Chapter three

“Smells the same.” I say as I take in the aroma of the diner. Flashbacks of my sixth birthday party at this diner came back to me. There was nothing better than having one of Waka’s milkshake. Now that was true love in a glass.

“Hey, why don’t you grab a booth. I just got to use the bathroom.” said Sammie as she left me at the door of the diner and made her way to the back where the bathrooms were. I shuffled down the aisle and found an empty booth next to a window. Throwing my bag in first, I slide in next and grab my journal from my bag and start writing.

Romance Novel:

My heart raced at the sight of him. Everything about him made me body shiver. As he dropped his bag, I began to walk towards him and then full on run. Within seconds we were only inches apart. He wrapped his arms around my waist and picked me up. He finally put me down and looked me straight in the eye.

“I’ve missed you so much.”

“So have I.”

Our lips meet and-

Just as I was about to continue someone interrupted me.

“Hi. Welcome to Waka Diner. May I take your order?” asked what I was guessing was the waiter.

“Um, no. I am waiting for a friend.” I say without looking up from my journal. Just as the waiter’s feet turned around, Sammie came bouncing over. She hugged the waiter and took her seat across from me. I placed the pen in my journal as a bookmark and pushed the journal aside.

“Hey, so what do you want?” asked Sammie as she looked at me earnestly.

“I was just going to order a chocolate milkshake.”

“Same old, Aurora Sitters.” But this wasn’t said by Sammie. This was said by the waiter. My head snapped up to see who it was, and my eyes meet ones that were crystal blue. His black hair was a little shaggy but it suited his boyish looks. He was holding a notepad in one hand and pen in the other. His uniform was just a black t-shirt and jeans with an apron tied around his waist. I didn’t know what to say to him. I was just mesmerized by just looking at him. He was absolutely gorgeous.

“Um, I’m sorry. I don’t really, am I...” I look over at Sammie for some assistance but she was just smiling, looking from me to the waiter.

“Really? You don’t remember me? I came to all your birthday parties and every year and smashed cake in your face. It was like tradition.” the waiter said as my mouth fell open. I suddenly realized who it was. I mean he was still cute like I remembered. This was Theo Simmons. The boy who was my childhood crush. God, he filled out well.

“Um, hi Theo.” I saw trying not to make eye contact and make things worse for me.

“Hi Aurora.” he said in an amazing voice. Puberty sure was nice to him.

“So milkshake for Aurora, and what is it going to be for you, Sammie?”

“I’ll just have a glass of water.” said Sammie. I looked at her a little suspiciously for only ordering water, but I wasn’t going to say anything because I was just ordering a milkshake like a five year old.

“Okay, I’ll be back. Nice seeing you Aurora.” My cheeks flush as Theo walks away from the table and to the bar.

“You still like him.” I look up to find Sammie with smirk on her face.

“What do you mean? I never liked him.” I say immediately denying it.

“Oh please Aurora. It might have been six years since I last saw you, but I don’t think I could forget your silent crush on Theo. You were so excited to have your face caked every year on your birthday.”

“Fine I did have a crush on him when I was like ten. But I do not like him now.” my head was held up high at this point. I didn’t like him, I just found him very attractive.

“Whatever you say, Aurora.”

“And here you guys go.” said Theo as he placed down my milkshake in front of me and Sammie’s glass of water.

“Thanks.” said Sammie in a cheery tone.

“Yeah, um thanks.” I say, but in a muffled voice. Theo left and I was finally able to look at Sammie, who had that smirk on her face once again.

“We are not going to talk about it. So now Sammie, do fill me in on the past six years.” I look at her as I put my straw in my mouth and begin drinking the heavenly milkshake.

“Well, after you left nothing much happened. I still had to go to school and yeah.” said Sammie as she sighed.

“Come on. That’s it? What about your major transformation Tuesday?”

“Oh that. Yeah I just got motivated one day and this happened.” But something about Sammie’s tone when she said that was off, however I knew she didn’t want to talk about it anymore so I stopped the topic.

“Can we take a ride around town? I just want to see this place again.” Sammie’s eyes immediately light up.

“Sure! Here, let me pay.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll pay.”

“No, Aurora. It’s your first day here. I can’t let you pay.”

“Sammie, you have the rest of the summer to pay me back, let me pay this once.” While the two of us argued on who would pay the check, Theo had made his way back to our table.

“Ladies, it’s only a $5.50 bill. What is there to fight about?” said Theo as though there was a simple solution to this problem.

“It’s not that easy, Theo. It’s Aurora’s first day here, so she can’t obviously pay.” said Sammie in a matter-of-fact tone. Theo turned to look at me and I looked away, not wanting to be caught staring at him.

“Sammie can’t pay because I haven’t seen her for six years and it would be rude for her to pay.”

“Okay, how about we settle this like reasonable adults. Rock, paper, scissors.” Sammie and I both look up at Theo with a surprised look on our face.

“Go on. I don’t have all day.” Theo said as he folded his arms across his chest. Grudgingly, I held out my hand, which was in a fist and Sammie did the same.

“Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!” The two of us said simultaneously. My hands made scissors while Sammie’s made a fist.

