eyes like his had deceived her before, but she just couldn’t believe they had deceived her again. She glanced back down at her coffee and rubbed her damp hands on her pants.
“Sarah? What’s up?”
That’s what he always said. What’s up? Not, what’s wrong? Not, how are you? Not, baby I’m so sorry for being such an asshole. She looked up at him and met his eyes.
“Where were you last night?”
Direct. Straight to the point. Robert squirmed. He felt the diner’s florescent lights burning his cheeks. He was not in the mood for the 10th degree this morning. Why should she care where he was last night? He’s his own man, he can come and go whenever he pleases. He shouldn’t have to check in with her every time he wants to go out with the guys. She glared at him and he could feel Tiffany’s eyes on him all over again. The thought of breaking up streamed through his mind again. If she kept this up, he’d dump her just like he dumped Tiffany.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Because.”
“Because why?”
“Because, I want to know where you were.”
Robert rolled his eyes. This was going no where. A waitress approached their table hesitantly. She asked Robert if he needed anything.
“A coffee, please. And some toast.”
The waitress nodded quickly and scribbled on her pad. She was young, no older than 17. She was wearing too much eye-shadow and her wrists were covered in colorful string bracelets. Her ponytail bobbed as she nodded.
“Anything else for you ma’am?” she asked Sarah.
“No, I’m fine,” Sarah said without taking her eyes off of Robert.
The waitress scurried off leaving Robert in the hot-seat again. Outside the rain poured down. Robert wished he was back in bed. He rubbed his eyes with the end of the sleeve of his wet sweatshirt that still rested heavily upon his shoulders.
“Sarah, what’s wrong? What did I do?”
“You know what you did,” she hissed.
“No, I don’t. You’re freaking out on me and I have no idea why. Would you just tell me already, I’m sick of this bullshit. Just tell me what I did!”
He had about reached his breaking point and a few people in the restaurant turned to see who was making all the commotion. Sarah rolled her eyes and sat back in the booth. She took a long sip from her coffee cup, never taking her eyes off of Robert.
“I tried to call you last night and you wouldn’t pick up your cell phone.”
“I probably didn’t hear it. Why were you trying to call anyway, you knew I was out with the guys?”
“Until 4:30 this morning, Robert?! I seriously doubt that. You never stay out that late with the guys; you never hang out with the guys. Why are you suddenly hanging out with the guys until 4:30 in the morning?”
Robert felt like he didn’t have to answer her, he didn’t have to deal with this. This was ridiculous. Why was she being like this? So damn difficult. Did he have to call her and check in like he was 16 again? The waitress came back with his coffee. She set it down quickly and mumbled something about his toast being up in a minute. Her pony tale bobbed as she walked away.
“I told you I was going out with the guys last night. You called me on Friday, asked what I was doing and I said going out with the guys. You acted like you were fine with it.”
“I was fine with you going out with the guys.”
“Then what are you upset about?”
“Because I know you lied to me.”
Roberts jaw dropped. He couldn’t believe this conversation was unfolding before him. He literally felt like he was watching a horrible chick flick and wanted to change the channel. What did she think he was doing last night? He watched her fidget with her napkin, ripping it into micro pieces and making a pile to her right. She was no longer staring at him, but concentrating hard on ripping the napkin. Her hands quivered slightly.
They were both silent. Neither one knew what to say. Robert was the first to break the silence.
“What makes you think that I lied to you?”
“I know you lied to me,” she said softly without looking up.
Robert rolled his eyes. Again they were getting no where. He looked up at the clock above the cash register. It was now 9:58. He had been here for over a half an hour and gotten no where. He just wanted to know what was bothering her, fix it, and go home.
“Can you please just spell it out for me, Sarah? I really have no clue what you are talking about.”
“Do you really think I’m that stupid, Robert? That I wouldn’t catch on? You were out with another girl. You think I’m a fool, but I’m not. I’ve been down this road before and I won’t fall for it again! I want to break up.”
