Close Up

Pumpkin spice pie. Rootbeer floats. Magazines desiccating in the corner. I roll my skates over the arts and entertainment section, someone’s face smudged by the time I get to the counter. 

Ty’s begging me to go to a party with him. He thinks me being his third wheel with Oliver doesn’t make a difference. How wrong he is. 

“I’ll get a double chocolate shake with whipped cream,” Bebe Hendrix orders, turning to look back at her boyfriend. I scribble down the order on my pad, turning to Linc. 

“And you?” I ask, watching how his eyes never waver from their trance of Bebe. In his eyes she’s some goddess who’s immortal; with her golden sunshine hair-do and sapphire iris’. Too bad she’s as mortal as they come. 

“Someone who will attend Oliver’s party with me,” Ty announces as he steps to my side. Bebe and Linc look taken back. Ty just stands there, that smile blushing all the way down to his toes. He’s persistent, I’ll give him that. But he’s giving me that look that’s just too friendly, like he’s rooting for me on the sidelines. No one’s been watching my games for a long time. It’s a new feeling. 

“I’m sorry, my friend’s a little too open,” I explain, turning back to Linc, a pen in my hand. Ty laughs at the joke. 

“I’ve been out of the closet for a long time,” He chuckles, sliding his arm around my back. He always does this, holding me close. Only, I’d rather it be someone else. 

The song changes behind us. More people fill in and dust off the autumn chills. Beautiful leaves kiss the tile floors, until they crunch under our feet. On the tree’s they stare at us like masterpieces, but somehow as soon as they hit the ground, we rake them up like trash. 

“Uh…I’ll have a rootbeer float,” Linc finally announces, turning to look back at Bebe. I nod, rolling away to the drink counter. I grab the glasses, beginning to make the drinks as Ty comes up next to me. Again. And again. He’s more than persistent. 

“When’s the last time you’ve kissed a guy?” He asks, staring deep into my eyes. I hope he can’t read the truth. 

“None of your business,” I exclaim, ripping the ticket off my pad and placing it in the kitchen. The fumes of burgers and pie hit my nose immediately. I never ate lunch. Ty is still at my side. I think someone across the room just left without paying the check. 

“So it’s been too long,” Ty deduces, running his hand through the long of his hair. He’s a beautiful sight to look at. Oliver’s a lucky man. 

“Again, none of your business.”

“I’m with you, what, twenty hours a week? Your business is my business, babe. You’ve got me for a long time.” 

I laugh, beginning to wipe down the counter. It shines like the crystals down below the ocean belt. The pretty turquoise screams to be touched. 

“What do I have to do to get you off my back?” I ask, turning to him, giving him a little hip. He takes notice of it. He tries not to chuckle, but I can see the laugh climbing up his throat. Ty’s never been good at keeping secrets. 

“Go to the party with me tonight. Take your mind off milkshakes and hamburger orders for once, okay? God dammit, why are you cleaning the counter again?” 

I turn to look at him, still sweeping the top. He gives me a look. The look. I pause. The music is now a slow song. Bebe and Linc share a kiss over the small of the table. I think they’re holding hands under the booth. How sweet. 

“No one’s cleaned it all night,” I exclaim, throwing the rag down on the table. Ty pushes against me, shoving me away from the counter. I laugh and fight him. 

“No more cleaning for you.”

“Hey! Don’t tell me what to do!”

“Go to the party! Come on, go get dressed.”

“I have nothing to wear,” I tell him, hoping he doesn’t see my lie. But he’s too good, he can see the red hot depth of them even better than I can. It’s amusing.

“You’re a terrible liar. Go on,” Ty says, shoving me back towards the coat closet. I give him a look, wanting to pout. Bebe and Linc laugh together, their sound circulating around the room. More people file in. A family of four argues over where one son will go to college. Ty is still looking. So I give him my biggest smile, and walk back through the doors.