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Bettie had been visiting this diner everyday in the morning before class. She had a growing reputation as a great guest and even managed to build a strong friendship with one of the waitresses, Nancy, due to them both being from the south. They’d gossip about regulars or some people in her class and exchange stories from childhood. On a very rare occasion, Bettie was running late so she was unable to visit the diner like usual. She decided she would just go after her last class that day and hoped her friend would still be on the clock. When she got there her eyes scanned around the now bustling diner that was usually empty during her visits. Her eyes landed on a person sat at the furthest booth in the corner next to the glass wall that had a nice view of the sidewalk outside. The sunlight highlighted the person’s features beautifully as they read their book fully engaged in the story while picking at some of their fries. Their black hair was tied back in a cute little ponytail, too short for a bun, with a wavy strand cascading down in the front. Their features were sharp yet somehow feminine? Then she(?) looked up at Bettie, making her extremely aware of the fact that she was staring and blocking the doorway. She quickly looked away and was oh so thankful that the seat at the counter she auto-piloted to was open. She picked up a menu and stuffed her face in it hoping that the person didn’t notice.
“Bettie! there you are! I thought you went missing,” her friend jokes appearing in front of her.
“Hey Nancy,” she chuckles. “Woke up late, darn alarm didn’t go off.”
“Missing that rooster back at home, huh?”
Bettie gives a faint smile, “maybe a little. Say, who’s that in corner over there?” She nods her head in the direction trying not to make it obvious.
“Oh the French fella?” ‘Fella?’ “That’s Theodore or Théodore, however you pronounce it,” she waves her hand dismissively before continuing, “he comes in around this time every other day and orders some fries. Frites he calls ‘em.” She smirks when she notices the women’s surprised expression and leans in to whisper, “I didn’t think he was a man either.”
Bettie whispers back, “he’s real pretty.” She quickly glances over again and sees him biting into a fry absentmindedly, seemingly absorbed in the pages of whatever he’s reading. “You ever seen him bring a girl here?”
Nancy snorts, “naw, just his equally European friend on occasion. He’s real cute. I think he’s German or something.”
“Really now? What’s he look like?” She leans in ready for her daily dose of gossip.
She slaps her arm playfully, “girl you haven’t even ordered yet.”
“You already know what I want.” She chuckles in response and walks away to put her order in.
Bettie decides to come in late again the next day because her alarm “still ain’t working.”
Nancy immediately calls her out for it, “sure. Well you’re outta luck anyways. He don’t come on Tuesdays.”
Bettie sighs, “fine, I’ll just take my regular.”
Bettie ate and they talked about their days. Nancy started telling her about the German guy and how tall he is. “I’m telling you, he’s about the size of a mountain.”
“What in the world are they feeding ‘em in Germany?”
“I don’t know but it’s working.”
Bettie finishes up her meal and stays a few more minutes before the manager tells Nancy to get back to work. She chuckles, “alright I’ll leave you to it.”
“He comes Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays,” she winks, “so come this time tomorrow.”
She waves her off and Bettie heads back to her dorm for the day.
A few weeks have gone by and Théodore has been seeing that cute blonde lady more and more. He can’t remember her name but he knows it starts with a B from the times he’s overheard her conversations with the waitress. He’s well aware of her not so subtle glances at him but he doesn’t know whether it’s a good thing or not. He remembers their first conversation when the waitress told the blonde lady about him. They’re terrible at whispering or maybe he’s too good at hearing but he heard their little exchange about him being a man. For some women it’s a turn off for a man to look feminine in anyway, for some it’s a bonus. He’s been called the term “pretty-boy” many times by peers and originally he thought it was a compliment. He soon realized based on the tone of how they said it that it was in fact not meant as a compliment. Most of the time at least. He couldn’t figure out if the blonde was one of those exceptions.
She walks in, makes eye contact with him as per usual, but this time she smiles and waves. He almost turns around to see if someone’s behind him but remembers he’s in the last booth. He returns her wave and she goes to her usual spot. This happens again the next time, and the next, and the next. He decides that this time he’s going to make the first move which is exactly what she wants him to do. When he comes in the next time he sits on a stool at the counter right next to where the blonde lady usually sits. The waitress smirks at him not saying anything and serves him his fries.
Bettie comes in and looks straight towards the now empty booth. She sighs disappointed before looking at her usual spot and seeing Théodore waving at her from the seat next to it. Her heart skips a beat and she walks over to him.
“Hey! What’re you doing over here?” She asks playfully in that drawl he finds charming.
“I wanted a change of scenery,” he smiles and she gets butterflies. “I am Théodore,” she makes a mental note of the pronunciation and he offers her his hand.
She shakes it with a firm grip that would make her pa proud, “Bettie. Nice to finally meet cha.” Bettie. He’ll make sure to remember that.
She sits down next to him, “would you like some? They are still fresh.” He slides the plate of fries towards her, he made sure to get enough to share.
“Yes I would. Thank you kindly,” she takes a fry. “You ever had one of the milkshakes here?” He shakes his head, “they’re real good.”
“Really? What flavor do you like the most?”
“Strawberry. Their chocolate is pretty good too.”
“Ooh. I love chocolate.” He waves down Nancy, “can I get two milkshakes please? One chocolate and one strawberry.”
“You got it!” She winks at Bettie before leaving to put in the order.
“So…” she pauses thinking of what to say, “where are you from?”
He quirks an eyebrow at her already knowing that she knows, “France. And you?”
“America.”
He chuckles, “well I assumed so. Which part?”
“Well who’s to say I ain’t from Britain?” He looks at her for a moment before laughing. She smiles at the fact he got her joke. “But I’m from Texas.”
“Ah, like the cowboys?”
She chuckles, “sure. What part of France are you from?”
“Paris.”
“Really?” She asks excitedly.
“Non,” he snorts. “You wouldn’t know it.”
“Try me.”
“Menton.”
She purses her lips and nods, “I definitely know that one.”
He chuckles, “ah, our shakes are here.”
“What’s the weather like?”
“Similar to here but not as hot.”
“Oh if you think Cali’s hot you’d shrivel up in Texas!”
They continue talking about where they’re from. Once they finish up their shakes Théodore finally checks his watch and realizes the time.
He shoots up, “I am sorry, I am going to be late to class. I had so much fun,” he squeezes her hand. He takes out his wallet and hands her some money, “for the shakes.”
“Thank you. I had fun as well. See you next time,” she waves and there’s a beat where they both feel like something’s missing.
Théo waves back and rushes out the diner.
“You ain’t never getting that alarm fixed, huh?” Nancy appears with a sly grin.
“Oh can it, Nancy.”
She smiles to herself and laughs when she sees him almost run into a pole. There’s a lot she’s got to learn about that man.