the diner - harry styles (short story)

7

they sat together in a comfortable silence. in full honestly, riley didn't know what to say, besides the soft stereo music and the man's soft sniffles the diner seemed to be in complete silence. riley kept her hand in his, knowing full well that she was comforting him to the best of her abilities.
"are you going to be okay?" riley asked him, he lifted his head up and looked at her. his eyes were filled with tears and nose tinted red,
"i'll be okay," he said, although it was almost impossible to believe him with the state he was in right now, she trusted him. he was going to be okay.
"would you like a cup of coffee?" she asked him softly, he smiled and sniffed,
"i would like nothing more." riley was quick to stand up from the booth and walk around behind the counter, she was in the process of grabbing two mugs and the coffee pot when she heard her name being called,
"you still here kid?" john called from the kitchen,
"yeah, john," riley watched as he stood up and walked around to where she was standing.
"i'm leaving soon, have the keys," he handed her the keys and she put the coffee pot and mugs on the counter to place them in the pocket of her apron, "you know where the panic button is,"
"i'll be okay, john." she assured him, "my dad taught me self-defence, wanna see?" she attempted to punch him in the stomach lightly but it had no effect on him at all,
"no kiddo, i believe you," he gave her a light hug before walking towards the exit, "c-ya!"
riley spun around and grabbed the mugs and coffee pot off of the counter and carried them around to the man, he seemed to be in better spirits now, he smiled lightly at her as she sat down, she noticed his eyes were dry and nose was only slightly red. riley began pouring the steaming coffee into the cup and he clasped his hands around the cup and bought it up to his face, inhaling the scent and smiling slightly. riley smiled back at him,
"this is exactly what i needed, thank you,"
"just doing my job," she said as she poured herself a cup, "although usually i don't normally sit down with the customers,"
"they don't know what they're missing out on," he stated before taking a sip of his drink, she blushed slightly whilst doing the same,
"oh, just a whole bunch of awkward conversation and shitty jokes," he shook his head quickly,
"don't be ridiculous," he said, "you're the only person who i've had an enjoyable conversation with recently,"
"well, i'm glad to hear it,"
"how long have you been working here anyway?" he was quick to ask, riley scrunched her face in concentration,
"maybe, two, three years?" she sighed, "a while," she let out a small laugh, so did he. "do you have a job?"
"just in the band, we don't get much though, but it's enough." he sighed, "dad used to give me some just to help me out, so i don't know what's going to happen," i nodded in understanding, "god, that's so awful of me to say, he just died and i'm worrying about how i'm going to get my money."
"no, no. it's okay, it's okay to stress about finances, especially in this situation."
"you know, any normal person probaby would have beaten me up for that statement,"
"i guess i'm not normal them," riley laughed as she took a sip of her coffee,
"i guess not." he chuckled.