She was shaking and tears were streaming down her burning cheeks. Robert stared at her and chuckled. What on earth was she talking about? She had officially lost it. Before he could say anything in his defense, she picked up her umbrella and coat and began to scoot out of the booth. He grabbed her wrist as she was about to stand up.
“You’re making a mistake. I was out with the guys. I had way too much to drink last night and passed out at Dave’s for about an hour before waking up and walking home at 4:00. I’ve never cheated on you, ever. You’re crazy.”
“I’m crazy for trusting you!” She said trying to convince herself at the same time.
“No, you’re not. You were hurt before by someone who cheated on you, but I’m not like that. You know what I’m like. And you know what else you know, I hate being told what to do. I hate having to answer to someone all the time. You told me you were different. Waitress! If you can’t let me be and let me live my life, then I don’t want you to be a part of it.”
The waitress brought over the check and Robert threw four dollars down on the table. He pulled up his hood and slid out of the booth. Outside the rain had diminished to a drizzle, but the wind had picked up. The letter Y on the diner’s sign flickered before going out.
Robert rounded the corner and could just make out Donny’s Diner through the downpour. The neon lights of the diner’s sign glared at him and made him feel uneasy. He wanted to turn around, go back to his nice warm bed, sleep off the awful hangover he had. She’d be pissed though. She’d be pissed that he was already twenty minutes late, but if he didn’t show up at all, she’d be really pissed. For a split second he considered the possibility of her wanting to meet him this early because she was breaking up with him. He could faintly remember what the single life felt like. He figured it was soaring like a bird through an endless sky, always flying towards the horizon, towards a sunrise. Dating on the other hand was like falling out of the nest, lying on the ground unable to move; then watching a cat make its way towards you slowing, not knowing if it was going to bite your head off, or just tease you a little bit until you begged for mercy.
Robert reached the door of Donny’s. He tried to look through the diner’s windows to see if he could see her in there sharpening her nails or polishing her gun, but it was too dark inside to make out any images. He took a deep breath, stood up straight, and gave the handle a firm tug.
Inside the diner the air was hot and it reeked of maple syrup. Robert tried to hold his breath, but the smell seeped in through his pores and made him nauseous. A waitress hesitantly approached the drenched man as if he were a wet rat.
“Table…for…one?”
“No, I’m meeting someone.”
His eyes darted around the room and he spotted Sarah at a booth near the window. She was dressed nice, wearing a light pink blouse and black slacks. Her hair was swept up in a clip but a few strands had fallen out and were lying gently on her shoulders. The slight imperfection made Robert feel a little less uneasy as he made his way towards her. He would brush the strands away from her face as they talked; it was an easy excuse to ease the tension that he felt on the phone when she called him at 4:30 am.
“Hey, what’s up?” he said sliding into the booth.
Sarah looked up from her coffee cup that was clutched between both of her sweaty palms.
“You’re late. I said meet me at 9:00.”
Robert knew this was going to be a long morning. He decided to be on the offensive rather than the defensive that way things went more smoothly.
“I know, babe, I’m sorry. What is it you wanted to talk about?”
Sarah stared at him silently. She studied his face, his eyes. Were these eyes of a cheater? Did she even know what the eyes of a cheater looked like? Eyes like his had deceived her before, but she just couldn’t believe they had deceived her again. She glanced back down at her coffee and rubbed her damp hands on her pants.
“Sarah? What’s up?”
That’s what he always said. What’s up? Not, what’s wrong? Not, how are you? Not, baby I’m so sorry for being such an asshole. She looked up at him and met his eyes.
“Where were you last night?”
Direct. Straight to the point. Robert squirmed. He felt the diner’s florescent lights burning his cheeks. He was not in the mood for the 10th degree this morning. Why should she care where he was last night? He’s his own man, he can come and go whenever he pleases. He shouldn’t have to check in with her every time he wants to go out with the guys. She glared at him and he could feel Tiffany’s eyes on him all over again. The thought of breaking up streamed through his mind again. If she kept this up, he’d dump her just like he dumped Tiffany.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Because.”
“Because why?”
“Because, I want to know where you were.”
