by C. L. Stone
Whoops. Didn’t mean to scare her. He just got excited. He gazed up at her.
Green eyes. Funny colored hair. Pink cheeks from blushing. She was shockingly pretty. Maybe because Gabriel had said what he did the night before. Maybe because he tried to empty out his expectations from her and...whatever else.
She looked at him with the same studying eyes he was using to check him out.
He considered what he looked like, was wearing...The dark jeans, the flip flops, the white shirt. Casual yet comfortable, ready for anything. Except the flops. But he liked those.
Her mouth was open at first, from what he thought was startling surprise at finding him behind her. “Luke?” she said in a quiet voice.
He wanted to laugh but instead, with a flourish, he put his hand on his waist and made a very slight bow to her, smiling. “In the flesh,” he said. He shifted over, reaching up to grab some high monkey bars near her, hanging from it until his shirt rolled up and his lower body hung down long. She came out to look at the church after what he’d said yesterday. She was interested, clearly. “What do you think? Can you see it as a diner?”
She turned her head, giving Luke a chance to look at her profile directly. Her nose was small. Cute as a button. “I think it depends on what the inside looks like.”
“Not judging the book by the cover, huh?” Open minded. That was good. He kept his smile and did a swing on the bars, following the rungs to get closer to her. When he was near, he contoured himself to get on the platform and stand next to her.
“We have to get rid of the playground, though,” he said. “Insurance would kill us if we kept it.”
“That’s a shame,” she said. “Would have been a good way to bring in parents with kids.”
That’s what he’d been thinking! “I know,” he said. “It’s going on fall now but I thought about setting up a patio up front. Improving the size of the garden a little, maybe?”
She gazed out at it again, at the rundown and brown garden bushes that framed the lower part of the building along one side, and patches of garden areas that were all overgrown now on either side.
Instead of answering his question, she asked, “What made you guys want to start a diner?”
“It’s what my uncle wants to do,” he said. He leaned back against a pole, gazing at her, curious about what she was thinking. He really wanted an opinion. North was always so silent. His uncle talked to him some, but would stop after a minute or two to be more quiet, too. It was no fun to bounce ideas off of someone who didn’t answer back. “He was working with a partner and the partner is kicking him out. So he’s starting his own place.” Long story short of it. Public side anyway. At his old job, Uncle was often gone for Academy reasons and didn’t really like his partner. It’s what made him think of his own Academy-run diner.
“That’s too bad,” she said, sympathetically.
He tilted his head, unsure of her meaning. Too bad he’d get to run his own diner?
She continued, “I mean it’s too bad that his partner wanted to split up. Were they friends?”
Oh. “I think when they started,” he said. Not important. In the past. It was time to check the place out. He shifted to lean closer to her. “So you want to see it?”
She seemed surprised and one eyebrow lifted. “The inside?” she asked. For a second, she considered and then smiled and slightly nodded. “Yes.”
He leaped off the platform to the grass below them. The platform was a little tall, so it stung the bottom of his feet on the landing. He turned back, wanting to help her down, but she was pretty high up. He could only comfortably reach her outer thighs.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Without hesitation, she reached out, and he came closer so she could use his shoulders to hang on to him. He wrapped his arms around her to support her until she could edge away from the platform. He stayed with her to make sure she didn’t hurt her feet on the landing.
He remained so close to her for a minute.
It felt relaxing and made him happy. Like a hug. He’d been close to girls before, but he’d always felt so self-conscious, trying to figure out what they were thinking, probably overthinking.
This felt pure and comfortable. He was comfortable with her. He hadn’t really felt that way with many people, let alone someone his own age and a girl and...nice...and pretty...and curious...and liked pancakes.
When she was clearly stable and he’d probably been hanging on a little too long, he released her, turning away, a little confused about his own feelings.
She followed him to the front of the church. He got his keys back out, finding the new one that went to the church, and used it on the front door. Did North lock himself inside? Probably for general safety? But then he left they key so...who knows. North did weird stuff.
He held open the door to let Sang in, and followed in behind her. The hallway in the front was in shadow. There was a heavy feeling, like this place hadn’t seen a human in a while. Musty. Thick air.
Luke closed the door again and moved into the darkness, debating if they needed a flashlight or not. The spookiness was kind of cool. Was she scared? She didn’t seem to be. She kept up with him.
Until she held out a hand, as if reaching for something to hang on to.
He quietly reached for her hand.
She jumped shortly. Did he scare her?
“Here,” Luke said, and reached for her hand. Maybe it was too dark. Should he turn on his phone light? His eyes had adjusted a bit, so he assumed she just needed a moment. Shining a light would make it harder to see some details if they’d just get used to the brightness level. “Stay behind me. I’m sorry, I don’t know where the light switch is. It didn’t seem that dark down here when we started.”
