Unconditional Validation

Chapter 12

I looked around the diner, which was surprisingly somewhat empty. Especially when it is usually the lunch rush hour. It was kind of quiet except for the soft conversations here and there between the people that were here in the diner. Also, "What You Want to Hear" by Sub-Radio was playing not so subtly from the diner's speaker system. It was nice to know that the people here didn't know who I really was nor who I was related to either. However, it was also kind of lonesome as well because I didn't know anyone to talk to. I missed being around everyone I knew, even though I knew I needed everything to calm down back at home.

I was pulled out of my thoughts in my head with a plate of food and a chocolate milkshake being set down in front of me.

"Here you go! I hope you enjoy it!" The waiter beamed.

"Thanks", I quietly responded with a slight smile to him.

"Hey, you okay?" The waiter softly asked with some concern in his voice. I didn't really want to talk to anyone to be honest. I wanted to be polite though.

"Yeah, I guess, maybe it's because I'm hungry", I smiled weakly at him.

"I don't think that's the case", the waiter crossed his arms in front of him with a small frown. He sat down in the booth seat that was directly across from mine at my table!

"Wait, aren't you still on the clock?!" I kind of whisper-yelled to him. Him sitting here made me feel nervous about the situation in general and also I didn't want him to get in trouble with his boss.

"Yeah, but it seems like you aren't doing alright and I don't want you to feel alone", the waiter smiled reassuringly and winked, again. I felt the heat from my cheeks rise a bit.

"Thanks", I sheepishly smiled while biting into a fry, "But, I don't really know who you even are, man".

The waiter shifted in his seat to sit more upright, put his chin in his hand that was sitting on the table, and smiled, "Well, my name is Bryce, Bryce Esparza!" He held out his hand so I could shake it, which I did.

"My name is Ryder", I replied with a smile and bit into my burger.

"What's your last name?" Bryce asked me curiously. I started to sweat on my forehead a bit because of how nervous that question made me.

"I don't want to tell you, it's nothing against you. It's because if I tell you, it connects to why I ran away", I looked down at my plate in shame when I said that last part to him.

Bryce grabbed my hand softly, "Look, I know we don't know each other that well, but I'm not going to judge you or think of you differently if you tell me what happened."

I was kind of getting butterflies in my stomach from Bryce gently holding my hand. I know he's trying to be someone who just listens, but I'm starting to have confusing feelings for him being nice. I needed to trust him that he wouldn't go telling everyone who I was and who I'm related to.

"If I tell you, can you please not go and tell everyone who I am and who I'm related to?" I asked him with pleading eyes.

Bryce sighed, smiled softly, and let go of my hand, "Yes, I promise I won't tell anyone, bro."

"I'm Ryder Blackwell. I'm one of the triplet siblings from the Blackwell family", I told Bryce softly so no one else could hear what I was saying.

I saw that his face went into a stare of shock and excitement from what I had told him. In my mind, I was praying that he wasn't going to make it a big deal.

Oh no, he knows me, I thought nervously to myself.

"You're The Ryder Blackwell?! The best football captain?! The one who has it all, the family, the girl, the rides to college, the grades?! I heard about you last year as well!" Bryce whisper-yelled with excitement so nobody could hear us. I panicked a bit by the short outburst because of everyone else in the diner. Luckily, everyone else in the diner was too busy to notice.