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Chapter
Three
"Why do you keep doing that? If he asks you out again, say yes. Please? For me? I haven't even gotten to see who this guy is,"
said Merriene's voice, It was the next day. Danielle-Rachelle was on
her first break. She was on the phone with Merriene. Danni-Rae was
sitting at the same table as the day before.
"Okay, but only for you," she said, laughing a little.
"Alright. I'll let you go," said Merri.
"Okie-dokie-day. Later," said Danni. She hung up. Her break
was practically over. She walked into the back, grabbed a fresh rag, a
container, and filled the container with soapy water. She might as well
get back to work now. She began to bus tables. When she finished with
that, she began to mop. One of her favorite songs of all time came on.
She noticed only she was in the front of the shop at that time. Dan and
the other employees were probably taking their breaks. Danni-Rae began
to sing along with the song under her breath. Soon, she began getting
into it. She was only mouthing the words now. She pretended to be
singing into the mop handle like it was a microphone and started dancing
around. She worked her way from the end of the room to the middle of the
shop dancing and mouthing the words to the song. Then, she tripped over
the mop and fell. She let out a shriek. She wasn't on the floor, but in
someone's arms. When she processed what had just happened, she looked up.
She was in Zac's arms. He smiled down at her and she smiled,
embarrassed. She stood up.
"Are you okay?" asked Zac.
"Yeah," she said. "I'm so sorry."
"No. It's okay. Really," he said, half a smile on his face.
They both stood there, awkwardly.
"So...." said Danielle-Rachelle.
"That was a really hard fall," said Zac, emphasizing the word,
"really".
"Yeah," said Danni-Rae. "Thanks." She paused.
"Sorry about that...again."
"No, uh...but you do owe me something," said Zac.
"Is that so?" asked Danielle crossing her arms over her chest.
"Yes, that is so," said Zac.
"And what is it that I owe you?" asked Danielle.
"Hmm...how about three million dollars?" he asked.
"Yeah, right. Come back in ten years and I'll let you know how
that's going," she said, sarcastically. He grinned.
"I was joking," said Zac. "But you do have to have that
cup of coffee with me that you've been putting off."
"I haven't been putting off, it's just...well, I dunno," said
Danielle.
"C'mon! I just saved you from a minor concussion. You have to give
me something to work with," said Zac, pleading.
"True, true," said Danni.
"So...?" said Zac.
"Okay, but it has to be after work," said Danni-Rae.
"Alright. I'll be here. What time?" asked Zac.
"Uh...1:30?" said Danni-Rae. She paused and thought.
"Actually, I dunno."
"Please?" asked Zac.
"I'll check with my brother and my parents and let you know,"
said Danielle.
"Okay...?" said Zac, puzzled. Danielle ran her hand through
her light brown, wavy, passed-shoulder-length hair.
"It's just...I have kind of a tight schedule," said Danni-Rae.
"Understandable," said Zac.
"I'll tell you what? If you can catch me after work, I guess we can
hang out," said Danni-Rae.
"Deal," said Zac. They shook hands.
"Okay, then. Then it is," she said. "Maybe."
"See you around, Danielle-Rachelle," said Zac, turning. He
walked out of the shop. Danielle-Rachelle smiled to herself.
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Danielle-Rachelle clocked out. It was 12:45. She wondered if Zac would
show. She stayed in the back for a while, then, at one, she went out to
the front. "Hey, Dan," I'm leaving. See you on Monday,"
said Danielle. She left the shop. "Should I wait for him?" she
thought. She got into her car, turned up the radio, and put on the air
conditioner. She lay her head back against the head rest and closed her
eyes. She sat like that for a couple of minutes, just relaxing. Then,
someone knocked on her window. She opened her eyes and looked out the
window. It was Zac. She turned down the radio and rolled down her
window.
"Hey, stranger," said Zac.
"Are you stalking me?" asked Danielle-Rachelle.
"No," said Zac, confused.
"I'm just kidding!" said Danni-Rae.
"Oh. So how bout that-," said Zac. Danni cut him off.
"Cup of coffee?" she said.
"Yeah," said Zac.
"Well, since I owe you..." she said.
"Only since you owe me?" he asked.
"Well..." said Danni. "You might have something to do
with it." He smiled, satisfied. "So, how 'bout that
coffee?"
"Yeah, let's go," said Zac. He opened her car door for her.
They walked into the shop. Zac looked up at the menu. "What would
you recommend?"
"Double shot vanilla latte," said Danni.
"Hmm...is that what you're getting?" asked Zac.
"Yeah," said Danni-Rae. They stepped up in line.
"Two double shot vanilla lattes," said Zac to Dan. He paid.
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