Rosetta

Familiar Stranger

The next day, Rosetta made sure she was on time to work and began immediately. Adam didn't bother her again but constantly stared at her. The usual customers came again, ordering their same food and drinks, barely tipping. It was a dark-haired boy, wearing glasses who walked cautiously inside did the atmosphere change. 

He stood in the doorway, casually scanning the diner, as though he was looking for someone.

"Can I help you?" Rosetta said walking up to him.

He looked down at her, he was maybe three inches taller than her. Up close Rosetta could see he had freckles, and his hair was shiny and curly. His face was square and he had a narrow nose. When he saw her, his caramel-colored eyes sparkled for a moment and he smiled slightly and said "I'd like to speak with the manager" his voice was much deeper than she thought it would be. It sounded like that of a grown man and not a young boy.

Rosetta raised a brow "She stepped out, but u can talk to the assistant manager. She's over there" she pointed to the corner next to the self-serving coffee machine, where Karen stood yapping on the phone. 

The boy looked in the direction and then back at her, his eyes looking her up and down, seemingly eating up her. The whole situation was just making her uncomfortable.

"Look dude, you wanna sit down and wait till she comes back?" Rosetta said, folding her arms over her chest in an attempt to hide.

The boy looked up at her and flashed a friendly smile, his eyes closing slightly "Sorry. I'm Simon" he laughed nervously turning red and rubbed behind his head.

Rosetta was confused by the sudden change in personality but ignored it. He was just another weird kid "Sit down. I'll bring  you some coffee"

Simon smiled and sat down at the table in the far corner. At that table, he could see the whole diner without having to turn his body. Yet he sat still, staring at Rosetta as she poured his coffee. The whole thing was just unnerving. Rosetta shivered and grabbed a menu, she placed it and the mug on his table and walked away.

The rest of the day dragged. Simon still never ordered anything but called on her to ask her the most mundane questions or for a coffee refill. One time Rosetta sent over Nancy one of her co-workers but he only wanted to talk to her. He'd ask things like her favorite sport, color, music, dish, animal. It was all so weird and creepy.

By the time it was closing hours he was the last person there, watching Rosetta as she cleaned.

"Do you know that guy?" Nancy whispered to her, eyeing him fearfully.

"No" Rosetta whispered back "and he's creepy as hell" she turned back and looked at him. 

As expected he was looking at her. He smiled slowly, then checked his watch. He stood up and walked towards her. Rosetta stiffened and Nancy scurried away.

"I must be leaving now," he told her "It was nice meeting you. I hope I get to see you soon" he flashed a toothy grin and walked away.

Rosetta released a breath she didn't know she was holding and clutched her chest. She hoped to never see that guy again. 

When everyone was done, Karen closed up and they left. Nancy and Amanda walked her to the bus stop and waited for the bus with her. At first, they insisted she rode with them in Adam's car but she was sticking to her words from the previous night.

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When she finally arrived home, she went straight to her mother's room and found Nurse Claire feeding her steamed vegetables and orange juice.

"Smells good Claire," Rosetta said walking into the room.

"Oh hello, Rose. There's more in the kitchen if you want. Your mother really seems to be enjoying them"

Rosetta smiled and headed back downstairs into the kitchen. She was startled to see the back of a man, maybe three inches taller than her, putting vegetables unto a plate. Then she remembered that Claire said a student volunteer was coming to help her. She sighed and smiled.

"Can you fix me a plate as well?" She asked a bit loud.

The guy didn't flinch as though he was startled but turned around slowly and smiled. "Hi, I'm Samuel, but you can call me Sam" he extended a hand to shake.

At that moment Rosetta gasped and swore her mouth dropped. Samuel's face was chiseled, with a narrow nose and small traces of freckles, his jaw had recently shaven beard growing back. His shoulders were broad and his arms were well toned. He had caramel-colored eyes and lock thick lashes with neat bushy eyebrows.

