Who Are You?
Turn The Other Way
.:.:.
Elise gazed at the building in front of her. She sighed while taking in the scenery and potential customers entering the restaurant. It didn’t look too busy for a Wednesday but lunch time was just about to begin. For the next three to four hours, business will have picked up and Elise wondered if she came at the wrong time, if her uncle would be upset, and if she should come back later.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been here.” Matt spoke up, breaking Elise out of her mental bubble.
It was a smaller building located off the main streets with a decent size parking lot. Green ivy covered all sides of the building except for the front portion where the wooden entrance doors were. It was a simple establishment that needed a remodel badly. The once red bricks around the planter out front were now a deep reddish brown yet everything still looked clean. Old, but clean. Despite the outdated look of everything, a large modernized sign which read McConnell’s in Gaelic font was brightly lit atop the roof.
“It’s not a fancy place or anything. Just a small dining area with a separate bar room. My family used to visit here when I was growing up. I haven’t been here for quite a few years…” Elise trailed off at the memory of her last visit. She was around 13 but could only remember bits and parts of that day. An altercation between her father and Dan, his brother, prevented them from ever returning. She never knew what it was about and her parents always refused to give her an explanation. Elise only shrugged it off.
Right on cue her phone vibrated with a message;
Come on in any time, sweetie.
“I won’t be long. You’re more than welcome to stay out here.” Elise offered while removing her seatbelt and opening the door.
“No worries, I’ll be here.” Matt replied while taking out his phone.
.:.:.
Matt was quiet the whole ride home, Elise couldn’t help but wonder if she had done or said something wrong. Not wanting to press the issue, she pulled into an empty parking spot and cut the engine before grabbing her belongings. She was silent and waited for Matt to exit her truck so she could lock it.
The two had returned to Elise’s apartment building only 20 minutes after arriving at McConnell’s. Her uncle had given her an employee’s manual to go over as well as the menu to study. She was relieved that the uniform was simple; a black V-neck shirt, long or short sleeve, could be paired with black slacks or blue jeans and a half apron given to her by the company. She would need to purchase a shirt and non-slip shoes but she was excited to start working and making money again. Her excitement had died down when Matt only lit up a cigarette and stared at his phone.
“Woman trouble, I bet.” Elise thought, a tinge of jealousy hitting her stomach. “See ya’ later. Thanks for today.” She mumbled while walking past Matt, not even bothering for a response.
Why was she jealous? She wondered why she would even care. The two had just met and she knew nothing about this man. He was insanely attractive and had an extremely at-ease personality. Apart from that, he could have been an asshole in a relationship. Or gay. Elise had no idea, all she knew was the loneliness she was now feeling from leaving her family and any possibility of reconnecting with her ex.
Sorrow overtook all emotions as she thought of her ex. They had been together barely two years but, at the time, she felt he was the one. Everything about him clicked perfectly with her needs and wants. He was intelligent and had a different kind of humor but none of that mattered now. After the breakup, Elise was unsure she could even handle another relationship. She resented him yet yearned for any form of contact with him. Maybe she was so drawn to Matt because he was a distraction. But was that fair to him to be used?
“I’m a fucking mess.” Elise sighed as she turned the key and unlocked her front door. She took off her shoes and carried them to her room. Wanting nothing more than to take a nap, she locked her door and put her phone on silent. As she took off her bra from under her shirt, she lied down on the bed and hit reply on the email from Claire;
“YES! Please come visit soon! And you should definitely get a phone again, but only if you’re ready. I’m sure mom and dad would feel safer knowing you have a phone to contact them whenever and wherever you are. Hey, you could come visit me while I’m working at McConnell’s ( : I’m sure uncle would want to see you again. Ugh, medications. I do not miss any form or any kinds of medication. I’m glad they seem to be helping you though. So, I almost forgot, how’s your quest for love?”
Elise chuckled to herself as she sent the email. Claire has only ever had one significant other in her life. She always thought they would be together through thick and thin but in the past year, Claire’s boyfriend, Jake, was distant. Before Elise left, her parents would speak about Jake as if he were someone in the past. She never understood what happened between Claire and him; this was one secret her sister was holding onto. Elise felt Claire would spill it in her own time.
.:.:.
Elise rolled over onto her stomach and brought her right knee up to her waist while she stretched the left leg straight. Her arms cradled the pillow perfectly under her head as she closed her eyes in hopes of a decent nap. It was barely 12:30 in the afternoon, which gave her about six hours before the get together. A two-hour nap would be perfect…if Matt and her dream didn’t invade her thoughts and keep her mind racing. Instead, she went with it. At some point her mind would tire out and Elise would be fast asleep. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t turn the other way.
Not ten minutes later, Elise began to drift off to sleep. “So big…” she mumbled as her REM cycle kicked in.
