Roller Rink Rebels
Of Realizations and the Unusual Monday Patron
"Pray for a different scene, we can ask but won't recieve..."
AUGUST
“So then, I wait for him out by the car, like normal, cause I always drop him off at the QT on the way here, right. He walks right by like I’m not even there; like I’ve not been his ride to work since I got my fucking license. I texted him about it, but he hasn’t answered.” I complain to Jimmy, my boss at the roller rink, later that day.
While I wouldn’t consider Jimmy a friend, he’s almost 30, he’s always been good to talk to. Jimmy’s has his fair share of life experiences and usually has some kind of advice. He’s like my work dad that also sells acid and smokes pot.
“You think that has something to do with the girlfriend?” Jimmy questions as he slides our first customer of the night’s credit card through the reader attached to the computer.
“Jaclyn. Of course, it has something to do with her. Frank was never like this until they started dating.” I’ve been over the Frank and Jaclyn situation with Jimmy on multiple occasions over the two years that I’ve worked here. I’m surprised he’s not told me to stop bringing high school drama to the roller rink.
“Have you ever considered that the only reason Frank is dating Jaclyn is that you won’t date him?” Jimmy questions as I shut the microwave door, watching my bag of popcorn spin round and round.
“First off, Frank’s never asked to date me. Second, I don’t date, period. Ever.”
Jimmy scrunches up his face, eyes squinting together, his tongue hanging out over his lip, “Explain the rationale behind that again.”
“If Frank’s my friend, I can never lose him. Things will never be awkward. The second you decide to date someone, you run the risk of it ending badly and losing that person.”
“That works now, but what if Frank gets married or moves away? He’s not always going to be able to drop everything and hang out with you all hours of the day or night.” Jimmy responds as the microwave timer sounds. He spins around in his chair, grabbing my food and handing it to me.
Rolling my eyes, I pop a few pieces of popcorn into my mouth, swallowing before I answer. “This is Frank we’re talking about. He’s never gonna leave.”
Jimmy raises an eyebrow, “The same Frank whose girlfriend convinced him to go to college?”
My heart sinks as my stomach makes its way to my throat. Up until this second, my biggest concern was with Frank moving an hour away to go to college. I never thought about what happens after. What if Frank and Jaclyn stay together, get married, and move away? What if, at the end of school Frank and I say goodbye and that’s it? I bite my lip to hold back tears. I’ve never thought about permanently losing my best friend before.
A family walks in, preventing me from thinking on the matter anymore. I smile down at the little girl, her hair hanging beside her face in two braids. She smiles back up at me as her parents order skates, a kid’s size 5 and 7, and an adult size 8 and 11. I watch as they all walk over to one of the red benches set up outside the walls surrounding the rink. Maybe one day that will be Frank and Jaclyn, bringing their kids in for a treat after the first day of school. I bet I’ll still be sitting behind this counter.
As another group steps forward, my phone buzzes. Stepping into the backroom, I pull it out of my pocket. The picture on the screen is of Frank and I. We’re lying across my bed, our cheeks pressed together. Frank’s got his tongue stuck out and I’m wearing a big goofy smile. “Hello.”
“Fuck, I knew you were gonna be pissed about earlier. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking at all.” Frank responds.
“Yeah, whatever. Are you still going to need a ride home tonight or is Jaclyn also picking you up for work now too?” I answer back, flipping through some of the paperwork that’s strewn across Jimmy’s desk before sitting down in the black rolling chair.
“If you don’t totally hate me, I’d love a ride home. I get off at ten and then I’ll walk over to the rink and help you guys close up.” Frank answers, the usual tone coming back into his voice.
“Okay,” I answer, pulling the phone away from my ear, preparing to hang up. At the last second, I change my mind. “Hey, Frank? Don’t ever pull that shit with me again. I’ve only got you for another year.”
“I promise.”
I hit the end button as Jimmy walks into the office. The usual crowd must be out on the rink. Mondays are always slow. Usually, the only people who show up are a few families and the roller derby ladies. “Was that Frank?”
