Glenda

Glenda sighed and settled into an empty booth. It had taken all her energy and nerve to enter the diner. This was to be the night. After weeks of shadowing Rusty around the plant, tonight she was going to tell him how she felt. Following him had been easy - his truck was loud and smelly, just the opposite of its driver. Rusty smelled nice, too nice, some would say. The guys at the plant thought it odd that Rusty chose floral scents instead of Old Spice or Brut but Glenda liked it. It reminded her of her grandma.

She wasn't even sure he knew she existed. They worked the same shift but different lines. But when she entered the diner he had looked at her expectantly. Perhaps, just perhaps he felt something too. Glenda smiled to herself at the possibility. If only things had worked out! She was so close. Their eyes had met, she was sure she did not imagine it. Just a few steps and they would have been sitting together. Just a few steps. She'd only taken one when that kid brushed past, almost knocking her over. It was enough to shake her nerve and freeze her approach.

Rusty and the boy hadn't spoken for long. Unsure of what to do, she'd stood there like a big idiot. She was too far away to hear the conversation but they didn't act like they knew each other well. She'd hoped that maybe Rusty would send the boy away. Instead, it was Rusty who got up abruptly and left, passing within inches of her without a word, imparting only the scent of fresh lilac.

God, she loved that man.