The Night Life

Chris pulls up to the parking lot at his favorite diner after dealing with a rough night with a job. It's a 24/7 diner with a 1950's aesthetic, but not a lot of people are there during the day, but at night, it becomes Chris' confessional booth in kind of a funny way. Not a lot of people can describe Chris, but if anyone could, they'd say he reminds them of a regular guy. Someone who doesn't have an ounce of an actor's likeness in him. The waitresses know him by name, and so does the manager of the place. They just hired a new waitress there, Gwen. If someone were to describe her, they'd say she looks like Alison Brie from Community and GLOW. She's a college graduate who has nothing going on for her. She lives alone, has no kids, and she doesn't have a pet to keep her company. The night may get a little interesting for these two lost individuals.

Chris sits in his car in the parking lot and turns off the engine, Gwen sees this as she ties her hair up while she ties up her hair and puts on her apron. One of the cooks gives her some advice since they spent the last several minutes talking to each other, "This guy is a regular. He comes here every night and always wants the same thing. He'll tell you what he wants."

Gwen looks at him with uncertainty, "What does he want?" she asks.

"You'll find out." replied the cook.

Chris gets out of his car and locks the door before entering the diner. When he walks in, he sits at a booth where the door is quicker to get to and has a view out the window where he sits. He places his phone on the table, Gwen approaches him with a coffee mug and a coffee pot with coffee ready to go.

"Hi, you need coffee to get you started?" asked Gwen.

Chris looks at her; he responds hesitantly, "Yes, please."

She smiles at him while she pours his coffee, but he looks away quickly with a hint of subtlety after responding to her. She stops when the mug appears to be full.

"You must've had a rough night," said Gwen.

Chris nods his head, yes. He grabs two sugar packets and some French vanilla creamer to pour them in his coffee.

"Can I get you started with anything?" asked Gwen.

"Give me a minute," replied Chris as he begins to stir his coffee after putting in sugar and creamer.

"Okay. Let me know if you need anything," said Gwen.

Gwen goes to the kitchen with the cooks, "Just wait. He'll let you know." said one of the cooks.

"There's something a little off about him, he's more secretive than my ex was in college," said Gwen.

Chris checks his phone after stirring his coffee. He has a text message from an unknown number, and he opens it. It says BASEBALL. He shuts the phone off, puts it back down on the table, and lets out a sigh of relief as he buries his face in his hands before taking a sip of coffee. Gwen sees him doing this before saying something to the cooks.

"Talk to me, new kid," said one of the cooks.

"He just took a sip of coffee after checking his phone," replied Gwen.

"I don't like this guy. I got a feeling something is going to happen here, and he'll be the reason," said the silent cook.

"I don't blame you there. Let's just hope it stays quiet over here," said the cook.

Chris finishes a minute with his silence, "Uh, Gwen?"

Gwen grabs a pencil and tucks it behind her ear before approaching Chris again. "What can I get you started with?" asked Gwen.

"I'd like to have French toast with a side of bacon and eggs, please," replied Chris.

Gwen quickly writes Chris' order down, "Alright. Anything else?" asked Gwen.

Chris looks at her and gives her a little smirk, "Nope. That's all, thank you," he replies.

She rips the page out of the notebook and goes behind the counter where the register is near the kitchen, which has a window to talk to the cooks through it, "French toast, bacon, and eggs!" exclaimed Gwen as she places the order on a spindle sitting at the window. The silent cook grabs the note on the spindle and gives it to the head cook.

"The usual. Never fails," said the head cook.

The cooks prepare the food while Gwen observes Chris as she cleans the counter. She sees that another car pulls up, it parks next to Chris' car. One man and one woman get out of the car, they're wearing jeans and a T-shirt with a jacket. Chris doesn't react to this; the only thing on his mind is his food and wanting to go home after his meal. The man and woman enter the diner, Chris still doesn't react to them coming in, but the woman instantly notices Chris. The man and woman sit in a booth away from Chris, but it's also near the door. Gwen approaches them.

"Hi, my name is Gwen. I'll be your waitress tonight. Anything I can get started for you guys tonight?" asked Gwen.

"I'll just have some water," replied the man.

"I'll have coffee, black," replied the woman.

Chris takes another sip of coffee while Gwen goes back to the kitchen to get the drinks for the new customers. When he puts the mug down, he notices the man and woman. He doesn't know them, but he notices the combat boots they're wearing plus he sees that they have a holster for a gun, so it's safe to assume that they have a knife as well. Chris doesn't want anything to happen at the diner since it's his favorite place.

