The Finger Snap

It happened after the last cherry tomato, as if a timer had pinged in the air. Jessica lifted her hand and snapped her fingers once, a sharp, bright sound like a twig breaking. Heads turned—Rico’s, Marty’s, the law clerk’s. Chloe glanced at the clock: 12:47. In high school, this would have been when the second lunch bell rang. "Don’t you dare", something young and unhealed inside Chloe hissed. She walked over anyway, heat riding behind her heart. “Check, please,” Jessica said without looking up. The way she said “please” made it sound like an insult. “Of course,” Chloe replied, each syllable ironed flat.