She was my co-worker, classmate, student, and most of all, my friend. I hadn't known Liz for too long, no more than a year really, but she had become one of my closest friends. She was also one of the prettiest girls I'd ever met. She'd never thought she was anything special, not even the strings of suitors could prove to her that she was desirable. My sweet Lizzy.
It was a day like any other at the Burger Duke, she was working the cashier while I was making the endless barrage of burgers people ordered. My arms were already starting to ache from all the meals I had prepared. I glanced over to the clock hanging over my head and realized it had struck 8 PM. Only 4 more hours, I thought, until I can get my ass outta this dump and get some rest...
"Christy!" I awoke suddenly as someone shouted near me. Whenever business got heavy I tended to space out a bit. I looked up and saw Liz's teasing smile. "Hurry up slowpoke! Make me a Big Duke with extra pickles!" haha... Her lips had the cutest pout when she got impatient.
An hour later I clocked out for lunch and was sitting outside leaning on the walls, hoping to catch a fresh breeze. I closed my eyes and raised my chin as the cool air blew past me. When I opened my eyes, Liz was standing in front of me. I freaked out, how the hell did she manage to sneak up on me like that!
She sat next to me without saying a word and leaned her head on my shoulder. She was wearing a cherry scented perfume, the one I'd given to her for her 21th birthday. I smiled and continued to meditate, staring at the night sky. It seemed hard for me to believe how I'd befriended someone like her. Not a lot of people can stand to be around me. I was never too sociable and my appearance tends to intimidate people. The goth type. The silent type. The pensive type. The I'll-kick-your-ass-if-you-come-within-a-10- feet-radius type. At least that's what I've heard. Lizzy on the other hand is a bit popular, dressed casual, and always got cute guys to like her. She approached me one day at school while I was playing my guitar in the quad. She simply sat down in front of me without me noticing. I tend to ignore my surroundings when I'm playing, absorbed in the notes. I had no idea how long she sat there, listening, but when I finally saw her she smiled and said "That was beautiful... Any chance you can teach me to play like that??"
I've been giving her lessons ever since then.
After we got out of work, I was going to her house and sleeping over. Actually, I was kinda homeless at the moment, since my parents had kicked me outta the house for the hundredth time this month. I'd been sleeping in my car for the past week. Ha! But as soon as Lizzy found out she convinced me to stay at her place. I say "convinced", but this girl seriously would NOT let me spend another day without a proper roof over my head.
I was probably gonna end up living with her anyway, since she lived alone ever since her parents died. Lucky for her though, her folks left her a house, the house she grew up in. All her siblings had moved out years ago, and she being the youngest inherited the place. Liz hadn't mentioned me staying for good, it didn't matter to me. I never really had anywhere permanent to stay. I wouldn't be surprised if I took off soon, I didn't want to be a bother. And if I couldn't stay there I'd find another place. However, she didn't live in the best neighborhood, and with the idea of her being alone in that house, I really just wanted to be there to protect her.
Before I knew it half an hour had already past. Liz had been talking about her most recent ex, and how badly they had ended. I listened vaguely, since I obviously had other things running through my head.
We headed back inside, ready for another 2 hours of hell. Business really got out of hand for a while, there was an endless stampede of customers that went in for their midnight snack. Burger this, chicken that, would you like fries with that, and so much more nonsense.
Finally, it was midnight. The kitchen crew and myself were cleaning up putting away utensils, washing up dishes before we were on our way. I grabbed my things and headed outside to my car. Liz, as usual, was waiting for me there. "Hey, let's get outta here, my pillow calls out to me!"