I nod, chewing on my thumbnail. Jimmy usually doesn’t take this must interest in my personal life. He’s always there to listen, but he’s typically not the one asking the questions. Maybe all the drama with his friends has subsided and he’s looking for something to keep himself preoccupied with.
“Can I expect him to help with closing tonight?” My boss questions.
“Yeah. You know if you keep letting him help us you’re going to have to start paying him,” I joke, knowing that will never happen. Frank’s been coming to the rink to help close out the registers, organize the skates, and do general clean up since I started working here. Not once has he asked Jimmy to pay him for those hours. I’m pretty sure if my boss offered, Frank would decline. Although he’ll never admit it, I think my best friend actually liked helping out around here.
“When he asks, I’ll consider it,” Jimmy responds with a smile. “Besides, I’m sure they pay him more at the QuikTrip than I could here.”
I shrug, “Probably.”
“All our Monday usuals are in, so I’m going to get food. Do you want anything? I’m probably going to Sonic.”
I dig around in my pants pockets, pulling out a five, “One of those blue slushes with the nerds in it. The biggest size the five can get.”
Jimmy nods, slapping the five back on the table. “I got it this time. You really should start eating more than popcorn and slushes.”
I roll my eyes, following him back out to the main desk area. “I’ll keep that in mind…dad.”
Jimmy flips me off, lifting the gate to get out from behind the desk. “Watch yourself kiddo.”
About thirty minutes after Jimmy leaves the bell above the door chimes. Glancing up from my book I spot my co-worker, Lacey, dart behind the food counter. She’s lucky she’s pretty, long dark hair, permanently rosy cheeks, big boobs, a tiny waist, and full, pouty lips, because she’s an idiot. Lacey’s pill addiction has fried most of her brain. The social stuff is still there, but the other parts are rendered pretty much useless.
“What time did I get here?” Lacey questions as she ties her hair back. This is our usual routine.
“Six forty-five to open the stand at seven,” I answer. I cover for Lacey being late more nights than not. I’m honestly surprised that Jimmy hasn’t caught on. “Those pretzels have been in for about ten minutes and there are three pizzas in the oven. They’ve got fifteen minutes left, give or take.”
A big smile flashes across Lacey’s face, “Honestly Lizzie, you’re a lifesaver.”
“It’s Liz,” I grumble under my breath as the bell above the door chimes, Jimmy singing along to the song playing over the sound system.
A large sonic cup is set down in front of me as Jimmy rests his elbows on the counter. He looks over at Lacey before letting out a sigh, scratching at the base of one of the spikes he’s styled his dark hair into. “What time did she get here?”
“The usual time,” I answer, chewing on the straw of my slush.
“You know I can check the security footage,” Jimmy says through a mouthful of tater tots. He offers me one, but I refuse.
“And you know I’ll just tell you the time stamp is off.”
“Why do you keep covering for her?”
I spin the chair I’m sitting in around so I can see Jimmy from his desk, “Because my job description says to run the register and hand out skates. I really don’t want to add any more to that.”
Jimmy gives me a smile, “You’re a good kid, Liz. Let me know if you need any help out there. I’ve got bills to sort out.”
I give my boss a salute before turning back to my book.
The roller rink closes at 10 on weekdays. On the weekends, we’re supposed to close at midnight, but Jimmy sometimes extends these hours if people are having fun. He’d rather the high schoolers be here than running around on the streets. Around nine on weekdays we start to shut down. No one ever comes in past then. Tonight is different. At nine-thirty, Gerard and a scrawny kid with dirty blonde hair and glasses walk in. My luck. They walk right over to the counter and I let out a low groan.
As Gerard goes to ring the little silver bell in front of me I slap my hand across it, “I thought you only came here on the weekends.”
“We felt like pizza,” Gerard answers, running his elbow into the boy standing next to him. “This is my little brother, Mikey.”
I glance over at the other boy. He sniffs, shoving his glasses back up his thin nose. “Cool, I guess. We’re closing in like thirty minutes.”
“We’re just here for pizza.” Gerard answers.
“Lacey can help you with that,” I answer pointing over to the snack counter.
