Connecting Over Cheesecake

A Story by Paige Turner

"Do you think there's a chance I could get a slice of the waitress?" Jennifer sighed, but had to admit, it was one of the best pick-up lines she had ever heard.

Connecting Over Cheesecake

Fifty cents.

Fifty freaking cents! What in the hell kind of tip was that? It sure didn't pay for the bills.

Jennifer rolled her eyes and collected the godforsaken tip, placing it in a keepsake pocket in her apron. Seeing another group of people sit down on the other side of the restaurant, she masked over her irritation and plastered a smile on her features.

Jennifer Sawer was a seventeen year old waitress at the True North Diner, just on the outskirts of town. It had a fifty's take on it, the red seated booths, jukebox in the corner. They were fairly busy, but the job was so monotonous. Seat customers, take their orders, be nice, take their anger if you got their order wrong. Blah, blah, blah. The only reason she even kept this job was to support her younger brother, Liam.

He had just started third grade and she needed her waitress job to pay for his school books and clothes. She herself had used the same supplies from last year, they weren't too worn out.

Their mother had died three years ago because of cancer, it had been a hard time considering she and Liam had no other family besides themselves. They haven't ever met there father and her mothers parents had died before they were born.

Liam had been a little withdrawn at first, not eating or talking. After a week he had finally warmed up and taken in the fact that mom wasn't coming back. They had sat on the kitchen floor hugging and crying the whole night. It just wasn't fair. They had both lost their mother, She had lost her teenage years and Liam had lost his cheerful childlike aura.

But it had gotten easier after she found this job. Jennifer had been walking home from school when she seen the 'Help Wanted' sign in the window and immediately went inside and had implied. When she left there was a smile on her face and a uniform in her hands. Now she could buy more food and regular 'home' things.

She and Liam lived in a small apartment about a mile from the Diner so it was easy to get to work and school. They also had supper their often, due to her employe discount.

Right now Jennifer had been working an after school shift, four till eight. It was about seven thirty now, only a half hour till she could go home and see how Liam made out on his first day of third grade.

She smiled thinking of how excited he had been this morning, almost jumping off the walls

Jennifer sat down at the counter after the last couple left the restaurant, thirty boring minutes to go. While absent mindlessly twirling a stand of blonde hair in her fingers, a patron came in the door, chiming the bell attached to it.

He came and sat down at the counter with a grin on his face, her posture instantly straightened and she jumped off her stool.

Flattening her apron down, Jennifer hastily grabbed a menu and placed it in front of him.

"Welcome to True North Diner, my name is Jennifer, what can I get you?"

He gazed up at her and she felt like her knee's were going to give out at his dazzling smile. He looked to only be about eighteen or nineteen, with shocking green eyes and short light brown hair.

Instead of looking through the menu he directly ordered. "Hello, I'd like a cup of coffee and a piece of that blueberry cheesecake please."

Jennifer raised an eyebrow.

He held his hands up in defence, "What I'm a guy, we'll eat any kind of cake possible!"

She laughed lightly walking down the counter to where the cake was displayed in a glass case, pulling out a piece and quickly pouring him a cup of coffee.

"Cream or sugar?" She called down to him.

"None thanks."

"Figures," Jennifer commented under her breath playfully, this must have also been typical 'guy' behaviour, only drinking coffee black. She picked up the cup and plate, sauntering over to where the handsome stranger was sitting, placing it in front of him with a grin.

"Bon Appetite!"

He chuckled under his breath before picking up the fork and digging into the cake.

Jennifer watched him thoughtfully chew and swallow. His face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"Is it good?"

He was silent for a moment, then spoke.

"It's delicious, I don't think their are words to explain how good this is! My complements to the chef."

Jennifer held up a finger to him and yelled through the window to the kitchen.

"Hey Phil!"

"Yeah?" Came a gruff reply from the other side.

"There's a guy here who says your cheesecake is delicious beyond comprehension!" She yelled cheekily.

Embarrassed muttering came through the window.

Jennifer and her patron laughed.

"So, who is this guy who loves cheesecake?" She asked leaning an arm against the counter.

"Adrian. Adrian Summers."

"Well its nice to meet you Adrian Summers."

Adrian smirked at her before taking another bite of cake.

"Do you go to school around here?" He asked.

"Yeah I go to Everwood High School, what about you?"

His mouth was open, "I go there too, for some reason I had a feeling you looked familiar."

Jennifer smiled and shook her head as he stuffed in more cheesecake, effectively polishing off the plate. Glancing at her watch, she noticed there was only five minutes till her shift was over. She turned away from Adrian and untied the apron from her waist, going to hang it up by the kitchen. But Adrian put a hand around her wrist. Jennifer froze in place.

"Do you think there's a chance I could have a slice of the waitress?"

She found her self staring at him, he looked earnest enough. Even though it was a cheesy way of asking her out on a date, Jennifer couldn't help but admit that was one of the best pick-up lines she had ever heard.

Gazing onto his face, she took a deep breath and smiled. "Sure, why not, it's not like I've got anything to lose."

Adrian grinned and let go of her arm. "You won't be sorry." He pulled the napkin from beside him over and stole a pen from the apron Jennifer had yet to hang up.

He quickly wrote down an address and placed it before her.

"Meet me here, Friday night at seven. I'll be waiting!" Adrian said, paying for the cheesecake and coffee. He got off his stool and started for the exit.

Jennifer smiled, "Don't worry I'll be there."

"Bye." He called out, looking back at her a last time.

She gave Adrian a small wave as he left and went to pick up his money. Jennifer's mouth hung open and the tip he had left her. There was a ten dollar bill laying next to the six fifty he had left for the coffee and cake.

Jennifer narrowed her eyes, it seemed he was trying to get brownie points in his favour.

Shaking her head she picked up the address he gave her.

1139 Pine Street

Jennifer clutch the address tightly in her hand as she walked down the sidewalk. People were rushing up and down the street, it felt like a zoo.

She had dressed simply, and as inexpensively as she could afford. A black skirt and white blouse with a cardigan over top, luckly, there had been some things on sale.

Liam had ended up staying at a friends house that night, so he was taken care of. Instead of home alone, like usual when she was at work or doing errands.

Jennifer felt so nervous, it was a strange feeling. With having to take care of Liam and work, she didn't have time to go on dates or chat with a friend about a crush. It was all new to her.

So as she rounded the corner and came onto Pine Street, it was like she shaking in her shoes.

'1004, 1029, 1094...' She started counting down the addresses until she came to the right one.

'1139 Pine Street at seven o'clock.' Jennifer checked her watch. 'Right on time.'

It was a small restaurant called 'Sweet Cake'. Jennifer smiled, wondering if Adrian took her here on purpose. She walked inside and instantly smelled coffee and baked good. Looking around the tables, she couldn't spot Adrian.

As she searched for him, a single thought occurred to her, 'What if he stood me up? I mean I am only just a waitress, he might have completely forgotten about our date...' As Jennifer continued to play out scenarios in her mind, she bleakly heard her name being called.

Snapping her head up, she saw Adrian standing behind the counter, with a huge smile plastered on his features. Her mind instantly filled with relief.

The strange part, was that Adrian had the same white apron on, she had on the other night.

It all started to click in her mind. 'He works here, in a bakery...'

Jennifer almost gasped in surprise when she spotted what was in front Adrian.

It was a single piece of blueberry cheesecake.