"He's acting like he doesn't know what's going to happen," snarled the woman.

"No. Something will happen; he just knows that this isn't the place to do it," said the man.

"Then, let's hit him now when he doesn't expect it. You even said that he eats here, right?" asked the woman.

"Yep, but he'll ask for a to-go box." said the man.

Gwen comes back with the water and coffee. They both smile at Gwen, and the woman gives Gwen $100 as a tip.

"Oh, thank you. Is there anything else I can get for you guys?" asked Gwen.

"No, that'll be all. Thank you, gorgeous," said the man.

Before Gwen goes back to the counter, Chris calls her over, "Gwen?"

"Yes?" replied Gwen.

"Do you guys have a to-go box by any chance?" asked Chris.

"Yes, we do. Would you like one for your food?" replied Gwen.

"Yes, please. And make sure you hide somewhere safe," said Chris.

He gives her $300 as a tip. "Oh... thank you," said Gwen.

She goes behind the counter and grabs a to-go box; she places it near the window. The silent cook sees it, and he automatically knows what to do when the food finishes cooking. The woman's gaze turns lethal once she sees that Chris has taken a sip of coffee one last time, the man touches her arm to calm her down.

"DON'T touch me!" yelled the woman.

"Relax, okay? He'll be the one to make the first move," said the man.

"Not this time. This guy is more dangerous than the last time we dealt with each other," said the woman.

Chris calmly reaches to grab two sugar packets; he places them by the mug. The silent cook puts Chris' food in the to-go box that Gwen left for them; he grabs the mug and sugar packets before going over to Gwen, who was just finishing up organizing some silverware.

"Hey, Gwen. How much is it for the food and the coffee?" asked Chris as he gives her the mug.

"Hi. Oh, the coffee, along with the food. That comes to.... $6.04," replied Gwen as she goes to the register and rings him up.

Chris pays $20 with it, she gives back $13.96, but he gives back $10 to Gwen as another tip. "For you. Treat yourself and don't spend it all in one place," said Chris.

Chris signals Gwen to get down and hide as she closes the register. He turns around to walk out of the door, but the woman is too far on edge to just let him go, she reacts quickly by pulling the gun on him, but he grabs her wrist. She fires, and it instantly kills one of the cooks. The other cook ducks quickly after seeing what happened to his cooking partner. He bites the sugar packet and throws sugar at her eyes before pushing her back in her seat. The man pulls a knife on him to stab him; Chris dodges the man's move. He grabs the mug from the counter and tosses it at his face, the woman springs up and charges at him with a barrage of attacks. He dodges all of them, but she cuts his arm before going for a stab. She pins him against the wall behind him while the man gets up, Chris notices the man getting up. The man draws his gun, Chris breaks the woman's hand that is holding the knife before taking the knife and knocking her out. He throws the blade at the man's shoulder before grabbing his arm that has the gun and breaking it. Chris breaks the man's knee for extra measure; he takes the man's gun and kneels next to him.

"Did K send you?" asked Chris.

"Yes," replied the man.

"Where is he?" asked Chris.

The man doesn't answer, but Chris pats him down, he finds his phone. He sees that the location is active and that more people are coming.

"Shit," said Chris to himself. He shoots the man in the head. Gwen gasps in horror after what she's heard.

"Gwen, you can come out now, but you gotta come with me," said Chris.

Gwen slowly comes out with her hands up, visibly shaken, "Who.. are... you?" asked Gwen.

"Someone who has to find a way to get you away from here," replied Chris.

Chris tucks the gun behind his pants and goes to her; he pulls her from the dead man and the unconscious woman. Gwen is retching, but nothing is expelling, "Gwen, can you go do that outside? Preferably in the grass," asked Chris.

Gwen runs outside to puke, Chris goes to the window by the kitchen to get his food. The cook is cowering in the corner, "Take everything! Take everything! Don't hurt me!" exclaimed the cook.

"Relax! Hey, hey, HEY! Relax, I don't want your money, is the food done?" asked Chris.

"Yes! Yes!" said the cook.

"Perfect, I'll leave some money for the manager," said Chris as he grabs his food.

He leaves about $1000 in cash before leaving the diner and has Gwen get in his car. He puts his food in the backseat when he gets in and cranks the engine; he drives away from the diner.