Diamonds Cutting The Rain [Part Five]

[Part Five]

As John and I pulled into good ol' Sally's, which was this tiny little diner just out side of the main drag, I gasped at how much it look the same. Besides the obvious paint job, it looked just like it had way back when. I smiled and got out of the car before John even put it in park. Heck, I think we were still moving. I don't really remember. I just remember seeing the old "Sally's" sign, which was painted a bright white and red. It wasn't really fancy font or anything, just had a snake for the "s". Which normally would turn people away, but the way it was painted and stuff, it just drew people to the diner. However, when I looked at the "s", I realized it wasn't on there anymore. They'd changed it. I wonder if that was Sally's choice or not. Sally was a bright young girl, who opened the diner at fifteen using her parents money from their will. I think they had died in a car accident, but I can't be too sure. There were five car accidents in our town that year I was fourteen, surprisingly, and there were two plane crashes. No one was even sure 100% which accident Sally's parents died in. But they did, and she opened herself the resturant. Normally, it'd take a lot to open a resturant. However, the resturant was own by a guy named Bill, and he didn't really keep it going. I remember Sally was trying to hire new people, and since I'd made it a habit of going there at least once everyday for "the usual", which was hot chocolate in winter, pop in summer, and a bagel. Or something like that. Anyways, Sally was always asking me, just casual, "Hey, you ever think about getting a part-time job? Because I could totally help you out." I never gave in though, my mother didn't want me to get a job until I was about sixteen--by then, Sally's diner was "da bomb" and she had trouble turning down people.

So, it was a blast from the past to walk in and see the same old people hanging out in the same spots. Sally, who was normally laid back at her job, was screeching at an old lady I recongized as Miss. Bubled. Sally was shaking her head no. All I could see was the back of her blonde hair, and her neat little figure. When she turned around at the sound of the door bell, she gasped. I gasped. She was pregnant! Her belly looked like it was a balloon. Since Sally was only a year older than me, we'd become pretty good friends. But of course, when I left, we didn't talk at all, really.

"Say it isn't so!" Sally said, dropping her tray onto an empty table. "My baby's back!"

She was like a mother finding it's child in the big grocery store. She ran over and hugged me. Her short blonde hair was pulled back into a pony tail, little barely-visible bags under her eyes, and she looked kind-of worn. I squealed, because she was the one person I told almost, almost everything too. She squeezed me so tightly, I wasn't kidding when I said, "Sally--can't---breathe!"

She laughed, taking a step back. She grinned and said, "Want the usual?"

"You remember?" I asked, smiling.

"Yep," Sally said, winking, "It takes a lot to forget that. One hot chocolate and toasted cream-cheese bagel without seeds!" Laughing, I walked over to my usual spot at the counter. Hopping onto the seat, I asked her to keep my presence on the down-low. She started to make the hot chocolate, as she asked, "Why the down-low?"

"Um, you know, Sally," I said, realizing that John was there. It wasn't that I'd forgotten about him...Okay, so I did, just for a couple minutes. I didn't want to look at him. Did he think we were crazy? What? What?!

"Well, sure, whatever. Have you been to John's art gallery yet?" Sally asked me, placing a steamy-hot hot chocolate in front of me. I smiled and nodded. Sally said, smiling at John affectionally, "Yeah, John's the greatest. I gather you already know that he's staying with your parents. Despite my failing attempts to get him to live with me."

"Yeah, the art gallery is awesome. And what do you mean, 'failing attempts to get him to live with me'? Why can't he stay at my parents' house?" I asked, looking from Sally to John.

"Didn't he tell you?" Sally asked, looking at John, puzzled. She shrugged and said, smiling at me, "We're dating. Well, I guess not anymore. See?"

At that, she held out her left hand and waved her ring finger. Sure enough there was a big huge golden ring on her finger, with a big diamond. I wanted to choke on my hot chocolate. He was dating? All well, there goes that little thought. Then, Sally asked, "You dating anyone?"

"Yeah," I said, nodding, my eyes on her ring still, "his name's Sam. He's like this really awesome guy. And he's sort of...well, he's sort of a Prince."

"A what?" I was expecting Sally to ask. But it wasn't her. It was John. He stared at me, eyes wide and curious. I nodded and then John said, smiling, "I bet you like that. All tiraras and balls."

"It's nothing like that," I said, defensivly. Sadly, it was, sort of. I didn't like it that much, to be honest. I looked away and then smelt the freshly made bagel. Smiling, I picked it up and took a bite so I wouldn't have to talk.

A couple hours later, one too many "on the house" desserts and John and I were on our way home. Or rather, to my parents' house. Once we go there, I told mom--see, I was attempting to call her "mom"--that I was going to go back that night. More like right then. I guess I couldn't leave Sam forever. Eventually, I was going to have to face him. When I walked into my old room, I flipped open my cell. 7 missed calls. Opps. I scanned through them. All were Sam except one. That one was my friend. No biggie. I flipped my cellphone shut and quickly packed. I don't even know why. But when I looked up, I saw John and his stupid beautiful eyes staring back at me.

"It's not my baby," John told me. I blinked and he said, "It's some guy's. Her parents wouldn't let her have an abortion, it was too late when she told them anyways. I'm just marrying her because we're being forced to. Her parents want the kid to have a dad, my parents want me to be a dad. It was the perfect fix."

"Oh," I said, nodding. I looked away.

"Just thought you should know," John said, as he turned to leave.

"Hey, wait, thanks for telling me that," I told him before his fingers touched the door knob.

"Yeah, no problem. See ya," John said, with a sad sort-of smile.

I pushed the door open and turned to see John walking back towards the car. I called out, "John! Where ya going?"

"I got some things to buy for Sally and the baby. I'll see you later, okay?" he said, with a wave. I watched a bit star-struck as he got back into the car, turned the engine on and backed out of the driveway. I waved slightly, and watched him drive away. Okay, I thought, I shouldn't care. He wasn't mine. In fact, i just met him the night before. But he had walked me to the door. Unless...unless...

"Wow," I murmurered walking into the house. I smiled and said to my mother, who was in the kitchen, "Can I help with anything?"