Serenity Of The Sun

Chapter 1 - Curly Fries

The Arby's smells as good as you'd expect. Greasy, damp, and slightly like fries. The tile floor is freshly mopped, glistening in the light. The heavy darkness outside highlights the emptiness inside, bright lights hang over empty tables casting shadows. I stand staring at the menu, pulling up my sweater sleeves. Sebastian is in the car, waiting for me. He likes their curly fries so I'd need to remember to get those. Ahead of me was a few people, an old man and his wife, two teens and a women with a young child. After the older man orders, I am about to step forward when the door snapped open. Goosebumps raise on my exposed arms and legs. The first thing I see are her was her lavender converse that slide across the slick tile. Her chestnut brown hair frizzes around her, blocking her eyes. She tumbles a few more steps inside the door and looked up at the line of people.

"Did anyone else see that?" She asks the room, nearly out of breath.

We make eye contact, and she scurries to the bathroom.

I looked around, nobody else had noticed her. I leave my place in line and walk over the bathroom door. The sign underneath the handle read "vacant" in bright red print. I open the door, and the room is empty. On the toilet seat are scuff marks and above it a window is open. I stand on the toilet and look out the window. Grass blows over vacant lot. A dew knocks come from the door. I get down and flush the toilet, then turn on the sink. It needs to look like I was actually using them. My eye catches something on the floor and I pause.

A tiny card sits on the floor, wet on the edge from water. I pick it up and flip it over, it is a stamp card for the gas station a few towns over. She has three marks on the top line from ordering scoops of ice cream and enough marks on the bottom line to get a free small coffee. I put the card in my pocket, and walk out of the bathroom. The women waiting in the small hall outside the door turns her head to look back at me after I leave. I assume shes seen the double scuff marks and is wondering what I did. Now, the line is only down to women and child. I step behind them and try to remember my order.

The car sits running in the parking lot, and I can hear its soft hum as I leave the building. I click the unlock button from the keys withing my pocket and open the door. I place my bags on the console and sit in the driver's seat. As I put on my seat belt, Sebastian wakes in the passenger seat and looks at me. His nearly lime green eyes his shine from the lamp post.

"Did you get the goods? I'm starving"

"Yeah, I did"

I pick up the first bag, and place it on my lap. The warmth of the bag begins to transfer to my thighs. I pull out a container of curly fries and place it next to Sebastian. He sits, then sticks his face down. His nose moves a little as he sniffs, like a rabbit, then begins to eat. I reach into the second bag and grab my sandwich, then put both bags in the back seat.

"I got you a chicken sandwich too."

The only reply I get is his soft purr. I unwrap my turkey club, then start the car. As I eat my delicious sandwich, I begin to think about the girl that I saw. I can't help but wonder what caused her to run in so abruptly, then jump out of the bathroom window. Not to mention that she was cute, too. I begin to drive out of the parking lot and onto the road. We are only a few minuets from home. Next to me I hear Sebastian chewing a bite of curly fry. His fur begins to gather grease. The city lights are a stark difference in the blue black of midnight, and the stars dot the sky in every direction. I roll down my window and let the cold early summer wind blow over me. I look over and see white fur blowing around, and smile to myself. I take a left at the light, and drive a few lots down. Here, our building sits, with a half empty parking lot next to it. I turn on my signal and pull into a spot near the front.