Caroline and I slid into our seats, making the quick drive to work. Though most of our friends thought the 50s themed diner was a little dated, Caroline and I had always loved the authentic retro feel at Pat’s Place. It had a long bar that spread across the back of the room with a row of barstools in front of it. The counter was a sparkling white, matching the tops of the tables. Booths with red seats covered the remaining wall space inside, breaking up the black and white checkered floor. Kit was at the register ringing up a customer when Caroline and I met her behind the counter.

“Hey girls,” she said and smiled at us.

“Hey,” we answered in unison. Kit’s mother’s name had been Pat. When her mother died, the diner became hers. She and her father Mickey have been running it since. 

“How was the first day of school?” Kit brushed a stray brown curl from her cheek. Though she was in her mid-thirties, Kit could pass for twenty-five any day. 

“It was pretty good. School is school.” I shrugged.

“There was a new student in our history class today, and he is gorgeous!” Caroline added.

“Well, in that case, I hope you girls are focusing on the assignments and not the scenery in the classroom,” Kit said with a wink.

“You know I will, but I make no promises for Caroline,” I replied.

“Hey!” she yelled, smacking my arm lightly. “I think it'll be harder for you than you think. Besides, Conrad didn’t seem to mind when you practically massaged his face in class.”

“Oh, that is so not what happened!” I could feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment. “I borrowed a pencil from him, that’s all.”

“If that’s the case, then why were you staring holes through Claire in the parking lot?” Caroline asked.

I glared at Caroline as I walked over to the serving window between the kitchen and eating area. Kit came up and grabbed a hot plate of fries off the window and walked it over to a customer seated at one of the bar stools.

“Hey, Mickey!” I called through the window. Mickey had graying hair and a set of creases that cut across his forehead.  I’d never met any of my grandparents, so Mickey was the closest thing I had to them. He always referred to Kit, Caroline, and I as “his girls.” Caroline and I had been working at the diner for the past two years, but we'd practically grown up in it. My parents knew Mickey and Kit before I was born. They'd been my family for as long as I could remember.

“Hey!” He looked up from the grill and beamed at me. “You have a good first day?”

“It was pretty good. I felt sick at lunch though, so I didn’t really eat anything.”

“If you give me a minute, I’ll cook you up a burger and fries. Does Caroline want anything?”

I pulled myself over the bottom of the window and pecked him on the cheek. “Thanks! Hold on, I’ll ask her.” I turned to face the opposite end of the bar. “Caroline, you want a burger?”

“No thanks, Mickey,” she yelled. “I’m not hungry right now.”

I braided my hair into a single plait to get it out of my face and tied a white apron over my dress. Then I grabbed an order pad and pen before sliding them into the pocket of my apron. Caroline started cleaning the windows on the opposite side of the restaurant while I ate my late lunch.