Author Notes at end  of Chapter! :)

Elaine was slouched over the diner's counter staring into a computer screen killing time as she waited for a customer to come in. She rubbed her eyes before glancing at the time. "Hey uncle Mike, it's getting close to midnight. I don't think any more customers are gonna come in, do you mind if I head home early?"

Mike peaked out from the kitchen with a goofy grin spread across his chubby face. "Don't speak to soon sweetheart, it looks like we have a night owl."

Elaine snapped her head around to look outside as an old black mustang pulled into a stall outside the front entrance. She sighed, "Why me?" She watched impatiently as the young man jogged inside to escape the rain. When her eyes fell upon him all irritation melted away.

Once he was safely inside, he removed his baseball cap before shaking out his chocolate brown hair of any excess water. When he looked up his caramel eyes locked onto Elaine's who had moved to greet him at the door. "Hello," he chimed.

Elaine simply smiled, "This way please." She led him to a large booth before standing to the side to allow him space to slide in. "Here's our menu, take your time. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask." She watched with curious eyes as he flipped through the menu. "Can I get you something to drink, perhaps something to warm you up?"

"That would be nice, thank you," he paused as he glanced at her name tag, "Elaine."

She smiled to herself as she made her way back behind the counter to whip him up a cup of hot coco. When she returned to the table, she set the cup down gently before holding up a can of Reddi-whip. "Would you like some? I didn't want to assume."

He smiled as he nodded his head yes and watched patiently as she sprayed its sweetness into the cup.

"Have you decided on something to eat, love?"

Their fingers gently brushed against one another as he handed her his menu. "Surprise me," his eyes gleamed as he took in her beauty. She was beautiful to him, her dark brown hair pulled up into a messy bun revealing her perfect bare skin. The only makeup that painted her face was the light layer of mascara she wore to accent her dark chestnut eyes.

Elaine's cheeks blushed red due to the sensation the brief contact gave her. "But I have no idea what type of food you like," she laughed nervously.

"Well what do you like best here?" He asked with a sweet smile.

"Well my uncle can cook up a pretty mean plate of biscuits and gravy. Does that sound okay?"

"That sounds perfect! Thank you darlin'."

"Of course. I'll put the order in and bring it to you as soon as its ready. If you need anything, I will be at the counter working on some homework."

"Homework? Isn't it summer break?"

"For some of us, but I want the hell out of this town, so I'm determined to get college over with." Elaine smiled as she turned to make her way behind the counter hollering the order into her uncle as she went.

The young man watched her closely as she made her way back to her computer. He sat there for a few minutes taking in her beauty, her kind eyes were captivating to him. He allowed a little more time to pass before he picked up his cup of hot chocolate to join her at the counter. He quickly sat on a stool just opposite of where she was standing. "So, what are you working on exactly?"

Elaine glanced over from her screen and smirked, "A creative writing class."

"Anything interesting?"

Her cheeks blushed red again. "Just some poetry..." her lips pulled into a large smile revealing her perfectly white teeth.

"May I read it?"

Elaine hesitated for a moment before turning the computer around so that he could read her work. She watched as he quickly skimmed through the page, a small grin grew on his face as he did. As he read, she took the opportunity to study his face. She found him extremely handsome. His jaw line was sharp but not overly masculine which she quite enjoyed. He had moles scattered randomly about his cheek however they added character to his overall smooth skin. To most he would not be far from ordinary but for some reason she found him extraordinarily intriguing.

When he finished reading, he turned to her and spoke with excitement, "This is incredible!"

"You don't have to lie it's okay," she stated with a shy smile.

"You don't think this is amazing?"

"Well yes, but it's okay if you don't. I'd understand if you don't like it. It's sort of romantic and twisted and weird." She tried to keep a smile as she described her work but the pain it reminded her of was difficult to swallow.

He simply smirked as he locked eyes with her. "I wasn't lying, Elaine."

"Well then thank you."

"Order up," her uncle yelled pulling them from their conversation.

Elaine quickly spun around and grabbed the plate before setting it down before the man at the counter. "Bon appétit," she joked before quickly walking around the counter to click the open sign off. Pulling the keys from her pocket she locked the door so that no new customers could try to enter. "Hey uncle Mike can you finish up here? I think I'm going to walk home, I need some fresh air."

Mike shouted back, "Sure honey, just be careful it's pouring out there tonight!"

"I will, love you," she replied as she packed up her laptop and grabbed her backpack from under the counter. Elaine made her way to the door before glancing back at the man. "I hope you enjoy your meal, have a goodnight."

Before she could push the door open, he spoke up, "I'm Holdon, by the way."

She grinned as her cheeks flushed red for what felt like the hundredth time. "Well it's been a pleasure, drive safe." With that said she exited the diner and jogged up to her uncle's truck to throw her backpack into the front seat before slamming the door shut and yanking a pack of smokes out from her back pocket. She fumbled with the lighter as she attempted to light the cigarette, "Come on, dammit!" She sighed with relief as it finally lit.

"I thought you said you needed fresh air?" A deep voice asked from behind her as she reach the end of her cigarette.

She spun around quickly, "Shit! You can't just creep up on someone like that."

"Sorry, but you know those things will kill you, right?"

"...and your point is? We all die eventually."

"Okay, well then you are to pretty to smoke."

