Page 7 of Demons and Debts
I see Sharlene give me a look and she silently asks me if I want her to take them, but I shake my head. I’ve found it’s easier to just deal with them and pretend they don’t get to me. If they see a rise, they’ll stay all damn night, and I don’t have it in me to deal with themandthe Iron Incubi in one day.
I hand out the menus and don’t meet any of their eyes.
‘Can I get you any drinks to start?’ I ask in a chirpy voice that I hope hides my inner anxiety.
A menu slides to the floor.
‘Oops.’
Plastering a smile on my face, I bend down to retrieve it, but as soon as I do, another one slides down.
Oh, this game. Great.
Sniggers ensue as I get on my knees to pull that one out from under the table and I glance at Sharlene who’s staring at Chuck with a ‘are you really gonna let these assholes get away with this shitagain’look that he completely ignores. He doesn’t care how the customers treat us as long as they pay their bill when they’re done.
‘Hey, Plain Jane, do you have any waffles?’
Cue their stifled laughter at some joke at my expense that I don’t understand, and I fight the urge to roll my eyes while inside, beyond the bravado, I begin to tense up. I really don’t have the energy to deal with their crap right now, and I can’t have a meltdown here. Not here!
Another menu wafts to the floor and I pin them with a look.
‘Oooh! She’s getting angry, guys!’
I sigh and try again with the smile. ‘Yes, we have waffles tonight. Can I get you any drinks to start?’
Thankfully, one of them orders a soda and the others follow suit. I guess bothering me makes them thirsty. I leave the table to get their drinks and see Dreyson’s eyes following me, his expression taunting. Glad he finds my life so amusing, I think as I duck into the hallway where the bathrooms are and close my eyes, holding my ears.
Just a moment, I promise myself. That’s all I need and that’s all I get before the bathroom door opens and one of the frat boys comes out. I didn’t even know he’d left the table.
‘Aw, Jane. Having a bad night, babe?’ he asks me in a pouty voice.
I don’t say anything, just turn on my heel and go behind the counter. I start filling glasses. I don’t understand why they’re like this. Why is torturing a waitress like me so entertaining?
‘I can take ‘em if you want,’ Sharlene says in a low voice from next to me.
‘No, it’s ok. I got it.’
‘Rich little assholes,’ she mutters under her breath.
I survey the diner and notice Dreyson’s table is empty.Guess I’m paying for his soda.I shake my head as I put the drinks on a tray and take them slowly over to the frat guys.
I put the glasses out on the table and they’re blessedly silent, all looking at their phones.
‘I didn’t order that.’
Yes, you did.
‘Oh, I’m sorry. What did you order?’
The blond one clears his throat. ‘Yeah, you did, Ford.’
He looks up and I wonder why he stood up for me. This is new and I like it even less than their bullying crap.
‘Are you guys ready to order?’
He throws the menu down on the table, eyeing me oddly as he takes a gulp of his drink.
‘I think we’ll go somewhere else,’ he says.
