I’m not in the mood for taking the subway to go to work, so I decide to walk albeit the weather doesn’t look very promising. It’s chilly and gloomy but I don’t mind it. I like the beginning of the fall. The brown dry leaves on the sidewalk cracking under my shoes. I love the colors, the odors, the atmosphere. Maybe I’m just weird. But to me, it’s cozy rather than cold. It reminds me of my childhood when my parents drove me to school, or when in the afternoon, I used to do my homework with a steamy mug of hot chocolate on my little desk that faced the window.
I check the time on my phone and on a whim, I step into a scented candles shop. I’m a big fan, and I buy five different colors and scents to place in each room of my temporary apartment.
A few blocks before ‘my’ restaurant, I instinctively step into my favorite coffee shop and I get two blueberry muffins to go that I devour down the street in less than no time. If I had to name some of my vices, blueberry muffins would definitely be one of them. I just love them!
I suck the sticky blue texture out of my thumbs just before walking into the restaurant. “Hey,” I mumble to some of my colleagues who are setting the tables, and I head toward the crew room.
I’m dealing with the combination of my locker and I sigh, thinking how miserable I actually am. Never been lucky with men, and probably I never will be.
As I remove my worn out canvas shoes, I reflexively grab my foot and take a quick whiff of my big toe – that’s another vice of mine. I just can’t help it. I smirk with one side of my mouth and I start wearing my waitress dress.
“Hey, darling are you ok?” Nick asks me when he walks by one of the tables I’m setting the cutlery on. The restaurant is still closed.
“Oh, hi Nick.” I smile.
“Honey, I can smell blue moods a mile away, so what’s up? Tell me.”
“No, I’m alright really,” I murmur, not wanting to self-disclose about my inner feelings, although Nick is the only friend and seemingly sincere person I have in this city.
He rolls his green eyes along with his head and then sighs. “Listen, Grace, I don’t need sad employees in this restaurant. I’m the manager and it’s my responsibility to make sure you are alright,” he says with a tone that makes me understand he’s only trying to be helpful and that I can trust him.
I love him. He’s like an older brother for me. He’s such a kind person and I feel so lonely that I suddenly feel the urge to hug him tightly. But I know I can’t do that in front of the others.
I smirk. “Thank you, Nick.”
He looks on his left for a couple of seconds. “Let me guess sweetheart. Does it have to do with that guy you told me about last time?”
My heart suddenly races. Of course, Nick is more sensible than the stereotypical man, he has what they call ‘women’s intuition’.
I feel my cheeks going warm and I let out an awkward smile.
He sucks the air through his teeth and sighs again smiling at me with his eyes. “Men…” he murmurs melancholically. “They are all the same,” he says.
He’s right, I think. “Yeah, they are,” I reply.
“But!” he says lifting his index finger up to stop me.
I widen my eyes questioningly. “But?” I timidly mutter.
“But are we going to give up just because most of them suck? The right ones are like precious diamonds. They are rare, but they exist. And sometimes they are simply rough gemstones that are very hard to recognize.”
I chuckle letting out a sweet smile. “Wise words Nick. But It’s so hard! I’ve never found the diamond so far,” I giggle.
“Darling, of course, it’s not easy. If finding precious gems was a piece of cake everyone would be billionaires.” He laughed. “But no, it’s not easy to find the right man. The one who will love you for the rest of your life. The one who surprises you every morning and doesn’t take you for granted. And why not? A damn smoking hot guy would be the cherry on top, wouldn’t it?”
I grin, and my thoughts go to Zac. ‘He is damn hot but he is an asshole!’
“So, what it takes is willpower and persistence. The same it takes to bring rough hidden gems to light.” His green eyes pierce me, and his sweet smile, along with his pearls of wisdom, give me a reassuring sensation.
“Yeah, who knows where my blue prince his?” I smile.
“He could everywhere,” he promptly replies. “You just need to look twice, maybe more. And most importantly, you should never give up, even if you have to go through a lot of suffering first. That’s the only way to find real love.” He looks at his silver watch on his wrist. “Now it’s almost time to open, but remember what I said, honey.”
I slightly nod letting out a soft grin. But what he just said keeps bugging me. ‘The right ones may hide everywhere like rough gemstones. Sometimes they are like hidden gems.’
I shake my head. “I don’t think I’m able to recognize a hidden gem.”
***
After almost fourteen hours I’m exhausted. A waitress called in sick at the last moment and I had to cover for her. Nick said he’d have handled it but I told him not to worry. I didn’t want to let him down.
But now I’m drained.
All my muscles hurt, my feet are sore, and my back is killing me.
“Now I don’t listen to any excuse sweetheart, you get your ass back home or I’ll fire you,” Nick says apprehensively when only a couple of tables are left with customers still sitting. “You have done more than enough today, thank you. I owe you. But now go get some rest,” he murmurs with emphasis.
I let out a soft tired smile and I nod. “I will, thanks, Nick.”
He chuckles shaking his head and strolls toward the kitchen. “I don’t wanna see you when I’m back,” he says without turning.
I quickly go change and in a matter of minutes, I’m out of the restaurant.
Like the first day, I’m really tired and the only thing I care for is a hot bath and a soft bed. I’m about to wave my hand to an upcoming yellow cab when I feel a presence behind me. It seems like some sort of déjà vu, and when I instinctively turn, exactly like the first time we talked outside the restaurant, Zac stands a few feet away from me.