Lydia returned a short while later, balancing the two milkshakes on her tray with the grace of someone who had clearly mastered the art of showmanship. The chocolate milkshake, topped with a generous swirl of whipped cream and a drizzle of fudge, sat beside the vanilla, adorned with rainbow sprinkles and a single cherry. She placed them on the table with exaggerated care, her sharp eyes flicking between the two of us as if assessing her next move.
"There we go," she said brightly, sliding the milkshakes into place. "One chocolate and one vanilla, just as requested. A perfectly matched pair, wouldn't you say?"
Riza and I both froze for a moment, our hands hovering awkwardly over the table. Lydia's lips curved into a smirk, and she clasped her hands together, leaning slightly forward.
"So," she began, her tone conspiratorial, "anything else I can get you? Extra napkins, a side of fries to split—maybe a third milkshake for sharing?" She winked at the last suggestion, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
Riza sputtered, her cheeks turning pink as she shook her head quickly. "N-no, we're fine. Just the food."
Lydia tilted her head, her ponytail swishing as she studied us both. "Are you sure? It's no trouble at all. Maybe a dessert to go with your milkshakes? Something sweet to share between two sweethearts?"
I choked on my response, coughing lightly as I tried to gather myself. "No, really, we're good," I managed, my voice strained.
Lydia raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with my attempt at composure. "You're sure? Because I have to say, I've seen some adorable couples in my time here, but you two really take the cake."
Riza groaned softly, sinking lower into her seat. "We're not—" she started, but Lydia was already waving her off with a dramatic flourish.
"Not a couple, I know," she said, her voice dripping with playful disbelief. "Just two incredibly close friends who happen to order for each other, share milkshakes, and finish each other's sentences. Totally platonic. Got it."
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck as I avoided Lydia's piercing gaze. "Look, we're fine. Just the food, thanks."
Lydia straightened up, clearly satisfied with the chaos she'd left in her wake. "Alright, alright," she said, holding her hands up in mock surrender. "I'll leave you two just friends to your milkshakes."
As she turned to walk away, she paused mid-step and looked back over her shoulder. "But if you change your mind about dessert—or need anything else—just holler. I'll be close by. Can't miss the best table of the night."
With that, she sauntered off, leaving us both sitting in stunned silence. I picked up my milkshake and took a long sip, hoping the cold drink would cool the heat in my cheeks.
"I'm going to die here," Riza muttered, burying her face in her hands.
"At least you'll have a milkshake," I offered weakly, trying to inject some humor into the situation.
Riza peeked at me through her fingers, her expression torn between exasperation and reluctant amusement. "You're no help."
"Hey, I didn't ask her to declare us the stars of her late-night comedy routine," I shot back, though I couldn't help but grin.
She sighed, finally picking up her milkshake and taking a sip. "You owe me popcorn for putting up with this."
"Deal," I said, raising my glass to hers in a mock toast. "To surviving Lydia."
"To surviving Lydia," she echoed, clinking her milkshake against mine with a wry smile.
Lydia returned with the same effortless grace as before, balancing two steaming plates of food on her tray. Her stride was confident, and her mischievous smile still played on her lips, but something was different this time. Her eyes sparkled with amusement, but there was no immediate jab, no playful quip waiting to strike. Riza and I exchanged a wary glance, both of us bracing for impact as she stopped at the table.
"Alright, here we go," she said, her voice smooth and pleasant as she placed the plates in front of us. "One double cheeseburger with bacon, no pickles, and fries for you," she said, sliding my plate into place, "and one vanilla milkshake refill partner," she added with a faint smirk.
She turned to Riza next. "And for you, the same, but I made sure it came with extra napkins because, well, burgers are messy, right?" Her tone remained neutral, and she carefully adjusted the positioning of Riza's plate, her actions deliberate and professional.
Riza blinked, her lips slightly parted as if waiting for the inevitable follow-up—something snarky, something teasing. But Lydia straightened up and brushed her hands together, as if dusting off invisible crumbs.
"There," she said simply, her smile remaining but her words devoid of any sting. "Enjoy your meal. If you need anything else, just wave me down." And with that, she turned and walked away without so much as a playful wink or a sly comment.
Riza and I sat in stunned silence, both of us staring at her retreating figure. Finally, Riza leaned in slightly, whispering as if Lydia might somehow still be listening. "Did… did that just happen? Or did we get swapped into an alternate universe?"
I shook my head slowly, equally baffled. "I don't know. Maybe she's playing the long game. She's probably waiting until we're mid-bite to strike."
Riza snorted softly, picking up a fry and inspecting it like it might be laced with a hidden message. "I don't trust it. She's up to something."