The two in front of me turn and walk across the building. Gerard glances over at me a few times as he pulls out his wallet; probably hoping I’ll offer to pay. Once again, I’m going to have to crush his dreams. He’s the idiot that offered me his pizza at lunch. He shouldn’t expect anything in return. Lacey’s flirting seems to make up for my failure at payback. Both boys sit down at the red picnic table wearing big smiles.
“We’re closing in twenty minutes. I need all skaters to begin vacating the rink and returning their skates. As always, thank you for choosing Rebel Roller Rink for all your recreational needs,” I announce, not taking my eyes off of Gerard and his brother Mikey. Those two are the last to leave, walking out as Frank is arriving.
My friend glances over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow, “Those two aren’t regulars.”
“No, they aren’t,” I answer, lifting the gate so that Frank can walk behind the counter. He quickly begins helping me sort through skates. “The dark-haired, vampire looking one, is Gerard. He’s in my first period, lunch, and art. Isn’t that fantastic?”
“There was too much sarcasm for me to actually comprehend what you were saying. Why was he here?”
Shaking my head I slide a few skates onto the shelf, “He gave me half his slice of pizza today at lunch and was fishing for a payback.”
“Hangover lunch?” Frank questions. He knows I’m useless at fending for myself after a night of drinking. I’m going to miss not having to explain myself. Frank just gets me. Sure, in the beginning, we had to figure each other out, but now it’s just like we’re the same person, functioning with the same brain. I can’t imagine starting from square one with a new friend.
“Peanut butter and mayo,” I answer with a laugh.
Frank scrunches up his face in disgust, “Why didn’t you come over? I had donuts ready this morning and I would’ve checked your lunch.”
“School started again, Frank. Monday mornings are for Jaclyn as she so kindly reminded me this morning over text,” I answer, spinning one of the red plastic wheels on the skate I’m holding around and around.
“She’s not in charge, Liz. You can come over whenever. You don’t have joint custody,” Frank jokes, running his hip into my side, giving me a smile.
“Well,” I grumble back, trying to hide my smile from my friend, “someone should tell her that.”
“Maybe someone should.”
AUGUST
“So then, I wait for him out by the car, like normal, cause I always drop him off at the QT on the way here, right. He walks right by like I’m not even there; like I’ve not been his ride to work since I got my fucking license. I texted him about it, but he hasn’t answered.” I complain to Jimmy, my boss at the roller rink, later that day.
While I wouldn’t consider Jimmy a friend, he’s almost 30, he’s always been good to talk to. Jimmy’s has his fair share of life experiences and usually has some kind of advice. He’s like my work dad that also sells acid and smokes pot.
“You think that has something to do with the girlfriend?” Jimmy questions as he slides our first customer of the night’s credit card through the reader attached to the computer.
“Jaclyn. Of course, it has something to do with her. Frank was never like this until they started dating.” I’ve been over the Frank and Jaclyn situation with Jimmy on multiple occasions over the two years that I’ve worked here. I’m surprised he’s not told me to stop bringing high school drama to the roller rink.
“Have you ever considered that the only reason Frank is dating Jaclyn is that you won’t date him?” Jimmy questions as I shut the microwave door, watching my bag of popcorn spin round and round.
“First off, Frank’s never asked to date me. Second, I don’t date, period. Ever.”
Jimmy scrunches up his face, eyes squinting together, his tongue hanging out over his lip, “Explain the rationale behind that again.”
“If Frank’s my friend, I can never lose him. Things will never be awkward. The second you decide to date someone, you run the risk of it ending badly and losing that person.”
“That works now, but what if Frank gets married or moves away? He’s not always going to be able to drop everything and hang out with you all hours of the day or night.” Jimmy responds as the microwave timer sounds. He spins around in his chair, grabbing my food and handing it to me.
Rolling my eyes, I pop a few pieces of popcorn into my mouth, swallowing before I answer. “This is Frank we’re talking about. He’s never gonna leave.”
Jimmy raises an eyebrow, “The same Frank whose girlfriend convinced him to go to college?”
