Re: [Diner: Atticus & Hazel]
"Being positive takes a lot of effort," he said. Agreeing. Was agreeing with her take on the song throwing off her negative aesthetic. "Doesn't go well with black, either." Had been a teenager in the late 80s. Black hadn't become a thing until later in his life, somewhere in college. Maybe when he'd begun teaching. Was more familiar with shoulderpads and Aqua Net as a definer of his teen years. Had foster sisters come and go through the house. Had lived a life where every flat surface was sticky from hairspray. Times were different now, except, he was learning, for all the ways in which they were precisely the same. Maudlin youth, for example, was just as popular in 2020 as it had been in 1999.
Glanced at the pie. "Not that good," he admitted. Lifted his shoulder in a shrug as he took another sip of his coffee, indicating that wasn't much better. "Am from New York. Could go into delis and wait just a few minutes, and fresh pie would come out. Tasted a lot better than this." Lifted his fork and poked at the pie, which tasted like it was born in a freezer.
"Give me a second." When she offered the space across her at the booth.
Stood. Left the stool turning as he made his way over to the jukebox in the corner. Had change in his pocket. Knew carrying money wasn't cool in this day and age, but wasn't accustomed to doing everything with plastic yet. And it was nice, handling money and having somewhere to use it. Hadn't been any coin-operated jukeboxes on the island.
Pushed buttons. Glanced at song titles. Talked loudly enough for his voice to carry. "Let's see. What isn't cheerful and annoying?" But was already putting a coin in the slot and picking the song that started playing. Plunked more quarters in the slot, and added more songs in the same vein, and then he returned to collect his coffee cup and a book he'd left on the counter, closed but careworn. He left the pie behind.
Slid into the other side of the booth she occupied. "Late night?" Took another sip of his coffee. Closer now, it became obvious he had sharpied marks in black up along one side of his neck. Practicing. Couldn't afford to get the runes wrong.