Fic: Dominic's Diner (2/2)
Title: Dominic's Diner (2/2)
Author: Me! Katy (
theyellow_daisy)
Pairing: Belldom
Rating : PG
Warning: mentions of death
Summary: Matthew gets more then just a cup of coffee and something to eat when he stops at 'Dominic's Diner'
A/N: In this story I wanted to combine two of my favorite things, road trips and the sometimes strange, but always exciting attractions and diners you find along the way. Thank you so much for your comments on the previous entry, I do appreciate them very much. I think part two is my favorite, so I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. As always, happy reading, and don't forget to tell me what you think! <33
One
I do not own Muse, but this story and its ideas contained within are mine.
The further Matt drove away from his mother's house, the more anxious the brunet felt. He was anxious to get back home, and back his normal routine, and truthfully, he was anxious to get away from his mother's house. He knew that he would have to return there in only a week's time, but he had had enough tears, and stress, for one weekend. But even more then that, Matthew was anxious because he knew that he was getting closer to Dominic and his diner.
Even though Matthew knew that his mind should have been on other things, he found that he couldn't stop thinking about Dominic, and no matter how he tried, he couldn't get the blond out of his mind. Matt found himself thinking of Dominic and his smile, every free chance he could; his bright sparkling smile, his kind eyes, and even the way the blond had leaned against the counter to talk with him. Matthew just couldn't shake the images of the blond from his mind, and that only made him feel worse and more anxious.
Matthew knew that he owed Dominic an apology for running out on him like that. He knew that Dominic was only trying to be polite and pleasant, so why had Matthew been so rude to the blond? He wasn't even sure himself. That's what made Matthew feel even worse, and why, as soon as she saw the sign for 'Dominic's Diner', Matthew was pulling off the exit and down the road without a moment's hesitation. It wasn't quite dark yet, the sun just beginning to set against behind the tress, and therefore the diner wasn't quite as empty as Matthew would have liked. The parking lot contained more cars that was for sure, but he was still able to park in the same spot he had the night before. As Matthew turned off his car, and settled back into his seat, he watched through the window, as Dominic placed a large sundae in front of a young child, gently placing a cherry on top with a large flourish. Matthew could see the child clap their hands gleefully, and begin to dig into the large treat. The scene made him smile, and Matthew suddenly felt like his feet had a mind of their own as they carried him out of the car, toward the front door, and finally inside the familiar welcoming diner. The tinkling of the bells made Matthew cringe, and he hoped that Dominic hadn't seen him come in.
"Take a seat anywhere you'd like. I'll be with you shortly." Matthew heard the familiar voice call out
Matthew hurried past the young child and her family at the counter, and finally settled into a booth in the furthest corner away from anyone else that he could find. He didn't want to be talked to or seen by anyone, at least not yet. Matthew slumped down in the booth as best he could, and kept his head down, gently running his fingertips over the top of the table.
"Hi I'm Dominic, I'll be helping you tonight. Can I start you with… You?"
Matthew had been too busy staring at the table to notice the blond approach his booth, a glass of water in his hand, and a friendly smile on his face.
"I owe you an apology." Matthew began
"No you don't, you don't owe me anything. I shouldn't have stuck my nose where it didn't belong, and I should know that not everyone wants to tell me their life story."
"But that's the thing…I do."
Dominic set the small water glass he forgot he had been carrying onto the table, and wiped his hands down the front of his black jeans. The two men locked eyes for a moment, trying their hardest to figure out just what the other man was thinking. Dominic finally turned away from Matthew, and looked toward the customers in the diner.
"Alright everyone, sorry, but we are closing early tonight. Everyone out!" he yelled
Moans of frustration were heard throughout the diner, and Matthew grabbed Dominic's arm to pull him back to look at him.
"You don't have to do that. I'll wait till you're done, or at least don't have many customers."
"It's my diner, I'll close when I want to." Dominic replied with a quick wink
Matthew watched as the blond ushered his customers outside, finally locking the door when they were alone, before turning off the small neon 'open' sign, that hung in the window. Dominic turned off a few of the lights inside, so nearly the only light that was left, was the bright neon of the juke box that sat in the corner. It was strange being here alone, nearly in the dark, with almost a complete stranger, but it suddenly gave Matthew the feeling that he was invincible and could say anything that he wanted. When Dominic sat down in the booth opposite him, and rested his back against the window, Matthew felt like he could talk.