"I guess you're not a shaker," he said after a while withdrawing his hand.

"Oh, Uhm, hi, I'm Rosetta, but you can call me Rose" she reached out for his hand and reveled at the touch.

Samuel smiled "Nice to me you Rose" he turned and took the plate "here, you can have mine, I'm not that hungry anyway" he shrugged.

"Oh, thanks" she blushed at his manners. She took the plate and the juice he offered her and turned away. She took a deep shaky breath, before ascending the stairs to her room. 

Once inside, she shut and locked the door behind her. She and Lucky climbed onto the bed and she placed the food on the nightstand. She lay down and stared at the ceiling. Her heart was racing and her cheeks were flushed. 

Since her mother's illness, she'd avoiding dating, hanging out, going out, or even communicating with any guy outside of work. Her social life sucked, but she hadn't realized it until now. That was until one of God's finest creations stood in her kitchen. She smiled and bit her lip as she pictured his face. She hadn't had a crush in such a long time, she forgot how it felt.

She sat up and reached for the plate and absently spooned it into her mouth. She shrieked as it badly burnt her tongue. She spat it out and set it aside for lucky, who hungrily ate it up. She reached for her drink and finished the glass.

Just then she heard footsteps outside her door. She jumped up and ran to it, placing her ear on it, and listened attentively. There was movement, then talking, then silence. The footsteps then started coming back down the hall. She dashed onto her bed and grabbed the empty plate and pretended to eat. 

There was a light tapping and then a "Rose you okay?"

Rosetta swallowed as her breathing froze. It was Samuel "yeah I'm good"

"Can I come in?"

Come in! Into her room! "yeah sure, it's unlocked" she fixed her hair and adjusted her blouse. 

Samuel opened the door and walked in. He smiled when he saw her and that just made her heart race even faster.

Suddenly there was an unusual heat. It couldn't be her, it didn't feel like it. The heat was around her. 

Samuel started walking towards her and the heat increased. She could see beads of sweat forming on his forehead so she knew it wasn't just her.

"Rose," He said her name with caution, holding his hands up "Relax"

The sudden sound of his voice, and the way he said her name, made her knot up, and the temperature increase to what felt like a thousand degrees. Her shirt clung to her, now drenched in sweat.

"Rose," he said urgently and grabbed her shoulders "Relax" 

His hands-on her body was enough. Suddenly the bean bag in the corner burst into flames. Samuel looked frantically at it and then back at Rose, who screamed when she saw it. She leaped up and began running towards the door. Then as unexpectedly as it appeared, it disappeared. 

Nurse Claire came running into the room "What's going on here?" 

"I-it -how- what" Rosetta struggled to find words.

Samuel took charge and led Nurse Claire out of the room "Don't worry Claire, she just saw a spider. 

She looked at him doubtfully but shrugged "Don't scare me like that again"

"Yeah, sorry. It won't happen again" he grinned "Go take care of Mrs. Wisbrough" he pushed her lightly towards the room. 

Claire looked back at him but went anyway. 

Samuel sighed and went back to Rosetta's room to check on her. He found her pacing frantically, biting her nails. When she heard him enter she turned to look at him, eyes wide.

"Rose," he said cautiously, taking steps towards her "I know you're scared and confused, but I need you to calm down" 

"Calm down! The bag was on fire! Fire! where did it come from? Where did it go!"

"Shhhhh!" Samuel quickly covered her mouth "you're gonna startle everyone" he looked back at the door and waited for a while. When no one came he said "Look I don't know what's going on, but overreacting isn't going to help. Just, Breathe" 

Rosetta tried to struggle out of his grasp for a while, but she did as she was told when she realized it was no use. 

Slowly Samuel released her "We're going to get the bottom of this," he said "I know just the people to ask" He lifted her chin "Right now I need you to keep this to yourself. People will just think you're crazy"

Rosetta sighed and sat down on the bed "Okay. Thanks, Sam"