Story-a-Week #2
Lunch
He was thinking it. She was thinking it. Neither said a word.
“What’s on your mind, Lin?” It sounded very casual, or would have if his voice hadn’t cracked. Damn it.
“Nothing, why?” Linda studied Dilan’s face, hoping to get some clues. Robert Fensely had given her a card, but she had thrown it out. Actually, she had almost thrown it out. It didn’t matter because she would throw it out soon, maybe when she took her lunch tray up.
“It just looked like… nevermind,” Dilan didn’t want to look like he cared too much. He just needed a hint. He looked at his food, “are you working this weekend?”
“Yep,” Linda took a candid bite off her fork. She was working a Saturday morning shift at Borders Books. It was only a 4 hour shift, and she wanted to tell Dilan she’d be free later. Dilan looked up at her, she suddenly became terrified there might be something in her teeth.
“Lame,” Dilan looked at her mouth and wondered if he would ever kiss her. Her lips puckered slightly, was she thinking the same thing?
Linda lifted up her tray, looking toward the busing station. Dilan grabbed his tray up and walked with her. His arm brushed hers, was that on purpose? He didn’t seem to notice. She didn’t turn her head. Eyes fixed on the busing station.
“Well, thanks,” Thanks? Dilan had no idea why he said that. He started trying to think of something to be grateful for, to explain himself to her. He yawned, just to do something with his mouth.
Linda was holding the card. She should throw it away, she hated Fensely, she hated Valentine’s Day, she hated everything. She didn’t look up, “Robert gave me a card…”
“Oh,” Dilan understood. Say something. He dumped his tray, “Thanks again… for lunch.”
Linda covered her mouth “I’m only working in the morning, this weekend.”