"You don't have to lie; and if you are just going to keep coming up with reasons for me to quit at least make sure it's somewhat factual."

"But you are beautiful," he raised his brow at her questionably.

Elaine let out a loud laugh as she tossed her cigarette to the ground to put it out. "You don't have to flatter me love, I'm ordinary. Nothing special. Now if you'll excuse me, I should be heading home."

"Well, let me walk you."

"It's a five-mile walk, you sure you're up for that pretty boy?" She asked in a mocking tone, a smirk playing at the corn of her lips.

"Pretty boy? Are you trying to taunt me?" He smirked.

"Maybe a little bit," she taunted as she began walking away. "Is it working?"

Holdon threw his head back with a sigh, "Unfortunately yes." He rolled his head until she fell into view again, chuckling as he jogged to catch up. When he finally was beside her, he slid his baseball cap back on. "So, poetry?"

Elaine kept her eyes down, "Yes I happen to love poetry. I think it's a very powerful way of communication. In fact, any form of art is. It allows people to say things that they would not ordinarily be able to say."

"So, what were you saying in your poem?"

"It was about my parents, more specifically about how my mom felt towards my father." Her heart cinched tight at the mention of them, she didn't like discussing them directly.

"So, she hated him?"

"What? No, she loved him that's the problem."

"But the poem states she dreamed of a day he was gone, meaning dead right?"

"Well yes, but only because she was afraid leaving him would kill him. She loved him but she wasn't in love with him. She feared hurting him so much that she sacrificed her own happiness to ensure his. She felt the only way she would ever be truly happy without hurting him was if he passed away."

"That's deep." Holdon watched Elaine as she looked down at the earth below. "What happened to your parents?"

Elaine refused to look up from the ground as she mumbled, "They were killed in an accident. That's why I live with my uncle."

"I'm so sorry."

"It's alright. So, what about you?"

"What about me?"

"You aren't from here."

"No, I am not," his laugh rode out on a breath.

"So, are you moving here or just passing through?"

"I'll be staying for a little with my grandma until I figure something more permanent out."

Elaine picked up on the hurt in his voice, "What are you running from?"

Holdon stopped in his tracks, "I'm sorry, what?"

Elaine pivoted on her toes to face him again, as she opened her mouth to speak, she spotted an all too familiar red ford pickup heading their direction. "Shit, come here!" Elaine grabbed Holdon's hand to yank him down into a ditch forcing him to follow her into the tree line along the road.

She shoved him against a tree before pressing her body against his to ensure they were both out of sight. Her ears perked to attention as she listened, her eyes filled with fear as she stared through Holdon's chest. She held her breath as she waited for the sound of the truck's engine to disappear down the road. Her head snapped towards the road to ensure it was gone. She had become so focused on it she failed to notice how close they had been standing to one another. She paused suddenly too nervous to move. She could feel his lips brush against her ear before he whispered, "Who are we hiding from?"

She stumbled on her words, "Um no one, don't worry about it. It's nothing."

"It doesn't seem like nothing."

Elaine did not like his prying, so she snapped her head around to meet his gaze, their faces only inches from one another. "I said it was nothing." Elaine rolled her eyes as she stomped out from the muddy tree line and back up to the road.

Holdon shook his head in frustration as he followed her out, once they reached the road he finally spoke again. "I just asked because I want to make sure you're okay."

Elaine avoided his gaze, "I'll be fine."

"You'll be fine, or you are fine? Because there is a big difference."

"Why do you care so much you don't even know me?"

Holdon hung his head in defeat as he shoved his hands into his pocket. "I guess I don't. I should go though, be careful walking home."

She watched as he turned around to make his way back towards the diner. She sighed knowing she had maybe been too harsh on him. "Do you really want to know?" He glanced over his shoulder as she walked up behind him. He nodded and waited patiently for her to continue. "The guy who owns that truck, is my ex-boyfriend."

"—and?" He furrowed his brow.

"And it was an abusive situation. He became controlling and wanted more than I was willing to offer."

"Like what marriage?" He joked. He sensed she was a free spirit and assumed that's all it could have been.

Holdon watched as her eyes turned cold, "No. He wanted sex and because of my past I wasn't prepared to give that up and he didn't like that. He didn't like a lot of things."

Holdon turned around fully now his fists clenched, "Did he-did he rape you?"

Elaine's eyes widened at the directness of his question. "No, no. Nothing like that. He just, he hit me that's all." She watched as Holdon relaxed a little but he still seemed angry at the information she had just shared.

"You deserve better."

"You don't even know me but thanks. I know I deserve better now. That's why I am not with him; but I should really be getting home. It's late and I kind of want to be alone now. Goodnight Holdon."

Holdon forced a smile, "Will I see you again?"

"I suppose that depends on you and how much you enjoyed my uncles cooking." She laughed as she turned to begin walking home. "You know where to find me Holdon."

AUTHOR NOTES:

Thank you so much for reading the first chapter!

It means so much to have you as a reader, your feedback is always encouraged and appreciated!

If you enjoyed this chapter please give it your vote, and never be afraid to leave a comment! I hope that through my writing you get to know me and that I get to know you all as well! The only promised day for updates will be Friday, I will try to update more often if possible. I am currently working on this work and another one title, The Last Sunflower. If you would like to read a completed work by me I recommend, His Only Savior, which will be entered into the 2019 Watty's! Wish me luck!

Much love! XOXO Megan