Carolina Blues

"Do you have any quarters?" I asked, toying with the tiny jukebox on our table. April shook her head before covering my hand with her own.

"You're not doing that stupid joke, are you? That dumb Jim Mulaney thing?"

"It's John Mulaney, and no. They have Buddy Guy on queue." I searched my bag for a quarter and frowned when I came up empty. The silence was awkward and I watched April scan the menu for a moment before groaning.

"What is wrong with you?"

I squirmed in my seat, the vinyl sticking to my bare thighs. It was beyond warm in the diner and I could practically hear myself sweating. "It's too... quiet. It's weird Apes, no yelling or sirens." She raised an eyebrow and smirked, twisting to scan the restaurant we sat in.

A few older couples and families littered the other booths, a handful of guys at the end of the wrap-around bar, but other than that it was a calm night. "You're right Dorothy. We're definitely not in Kansas anymore." She reached into her bag and pulled out a dollar, slapping it onto the table but holding it tight. "No Tom Jones?"

There was an underlying threat in her voice and I couldn't help but grin. "No Tom Jones!" I swore, holding up the Girl Scout salute as she released. "I'm gonna go get change." The smack of my skin pulling from the seat was uncomfortable and April snickered as I winced. "Bitch," I mumbled, sauntering to the waitress's station.

She looked frazzled, running between a family of four and the group of guys, all glued to the television hung over the kitchen window. Her name tag read 'Lindsay' and I nodded to her to let her know I could wait. I grabbed a spot and eyed the television, now close enough to hear the announcer droning on about Gretzky's career.

I sighed, leaning onto my elbow to wait and running over the game in my mind. Max had made me watch it over and over again until I could hear the commentator in my sleep. I had dreams for weeks, always ending the same- with Wayne sniping a game-winning goal and stepping between my father and I when I went in for a hug.

"Are you a fan?"

"What?"

"You were... you were mumbling along with the TV."

I knew by the burn in my cheeks that I was blushing as I spat out a quick apology. He grinned, his dark eyes twinkling as he shook his head. "You had the hand movements down." He imitated the motions- two hands up in the air, then down into fists by the announcers ears as he jumped up and down about Number 99 saving the game. "It was cute. So you watch hockey?"

"Uh, no. No, my father was- is big into it. I must've watched this game a thousand times but I never got into it. I didn't mean to bother you guys."

The group shook their heads, all talking about how great of a game it was. I nodded along, pretty sure I could remember the roar of the crowd that night. It was deafening in the arena, Dad and Uncle Wayne meeting for the first time since Dad's trade. It had been insane, mom and I taken into the family box by security.

"Can you imagine being there?" Brown eyes asked, shaking his head again before taking a sip of his drink. "What team does your dad like?"

I shrugged, not wanting to start pull anything Max-related into North Carolina yet. "Not sure, I never really paid attention to it. We just always had this game on in the background. Sorry to bother you again. Have a nice night!"

I slid off of the bar stool and walked back to the booth, taking a moment to pray that April had made a decision.

"Have you decided what you want to eat?" I scanned the menu as she started comparing the Caesar salad and house salad, both of us knowing damn well that she'd go for a burger and fries in the end.

"What about you? See anything you may want? Maybe that guy you were chatting up...hmm, nope! I don't see him on here." I rolled my eyes and settled on a grilled cheese, about to explain that we were just discussing the Great Game of '97 when she reached across the table and grabbed my hand. "He's coming over!"

"Hey, I don't want to interrupt-"

"Not interrupting at all." April chirped, whipping her ponytail over her shoulder.

He forced a laugh and looked back to me, "But you left this over there." He held out the dollar I'd forgotten and smiled as I took it, stuffing it in my pocket much to April's chagrin. "I wrote my number on it. I know you're not into hockey but I play a little and I thought, you know, if you ever wanted to learn..." He trailed off and smiled again, lifting his cap to brush his fingers through that dark hair again.

I pulled the dollar back out and held it taut. Justin scrawled on it in sharpie, his number under it next to George Washington. He'd also sketched a crude jersey and hockey stick for GW, making it look like the father of our country was going in for a slap shot. I grinned and looked back up at him, his brown eyes crinkling at the edges.

"Hey, thanks. I'll definitely keep it in mind."

He said a quick goodbye and went back to his friends, April watching him walk the whole way before snatching the dollar and eyeing his artwork. "What the hell did you talk about?"

"Nothing, really. Just the Gretzky game."

"He's really cute." She said, eyeing him again as out waitress approached, notepad and pen in hand. "Oh, what the hell was that 'not into hockey' bullshit?"

I shrugged, giving Lindsey my order and taking a second to put Justin's number in my phone. Apes saw me going for it and fished into her purse for another dollar, exchanging it for the quarters I needed and telling me to keep my new love note. "It'll be a cute story."

I rolled my eyes and fed the machine, hitting A3 and biting my lip. It took a minute until the first notes hit the speakers, earning a low groan from April and a hearty laugh from myself. "You promised!" she shouted, covering her ears.

"And I lied! What's new pussycat?"