She was really tired by the time she was done with her duties and they were closed. Claire had never done so much dishes in one day her entire life. The staff members had to break it to her that this was even one of those days when they had lesser customers. Claire was alarmed but thinking about the bright side, at least she got to watch the chef do that which she cherished. At the end of the day, Danielle had eventually returned with extra burgers for them all and drinks in honour of the newest staff member. They all seemed like one big happy family and they were rather glad Claire had come. Although, they were skeptical about her keeping the job as in just a few months opening the restaurant, Claire happened to be the fifth dish washer. Claire smiled and reassured them that she had come to stay.
As soon as she was done with her burger, Claire decided to head home. Danielle apparently lived in the same area as she did but on a different street. However, both girls took the bus together as Danielle chattered away. Claire knew immediately that she had made a friend. The girl lived alone and was originally from Texas. She only moved there away from her parents after she had eloped with her lover. She had no credentials as she did not finish school. Her crazy fantasy was so much that she would rather die than be away from her boy band cutie. Rather too young and at seventeen, her parents would not approve.
He was promising at the point and she ran off with him to Chicago where he had promised to make all her dreams come true. Eventually, Danielle had begun seeing the real him after a couple of months together. He did hit her at first when he was angry but eventually apologized. Then it moved into something more abusive with absolutely no apologies. She walked in on him with one of his backstage singers having a go at it. Danielle had been really hurt and knew that instant that she needed to move. They were aware she saw them but continued what they were doing totally ignoring her. That day afterwards, Danielle packed up her things and set out. She could remember the last words he had said to her.
“You would be back Danielle and you would beg me to take you back.” he had said to her.
Those words were what motivated her. She thought about going back to her parents but felt ashamed of herself. She called home and after all this while spoke to her mother. The woman was not angry and wanted to know where her daughter was but Danielle had other thoughts in her head. She had disappointed them and she was not going back until she made something of her life. She lied that she was in school and doing alright while in reality she was at a public phone, cold and lonely that night with her luggage and nowhere to sleep. Her mother was glad hearing from her and told her she would be glad if she come home someday. Danielle had asked about her father and the woman reassured her that he would get over it.
“He misses you, I’m certain of it.” her mother had said.
Danielle eventually went to sit at the street corner out cold. She thought about going back to him but decided against it. This was her cross to bear. She was still there and almost dozing off when her saviour had found her. Jeremy was a friend to her boyfriend but not like his best buddy. You know that kind of friend you dislike because he always seems to play the good guy with his every behaviour especially when it comes down to advise, that was typical Jeremy. He took her in and would have called her boyfriend to yell at him but she stopped him. Jeremy found her a job as a server at a restaurant where she worked for a while. Things began to get heated up between them and it resulted in a relationship. It went well for about three years but then something came up. It was time for Jeremy to face life as he should have all along.
His father sent him off to go study far away from both her and his band friends. Jeremy was sent to England. It hurt really as the man made certain to confiscate all his phones before sending him off. After a long while without him, the pain set in really deep. Danielle now an adult with enough to want to survive moved to Norman where she started working at Tristan’s. She had been there for a while.
“Did you still see Jeremy again?,” Claire asked her
“No, I never saw him.” she said
“Are you…?,” Claire asked skeptical about what she was saying
“Dating? No. I need a break from all that hassle,” Danielle said
“I see.” Claire sighed
“Now enough about me. Who’s your Mr right or your story?,” Danielle asked excited
“Story? No I have none.” she said
“What do you mean you have none? Wait Claire, you’ve never been in a relationship?,” she asked her
“Yes…. Is that a bad thing?,” Claire asked shyly
“Of course it is a bad thing. You could get persecuted for that alone. Alright, I’m just kidding. So you’ve never had… Are you a virgin Claire?,” she suddenly asked.
The young man in front of them suddenly turned around and flashed them a look. Danielle glared at him and he turned his head forward. She apologized to Claire bringing down her voice.
“It’s okay. That was close call,” Claire said
“So tell me, you still a virgin?,” Danielle asked
“Yes.” Claire said
“Great. Just super great. But you should have a story. Ah-ah a crush?,” she asked snapping her fingers.
Claire flushed all over at the mention of a crush. She could see his face pop in her minds eye. Danielle pushed her to say who it was and she told her it was Tristan Jenkins. The girl gave a weird laugh and told her that Tristan was everyone’s crush but what she wanted to know was her high school crush. Alright, Claire was flustered. Caught her again, Danielle began pressing her but fortunately for Claire, they had arrived their destination. It was time to say bye as they would be heading to separate ways. Danielle told Claire she was not quite done with her yet as she would be looking for to hearing everything about her high school crush. Claire smiled and bade her goodbye. It was getting late.
As she walked home, the thought of her high school crush crossed her mind. It had been the football captain and his name was Marc.
For a long time since sixth grade she had been watching him and he continued excelling. Soon, he became her senior but Claire would not stop. She really loved him and would gush over him. Then one day, he came to sit beside her during lunch. That was high school days and he was in his final year. He talked to her and asked if she would like to go on a date with him. Claire agreed immediately and after school, instead of heading home she went to see him at the cinema. It was her first time there and they sat down to the movies he had paid for. Only much later had she discovered he had paid for adult movies after all, she was eighteen then and he was nineteen. Claire sat with him uncomfortable about what she was seeing but tried not to show. She was on a date with her crush, she kept on telling herself until his fingers began creeping on her laps. At first Claire had tried to maintain absolute control and feign that she felt nothing until he went under her skirts causing her to jump. She ran away admist hisses from people and he followed her trying to stop her. Claire would not hear of it so he was vexed. He asked her what made her think he would stoop so low as going out with a dumb blonde if not a silly bet. Claire had not been affected by the betting bit but he calling her a dumb blonde hurt like hell.
The next day at school, he was huddled together with his group of cronies and laughing at her while holding another girl by the waist, his real girlfriend. The name dumb blonde became what she was known with until her mother was forced to change her school again. Claire never heard about Marc again but she could not help but feel angry at him. He was her only high school crush and he ruined everything about having a crush for her forever.
Claire had gotten home and Martha ushered her inside. The house was rather too quiet for the time.
“Where have you been Claire?,” Martha asked her
“Working.” Claire said after greeting her
“He’s waiting for you at the study.” the woman said
“He wants to see me now?,” Claire asked.
The woman nodded and Claire sighed. She was of a good mind not to go see him after all, he had abandoned her but she changed her mind. She began heading for the study when Martha stopped her.
“And Claire, try not to raise your voice. Mr Willows is really angry at the moment.” she said.
Claire nodded but continued moving. He had no right to be angry, she told herself.