Not Your Diner Girl Anymore

, "The Miller Spoon," was my sanctuary. The smell of coffee and frying bacon, the clatter of plates, Dad humming as he flip

y and my backpack. Rounding the corner by the m

acon, and syrupy pancakes splattered acros

ayes'

g. My carefully packed lunch, intended to save money and av

re he could say anything, a h

s... diner girl... get her gre

in disgust. She eyed the spilled food like it was toxic waste. "Honestly, Sarah, doesn' t your family ma

t defend me. He didn' t even look at Brit

ry of his thoughts from the pep rally flooded back, vi

" I mumbled, my voice barely a whisper. My hands were shaking. I fel

around my shoulder. "Lay off, Brittany," sh

to happen with someone like her." She looped her arm through Etha

away, Ethan

eyes. Jess squeezed my shoulder. "Don

ny. It was Ethan' s silen

elped me clean up the mess, her quiet support a

ormulas were safe. They didn' t judge. They didn' t have hidden, ugly