Milkshake girl

Chapter six - Saving the Milkshake girl

Nate's POV:

I don't know why, but I feel comfortable when I talk with the Milkshake girl. It's just that she understands me and most importantly, she treats me like a normal person. I don't think that we know each other or at least I don't remember her. Whatever it is, I'm glad that I met her. She is nice and is very good at her job. To be honest, I wasn't sure that this place will be our new one because my friends and I were always at the diner. There might not be food here, but it's quiet and the atmosphere is good. I think that I am getting addicted to milkshakes. I don't know how she is making them, but they taste like heaven. Ok, not really, but they are delicious. It might be weird, but I feel the need to keep talking with this girl. I don't even know her name, but she is giving me good vibes. I mean that I feel good when she is around. Probably she is not my special girl, but this doesn't mean that I can't give her a chance. Well, I have to do it quickly, because I'm sure that when she starts school, she won't come here anymore. I have two weeks to think of something. I can be direct and tell her everything, but I'm not sure that this is a good idea. 

Another summer day and another late wake-up. I will miss this when I start school. I looked at my phone and saw that I have messages from the boys. They wanted us to go out. We haven’t been together much in the last couple of days so I agreed. Tyler and Henry suggested I get food from a fast-food restaurant and eat lunch in the milkshake shop. This is something that I can't deny. Moreover, I have a reason to talk with the Milkshake girl. Maybe I need to ask her for her name, but I like the nickname, which I gave her. It suits her perfectly. 

It's already 10:30 am so there is no need to eat breakfast. I quickly got ready and walked out. The boys said that they want us to get food from the restaurant near Tyler's house. It's like 20 minutes away and then we can go to the milkshake shop. When I arrived, I saw them waiting for me. We decide to get something for the girl as well because I'm not sure that eats lunch. After all, someone has to be in the shop. During the lunch break is possible to come to a customer. She won't miss this opportunity. Later, we walked to the shop and left the food at our table. Let's say that we usually sit there. It's in the corner, next to the window. 

- Milkshake girl, are you here? My friends and I want to order something. 

Just like that, she came out of the back room with a smile on her face. One beautiful smile. 

- What can I do for you boys?

- We are thirsty and expect you to do something about that.

- Ok, no problem. What will you drink today?

- I want the usual. 

- Mix of vanilla and chocolate. What about your friends?

- I want to try the banana one. - Tyler said

- And for me, you can make a chocolate one. - Henry added

- Ok, sit down and when I am done, I'll bring them to you. 

- Make one for yourself too. Today you will have lunch with us. 

- Thanks, but you know that I am not homeless, right? - she asked chuckling

- Yes, we do, but sometimes we want to be nice. Look, we can't return the food so you have to eat it. 

- Fine. Give me a couple of minutes and I will come. 

- Good girl. 

My friends and I sat at our table. Both of them gave me a look, but I didn't understand it. Is there a problem? I just wanted to be nice. There is nothing wrong with that. They waited until she went into the back room and turned their attention to me. 

- Can you tell me what is going on? Why are you looking at me like that?

- That's what we want to know. What is going on between you and the Milkshake girl? - Henry asked

- Nothing, what should be going on?

- You are very nice and started to buy her food often. 

- So? I don't see anything wrong to be nice to someone. 

- Is she the special girl? - Tyler asked

- What? No. I mean I don't know. 

- That's what it looks like. 

- I know what you are trying to say, but after thinking about it, I decide to don't do anything. Moreover, I am sure that when the school year starts, she won't come here. 

- And who told you that?

I turned around and saw the Milkshake girl. I wonder how much she has heard. Let's hope that it's not enough. I don't want to give her high hopes. There is a chance that she might be the girl for who I am looking, but I am not sure, so it's better if she doesn't know about this. 

- Well, you are a student, right? Won't you go to school?

- Of course that I will. Just after it, I will come here. As I have told you, this was my study place so I can start using it again. Just working and studying at the same time. As you can see not many people come here so I will have enough time to study. - she said with a smile

- Good, because as I see we won't stop coming here. 

- I am very glad to hear it. 

We took the food out of the boxes and put it around the table. All of us were eating a lot, except her. I mean that we are boys who need energy. Maybe she is dieting herself. Not like there is a need for that. How I see she is already slim enough or even too much if you ask me. The other reason is that she had drunk many milkshakes from the morning. Well, I am not the one who will judge her so it's not of my business what she is doing. 

- Why you are not eating? - Henry asked her

- Because I am already full. 

- But you ate almost nothing. 

- Hey, leave her. Boys need more food than girls. - I said

- I drank two milkshakes before you came. 

