When she finally reached the old retro styled diner, a huge smile was dancing on her lips. Betsy Rose was glowing in huge neon red lights above the building even in broad daylight. She leaned her bike along the front walls of her dinner and skipped her way in.
The diner was old yet comfortable and peaceful. For Summer, it was more of her home than the place where she lived with her father's family. The floors were tiled in black and white checkered flooring. The long and narrow table at the front held the counter on one side and red breakfast bar stools on the other. The rest of the diner was filled with dull brown booths lining the wall and wooden rectangular tables. There were two huge tables in the middle of the booths with several chairs around them, one on the left and on on the right specially for high school groups to sit and party.
The diner was like any other but Summer always felt at home whenever she was here. The diner was owned by her best friend Alyssa's maternal grandmother and named after her too. Summer had worked part time here too during her high school days increasing her personal funds when Lilian was partying with her group of friends at one of those tables. Or when she was on a date with different guys every Friday.
"Alyssa!" She sang as she strode towards the counter.
"Oh, hey Summer. Long time no see." Nick greeted her cheerfully.
She rolled her eyes. "I hoped it was no see, Nick."
Nick placed a hand on his heart, feigning hurt. "You wound me, Summer. I know deep inside you love me deeply."
Summer just shook her head because even though Nick was annoying, he was irresistibly sweet and a good friend of hers. He even had announced himself as her older brother once back in tenth grade when Lilian had tried to humiliate her and he had challenged anyone to "fuck with his sister" so he could "break their arses and feed them to dogs". Of course she loved him. "Where's Alyssa?"
Nick shrugged and pointed towards the Kitchen door.
"Why do you always have to annoy her?" She questioned as she made her way towards the other side of the counter.
"I was just asking her to help me with Marley. Put in a word for me, please?" He pleaded with his special puppy dog eyes.
"I'm outta this. It's between you and her." She put her hands up in surrender and Nick sighed. She turned and peeked in the kitchen.