The inside of the bar was crowded. All kinds of people filled the place. The interior was wooden and littered with all sorts of decorations, more fairy light scattered across. Road signs plastered the walls and the head of a deer on a mantle above the bar.
"Hi! how can I help you?" A southern dripped voice called out. "Uh-table for two" Will said. "Is a booth okay?" She asked. He nodded. She picked up two menus and motioned us to follow her. She led us to the back of the bar and we seated on opposite sides.
He looked so handsome sitting across from me. It was hard to deny. The shower did him justice and his wet hair made it better. I could see how the hostess was eyeing him when we stepped into the bar, I wonder if he noticed too?
But there were more pressing issues at hand. What was that? Why did I freeze up? I was no longer disappointed for not nodding. Now I was just angry at myself. Why was I making it harder for myself to escape?
I was growing angrier and more frustrated, maybe it was the increasing stress.
"You hungry?" He said. I kept my head down. His eyes flickered back to the menu and looked over it. "Wings? Sliders?" He tried again. I stayed quiet. He stared at me from the other side of the booth.
"See look, they even got different flavors of wings, which ones should we get?" He said.
I stayed quiet. He sighed.
Putting the menu down it he stared at me. "You look pretty," He said. "I like the little yellow uniform but this is good too. Makes me wonder wether its the clothes or you," He said.
I rolled my eyes involuntarily. "You did good today. Helping out this morning at the diner. Doing what you were told, keeping your mouth shut," He said. It was silent for a moment. "Usually when someone compliments you, your supposed to say thank you," He said teasingly.
I continued to keep my head down. "So, are you not gonna order? Cause I'm not sharing my food," He said lightly. "Did I mention how pretty-this is not a fucking date!" I interrupted.
Shocked by my own outburst I quickly looked in his eyes for any sort of anger. Instead I found a smirk.
"What can I get yall to drink?" An older women approached with a note pad. "Two beers," He said. "Okay! Well my names Sharon and welcome to the West Point truck stop, I'll be taking care of you tonight! Your drinks will be out shortly," She said, voice coated in the sickly sweet southern accent.
I crossed my arms. "Did you want it to be a date?" He asked. "What?" I asked him. "Why do you do that?" I asked. It was his turn to be quiet, just watching, listening. "Why do you threaten me, terrorize me then pretend were friends or something? Huh? Be one or the other, keep consistency so I know what I have to expect," I said.
"Cause you can't be both, I can't deal with both," I said.
"Alright! What can I get for you?" Our waiter said as she came to the table, placing two opened beers on the table. "Uh, buffalo wings with blue cheese and ranch. And an order of cheeseburger sliders," He said. "Is that all?" She asked. Will nodded and she turned her heel and left. Because the bar had been so crowded nobody paid attention to us.
He leaned into the table grabbing a beer. "I don't pretend to be your friend, Maria. If anything I pretend to be much more than that," He said taking a sip. I sighed heavily.
"What? Does that shock you? You think your better than me?" He said. "Better than you? Your harassing me!" I said. "I called you pretty," He deadpanned. I scoffed, "Really and what about tasting me huh? That's harassment jackass," I said.
"I was talking about your mouth, kissing you. What did you thing I was talking about?" He said. "Oh fucking spare me! You know what? Yeah I am to good for you!" I said. "Where the sniffling little girl now? Huh? Talk about me keeping consistency what about you? One minute your crying acting scared shitless and now your not! I know exactly what your doing," He said. I rolled my eyes, "And what exactly am I doing?" I narrowed my eyes.
"Oh please help me! Im a damsel in distress! Cry cry cry! Im scared! Maybe if I bat my eyelashes enough he'll do what I ask!" He mocked. "But I am in distress, you fucking kidnapped me. You keep waving a gun in my face, I have a right to be terrified," I said. "Ughh, What? Its the first time you've seen a gun? You know what don't answer that, I drove passed that pristine little town you lived in before getting to the diner. Probably haven't dealt with real shit a day in your life," He said. "You threatened my life," I said.
"If I was gonna kill you I would have done it already," He said sipping his beer. "If you wanted to escape you could have by now and you know that. I know that. I just told your not in any danger, go ahead leave," He said.
Why wasn't I compelled to leave? "Nice fucking try! If I leave now then I'm stuck in the middle of fucking nowhere," I said. "Cut the shit. If you truly wanted to leave, if you truly wanted to escape then none of that would matter? Right? Since your fearing for your life," He said.
"You don't know shit about me. You think your better than me because what? I rob people? You don't have any fucking clue what my life is like. You think your better because you see what I do as amoral but whose really the fucked up one? Me or the girl who willingly stays with the person who kidnapped her?" He said.
I looked down. He was right. Why didn't I nod? Why didn't I try harder?
"Your an asshole," I said. "And you can't take a fucking compliment," He said. "Its not a compliment, don't say those things to me," I said. He smirked.
"What things? Things about how I've been picturing you in the panties I bought you? I keep wondering if it was the right size, but I actually hope it wasn't. I hope its tight, bet it looks real good," He said.
I looked away, cheeks red. I involuntarily shivered. His eyes narrowed.
"You've never had anybody talk to you like that, have you?" He said quieter leaning in. He took a sip of his beer. He looked me over, "What a fucking shame," He said. "Bet a girl like you is used to being treated real sweet, huh? Bet the guys back home just pat your head as say sweet little things to you," He said. I looked down trying not to make eye contact.
His brows furrowed again. "Or, maybe not. Maybe you don't even give them the time of day. Even the nice quiet boys aren't good enough for Maria and her golden pussy," He said.
I looked up at him. "You-Your so fucking mean," I said. "So its true, not even the nice boys," He said. "I never-they just didn't-its none of your fucking business!" I said. "T-T-They didn't what? Want you?" He said mocking my stutter. "Your a lier. They definitely did want you, your just stuck up," He said. "You don't know me," I said. "Yes I do, I've met a million girls like you. The girls who think their such hot shit. The girls who think everyone should fall at their feet. Guess what, I've met those girls and fucked them too. Their not any more special than everyone else, in fact probably a little worse," He said.
"I was the only black kid in my grade, the whole school only had five of us," I said. "I'm not stuck up, I was never anybodies first choice. I was the only black kid-only black girl and they treated me like shit for it. Like it made me ugly or something," I said. "I graduated and started working at the diner, I don't know what you saw but it certainly wasn't the hot spot for finding a boyfriend. Not like a fucking need one, don't get it twisted. I don't need any guy to make me feel worth it. I know I'm worth it," I finished sitting back.
He took a sip of his beer.
"Alright! Here we are! Buffalo wings with blue cheese and ranch. Cheeseburger sliders," Our waitress spoke as she stepped towards the table putting the food down.
"Anything else I can get you?" She asked. "Can I get a margarita?" I asked. "Sure honey! What kind?" She asked. "Surprise me," I said. She nodded. "Enjoy your food," She said walking off.
I picked up a slider and began eating. I was trying to avoid his harsh gaze.
"You know it doesn't right?" He said. "What?" I asked. "It doesn't make you ugly," He said. "Fuck you, of course I know that. This isn't some case of internalized self hate. I like my self the way I am. Nothing you or any man can do or say to change that. I wouldn't expect your white ass to understand the harsh reality of what its like to exist as a black women. I'm not asking you to. Your an asshole," I said taking another bite.
"Im sorry I judged you," He said.
"I said fuck off," I said.