The school sent me a navy-blue uniform and waived my tuition fees. I’d never seen so many computer labs before. I made a goal to sign up for at least two clubs.
Junior year starts before I know it. I wish I could just focus on classes, but I have to apply for a part-time job. Aunt Hi?n is barely scraping by, so I have to pay for my own phone bill. One of her neighbors offers to let me wash dishes at his café downtown. I bike there three times a week after school and study during my breaks. At least it’s far enough away that I don’t worry about running into anyone from school.
But that only lasts a few weeks. I spot their uniforms through the window as I’m wiping down a table. I haven’t been at Bucknall for very long, so it’s not like they’ll know who I am anyway. Then I recognize one of them.
The boy with blond hair comes in with a few friends. It takes a second to remember his name. Dalton Claremont. Son of Mr. Claremont, who owns the Huxton. Mom often broughtme to work when she couldn’t find a sitter. I remember seeing him walking through the hotel lobby. The Claremonts own a room on the penthouse floor and use it frequently. So we practically grew up together. Except I would do my homework in the supply room while he would swim in the pool.
I stopped coming to the hotel when I was old enough to watch myself, so it’s been a few years since we’ve seen each other. He probably doesn’t even know my name. I watch him remove his jacket and slide into the booth with his friends. Then I hurry back to the kitchen and ask the fry cook if he could switch places for an hour. He shouts at me until I head back out again.
I can hear their laughter from behind the register. Eventually, one of the girls calls out to me, snapping her fingers.
“Hello?Menus!”
She doesn’t know you’re supposed to come to the counter. But I decide not to make this an issue. I’ll have to take their order either way. I grab a couple menus and walk over slowly. He probably doesn’t even remember me. After all, we’ve only spoken to each other once before. We must have been ten years old at the time. Mom told me to stay in the break room, but I went exploring instead.
He was the only boy in the pool. I was standing by the edge of the water when he swam up to me.
“Are you swimming, too?”
I shook my head. “I’m not allowed.”
“How come?”
“Because I’m not a guest here.”
“Oh. So why are you at the hotel?”
“My mom cleans the rooms.”
He didn’t say anything after this. It was as if I had spoken another language. So I just turned around and headed back inside.
Now here we are years later, with me handing him the weekly specials. Judging from the duffel bag under the table, he must play a sport or something. For some reason, Dalton stares at me longer than the others. His eyes slightly widen when he says, “Hey.”
So he remembers me, too.
“Hey,” I say back.
The girl beside him makes a face. “You know him?”
“Yeah. Sort of.” Dalton looks at me again. His eyes are as blue as I remember. “I didn’t know you work here.”
“Just started a few weeks ago.” I point at the blue shield on his sweatshirt. “You go to Bucknall, too. I just transferred there.”
“Yougo to Bucknall?”
I can’t blame him for being surprised. It’s one of the most expensive prep schools on the East Coast. Reserved for heirs of hotels, not the son of the housekeeper. Thankfully, he doesn’t question how exactly I’m paying for it. We chat about the classes we’re in for a second. Then I take everyone’s order and head back to the kitchen.
No one really acknowledges me after I bring out the food. Not that I’m expecting a conversation. Maybe they’ll treat me differently when they see me in the same uniform. Before they split the bill, I bring over some dessert and say it’s on the house. But Dalton is the only one who thanks me.
“I’ll see you around,” he says before leaving.
“Yeah, see you.”
I watch him disappear through the door with the others.
Dalton Claremont.
I never thought we’d see each other again. At least he was being friendly. Maybe he and I could become friends this time. Especially since we go to the same high school now.
