Bright colors and waitresses on roller skates would have fit the atmosphere, but instead it was a plain white facade with a cherry-red awning. All the tables and chairs were a faded beige Formica that easily had fifty years of grease baked on. Kay inhaled the familiar aroma of hamburgers and the sweet scent of milkshakes as they piled into a booth in the back corner of the restaurant. Mara’s friend, Daniel, arrived several minutes later, sliding into the booth right across from Kay. “Hi, everybody. Sorry I’m late.” He smiled hello to everyone, making eye contact with Kay, including her in the greeting. His dark hair was cropped close on the side and stood up in disarray on the top, like he was far too busy to bother brushing it, and his brown eyes crinkled charmingly when he smiled. She sat up a little straighter and smoothed her hair self-consciously. It had been an act of peer pressure that she’d agreed to do this, but in all of her mental preparation, she hadn’t considered that the guy might actually be cute.