My heart sinks as my stomach makes its way to my throat. Up until this second, my biggest concern was with Frank moving an hour away to go to college. I never thought about what happens after. What if Frank and Jaclyn stay together, get married, and move away? What if, at the end of school Frank and I say goodbye and that’s it? I bite my lip to hold back tears. I’ve never thought about permanently losing my best friend before.
A family walks in, preventing me from thinking on the matter anymore. I smile down at the little girl, her hair hanging beside her face in two braids. She smiles back up at me as her parents order skates, a kid’s size 5 and 7, and an adult size 8 and 11. I watch as they all walk over to one of the red benches set up outside the walls surrounding the rink. Maybe one day that will be Frank and Jaclyn, bringing their kids in for a treat after the first day of school. I bet I’ll still be sitting behind this counter.
As another group steps forward, my phone buzzes. Stepping into the backroom, I pull it out of my pocket. The picture on the screen is of Frank and I. We’re lying across my bed, our cheeks pressed together. Frank’s got his tongue stuck out and I’m wearing a big goofy smile. “Hello.”
“Fuck, I knew you were gonna be pissed about earlier. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking at all.” Frank responds.
“Yeah, whatever. Are you still going to need a ride home tonight or is Jaclyn also picking you up for work now too?” I answer back, flipping through some of the paperwork that’s strewn across Jimmy’s desk before sitting down in the black rolling chair.
“If you don’t totally hate me, I’d love a ride home. I get off at ten and then I’ll walk over to the rink and help you guys close up.” Frank answers, the usual tone coming back into his voice.
“Okay,” I answer, pulling the phone away from my ear, preparing to hang up. At the last second, I change my mind. “Hey, Frank? Don’t ever pull that shit with me again. I’ve only got you for another year.”
“I promise.”
I hit the end button as Jimmy walks into the office. The usual crowd must be out on the rink. Mondays are always slow. Usually, the only people who show up are a few families and the roller derby ladies. “Was that Frank?”
I nod, chewing on my thumbnail. Jimmy usually doesn’t take this must interest in my personal life. He’s always there to listen, but he’s typically not the one asking the questions. Maybe all the drama with his friends has subsided and he’s looking for something to keep himself preoccupied with.
“Can I expect him to help with closing tonight?” My boss questions.
“Yeah. You know if you keep letting him help us you’re going to have to start paying him,” I joke, knowing that will never happen. Frank’s been coming to the rink to help close out the registers, organize the skates, and do general clean up since I started working here. Not once has he asked Jimmy to pay him for those hours. I’m pretty sure if my boss offered, Frank would decline. Although he’ll never admit it, I think my best friend actually liked helping out around here.
“When he asks, I’ll consider it,” Jimmy responds with a smile. “Besides, I’m sure they pay him more at the QuikTrip than I could here.”
I shrug, “Probably.”
“All our Monday usuals are in, so I’m going to get food. Do you want anything? I’m probably going to Sonic.”
I dig around in my pants pockets, pulling out a five, “One of those blue slushes with the nerds in it. The biggest size the five can get.”
Jimmy nods, slapping the five back on the table. “I got it this time. You really should start eating more than popcorn and slushes.”
I roll my eyes, following him back out to the main desk area. “I’ll keep that in mind…dad.”
Jimmy flips me off, lifting the gate to get out from behind the desk. “Watch yourself kiddo.”
About thirty minutes after Jimmy leaves the bell above the door chimes. Glancing up from my book I spot my co-worker, Lacey, dart behind the food counter. She’s lucky she’s pretty, long dark hair, permanently rosy cheeks, big boobs, a tiny waist, and full, pouty lips, because she’s an idiot. Lacey’s pill addiction has fried most of her brain. The social stuff is still there, but the other parts are rendered pretty much useless.
“What time did I get here?” Lacey questions as she ties her hair back. This is our usual routine.
“Six forty-five to open the stand at seven,” I answer. I cover for Lacey being late more nights than not. I’m honestly surprised that Jimmy hasn’t caught on. “Those pretzels have been in for about ten minutes and there are three pizzas in the oven. They’ve got fifteen minutes left, give or take.”
