Third Wheel

I Really, Really Hate it When Life Surprises Me

"Susan?"

I looked up from refilling my water pitcher. Jeannie leaned a flannel-clad elbow on the table, clearing her throat and crossing her legs.

"There's a young lady at table twelve, can you head over and cover for me?" Jeannie asked. "I need to go to the bathroom…"

I nodded and picked up a menu. "She by herself?" I asked.

"Yes, but I think she's waiting for her date to join her," Jeannie replied. "Best of luck." With a sigh of relief, she put down her stack of menus and left for the restroom. I watched her walk away, grimacing slightly. Jeannie's period always occurred around the end of the month, right when she felt more masculine. I had learned by now to start covering tables for her around this time, but I still felt a little bad for her.

"Excuse me," Zafar muttered, walking past me. I nodded and walked aside to give him space as he carried a few trays of dirty plates to the kitchen. As soon as he had gotten out of the way, I began making my way over to table twelve, stopping to refill a few water glasses with the pitcher. When I finally arrived there, the occupant looked up at me and made a slight face.

"Hello," I smiled, trying to look friendly. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

"I don't know, can you?" The girl retorted. I blinked. "I've been waiting for about ten minutes. Normally it shouldn't take this long for drinks to arrive," she drawled, glaring at me.

"Well, my apologies," I replied. "We are having a bit of a slow day."

"Oh, is it just today? Or actually, are all your business days like this?" She growled. I almost recoiled from the fierceness in her voice. "This restaurant must be very, very inefficient in that case," she added.

"I'm very sorry to hear about the wait time," I replied, reminding myself to keep my cool. Perhaps she had been having a bad day.

Or maybe, a voice in the back of my head suggested, Maybe she's just an entitled little s**t.

I looked her over briefly.

Long, blonde hair with bubblegum pink highlights. Bright, glittery eyeshadow and fluttery false lashes. An off shoulder crop top that showed off flawless, impeccable skin. Lips slathered in shiny, fruity gloss. Acrylic nails with roses and rhinestones. Everything about her appearance was so loud, you couldn't help but notice her.

And just then, it jumped at me.

I think she realized it at the same time as I did.

"Oh my god," she dropped the spoon she had been holding and it made a small clang sound against her plate.

I instantly wanted to run away, find a hole, and jump into it so I might never come back out.

"You're Snow Girl, aren't you?" She hissed.

At that moment, I knew that life had thrown me another curveball.

And boy was it a nasty one.