Claire threw her maroon Jeep Wrangler into park after pulling up to Dan's, but didn't kill the engine just yet. It was cold as balls outside, and she liked the song playing on the radio. She flicked a look up to the rear-view and fingered through her hair, then swiped away an imagined flaw in her lip-gloss. Not that she was at the diner to impress anyone, but the ritual was a habit engrained since she was old enough to realize people were judging her. Now it was a rare thing for Claire to pass a mirror without at least checking. The only time it didn't really happen was during hectic times at work.
Her shift was set to start in two hours, so she had some time to stop by Dan's, grab a bite, and catch up with Lucy. Claire took one last look in the mirror when the song was over, adjusted her coat, and slipped out into the cold.
The Diner smelled familiar as Home, and she could always tell what the special soup of the day was. Today it was chilli, and someone had ordered the Salisbury steak. Claire paused by the counter to glance around and unzip, then settled in on a stool to wait for her cousin. She and Lou were blood through their mothers being sisters, but the two of them were pretty much opposite ends of the family coin. Claire never understood all the fuss that was quietly murmured about Lucy while they were growing up, but she never really said anything to defend her cousin, either. She was too worried about herself. It wasn't a very Christian mentality, but she'd been young, and very heavily influenced by the opinions of her father.
Now, having come back from college and in on her own life, Claire had grown up a bit and the two of them reconnected. They weren't best friends by any means, but Claire enjoyed Lucy's company. She was looking forward to this sports thinger Lou'd mentioned yesterday.