A big smile flashes across Lacey’s face, “Honestly Lizzie, you’re a lifesaver.”
“It’s Liz,” I grumble under my breath as the bell above the door chimes, Jimmy singing along to the song playing over the sound system.
A large sonic cup is set down in front of me as Jimmy rests his elbows on the counter. He looks over at Lacey before letting out a sigh, scratching at the base of one of the spikes he’s styled his dark hair into. “What time did she get here?”
“The usual time,” I answer, chewing on the straw of my slush.
“You know I can check the security footage,” Jimmy says through a mouthful of tater tots. He offers me one, but I refuse.
“And you know I’ll just tell you the time stamp is off.”
“Why do you keep covering for her?”
I spin the chair I’m sitting in around so I can see Jimmy from his desk, “Because my job description says to run the register and hand out skates. I really don’t want to add any more to that.”
Jimmy gives me a smile, “You’re a good kid, Liz. Let me know if you need any help out there. I’ve got bills to sort out.”
I give my boss a salute before turning back to my book.
The roller rink closes at 10 on weekdays. On the weekends, we’re supposed to close at midnight, but Jimmy sometimes extends these hours if people are having fun. He’d rather the high schoolers be here than running around on the streets. Around nine on weekdays we start to shut down. No one ever comes in past then. Tonight is different. At nine-thirty, Gerard and a scrawny kid with dirty blonde hair and glasses walk in. My luck. They walk right over to the counter and I let out a low groan.
As Gerard goes to ring the little silver bell in front of me I slap my hand across it, “I thought you only came here on the weekends.”
“We felt like pizza,” Gerard answers, running his elbow into the boy standing next to him. “This is my little brother, Mikey.”
I glance over at the other boy. He sniffs, shoving his glasses back up his thin nose. “Cool, I guess. We’re closing in like thirty minutes.”
“We’re just here for pizza.” Gerard answers.
“Lacey can help you with that,” I answer pointing over to the snack counter.
The two in front of me turn and walk across the building. Gerard glances over at me a few times as he pulls out his wallet; probably hoping I’ll offer to pay. Once again, I’m going to have to crush his dreams. He’s the idiot that offered me his pizza at lunch. He shouldn’t expect anything in return. Lacey’s flirting seems to make up for my failure at payback. Both boys sit down at the red picnic table wearing big smiles.
“We’re closing in twenty minutes. I need all skaters to begin vacating the rink and returning their skates. As always, thank you for choosing Rebel Roller Rink for all your recreational needs,” I announce, not taking my eyes off of Gerard and his brother Mikey. Those two are the last to leave, walking out as Frank is arriving.
My friend glances over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow, “Those two aren’t regulars.”
“No, they aren’t,” I answer, lifting the gate so that Frank can walk behind the counter. He quickly begins helping me sort through skates. “The dark-haired, vampire looking one, is Gerard. He’s in my first period, lunch, and art. Isn’t that fantastic?”
“There was too much sarcasm for me to actually comprehend what you were saying. Why was he here?”
Shaking my head I slide a few skates onto the shelf, “He gave me half his slice of pizza today at lunch and was fishing for a payback.”
“Hangover lunch?” Frank questions. He knows I’m useless at fending for myself after a night of drinking. I’m going to miss not having to explain myself. Frank just gets me. Sure, in the beginning, we had to figure each other out, but now it’s just like we’re the same person, functioning with the same brain. I can’t imagine starting from square one with a new friend.
“Peanut butter and mayo,” I answer with a laugh.
Frank scrunches up his face in disgust, “Why didn’t you come over? I had donuts ready this morning and I would’ve checked your lunch.”
“School started again, Frank. Monday mornings are for Jaclyn as she so kindly reminded me this morning over text,” I answer, spinning one of the red plastic wheels on the skate I’m holding around and around.
“She’s not in charge, Liz. You can come over whenever. You don’t have joint custody,” Frank jokes, running his hip into my side, giving me a smile.
“Well,” I grumble back, trying to hide my smile from my friend, “someone should tell her that.”
“Maybe someone should.”
Notes
SONG: White Noise by Ella Vos