Give her a minute, he thought. If it’s too much, he’d pull the phone out. But she had a phone so she could do that any time she wanted, too. She didn’t, so she must be adjusting.
He held on to her hand, small in his. To make it more secure, he interlocked his fingers with hers.
Warm little hand.
Why was she so comfortable to be with?
At the end of the hallway, there was another window, and while dusty, there was more light. It made it easier to see the wide double doorway. It was likely the main church room...what was that called? Pulpit? Chapel? He’d never been, so he wasn’t totally sure.
He had to let her go to open the door. The wooden door creaked as it opened...
To a pitch-black room.
Too dark. Were there no windows?
“Hold the door open,” Luke said. “I’ll find the switch.” He didn’t want to ask her to go by herself. Who knew what was in here?
He went in, still not reaching for his phone and the light, and yet within moments, his eyes adjusted again, getting used to the light level from where Sang was standing with the door open and allowing it in.
It only took a moment to find a switch and he tried every one until they worked.
The two sets of chandeliers overhead flickered to life, a few bulbs were burned out but most were still okay. Any pews had been removed. Books stacked along one wall. The space was enormous. The platform at the far end of the room was interesting, with a podium like they had at college classes. It looked kind of like a college lecture room, except for the cross on the podium.
The carpet was worn, The walls a little darkened by dust. Otherwise, it seemed perfectly sound.
How do you change lightbulbs in chandeliers so high?
Should they have a band play? There was a stage after all...
He went to it, checking it out, standing on it. He stood on the platform, studying the size.
Sang stood by the door, her eyes gazing at everything in the room, but she remained silent. Eyes adjusting to the sudden light? Taking it all in?
He walked to the edge of the platform and put his hands in his pockets. “Well? What do you think?” He found it amusing to be asking her opinion. It’s not like either of them ha
d a vote. North... and mostly Uncle would decide.
She gazed around the room. “There’s a lot of space for tables,” she said. Although her voice was soft, in the empty room, it carried to him easily.
“And this stage could be used for bands on some nights,” he said. He stomped on the surface with his foot. The sound echoed but the surface was sturdy. “It feels solid.”
She tiptoed through the room, barely a sound. He studied her as she crossed her arms over her body. Was she cold? The AC was still running. Did North turn that on?
She seemed to consider the options. She turned a little, looking at every surface, giving it every consideration. The hem of her skirt waved a bit as she shifted.
Luke lowered himself quietly to the main floor and crossed to stand near her. He smiled, and leaned in behind her, whispering, “Do you see it?”
He had a feeling she did. She was doing what he was doing. Picturing.
She was still, except for a nod. “It just needs the right tables.”
“And the door over there could be the official entrance,” he said. He motioned, moving to stand next to her. He wanted to be clearer about what he was thinking. “And the other, the entryway to the kitchen. We’ll have to get rid of the podium.” What would the podium be for? Boring lectures? No one was coming to a diner to listen to someone talk about...who knows what.
“You should keep it,” she said to his surprise. “You could paint it and attach it to something so you could roll it in when you want to. You could rent the place out for meetings.”
His eyes widened and he smiled at the idea. “I hadn’t even thought about that.” She was good at pointing out how to make use of it.
“And I like the garden and outside dining idea,” she said.
He thought that was brilliant, too. There were too many good weather days to want to sit inside to eat. They had plenty of land here to make into some outdoor benches. “There could be a bar over there.” He motioned with his hand to the far side wall. “A big one.”
“And a case for pies and baked things you’d sell on the side,” she added quickly.
Girl after his own heart. She got to the point. “And a jukebox,” he said.
“With vases of flowers on the tables,” she followed up.
She was perfect. It was like she was reading his mind, and they’d only been together for minutes.
His breath caught and the excitement of it all was overwhelming. He liked her. He loved the diner idea. She was fresh air and sunshine and daydreams. “What’s your favorite flower?”
She smiled. “I like roses. Chrysler Imperial.”
He grinned, unable to help thinking of Mr. Blackbourne and his roses and how he’d know whatever the Chrysler Imperial ones were. Did he have any? “We’ll have a rose garden out front. We’ll be able to put roses out on the tables for most of the year.”
She laughed, a most lovely, light laugh. She waved her hand in the air, as if putting the daydreaming to a temporary pause to consider the options. “What about when the roses die off in the winter?”
His mouth twisted and he turned partially away from her, considering, shifting his weight from foot to foot to think of what they could do when the roses died off. “We’ll light candles. Rose scented ones.” If she liked the flower, she’d like the scent too, right? Even if they couldn’t see the roses any more, they’d be able to smell them and it’d be a temporary fix until they were in bloom again.
And just like that, it was easy to see the church as a diner. Tables. A counter. People.
Sang. As a customer.
Bringing to her table a rose picked just for her from the garden. She’d want a stack of chocolate chip pancakes. He’d make a special batch just for her. They’d sit together at a table, a candle flickering. They’d talk for hours about customers and desserts.
