"Hi, ladies. Looking good today," he said with a cheesy grin, and an eyebrow lift. “What is all this gossip about?”

Stacy nodded and patted Winston on the back before she continued. "Like I was saying, of course, Jace has girls because he is gorgeous, but maybe he's too aware of that and that's why he won't commit. I don't know." She shook her head in shame. “He would be quite the catch.”.

I looked over at Winston as he nudged me in the side and winked. "Is someone interested in our boss?" He smiled, eyes lighting up. My stomach got butterflies at just the thought, but I quickly shook it off.

"No!" I blurted a little too fast.  I hid my face embarrassed as I walked away to get ready to start my shift. "I'm going to freshen up a bit and get started for the day.”

Winston and Stacy both laughed as I walked away. I didn't know what they were getting at, but I couldn't worry about them or Jace if I was going to manage to make it through the day.

Fifteen minutes later, I was greeted by my first customer of the day. I walked over and greeted her with the best smile I could manage. “Good morning ma’am. What can I start you out with?” I pulled out my paper and pen leaning into the table to be sure I could hear her.

The woman slowly looked up from her menu and set her hard gaze on me. Her dull brown eyes burned into my green ones as she studied my every facial feature. The woman almost looked sickly, with sunken in eyes and cracked lips.

Letting out a snort, she leaned into the booth and threw her menu down in front of her. She smiled big revealing her blackened and rotted teeth, while looking me up and down. She looked strangely familiar, but I couldn't seem to figure out how. "Coffee...black," she said firmly. "Make is quick. I have things to take care of."

I nodded my head and hastily walked away to grab the woman’s coffee. I wasn’t sure what her problem was, but I didn’t like it one bit. I wanted to rip her head off and shove it up her ass but I couldn’t let my anger get the best of me. This was Jace's diner and he didn't deserve it.

I poured the coffee and walked back over to the woman's booth, placing the coffee on the table.

I got ready to walk away but she quickly reached out and gripped my arm to stop me, her sharp nails digging into my skin causing me to bleed.

I ripped my arm out of her reach and flared my nose in anger. She looked as if she enjoyed it. "Your name?" she questioned deviously.

"It's Avery," I spat. "Don't ever touch me again." I stared down at her as she smirked and played with her coffee.

“Avery. Avery.” She said repeatedly. I hated the way my name sounded, rolling off her dirty tongue. “I had a feeling.” She waved me off while taking a sip of her coffee and smiling as she watched me walk away.

That was weird.

By the end of my shift, I was exhausted. It felt as if the day was never going to end and I just wanted to get out of there and take a nap.

Stacy had been right; it was a lot busier than Sunday had been. I managed to drop one plate and mess up a few orders but still made it through the day okay. I was still alive anyway.

I gathered up my tip money and purse and walked over to say bye to Stacy.

She glanced up from her table and set her money down. Her pile was thick, probably mostly full of singles. “You did well today. How much did you manage to make?”

I looked down at my bundle of cash and ran my fingers over it, feeling pleased. It was a decent amount and I was excited about being able to save some up. “About $135.”

Stacy grinned and reached out for my arm. She squeezed it, but then quickly released it; probably remembering how I had tensed up the last time. That made me happy. “That’s really good.”

I backed away and turned around to leave. The place was very quiet, making me feel somewhat tired. “Thank you for the help. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, no problem. Tell Jace everything went well today.” She paused. “I’m surprised that he didn’t even call to check up on us today.”  She looked bewildered.

I had almost forgotten about Jace. Thanks Stacy. My stomach dropped at the thought of facing him. “Okay. I’ll be sure to tell him.”

I quickly exited the diner before anything more of Jace could be mentioned. I didn’t want to get caught up in another conversation like what we had earlier when I had first arrived for work.

~•~

When I arrived back at Jace's house, I walked in to find him sitting at his computer desk with his head in his hands. He glanced up at me when he heard me shut the door. "Hey," he muttered. "How was work?" He questioned before quickly looking away, as if he didn't want to look at me.

I walked over to the couch and slammed myself down on it, feeling confused. I took a deep breath and yawned. "It was really busy. Thanks again-"

"It's fine, Avery," he cut me off. "You can stop thanking me now." He stood up from the computer chair and slowly pushed it under the desk, looking slightly irritated. He leaned over the desk and ran his hands through his tousled hair. "I ordered us some pizza. I've been feeling like crap today so I think I'm going to just eat it in my room."

"Oh…" I muttered, not really knowing what to say.

He looked in my eyes for a split second before he walked toward the hallway. There was a look in his eyes that I couldn't quite figure out. Something I had never seen from him before. "You're welcome to do anything that you would like. Make yourself at home," he whispered.

I sat there on the couch confused as he walked down the hallway and into his bedroom.

A few moments later, the door shut, causing me to jump. It almost seemed as if he were angry with me.

I pushed myself into the soft leather couch and closed my eyes. My stomach rumbled but suddenly I didn’t feel like eating either. I can’t seem to make anyone happy.

I sat there for a moment before bursting out the front door and running to the sidewalk. I stopped, running my hands through my hair, before I began walking. Again, I felt as if I needed an escape. I needed to breathe.

The cool wind hit me hard, causing me to pull my jacket tighter around me as I made my way toward the neighborhood playground. I hadn’t been able to step foot on a playground in over twelve years. It gave me too many bad memories.

When the worn-out swings came into view I felt a twinge of pain in my chest. It froze me in place for a second, but I forced myself to go on. I stepped up to the swing and leaned in to touch it. I missed that feeling. The one that I should’ve gotten as a child. The coolness of it gave me chills