- That explains it. - Tyler said

No, she didn't. I don't know why, but she lied. Well, there is a chance that she is telling the truth, but I feel like she is lying. Maybe she doesn't want to tell us something. We are not her friends so there is no need for us to know what is going on with her. I won't lie that I would love it if she was my friend, but let's not rush things. The good news is that she will continue working here even when school starts. 

The Milkshake girl excused herself and went into the backroom to clean something. I remember that she has told me that during the summer she lets her friend Barry and his wife work less because she is here. When school starts, they have to be here or at least one of them. If I have to be honest, it's a little bit weird to have friends who are more than ten years older than you, but I guess that with them she feels comfortable. I'm sure that she has friends her age as well. 

Soon we heard a small noise. Maybe she dropped something. Before we could get up and see what is going on, she came out of the backroom, walking backward. She looked scared, but I don't know from what. I don't see anything. I stood up and walked up to her. She bumped into me and flinched. I looked around and the only thing that I saw was a cockroach. 

- Are you ok? What happened?

She didn't say anything. 

- Hey, everything will be ok. There is nothing scary.

She shook her head. Wait a minute. Is she...?

- Are you scared of the cockroach? - I asked and she nodded her head

I gave the boys a look because I know that they will start laughing. Me too, but in this case, I won't do it. Mostly, because she looks really scared. I was about to kill the cockroach when an idea came to me. I told the Milkshake girl to move, opened the door, and let it go out. 

- There you go. You don't need to be scared anymore. It's gone. 

- Um... thank you and sorry. 

- For what? You didn't do anything. 

- Yes, but you probably think that I am acting like a kid. 

- No, I don't. Can I know why you are scared of cockroaches?

- I had a terrible experience with them at one excursion in second grade. From that day, I am scared of them. It looks stupid, but I can't help it. 

- Come here, let's sit. Do you want water or any drink?

- No, I'm fine. Thanks. 

- Can I know the story? 

- Henry, don't. 

- What? 

- No, it's fine. I will tell you as long as you don't laugh at me, ok?

- Sure. 

- The whole class went on one excursion for the weekend. We were only kids back then. We arrived on Friday in the hotel and on Sunday, we left. On Saturday night, I went to bed as usual. I woke up during the night to go to the toilet and then came back under the covers. It was dark, but I saw something moving on top of the quilt. It was too big to be a fly and too small to be a rat. Then I realize that it was a cockroach. They were two. The worst part was that I have put the quilt almost all over me. It was cold and the only visible part was my face. Both of them were so close to my face that I went in scared mode. I screamed so loud that probably I woke the whole hotel. One teacher came and I told her what has happened. Another teacher came and killed them, but this didn't help me. I was still scared. I know that it sounds stupid, but I was really scared back then. Even if they come to me, they probably won't do anything, but I don't want to risk it. It's not an interesting story, but it chases me until today. 

None of us said anything. The thing is that we didn't know what to say. In her place, I probably was going to react the same. No matter that, I am a boy. I feel bad for her. This is like childhood trauma. I pulled her close and hugged her. I don't know why I did it, but it felt right. She was quick to pull away. 

- I will go and continue with my work. 

- You can stay here if you want. 

- Thanks, but I have some things to do.

- Do you want one of us to check if there are more cockroaches?

- I think that I'll be fine. Thank you, but there is no need to. 

- Ok, then. Call us if you need anything. I would love to save you again. 

- What?

- What you heard. To be honest, you are the first girl who I am saving, but it was nice. I hope that I can do it again. 

- And I hope that there won't be a need for that. I'll go now. 

She walked away and the boys gave me smirks. I know what they think, but there is no chance. As much as I would love it, I don't want to rush things. I want a girl with who I can be a long time. Moreover, I don't know anything about the Milkshake girl, except that she is scared of cockroaches. Yes, I have asked her to tell me something about herself, but it wasn't much. I want to be with someone who I know well and who I can trust completely. Ok, maybe I want too much, but after all, I want to have a relationship like my parents. They look happy together. I don't know what dad did to convince my mom, but I see that it has worked. Now, she is one happy woman. 

We stayed in the shop until dinnertime. Later everyone went on their way. I walked home to have dinner with my parents. Of course, they asked me for my day. During the summer, I don't do much so nothing was interesting to tell them. I haven't told them about the Milkshake girl. Maybe I have mentioned her, but that's it. I don't want to give them high hopes. I have told them about the special girl thing, but that's it. I want to be sure that she is the right one. Then I will present her to my family and friends. This might take time, but I am patient. As I said, I don't want to rush. This is something important for me and I want to pick my girl carefully.