NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 23
The last time I went to Ronda's the ALS bucket challenge was still a thing and literally everyone was obsessed with Frozen. Me included. It was a bit dark and I really liked Elsa's character.
I hope we get a new one soon. Please, please, please, PLEASE don't give Elsa some boring dude as a love interest Disney.
Even after three years, the diner was the same as I had remembered. It had a square shape, a pointed black roof, black accents, and white walls with a few windows. Above the windows in front of us was a big orange sign that said "RONDA'S" in a retro-looking font.
"Here we are. Home of the best burger in town!" Yuka exclaimed with a wide grin on her face.
"I see someone's a big fan." Aliya laughed.
"They are though."
"I know, I know."
"I can't wait to get a milkshake." I said as we stepped into Ronda's parking lot from the sidewalk.
"Maybe I will try one too." Emma murmured.
"Do you think there will be an open booth?" Aliya asked.
"Probably. And if there's not, we can wait. I don't think anyone's that hungry...right?" Shanice said. She looked around at us to confirm we weren't that hungry.
I'm hungry but I'm feeling generous.
"I can wait." Yuka said. Me and Emma nodded.
"Are you sure you're not that hungry?" Aliya asked while pointing at Shanice.
"Well, um." She said as her stomach growled, right on queue.
Aliya laughed.
"I just know how much you like the booths. That's all." Shanice said, sounding embarrassed.
"Aw that's sweet of you. Thank you." Aliya cooed as she clasped her hands together as if she were a prairie woman in the 1800's.
"Don't mention it." Shanice said fast.
Flirting? Right in front of Emma's salad that she got from herself ten minutes into the future.
We made it to the entrance of Ronda's. I was in front so I opened the door. Inside was your typical Midwestern diner (or maybe just Ecruville. I've never actually been to a diner out of town). The floor was a white and black checkerboard tile. The walls were covered in white wallpaper. When it came to the wall decor it was like they tried to go for a 50s theme with all the old movie posters but gave up halfway with all the contemporary-looking paintings also up.
My lack of room decor should tell you I'm not exactly an interior decorator so this isn't a professional opinion. I like the decor. It kind of all fits together somehow...Now that I'm looking closely it's because most of the decor is orange, white, and black. All you need is color coordination to appease 'The Jocelyn'.
I noticed there was some music playing that sounded like it could've been from the 30s or 40s. The music seemed to be coming from an old gold and brown jukebox to the left of the register stand.
I wonder what Emma thinks of this mix of vibes since she doesn't like contemporary Biggby. I'll ask her about it once we sit down. If I remember.
We walked up to a register stand where a young woman with brown hair was getting something from inside. She was wearing a cute orange and white striped dress with a small white apron on the skirt. She also had on a small white hat, white heels, and a necklace with a cross on it. It was Ronda's uniform.
Well maybe not the cross. Ronda's isn't a religious diner.
The young woman grabbed menus, looked up at me, and smiled. She greeted us. "Welcome to Ronda's! It just gonna be yuh guys?"
"Yep. Just us." I said as I put my hands in my back pockets.
"Alright. I'll take ya'll to yuh seat." She said and started walking to the section to our left.
"Sounds good." I said as we followed her.
There were orange booths to our left and a bar to our right. The place was moderately busy so some seats were still free. The waitress stopped in front of a booth at the end of the row in the middle.
"This table work for you?" She asked while pointing at the white table in between two booth seats. There was salt, pepper, ketchup and a napkin holder in the middle of the table.
"This works. Thank you." I said.
The waitress put her hands together and smiled up at me. "No problem."
Emma and I got into the left booth while Yuka, Aliya and Shanice got the right one.
"The booth seat." Aliya marveled.
Shanice giggled.
"Here's your menus." The waitress said as she handed them out.
"Can I get yuh guys started with some pop to drink?" She asked while pulling out a notepad and a pencil from a pouch on her apron.
We all ordered our drinks and our food as well since we already knew what we wanted.
Afterward, the waitress took our menus and left to take another order.
Yuka got a Double Bacon Burger and a Root Beer, while Aliya and Shanice both ordered chicken tenders with water. I ordered Barbara's Mushroom Burger and a strawberry milkshake (paid extra for that). Emma asked for a salad with no meat (salad is supposed to have meat?) and a Strawberry Crush.
"I'm glad we can order now since the food always seems like it takes hours to make." Aliya complained.
Emma agreed. "It does always take them a while."
We all groaned in unison.
"What are we supposed to do in that time?" Aliya groaned.
"We could play a game?" Shanice suggested.
"Come on, we're upperclassmen." I said.
"A game would be fun!"
"I'm down for a game."
"A game would be better than sitting around..."
"..."
I was drowned out by positive childishness...
I sighed "Fine. What game are we playing?"
"Would you rather!" Yuka exclaimed.
"Ugh." I groaned as I flopped my upper body on the table.
"If you don't like the game you don't have to play." Emma said.
"I know, I know. I'll play." I conceded as I sat myself up.
"Great! Since you're so excited to play, I say you go first." Yuka said with a mischievous grin.