Excitement filled every bit of him. He loved the diner idea.
He gazed at her, and it was clear, with the way her eyes moved over the empty space, she was thinking similar things, picturing people, maybe wondering about the food.
He went to her, touching her hand gently, and she shifted, a little surprised, likely coming back from her daydreaming.
He knew the feeling.
“You see it, don’t you?” Luke asked.
She nodded, and in her soft voice, she said, “It’s beautiful.”
Luke’s smile could have broken his face, it was so big.
She did see it. She knew.
9
With the chapel area fully inspected and envisioned, he suggested to Sang that they find the kitchen. Time to look at how realistic that would be, to make it big enough to cook all the things a diner would need.
He went to the other hallway on the opposite side of the building, one that had a lot more windows that allowed more light in. The hallways were still a little dim. It was unclear at times if there were lumps in the carpet in the floor or if it was debris.
As such, she kept her hand on his back, very lightly, as if to make sure to follow.
He found the door to the kitchen, from what he could remember, and opened it. He tried the light.
Nothing.
Whoops. Can’t continue the tour like this.
“There must be a breaker down,” he said. He hoped it was just that and not something that needed fixing. Where would the breaker box be? “Want to stay here? I think I know where it is.” He didn’t really, but North likely could find it if Luke couldn’t. Where was he anyway?
She nodded. Luke hated to leave her alone in the dark, but she had her phone. And his number. And a light on her phone. And everyone else’s number... and likely more. And 911. And they hadn’t ran into any ghosts or hobos yet so it was likely safe enough.
While looking around for the breaker box, he heard a noise in a different room down the hall.
“North?” he called out.
North came out of the room, some sort of storage area. “Light in the kitchen went out when I was in there. Looking for the breaker box.”
“I was just in there,” Luke said. “Did you find it?”
He shook his head. “There’s either another utility room like this, or it’s outside. I don’t think it’d be outside, though.”
“I’ll check the rest of the rooms this way,” Luke said. “And then outside if there is one. There’s a window in the kitchen, though. You could try taking down the curtain or whatever was blocking the light out.”
North nodded. He was about to move on when he stopped and looked at Luke. “I’m sorry, by the way.”
Luke froze where he was. He’d been half-thinking to mention Sang was in there, and this made him forget that for the moment and fully focus on North. He rarely ever said he was sorry, not like out of the blue. “For what?”
“I haven’t been talking lately because...of the diner. And because...I recently tried dating someone and it didn’t work out. And I was angry.”
Oh. “Sorry,” Luke said, although he wasn’t sure what to say. He hadn’t known, but it wasn’t unusual for North to keep that kind of thing to himself unless he was pretty sure a date would stick around for a while. When did he have time to go see someone? Didn’t matter. He probably shouldn’t ask, even if he wanted to.
Since Luke said nothing, North cleared his throat. “Said I was too...asshole...” he continued.
Well...that wasn’t totally incorrect. But still. “That really sucks,” Luke said. He reached out, trying to show some support by lightly touching his shoulder. “You do get grumpy. But usually you get grumpy because you really care and you can’t figure out how to express it without sounding like...an asshole sometimes. I get it.”
North sighed. “Probably not the time...” he said, and started to walk away.
“Cheer up,” Luke said with a grimace. “You want someone who understands you. Like I do. But maybe...try being a little nicer? You know, like you are when you’re not grumpy?”
After North walked off, he closed his eyes and scolded hi
mself. Good going. North’s in emotional pain. Criticizing him for being who he is and having feelings and how he showed them wasn’t exactly the best thing ever.
He wanted to apologize to him. Later. He was grumpy. And he was grumpy enough that his date called him out on it.
But he was his brother. North was good. What he said was mostly true. North needed people around him that understood him. North never hid his feelings, which is what Luke could appreciate. He was grumpy, angry...usually at everything all the time, but he meant well. All the times he fussed after Luke to eat better, pick up after himself, stay focused...
Maybe Luke could help him be a little less cranky.
And maybe Luke could learn to focus more in the real world, like North did.
Luke moved on, in search of how to get the lights back on. He thought of Sang. Maybe he should have warned North, but he’d find her in a minute. He knew of Sang at least. She’d tell him how she got in.
And Sang...Gabriel said something wasn’t right with her. She...Sang...seemed perfect. Everything was perfect.
So...the only thing left that could be wrong was at home.
Again, Luke didn’t want to picture it. He could call Gabriel. He could call Kota...actually, that was a good idea.
He suddenly understood, too, with Gabriel doubting their ability to work on the motel and what was going on there.
He would have to juggle everything. Figure out how to prioritize.
Sang. The new kid at the motel. The diner. The school assignment. Helping North figure out how to be less of a grump.
No particular order.
But Sang was pretty close to the top.
Next Up—Meeting Sang: NORTH, free for newsletter subscribers.
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