One

  Hailey glanced up at the wall clock for the umpteenth time that afternoon and like several times before that,she sighed. Time was running quite slow in this particular shift. It was a friday and so they didn't have much customers. Not that the cafe had much that of anyway. They had enough patronage to keep the place afloat and functioning but not enough for expansion and renovations that the place was in dire need of. Things had been like that long before she started working here. Nothing changes in this town,she thought. The same people, the same sights, the same vices and habits.

     Silver creek was a small town that held little attractions apart from the creek from which the name had been derived from. The creek was full of intriguing aquatic life and did attract it's fair share of tourists. The town was a veering off a major highway and so there was also a fair amount of travellers and truckers. Apart from that, the town was just an ordinary place with little or nothing to do. It was also the town Hailey Brookes had lived in all of her life. Most of it, if she was being factual. She couldn't say she really loved the town but she was used to it. Nothing exciting or fun ever happened here not that she went out of her way to find it though. Today was different however. She had a date with Brandon and it seemed like the most interesting that had happened to her all year. Brandon was a nice guy who lived down the road from her own house. He had always found a way to be around Hailey.When she had returned from college,he made it a point of duty to show up at least once a week. After her Nana died, Brandon came around more frequently with the pretext of helping out with the odd jobs around the house. It was so obvious that he had a thing for her. Finally, he grew enough balls to ask her out on a date.

   She looked at the clock again and wished she could will it to move faster. She didn't want to be late on her first date although she knew Brandon was an easy going guy and he would understand if she was.

"What's on your mind girl?",a singsong voice broke into her deep thoughts. She turned to see Peggy. A plump round faced girl with the friendliest of smiles. Her head was poking out from the window that demarcated their workspace. Peggy was the one in charge of the cash register. She was also the only person Hailey talked to in the cafe. Scratch that. She was the only real friend Hailey had in silver creek. Hailey had never been much of a social person. She had gone through her four years in college without even having a friendship progress through to the final stages of acquaintanceship.

"Umm, i need to go home"

Peggy made an incredulous face. It was obviously a topic they had discussed several times.

"To do what? Eat some junk and then sleep off while bingeing those boring documentaries?

"You make it sound like it's not fun".

"It is not. Girl,you need to get a life !"

The statement brought a smile to Hailey's face. It wasn't the first time she was hearing that.

"Well,i actually have other plans for tonight".

"A new snack to add to your list or what?"

"Peggy Turner can you shut up for just a minute please?", Hailey said with a laugh.

"Okay", her friend replied with an eye roll. She then drew two fingers across her lips imitating a zip. Hailey just shook her head and gave an exasperated sigh.

"Well, i have a date".

     

Peggy's eyes grew round as saucers and she stared at Hailey as if she had just sprouted wings. 

"Did you just say that you have a date?", She asked.

"I believe i did".

Peggy shrieked,her right hand punching into the air. "Wow!! a date finally."

"It's just a friendly date, don't get too weird about it".

"First off, there's no such thing as a friendly date and secondly i'm most definitely getting weird about it."

She ignored Hailey's dramatic eye roll and continued "Like when last did you go on a date?"

"Wow, harsh", Hailey said, clutching her chest at about the position of her heart and faking a pained look.

"It's the truth sweetie and you know it".

"Anyways, this date...."  Peggy didn't get to finish her statement as someone dumped a stack of trays on the counter and asked "Who's going on a date?"

They both cursed quietly. Ruby from the kitchen was an annoying busybody who had a knack for making herself at home in the one place she wasn't wanted. She also had a flair for delving into people's private conversations. Just like right now.

"C'mon, ladies spill", She pressed on. She drew the trays laid two bejewelled hands on the counter. As usual, she smelled of some cheap perfume and had applied way too much make up. Ruby of any given day, Hailey thought.

Ruby gave the pair an irritated look. 

"What's with you two?"

Hailey and Peggy exchanged uneasy glances.

"Well',Peggy started, 'Hailey here's got a date this evening".

"Really?", Ruby exclaimed giving her an incredulous look.

Not wanting to be part of the conversation, Hailey merely nodded and busied herself with arranging glasses and menus.

"Well,i hope he's handsome,i like my men handsome and a tad roguish. You know the more roguish, the more good they are in the sack." This last part was accompanied by a throaty laugh that only her shared. Briefly, Hailey wondered if the bunch of truckers that Ruby consorted with regularly were included in that category.

"So,are you gonna let him hit it today?"

Hailey heard Peggy's stifled groan even as she let out a sigh. Ruby had no concept of boundaries whatsoever. She thought of a plausible, civil answer to her question other than the go to hell at the tip of her tongue. Her thoughts were however interrupted by a loud whistle from Ruby. What was wrong with her ? She looked up to see that Ruby had turned and was watching something or someone with interest. She followed Ruby's gaze and what she saw made her swallow hard. Making his way towards them was a total hunk. As he got closer, she thought he looked like one of those greek gods come to life.

"Now that's what am talking about, my type of Man", Ruby said conspiratorially. Peggy let out a frustrated sigh but all these were lost on Hailey.