"Or maybe she's just being nice for once," I said, though even as the words left my mouth, they sounded implausible.
Riza arched an eyebrow at me, her skepticism evident. "Nice? Lydia? I'll believe that when I see a nebula freeze over."
We both hesitated for another moment, as if the food itself might spring to life with one of Lydia's jabs. When nothing happened, Riza finally picked up her burger and took a cautious bite. I followed suit, taking a bite of my own, and to my surprise, the food was perfect—hot, fresh, and exactly as ordered.
"Okay, maybe she's just a really good waitress after all," Riza admitted begrudgingly, wiping her fingers with one of the extra napkins Lydia had thoughtfully provided.
I nodded, still chewing. "Yeah. Or maybe she's lulling us into a false sense of security before her next move."
"Either way," Riza said with a grin, "this is a really good burger."
We both laughed, the tension easing as we focused on the food. For the first time that evening, it felt like we might actually enjoy the meal without any interruptions—though neither of us could quite shake the feeling that Lydia's absence of jabs was somehow its own form of mischief.
Riza was halfway through her burger, enjoying it thoroughly, when disaster struck. As she took another hearty bite, the juicy patty betrayed her, squirting a stream of grease and sauce right onto her shirt and neck. She froze mid-bite, her eyes wide with shock, as the realization set in.
"Ugh!" she groaned, pulling the burger away and staring down at the mess with dismay. "This thing's out to get me!"
I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head as I reached for the stack of extra napkins Lydia had so thoughtfully provided. "She told you burgers are dangerous."
She shot me a playful glare but stayed frozen, unsure how to begin cleaning herself up without making it worse. "Okay, Mr. Clean, if you're so wise, you fix it," she challenged.
"Fine, hold still," I said, scooting closer as I dabbed at the spots on her shirt. She muttered under her breath, clearly annoyed at the betrayal of her meal, while I focused on wiping away the worst of it.
"Turn your head," I said softly. She complied, exposing the trail of sauce that had dripped down her neck. I carefully wiped it away, concentrating on the task and trying not to laugh at her predicament.
Just as I reached the edge of her collar, the door to the booth slid open, and Lydia stepped in.
"Oh. My. God." Her voice rang out, thick with barely contained laughter. She froze for a moment, tray balanced on one hand, as she took in the scene before her: me leaning in close to Riza, napkin in hand, wiping her neck while Riza sat stiffly, her cheeks already beginning to flush.
Lydia's lips curved into a devilish grin as she sauntered forward. "Didn't I warn you that burgers are messy?" she said, setting the tray down on the edge of the table and crossing her arms. "But did you listen? Of course not. And now look at you two."
Riza opened her mouth to respond but quickly shut it again, her face an impressive shade of red. I tried to sit back, napkin still in hand, but the damage was already done.
Lydia's eyes sparkled with delight as she leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a mockingly concerned tone. "Oh, Pepper, you're such a gentleman, helping her clean up like that. So thoughtful. And so... intimate."
I groaned inwardly, my face heating as I struggled to form a coherent defense. "It's not—she just—"
"Oh, no need to explain," Lydia interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. "I mean, what are friends for if not helping each other in their time of need? Though," she added, tilting her head and eyeing us both with a sly smirk, "most friends don't usually get this up close and personal with their napkin skills."
Riza buried her face in her hands, mumbling something incoherent. I sighed, setting the napkin down on the table in defeat. "Lydia," I started, but she cut me off with a laugh.
"Relax, I'm just teasing," she said, though her grin betrayed just how much she was enjoying this. "You two really make my night, you know that?"
She straightened up, picking up the now-empty tray and giving us one last look of mock approval. "Well, I'll leave you two to... whatever this is. But if you need more napkins—or a bib—don't hesitate to call me."
With that, she turned and walked away, her laughter trailing behind her as the door slid shut.
Riza peeked out from behind her hands, her expression a mix of embarrassment and frustration. "I'm never eating a burger in public again," she muttered.
I couldn't help but chuckle, shaking my head as I slid back into my seat. "Well, at least we know Lydia's having a great night."
Riza groaned, finally lowering her hands to pick up her burger with exaggerated care. "I swear, she's going to bring this up every time we come here."
"Probably," I said with a grin. "But hey, at least the burger's good, right?"
She glared at me for a moment before letting out a reluctant laugh. "Yeah, okay. It's really good. But next time, I'm getting something less dangerous."
"Good call," I said, raising my milkshake. "To safer meals."
Riza clinked her milkshake against mine, shaking her head with a smile as we returned to our food, the lingering echoes of Lydia's teasing still hanging in the air.