“Fine, I’ll walk away now and leave you to it. I need to get Jack his order before it gets cold anyway. See you in a bit, Oh Mighty Oracle.” With a little bow, I head over to the counter in search of my order. Noli gives me a huge scowl and turns around to continue her setup.
It doesn’t take long for the fast-paced motions of waitressing to start up. Fridays are my favorite, if I had to choose, because there is continuous work and no downtime to sit and think about past lives and past loves. During the week, it’s much slower. I hate waiting around for people to come in. Noli is the real reason everyone is here tonight, but I am capitalizing on it. We need the money, and there are no other jobs in Hellebore.
Before long, it’s 9:00 pm, and we are cleaning up to leave for the day. I’m scrubbing down tables and replacing the napkins when Noli comes up behind me to start her usual Friday night pestering.
“So RaRa, I think maybe tonight you’ll want to come to Pete’s with me? Melanie is sick, and I need a wing woman. And before you say a thing, I know you don’t like to go out, and I know you aren’t looking to hook up, but for once in your life, please just come out to loosen up. You’re almost 25, and you act like an 80-year-old. I worry about you girl. Most of all, I want you to be happy,” she pleads. And it is true — all of it. I do act 80, and I am watching my life pass me by, but it’s just…I just can’t.
“Listen Nol, I get what you’re saying, but I’m just not into it. Pete’s is dingy and a total hook up bar. I don’t need to fend off groping hands and small talk my regulars. It’s annoying, and not my idea of a fun Friday night.” I really wish she would just let this go.
“Can you at least do it for me then? Pleeeeassseee! I’ll be your best friend, and I’ll even take you out for food tomorrow. We can drive over to Clearbrook and have a fancy brunch, just like you used to in New York. I’ll even throw in some mimosas and let you wear my favorite lace top. You’ll look amazing and have a belly full of frittata and champagne.”
“First off, you are already my best friend, so no bargaining chip there. Secondly, I’m not in the mood. It’s not my scene.”
“Ugh, Az I need someone to be there with me. I can’t go alone,” she tells me with this pleading look that gets me every time. She looks so vulnerable at this moment. I know she is lonely and is looking for that special someone. She’s making me feel horrible.
“Brunch does sound amazing. We haven’t been to Clearbrook in a while. I could use a good shopping trip too.” I can see the light in her eye flare. She knows she has me. “Ok, you talked me into it. But, if those guys show up that were there last time, and they start with me again, we’re leaving. I don’t want to have to kick that asshole in the balls again for getting handsy. No means no.”
“Totally! I’m with you 100%. Eeek! We’re going to have the best time! Ok, I’m going home to jump in the shower. Hurry up and finish here, and then we can get ready together at home. This is going to be one epic night.”
With that, she is gone like the wind on a spring day. Floating her way down the road like she doesn’t have a care in the world. I wish for one second that I could let myself go like that. Noli is so present, so in the now. She does what she loves and doesn’t apologize for it. I, on the other hand, make a mess of everything and am haunted by my past. I finish up my work, call out to the guys that I am leaving, and grab my bag from the back. It takes five minutes to walk home; another perk of living in our tiny shack. No commute equals no traffic — a definite check in the pro’s column for this town.
2
The Reading
Azra
When I arrive home, Noli is in my bedroom laying out clothes. I notice that some are a bit scandalous, but I figure I’ll let her have her fun for now. Next to them is her tarot deck, but not the one she uses on Friday nights. I’m starting to wonder what I am getting myself into. Even though I’m exhausted and should probably go to bed, the idea of letting my hair down for the night is exhilarating. I haven’t been out since I first moved to Hellebore, and brunch was the perfect excuse to push me over the edge.
“You sure did bring out the big guns for tonight. Are these five-inch heels? There’s no way, in all of creation, that I’m wearing those,” I state, while looking at the perfect black patent leather peep toe heels. They have little cherries painted on the back to add a quirky little flair. I could never walk in them. Seeing as we don’t own a car, I’m not going to pay the price of a broken ankle just to look hot at a dive bar.
“Oh come on! They’re so cute, and you could wear a red top to match the cherries. Here, look at this one,” she says, while holding up a sleeveless V-neck lace red top that will probably cover the girls enough to be decent. I love it.
“I really like that top, so I’ll wear it, but the shoes are a no-go. I am not trying to bust my ass on the pavement for the sake of looking good. I have some cute booties in the back
