The second time he came, I was taken aback. I obviously hadn't expected him to show up, so when he came in, I had to take a few seconds to process my being wrong.
This time, he had his laptop with him instead of the papers, and actually, he sat down and watched a movie. How unusual. Nobody ever goes to a diner just to sit down and watch a movie. Why go through all this trouble when you can just stay in the comfort of your own home and watch that movie?
We didn't talk that night. We exchanged a mere half-smile, like the one you shoot a friend of a friend that you met once four years prior at a party. Alicia had waited on him, and I obviously couldn't just come up and talk to him just because I felt the urge to do it, so I stayed in my place behind the counter.
-
The third time he came was a Saturday evening. Our busiest night of the week, like most diners and restaurants. But given the non-popularity of Blue's, there were merely a few tables occupied, so it wasn't any extenuating work.
Sam came in with those white headphones he had the other times, wrapped around his neck, a backpack and his phone in his hand. When he walked in, making the bell chime, his head was a bit hunched over, staring at his phone. I couldn't see his eyes, because his round glasses were reflecting the light coming from his phone.
Marcus went to greet him and obviously told him to sit wherever he liked, given the significative emptiness of tables all around. Sam chose the booth farthest back in the corner of the diner, out of sight from the rest of the costumers and most of the staff. Which we were four in total, but still.
He didn't look up from his phone when he walked to his booth. He didn't see me. I managed to get a glimpse of what he was looking at on his screen and it was surprisingly...nothing. It was just his home screen, with all apps present, unopened. He had a bright background, but I couldn't decern what it was. Weird, though. He reminded me of myself as a teenager, when I used to pass a group of other teenagers and in an attempt to look mysterious and dark or to avoid any and all contact with them, I opened my phone and stared at nothing on it, pretending to be busy.
Sam looked tense. His shoulders were narrower than the other two times I'd seen him, his eyebrows furrowed creating a dent in between them and his cheeks were slightly pinker than usual.
I stopped looking at him when I realized I was staring a little more than socially acceptable and returned to my work. However, I couldn't help but shoot a glance at him every now and then, just to check if that knot between his brows had loosened.
I was walking back from a table, when a raised hand caught my eye. It was Sam. He was calling me. I rushed to his booth and pasted on my best smile.
"Hey"
"Hi"
"Can I help you with something?"
"Yes, a bit. I don't know if you've noticed, but this is already the third time I've come here in less than a week and I believe I have this coupon here that you gave me the other time and I'm due to a discount?" He handed me the coupon.
I looked at it and saw the three marks that show he in fact has been here three times. But I already knew that.
"I believe you are" I chuckled.
Maybe it was him, maybe it was me. But something was making me nervous.
I met his gaze and smiled, trying my best to hide my flush.
"I'll get you the check."
And I turned as fast as possible. What was happening? I don't know. I had known this man for less than a week and talked to him a total of two times.
As I was printing the check, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I had forgotten to put it on silent, but I was guessing it wasn't important, because I'd been following a basketball game, trying to get into it, testing the waters to see if it might be something I'd like. I thought someone might've scored.
I walked back to Sam's booth, but the moment I saw his face, I sensed something was off. His face had that look, the one you make when your face drops, as soon as you hear the most unpredictable, unexpected, abrupt news. He was staring at his phone, unmoving. His jaw slightly dropped but his mouth closed, his eyebrows as low as they could naturally go, his eyes missing the usual glim, he noticed me approaching, a confused look on my face.
What was it that could've hit such a discordant note, in the matter of mere seconds? I had to ask. That was actually part of my job as a waitress and a human.
"Is everything okay?" I asked, with the softest tone I could muster.
His eyes darted a bit but settled on me.
"Do you go to Tawle University?"
I'm not going to lie, that was the last thing I had expected.
"I do, why?" I didn't lie. I didn't feel like I needed to, even if it was recommended to.
"Do you know Lena Hatcher?" He asked, ignoring my question.
Lena. The ray of sunshine with the red hairpin. Of course, I knew her, how could one not? It wasn't like she was only the most admired person in Tawle.
"Of course," I didn't lie this time either. It wasn't much of a shock that a student at Tawle Uni had heard of the girl.
He blinked and took a deep breath. He looked out of place, distraught. Much to my confusion, he didn't make it any better.
Had Lena done something? Had something happened to her? Had she talked to him about me? How did Sam know Lena anyway? Did he also go to our university?
Questions swarmed my mind for what felt like hours but were mere seconds.
Sam opened his mouth, and I held my breath in anticipation.
He hesitated for a few seconds.
But right then, he dropped a bomb.
"The school just sent an e-mail.
She died."