"I didn't mean to run out on you like that. That was rude of me, and I apologize."
"You really don't have to. Hell, I run a diner in the middle of nowhere, I'm like the bartender you can tell all your secrets to, and I won't tell a soul."
Matthew smiled before continuing.
"I do have to apologize, and do you know why? Because I couldn't stop thinking about how horrible I was to you. You've been on my mind all weekend."
Dominic raised his eyebrows
"Really?"
Matthew nodded before continuing.
"Really. And not because you are incredibly handsome, well that to, but because you were the distraction that I desperately needed, and I was so busy that I couldn't even see how much I needed that."
"I don't understand Matthew. What would you need me to distract you from?"
Matthew reached across the table, and grabbed the glass that sat in front of him. He took a shaky sip of water, before he continued.
"My mother passed away on Monday. It was completely sudden and unexpected, so I had to go to her house, and help began cleaning thing out. That is why I drove past your diner. And why, I needed some distraction."
Dominic was silent. In all his years of owning the diner, he had never come across a confession quite like the one that he had just heard.
"Matthew I'm sorry. I had no idea." Dominic apologized sincerely
"You didn't know. And that's why I ran away. You were one of the very first people to really talk to me, and ask me about me, since her death, and I think I just got scared. I didn't realize how much I needed someone to talk to me; not about work, not about her death, just about me. And I was such an jerk for running away like that."
"No you weren't. You were dealing with so much more then just falling asleep at the wheel of your car, and I had the nerve to ask you what you were doing here. "
Matthew reached across the table, and grabbed Dominic's hand, lacing his fingers with the blonds'.
"I'm glad you did." He replied sincerely
"You are?" Dominic asked with a sly smile
"I am, because if you hadn't asked me anything, I could still be driving right now, in tears, about the fact that both my parents are dead, and I'm now more along then I've ever been."
"You're not alone." Dominic replied quickly
Matthew locked eyes with Dominic, and suddenly felt like he could burst into tears at any moment. But before he allowed the first tear to fall, and allow himself to become depressed, he stood from the booth slightly, and leaned over the counter to drop a gentle kiss on Dominic's lips. Once the kiss was done, Matthew remained standing, and moved from his side of the booth to Dominic's side, and cuddled against the blonde.
That was how the two men stayed until the sun began to rise again, and the bright morning light streamed in through the window of the diner. Matthew hadn't planned to stay at Dominic's all night, and he certainly hadn't planned to tell the blond as much about his life as he had, but it seemed right, and now, he was glad he had. The sound of the phone ringing suddenly broke the conversation that the two men were having and Dominic reluctantly climbed out of the booth, and reached over the counter top to grab the phone.
"Hello Dominic's Diner, Dominic speaking?"
"Dominic, can you tell me why I have an angry crowd of customers who were pushed out of the diner last night?"
Dominic's face turned a bright pink, before he quickly whispered a few words of apology into the phone, hanging up, and setting it back on the cradle quickly.
"I think I need to open this place up again." Dominic smiled, leaning his back against the counter top."
"I think I should be going anyway. I've got a few more hours to drive, and I'm supposed to be at work anyway."
"Here, let me grab you a drink and a slice of pie for the road." Dominic grinned
"Banana cream?" Matthew asked, standing from the booth
"Of course!" Dominic said, sliding the large slice of pie into a styrofoam container
Matthew met Dominic at the counter, and took the pie and the cup of coffee from the blond.
"You've done more for me then I could ever tell you. I can't thank you enough for just listening, and for reminding me that it's okay to be sad about these things."
"We all deal with grief differently Matthew, and I'm glad it took a simple diner owner to help open your eyes to that fact."
"Oh you're much more then that. So much more." Matthew said with a large smile
The two men leaned forward to capture each other's lips in another kiss, before they heard the sound of a car door closing outside, causing them to pull away reluctantly.
"And if you're ever around here again, don't be afraid to stop by, we're here to listen twenty four hours a day." Dominic reminded him with a giggle
"Oh don't worry, I will be." Matthew replied quickly