Progress by Amy Queau

Author:Amy Queau [Queau, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-02-28T11:00:00+00:00

Chapter 3

Jesse woke the next day around noon and thumped into the bathroom for a shower. He stared at his face for a very long time, not really looking at it. Just thinking. Resigning not to come to any firm conclusions on his own about Bree, he got an idea.

He walked back to his room and picked up his phone.

“Hey, can I see you today?” he said when a voice answered.

“Sure! What time will you be here?” she asked.

“By two o’clock.”

“Sounds good. See you then!”

“Thanks, Lily.”

~

Jesse and Lily met at her restaurant. He sat down while he waited for her to finish up the dishes from her lunch rush. He chose the same table that Charlie and he had sat at earlier in the year. From that point on, it was his favorite table.

“Hey, Jess. Sorry, my last table stayed later than I planned.”

“They always do,” he said, his leg bouncing under the table.

“So, what’s the emergency?” She exhaled and wiped her hands on her apron, signaling

her day was done.

“Emergency? No emergency,” he said while glancing just beyond the sunflowers in full

bloom outside the window.

“Jesse, please. I may not know you as well as some, but I don’t think I’ve seen you three

times altogether since you left here at fourteen years-old, let alone three times in one year.

Something is on your mind. So, tell me.” Lily sat down at the table across from him. He spoke without taking his eyes off the horizon. “Bree came to see me the other day.” Lily’s face saddened. “I knew that day would come. What did she say to you?” “She misses me. She wants me back.

Again.” He shook his head.

“What do you think you should do?” Lily asked.

“I don’t have a clue.”

“What does your gut tell you?”

“To run away. Fast.” His face lightened. A quick smile rose from his mouth and vanished

almost instantly.

Lily nodded and looked down in thought.

“What about that girl, Charlie? You don’t often bring girls around here. I thought she

was…special.”

“Oh, she is. She’s…I don’t know. She’s my friend. Can’t ruin that, can I?” “Maybe not. Have you talked to her about it?” she asked, encouraging him to sound it out

for himself.

“No. Well. Not really. She’s…she’s too much of a goody-goody.

Everything she does is

good. Not like me. Not like what I do. She is always such a calm, forgiving, generous and pure

person. But she’s naïve and sensitive, my complete opposite. Always trying her hardest, being

the person she thinks she should be. It’s nauseating.” He looked toward the stairwell, lightly

shaking his head out of a hard gaze.

Lily giggled. “Liar. You don’t find it nauseating at all.”

His forehead scrunched for a second. “I know. You’re right. We’re just too different. And

she’s always so divisive.”

“Sounds like someone I know.” Lily smirked. “Maybe all you need is each other?” “Alright Buddha, since you’re so smart – tell me what to do about Bree then! Since that’s

the reason I’m here,” Jess said.

“Take it easy. You’re here for my advice, and if I’m not mistaken I just gave it to you.

Don’t sass me – or I’ll…I’ll…shake my finger at you and give you a nasty look!” Lily taunted

him with her finger and grinned.

He just shook his head and laughed.

Lily’s face grew serious. “Have you told either of them?”

“What?”

“You know, about him. The reason you ran here that day. Or about your father?” “No. I don’t talk about that stuff with anyone.” Jess shook his head.

“Do you trust either one of them with that information?”

“I’m getting there,” he replied after a pause. “Then again, I haven’t given them much

reason to trust me, either.” One corner of his mouth lifted and he let out a half laugh. “It’s good to see that; your laugh. Just do me a favor.

Whatever you decide to do with

Bree, Charlie or neither, just make sure you’re happy. And make sure that they deserve you.

You’re always selling yourself short and underestimating your potential…”

“God, now you sound like Charlie!”

Her brow lifted. “Smart girl.”

They continued their afternoon chatting over a game of chess and some leftover fries

from lunch. He tried to speak as little as possible about his dilemma, soaking everything in and

beginning to slow his frantic leg shaking under the table. But the ease of conversation

consistently brought him back to words about Charlie.

He was calmer with Lily; calmer than he had been all week. He could trust her. She had

proven that to him long ago. She was a private person, discreet. There was nothing and no one he

needed to fear in that place; surrounded by a shield of sunflowers and a small dirt road that deadended with Lily’s place and her charming Sadie; hidden and invisible from the world. All she

needed was a good movie, a little John Denver and an occasional customer. This was what made

her happy. This was the closest thing Jesse had to calling home until the age of sixteen. “Well, whatever you decide, I’m here. You know, if you need me. I love you, Jesse.” “I love you too, Lil.” He scooped his strong arms around her for a tight squeeze and

decided to join reality again.

He got in his car and drove back to the suburbs, leaving a trail of dirt flying up with the

wind.

