It had not really been a bad day, only long. Two tests, in algebra and chemistry, her least favorite classes, a lack of down time for a proper lunch due to studying for those tests, and another third class thrown in there for good measure. By the time Dani reached the end of it, she was over school, over life, over men, over the moon… nope, that one was good, but all the rest of it. She was just over it.
Looking to drown her sorrows in something the government considered age-appropriate, she made her way to the diner from campus. Once upon a time, she went nowhere without music in her ears. That was before her brother had released witches into the world though. Now she kept her eyes and ears peeled whenever she was walking the streets alone. Now she knew that there was no telling what all lurked in the shadows of alleyways and street corners. There was a time in all lives where innocence was shattered and the existence of evil made itself real. Some days she wished she was there again.
The clatter of plates and smatterings of conversation brought with them a sense of safety and Dani’s posture relaxed as she walked in and sauntered up to the counter. “I need your biggest strawberry milkshake and a whole plate of boudin.” She sighed dramatically at Tiana as they approached. “I need to drown out all the numbers in my head in dairy and carbs.” @almostthcre
TIANA WAS working a double which wasn’t out of the ordinary for them. Anytime extra shifts were offered Tiana would gladly pick them up, anything to get closer to the goal of opening their own restaurant. They had gotten used to the whispers of ‘See Tiana doesn’t go anywhere’ and the ‘Ask your boss if you can have Friday off!’ from friends. Those kind of people didn’t seem to understand just how much work it takes to make your dream into a reality. You don’t get to the moon by wishing on stars.
By lunch time Tiana was starting to burn out, they loved Mama Odie’s diner with all their heart but some shifts could be more difficult than others. Some days Tiana found the customers of Elias to be cold and sadly today had been one of those days, rough for tips and smiles too. Tiana was muddling through it with a grin and positive attitude but their mood instantly perked at the sight of Dani entering the diner. Tiana’s regulars, no Tiana’s friends, meant so very much to them even if they didn’t see them too often. They draped themselves over the counter with a wide welcoming grin.
“You want cream and syrup on toppa’ that hon?” they asked with a lazy smile, the kind they kept for the most important customers. Tiana began to scribble the order down in their notebook, looking up with concern at Dani’s words. “Oh -- well you’ve come to the right place. College getting tough right now?”
