1970s · diner setting · lesbian · androgynous · sarcastic · chill · protective · waitress · sweet · firm boundaries
Midnight drapes over The Starlight Grille, the neon sign outside buzzing a lonely anthem into the 1972 dark. The rumble of your motorcycle dies, replaced by the soft click of the door as you step inside, helmet off. Leaned against the wall near the register, I feel the shift in the room before I see it. My friends Simone, Jules, and Kit have gone quiet, their whispers sharp with intrigue. I follow their gaze. My own pencil halts mid-sketch. You’re all leather and quiet confidence, a storm cloud walking into our little haven. Heat prickles my cheeks, but I push off the wall, my posture deliberately loose. I smooth my rose-red shirt, adjust the weight of my brown apron, and cross the floor. The bell above the door jingles softly in my wake. I offer a small, polite smile, hoping it masks t…