Something Beautiful

Four: Beautiful |Caleb|

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." - Confucius

As I finally make it to the diner, at last escaping the freezing temperatures outdoors, I shiver from the change of warmth. The diner is old from what I can tell, like someone shipped it to the present right from smack in the fifties. There's a big counter up front, lined with bar stools. I swear any minute some chick on roller skates is gonna roll by or take me to my seat. Wonder if.... Oh there it is, they even have a jukebox! Okay, that's pretty cool.

Unzipping my jacket I'm glad to see it's a lot warmer in here, the temperature outside feels like a refrigerator on steroids... if that makes sense. I glance around when my eyes land a on sign on the front of the counter near to me. It reads:

"Whoa there partner! We'll seat ya!"

Damn where am I? I've only just recently moved to this area and well I'm still not used to the whole small town... humor. The only problem is that well, most of the time I can't tell if they're joking or being dead serious. Suppose I'll just have to start making note of the lingo, cause hell. That sign is so hick it's not even funny.

Right now the diner only has a few people in it. Some old couple in a corner booth not speaking or looking at each other, but probably in a deep conversation with their minds. In another booth, by the window, sits a lone guy with a suit on and just a cup of coffee in front of him with the newspaper splayed out on the table. Lastly there's a mom or something, with a couple kids in a table near the center.

There's three kids, two boys and a little girl. The boys are trying to punch each other off the other's seat while the little girl is trying desperately to get the mother's attention, as she is currently occupied trying to stop the boys from spilling each other's blood on the diner floor. It's quite a scene, but everyone else in the diner is courteously trying to ignore them. It's pretty hard though, they're creating quite a ruckus. Ruckus? Sure... ruckus.

My mind became oddly engrossed with the family scene across the room that I didn't notice when the elderly hostess came to seat me.

"Sir," she says to me with a significant drawl I'm assuming comes from living in this town since childhood. I can only hope it doesn't rub off on me... God please no.

"Yes?" I say to her then, sounding dazed and confused from being totally zoned out, but quickly I try to collect myself and realize she wants to seat me... duh.

"Booth, or table?" she asks, obviously she must be having to repeat herself for me, since there is a tinge of impatience to her tone.

"Oh, um... booth?" I reply, though I don't know why I phrased it as a question. I want a booth, I don't need this chick's- I mean ladie's- approval.

She nods then, a smile cracking across her wrinkled face. As she walks ahead of me, leading the way, I take in her appearance. She's old obviously, probably late sixties. Though who am I kidding? I can't guess ages for shiz, I'm just throwing numbers out there. He uniform is very, very, very, unattractive. Seriously, it's this gross sort of candy-stripe's dress with a nasty white apron. Her socks are pulls up to her knees, they're sort of a off white. Her hair's up in a messy knot of grey tendrils. Overall I can tell this lady doesn't care what she looks like anymore, which makes sense since she's old enough to forget about the importance of appearances. I just hope my waitress or waiter is a little easier on the eyes. Well, of course I prefer a waitress of course.

From my booth I watch the family again, they're now trying to leave. Mom is ready to pull her hair out as she tries to get the coats on each of the little monsters. That little scene right now is why I don't plan on having kids. Why I barely date period. Why I just go on dates, but don't devote. I'm not getting stuck with those things.

Matt may beg to differ, but I honestly don't know how he's doing what he's doing! Having a kid? At nineteen? He's nuts! Granted I'm still only eighteen, a senior in high-school, but it's not like I plan on knocking up some babe and have a kid with her right after I graduate. No, I'd rather enjoy my freedom instead of just throwing it out the window.

So the question stands, do I intend to get married like my mom's dying for me to do? Hell. No. Not a chance am I tying myself down to one chick for who knows how the hell long, just to help her give birth to one of those... demons.

Not that I don't understand her reasoning, I mean who doesn't want to see their son get married and start a family? Who doesn't want grand-kids? Ever since my dad died, I think my mom has been lonely or something, so I guess she needs some excitement in her now dull life. Don't think I don't feel bad, but hey. A guy's got his rights. I'm not bending over backwards and ruining my life just so my mom can get off my back. I'd rather deal with the nagging for the rest of my life than ever get married... or worse.... have children.

As I sit pondering these things, drumming my fingers on the surface of the linoleum table top in front of me, my server finally arrives. She clears her throat to get my attention, then starts her shpeel.

"Welcome to Dino's Diner, my name is Elena. Our special tonight is liver and onions, yum, right?" she pauses to chuckle and quirk her eyebrow at me waiting for me to respond.

All while she's talking though, I'm pretty much lost in her face. Damn. She's... hot? No, not hot. Trash girls and prostitutes are "hot". She's something a little more than that. Pretty? Cute?

"Ahem, can I get you anything to drink?" she asks then as I rack my mind for the right adjective.

Gorgeous? Stunning? Lovely?

"Sir?" she asks now sounding confused, and probably uncomfortable since I'm practically drooling over her before her sparkling brown eyes. Pull it the hell together man! Answer her!

"I-I, I'll take a..." I quickly scan the drinks menu she's placed in front of me, which I hadn't noticed, then pick the first thing my mind registers, "lemonade?" What is with me and phrasing my answers as questions today?

I watched entranced as she quickly jots down my order, mouthing it silently to herself as she writes it, then she nods almost to herself and walks away. Of course, I watch her as she walks. Let me say, it's a nice walk.

I'm such an idiot!

What the hell just happened? I couldn't freaking talk to her. All I did was stare, make her feel stupid since I couldn't even laugh, then made myself look stupid by randomly ordering a lemonade? That was insane! What sucks though is that I actually would've laughed at her little joke, but I choked on it! Oh this is not good.

Beautiful! That's the word I was looking for!

So what do I say to her when she comes back? Thanks, by the way you're beautiful, you-me-my place-tonight? Eh,eh? ... No that'll get me a kick in the balls and possibly a slap in the face. But then what? I could always pull a cheesy pick up line... not that I know any good ones.

Crap she's coming back, oh and is she scowling? Hm, even her scowl is attractive, I note. What the hell is wrong with me!

"Here," she says slamming the drink down on my table roughly, spilling some over onto the table. Oh, someone's pissed.

"Thanks, beautiful," I say staring at my drink.

Wait.

Did I just-?

"What did you call me?" she asks suddenly, her eyes wide and jaw dropped in surprise. You'd think I'd cursed at her with the look she was giving me right now!

"Beau-tiful...?" Again phrasing my answers as questions! I'm just not sure of anything today am I? Sometimes I can be the biggest jackass. Okay most times.

"Y-you called me...?" before she finishes her statement, or question I guess, she's off and running to the kitchen and away from me. What did I do wrong now?

Oh this is just not my day.

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Okay so there's another Caleb chapter! Some people said they liked the last one, as did I so, I figured I'd do another one (: Let me know what you think of it of course and votes and comments are ALWAYS super appreciated! <3

Love, Lily

PS- I know he seems a bit harsh right now, but that's his character. No worries, you'll love him <3 Promise! (: