late nights and wandering eyes | ottoline & OPEN
ottolinexlarks:
Rustyâs was exactly what one would expect from a diner in small town USA. It had worn-down vinyl booths, stale coffee, and strange patrons. Still, it happened to be one of the only places that shared the same odd hours as Ottoline herself so she often ended up there. She preferred it at night, when it was at its quietest. Sometimes she even had the place all to herself, with the exception of whichever unlucky member of staff was on the closing shift. Oddly enough the background noise helped her concentrate and proved a welcome change from the cluttered office in her tiny apartment.
Her laptop groaned with old age, keys clicking obnoxiously in an effort to drive away any remaining customers. Despite the late hour, Ottoline did not have the diner to herself. She could feel eyes on the back of her neck, the unwavering gaze sending chills down her spine. Reporters had a knack for observation, but she had been too engrossed in her work to notice the person come in. Or maybe they were keeping quiet on purpose, trying to sneak past her; in a town like this it certainly was not out of the question.
She turned her head sharply, sick of the way her skin pimpled uncomfortably at the unknown. âItâs impolite to stare, you know?â Ottoline asked, voice harsh with apprehension. âOr if you donât, consider this your lesson and keep your eyes to themselves.â
So clearly Harper was fair too easy a target for late night calls to the clinic, as it was a little known fact around her work, that she had a hard time saying no. Youâd think in a small town such as Muddy Waters, theyâd rarely need a nurse in at the later hours of night, but youâd be surprised the antics locals got up too. Especially as they began to stumble and fall their way out of bars and strip clubs, only to injure themselves and be the very reason Harper was still awake in the first place.
This explained why the young nurse now sat in a booth a Rustyâs, nursing a warm cup of coffee and staying awake on nothing but willpower. The only other customer at the time another woman who sat tapping away on her laptop. Honestly Harper hadnât even noticed she was staring, it was somewhat of a âlost in spaceâ stare. Her mind on anything but who the woman was or what she was doing, considering in general Harper kept to herself. But she found herself getting lost in her increasingly tired mind, staring off in the others general direction, when they spoke. The sudden change in their still environment shocking Harper right out of her daydream, as she actually looked at the woman now.
âThanks for the tipâ Harper said casually, tipping her cup forward before taking a long swig of her coffee. She sunk lower in her seat, her scrubs a comfortable fit for sleeping truthfully. âIâll note that for next timeâ