Robert rolled his eyes. This was going no where. A waitress approached their table hesitantly. She asked Robert if he needed anything.
“A coffee, please. And some toast.”
The waitress nodded quickly and scribbled on her pad. She was young, no older than 17. She was wearing too much eye-shadow and her wrists were covered in colorful string bracelets. Her ponytail bobbed as she nodded.
“Anything else for you ma’am?” she asked Sarah.
“No, I’m fine,” Sarah said without taking her eyes off of Robert.
The waitress scurried off leaving Robert in the hot-seat again. Outside the rain poured down. Robert wished he was back in bed. He rubbed his eyes with the end of the sleeve of his wet sweatshirt that still rested heavily upon his shoulders.
“Sarah, what’s wrong? What did I do?”
“You know what you did,” she hissed.
“No, I don’t. You’re freaking out on me and I have no idea why. Would you just tell me already, I’m sick of this bullshit. Just tell me what I did!”
He had about reached his breaking point and a few people in the restaurant turned to see who was making all the commotion. Sarah rolled her eyes and sat back in the booth. She took a long sip from her coffee cup, never taking her eyes off of Robert.
“I tried to call you last night and you wouldn’t pick up your cell phone.”
“I probably didn’t hear it. Why were you trying to call anyway, you knew I was out with the guys?”
“Until 4:30 this morning, Robert?! I seriously doubt that. You never stay out that late with the guys; you never hang out with the guys. Why are you suddenly hanging out with the guys until 4:30 in the morning?”
Robert felt like he didn’t have to answer her, he didn’t have to deal with this. This was ridiculous. Why was she being like this? So damn difficult. Did he have to call her and check in like he was 16 again? The waitress came back with his coffee. She set it down quickly and mumbled something about his toast being up in a minute. Her pony tale bobbed as she walked away.
“I told you I was going out with the guys last night. You called me on Friday, asked what I was doing and I said going out with the guys. You acted like you were fine with it.”
“I was fine with you going out with the guys.”
“Then what are you upset about?”
“Because I know you lied to me.”
Roberts jaw dropped. He couldn’t believe this conversation was unfolding before him. He literally felt like he was watching a horrible chick flick and wanted to change the channel. What did she think he was doing last night? He watched her fidget with her napkin, ripping it into micro pieces and making a pile to her right. She was no longer staring at him, but concentrating hard on ripping the napkin. Her hands quivered slightly.
They were both silent. Neither one knew what to say. Robert was the first to break the silence.
“What makes you think that I lied to you?”
“I know you lied to me,” she said softly without looking up.
Robert rolled his eyes. Again they were getting no where. He looked up at the clock above the cash register. It was now 9:58. He had been here for over a half an hour and gotten no where. He just wanted to know what was bothering her, fix it, and go home.
“Can you please just spell it out for me, Sarah? I really have no clue what you are talking about.”
“Do you really think I’m that stupid, Robert? That I wouldn’t catch on? You were out with another girl. You think I’m a fool, but I’m not. I’ve been down this road before and I won’t fall for it again! I want to break up.”
She was shaking and tears were streaming down her burning cheeks. Robert stared at her and chuckled. What on earth was she talking about? She had officially lost it. Before he could say anything in his defense, she picked up her umbrella and coat and began to scoot out of the booth. He grabbed her wrist as she was about to stand up.
“You’re making a mistake. I was out with the guys. I had way too much to drink last night and passed out at Dave’s for about an hour before waking up and walking home at 4:00. I’ve never cheated on you, ever. You’re crazy.”
“I’m crazy for trusting you!” She said trying to convince herself at the same time.
“No, you’re not. You were hurt before by someone who cheated on you, but I’m not like that. You know what I’m like. And you know what else you know, I hate being told what to do. I hate having to answer to someone all the time. You told me you were different. Waitress! If you can’t let me be and let me live my life, then I don’t want you to be a part of it.”
The waitress brought over the check and Robert threw four dollars down on the table. He pulled up his hood and slid out of the booth. Outside the rain had diminished to a drizzle, but the wind had picked up. The letter Y on the diner’s sign flickered before going out.
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