Elise gazed at the building in front of her. She sighed while taking in the scenery and potential customers entering the restaurant. It didn’t look too busy for a Wednesday but lunch time was just about to begin. For the next three to four hours, business will have picked up and Elise wondered if she came at the wrong time, if her uncle would be upset, and if she should come back later.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been here.” Matt spoke up, breaking Elise out of her mental bubble.
It was a smaller building located off the main streets with a decent size parking lot. Green ivy covered all sides of the building except for the front portion where the wooden entrance doors were. It was a simple establishment that needed a remodel badly. The once red bricks around the planter out front were now a deep reddish brown yet everything still looked clean. Old, but clean. Despite the outdated look of everything, a large modernized sign which read McConnell’s in Gaelic font was brightly lit atop the roof.
“It’s not a fancy place or anything. Just a small dining area with a separate bar room. My family used to visit here when I was growing up. I haven’t been here for quite a few years…” Elise trailed off at the memory of her last visit. She was around 13 but could only remember bits and parts of that day. An altercation between her father and Dan, his brother, prevented them from ever returning. She never knew what it was about and her parents always refused to give her an explanation. Elise only shrugged it off.
Right on cue her phone vibrated with a message;
Come on in any time, sweetie.
“I won’t be long. You’re more than welcome to stay out here.” Elise offered while removing her seatbelt and opening the door.
“No worries, I’ll be here.” Matt replied while taking out his phone.
.:.:.
Matt was quiet the whole ride home, Elise couldn’t help but wonder if she had done or said something wrong. Not wanting to press the issue, she pulled into an empty parking spot and cut the engine before grabbing her belongings. She was silent and waited for Matt to exit her truck so she could lock it.
The two had returned to Elise’s apartment building only 20 minutes after arriving at McConnell’s. Her uncle had given her an employee’s manual to go over as well as the menu to study. She was relieved that the uniform was simple; a black V-neck shirt, long or short sleeve, could be paired with black slacks or blue jeans and a half apron given to her by the company. She would need to purchase a shirt and non-slip shoes but she was excited to start working and making money again. Her excitement had died down when Matt only lit up a cigarette and stared at his phone.
“Woman trouble, I bet.” Elise thought, a tinge of jealousy hitting her stomach. “See ya’ later. Thanks for today.” She mumbled while walking past Matt, not even bothering for a response.
Why was she jealous? She wondered why she would even care. The two had just met and she knew nothing about this man. He was insanely attractive and had an extremely at-ease personality. Apart from that, he could have been an asshole in a relationship. Or gay. Elise had no idea, all she knew was the loneliness she was now feeling from leaving her family and any possibility of reconnecting with her ex.
Sorrow overtook all emotions as she thought of her ex. They had been together barely two years but, at the time, she felt he was the one. Everything about him clicked perfectly with her needs and wants. He was intelligent and had a different kind of humor but none of that mattered now. After the breakup, Elise was unsure she could even handle another relationship. She resented him yet yearned for any form of contact with him. Maybe she was so drawn to Matt because he was a distraction. But was that fair to him to be used?
“I’m a fucking mess.” Elise sighed as she turned the key and unlocked her front door. She took off her shoes and carried them to her room. Wanting nothing more than to take a nap, she locked her door and put her phone on silent. As she took off her bra from under her shirt, she lied down on the bed and hit reply on the email from Claire;
“YES! Please come visit soon! And you should definitely get a phone again, but only if you’re ready. I’m sure mom and dad would feel safer knowing you have a phone to contact them whenever and wherever you are. Hey, you could come visit me while I’m working at McConnell’s ( : I’m sure uncle would want to see you again. Ugh, medications. I do not miss any form or any kinds of medication. I’m glad they seem to be helping you though. So, I almost forgot, how’s your quest for love?”
Elise chuckled to herself as she sent the email. Claire has only ever had one significant other in her life. She always thought they would be together through thick and thin but in the past year, Claire’s boyfriend, Jake, was distant. Before Elise left, her parents would speak about Jake as if he were someone in the past. She never understood what happened between Claire and him; this was one secret her sister was holding onto. Elise felt Claire would spill it in her own time.
.:.:.
Elise rolled over onto her stomach and brought her right knee up to her waist while she stretched the left leg straight. Her arms cradled the pillow perfectly under her head as she closed her eyes in hopes of a decent nap. It was barely 12:30 in the afternoon, which gave her about six hours before the get together. A two-hour nap would be perfect…if Matt and her dream didn’t invade her thoughts and keep her mind racing. Instead, she went with it. At some point her mind would tire out and Elise would be fast asleep. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t turn the other way.
Not ten minutes later, Elise began to drift off to sleep. “So big…” she mumbled as her REM cycle kicked in.
Notes
Rates, comments, and critiques are appreciated! As always, thank you to everyone that has continued to read this series.
Well damn! ;) glad you’re back!
6/2/19