Page 62 of Jackson
“Breakfast?” I said as I took Summer by thehand.
“Absolutely, I’mstarving.”
“D-J?”
“Sure, usual?” hesaid.
I nodded and we made our way to our respectivecars.
“I’m fucked,” I said with a laugh as wedrove.
“Where are wegoing?”
“A twenty-four hour diner. Half the customers will be in there. They party all night, eat, then go to bed for theday.”
We pulled up outside something that looked like it hadn’t changed since the 1950s. Neon lights buzzed and flickered outside. Inside the smell of fried food had my stomach grumbling. As predicted, the diner was nearly full, most of them greeted D-J and me as we made our way to the one spare table. Summer slid across the red leather seat and picked up a menu. D-J sat opposite and I took the seat alongsideher.
“What do you fancy?” Iasked.
“I have no idea,” she replied with a laugh. “Got to be pancakes or waffles since I’m in the U.S., Iguess.”
We placed our menus back on the table as a waitressapproached.
“What can I get you?” sheasked.
I placed an order for pancakes, waffles, bacon, and eggs. I had to remember to ask for the bacon and eggs not to be on the same plate as the waffles. The Americans had strange tastes where mixing their sweet and savoury was concerned. She poured three cups of coffee from the jug she held and thenleft.
“Tonight, or last night, I guess, was amazing,” Summersaid.
“Sure was, couldn’t do it every night though,” D-J replied, followed by ayawn.
“What do you do the rest of the week?” Summerasked.
“Surf, sleep, surf some more,” hereplied.
I watched as he tried to very subtly unwrap something he’d pulled from his pocket. I stared at him as he popped that something in his mouth and then took a gulp of coffee. Summer was chatting about wanting to surf, but I kept my gaze on him. I sighed and shook my head gently. He cast his eyesdown.
I guessed he’d taken amphetamine or some upper. It wasn’t long before all signs of tiredness left him. We ate, we drank enough coffee to have us buzzing without the high he’d taken, and then as we stood to leave, Honeyarrived.
I had hold of Summer’s hand and we were making our way through the diner’s doors, having said goodbye to D-J. Initially, Honey had been leaning against my car; she pushed herself off when she saw us. She looked a mess. Lines of black ran down her cheeks where her mascara had streaked, probably from earlier tears. Her hair was messed up and she was missing oneshoe.
I came to a halt in front of her. “What happened?” Iasked.
I felt Summer’s hand tighten inmine.
“I…I don’t have you anymore, do I?” Honeysaid.
“No.”
She nodded and gave Summer a very sad smile. “Can you fix him?” she said, nodding her head towardsme.
“I’m going to try,” Summer answeredgently.
She nodded her head. Something was very wrong though. This wasn’t the Honey Iknew.
“What have you taken, Honey?” Iasked.
She smiled at me, “I need the pain to stop,Jackson.”
