The Beginning

I was perched on the bar stool at the counter of the counter-culture diner. Brij sat next to me. We had stumbled in to this place. I would have in another time loved to be pat of the inner circle here. Now I am just uncomfortable to be perched on a high chair. Would have liked the normal low tables. I glance behind at them frequently. Would have been nice to be comfortable seated next to that window, legs rolled up, infront of those hundred records. Coming to that, the music was nice, rock, a little unrecognizable, personal to someone behind that door. The kitchen was busy. The clothes frayed, the hair matted, the tattoos sneaking up from underneath collars and t-shirts and braids. Someone sauntered in the door. Tired.
"Is that seat taken".
I self-consiously look at the seat next to me. Turn and say "Nope". Hmm. I certainly would like that table now. Its so close. Am I supposed to start a conversation with him? What's the norm here? Do I just simply ignore the stranger though seated in such close proximity. I glance and give him a half-smile. More a half non-smile. "I would like to have nothing to do with you". I can feel Brij turn to look at me. I fix my eyes on a bust of elvis(??) stuck and forgotten on the bar shelves behind the counter. "Excuse me". I turn to face him. "Sorry, nothing."
"But were you talking to me?"
"Nope, I didn't say anything"
"I just heard you say something. Hey didn't you man"
"Nope I didn't say anything. Maybe I just thought out aloud. Its nothing. It wasn't to you anyways."
"ok, ok."

It was hot. Brunch is always confusing. I can never decide between the sweet and the savoury. So end up wholly unsatisifed, ordering one, wishing for the other, ordering sides to satiate, all these dishes staring at me and always overstuffed. Brij hurried out behind me.
"What was that?"
"Yeah, I know, I don't know what happenned. I just burted that out"
"You are so weird. What is wrong with you?"
I scream "Nothing is wrong with me!!! This happens to people soemtimes. Nothing has to be wrong! Ahh..."
I trudge in to the car.