~

The next few days sped by in a blur. Jesse couldn’t find the nerve to call his beloved

Bree, so he did what he knew would work to pass the time quickly: he drank. He was easily

agitated, his anger soared from low to high, and an emotional roller coaster replaced his coherent

thoughts.

Finally, after day three, Jess arrived at work and quickly looked around for Charlie. She

wasn’t out back having a smoke. He searched the break area, walk-in cooler and prep area. He

walked into the dining room and saw a several servers sitting at a table.

Charlie was there. He

couldn’t hide his delight when their eyes met.

“Hey.” Jesse announced his presence as he sat across from Angie--the only seat available. “Oh. It’s you.” Angie announced her disapproval.

“So, was it busy today?” His question was directed to the table in general.

Charlie’s eyes lit up. “Not really. Slow for a Monday.”

Jess nodded. “Whatcha eatin’ there?” he asked Chelsea; another server.

With abundant sarcasm, Angie said, “Oh, it’s the Wild Mushroom and Chicken Penne.

What do you think Jesse? You’ve worked here how long? I think you can recognize what’s on

her plate.”

“Sometimes, Angie… I wish you were a guy. I’d take you out back…”

Jess said. “You wish I was a guy? Why, so you could do me up the ass, is that why?” The entire table turned their attention towards Jess to wait for his reaction as they held

back their snickers.

Bitch.

Like a juvenile, Jesse marched off toward the kitchen, but not before looking at Charlie.

She was snickering, too.

Bitches.

He swung open the kitchen doors and they bounced off the walls, making a stack of

plates from the dishwashing area crash to the floor. He didn’t even turn at the sound, just

continued his pouting toward the smoking area out back and lit a cigarette.

A moment later, Charlie came outside.

“What do you want?” His attitude, a warning.

“C’mon, Jess! You gotta learn to laugh at yourself! The joke wasn’t even that funny, but

your childish behavior afterward is what made it hilarious. You can’t blame us for laughing.” “Get the hell out of here,” he said. She’s right.

Charlie’s eyes hollowed, her face desolate. “I’m sorry,” she said softly and took a step

closer. “I thought we were going to talk. A few days ago. You never called.”

He just shook his head and brushed her off.

She stood there for only a moment before retreating into the building.

Jess walked back into the kitchen, now calmer after his cigarette. He smiled at Ben, the

Delivery Manager, and made his way to the employee bathroom to change into his uniform.

When he walked out, Angie was standing there waiting.

Is she waiting for me?

“Hey, Jess. I’m sorry. I just spoke with Charlie; she said you were pretty upset,” Angie choked out the apology.

“Don’t do me any favors, Angie. I know you hate me, so just back off.”

“I don’t hate you Jesse. I just…don’t like your attitude. You’re so hot-tempered and antagonizing. You just rub people the wrong way. I really didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. Seriously. You’re a really hard worker, and I respect that. I just don’t like your instability and I definitely don’t appreciate…oh, never mind!” Angie started walking away in a huff.

“What? You don’t appreciate what?” Now he was curious.

Angie took a step back toward him and hushed her voice. “I don’t appreciate you misleading Charlie. She’s like a sister to me.”

“Mislead? How am I misleading her?”

“We both know you couldn’t possibly be interested in her. If you are, it would only be for one night, and that’s what I don’t trust. If you aren’t messing with her head and really do want to be with her, you’d take her virginity and kick her ass to the curb. It’s the way you operate. I’ve had hostesses and servers crying on my shoulder because of you. I will not see you do the same to Charlie. Do. You. Understand. Me?” Her words were menacing.

The look on Jesse’s face was reproachful. His mind began to race and his heart was attempting to keep pace. His thoughts overflowed and the words that were arriving in his head didn’t make sense as sentences. He felt a rush of anger; he could feel the heat rising in his jaw and he began grinding his teeth. Instinctively, he made tight white fists and his posture straightened. He knew that he was being threatened. By Angie, no less.

“Listen to me carefully Angela, because I will not repeat myself. Please take into consideration that I don’t usually convey what I’m feeling right now with words. I usually take a more uncivilized approach by removing a few teeth with my boot. So please, with all due respect, back the fuck off.” He exhaled harshly and dipped his head down, nostrils flaring.

I’m going to hit something. Someone. I need to get out of here. Quick.

“I need a minute,” he said to Ben, walking past him out to his car.

“Hurry up! We’re getting busy over here!” Ben shouted as the door slammed. ~

This feels like shit. Charlie is mad at me. I want to beat the shit out of Angie. Bree won’t get the fuck out of my head. Work is waiting.

I could just run.

No. Not my style.

I need a drink.

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