“And Sammie is our winner!” said Theo in a sarcastic excitement. I threw Theo a quick look before he could see me, and then slumped in my seat.

“You have the rest of the summer to pay be back, Aurora.” said Sammie as she pulled out her wallet and gave Theo a five dollar bill and two quarters. Sighing because there wasn’t much I could do now, I grab my bag from beside me and get up. Theo looks over at me and gives me a brief once over. As the blood rushed to my cheeks, Sammie got up and linked her arm through mine.

“Bye, Theo.” she said as she began to walk.

“Bye, Sammie. Bye, Aurora.”

“Um, bye, Theo.” I said as I was almost out the diner. Sammie let go of my arm once we were outside in the warm weather.

“Okay, so how about we go to the mall?” asked Sammie as we reached her car.

“Yeah, sure.” I say as I open the car door and sit down in the passenger seat. Sammie got in a turned on the car. It was a short car ride from the diner to the mall. I was then dragged to multiple different stores by Sammie. While Sammie went into the dressing room with a pile of clothes in her hands, I sat outside on the comfy couch and looked at my phone.

“Hey, Aurora. Can I ask you a question?” asked Sammie as she stepped out of the dressing room in an American flag dress.

“Yeah.”

“Does this dress look okay?”

“It looks great on you. But just wondering, why the American flag?”

“Oh, my parents are hosting their annual Fourth of July barbeque, so I wanted to buy something red,white and blue.”

“Oh you guys still do that? Oh wait do you guys do the hand sparklers?” I ask excitedly.

“Of course. You better come. Theo will be there.” she said shooting me a wink. Rolling my eyes, I went back to my earlier position on the couch.

“Let’s go. I’m going to drop you off because I think you want to spend time with your dad. But if you need anything you can text me.” said Sammie as she held out her phone to me. We exchanged phones and put our numbers in. By the time Sammie bought her dress and I was at home it was three o’clock.

“Back so soon?” called dad, from who knows where in the house.

“Yeah. Sammie and I had a good time catching up. I also met Theo. Theo Simmons.” I say as I try finding out where my dad’s voice was coming from. Eventually I found him in the living room with his laptop and his reading glasses perched on his nose.

“Theo Simmons, huh? Didn’t you have a crush on him when you were younger?” he asked looking up at me with a smile.

“Dad!” I exclaim as I flop down on the couch and throw my bag on the table.

“Okay, okay. I’ll stop. But do tell me if you rekindle your fourth grade crush for him.” I lifted my head up and glared at him. Just as my head hit the pillow on the couch the doorbell rang. Groaning, I got up to get the door, but my dad was already up and walking.

“I’ll get it.” He walked around the coffee table and was down the hall. Since I wasn’t able to go back to my position on the couch I decided to get out my journal and continue my story. Grabbing my bag, I stuck my hand into find my journal. But when I couldn’t find it, I opened my bag and took everything out. While I had my phone,wallet, and other miscellaneous items, my journal was no where to be found. My heart tightened. I could not lose that journal. That was where I wrote It’s Time. That is the sacred book. Getting off the couch, I ran into the kitchen to find dad’s car keys, which were in the bowl by the phone.

“Dad! I need to go back to the diner because I think-” I stopped mid-sentence. My dad was at the door talking to Theo. He was still wearing the same clothes, just not the apron. While I was silently checking him out, I saw him holding a leather book in his hand.

“My journal!” Running towards him, I grab the journal from him and held it against my chest. Oh my sacred book blessed by the writing Gods was back.

“I’m just going to leave you two now. Nice seeing you, Theo.”

“Right back at you, Mr.Sitters.” Theo leaned against the doorframe as my dad gave me a smirk and walked away. I awkwardly stood there, clutching my journal for dear life.

“Um, thanks for bringing back my journal. It’s really important to me.”

“I could tell. You wouldn’t even look up from it when I came by.” he said with a small smile.

“Yeah sorry about that. Just kind of weird to be back in Florida after such a long time.” I say with a nervous laugh at the end. God, why did it have to be him to have picked up my journal? Why couldn’t it have been the cranky old janitor?

“It’s good to have you back, Aurora. Oh and by the way, I read the beginning of your romance novel.” he said nonchalantly. I had almost choked on the air I was breathing when he said that.

“You... you read my romance novel?”

“Yeah and for a New York Times bestselling author, you write pretty shitty.” I was taken back by this. What could he possibly know about writing, much less romance.

“Wow, thanks for encouraging me to write more.” I say, sarcasm dripping off my tongue.

“Your characters were forced. There was no connection between them. There was absolutely no love.” My eyes narrowed at him. He did not just insult my characters in front of me. Theo smiled to himself, and started walking down my driveway to his car.

“What would a waiter boy know about love?” I yell after him.

“More than you think.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hey guys,

im obessing over my own book and I havent even written it yet. i love this book so much and I can not wait to get to certain parts and this isnt going to be some dumb book. it is going to be the best book you have every read (well beside like tfios and thg and divergent and other new york times bestselling books). so please please please comment, vote and fan. Tell me what you think of Theo, Aurora, her dad, Sammie.

Theo Simmons to the side ;)

Love,

Alex :)