Forgive Me

Just For You

Matt's POV

I watched Luka run to the bathroom, but I wasn't sure if I should follow. I turned to look at Lucy and she was just rolling her eyes. "You better go after him. Ask him what he needs, see what you can do to help him. Take it slow." I nodded to her and stood up flattening out my shirt and fixing my hair for the 50th time. Not that it mattered how I looked but my anxiety took over for a brief second before I was ready to swoop him up and kick the living shit out of someone.

I began walking down towards the bathroom, doughnuts in hand and hope, hope he actually talks to me.

I gently push on the bathroom door and slide in, locking it behind me. I hear his little cries and my heart can't help but hurt. "Luka? You okay pal?" I call out. Nervously rubbing the back of my neck I go and stand next to the stall hoping it would help.

Luka's POV

I hear his soft voice and all I can do is cry harder. I see the tips of his brown shoes right outside my stall door. I watched the door shake as he knocked three times.

My sobs slowed a little when he began talking, "Luka if you don't open the door I'll just have to come under the stall and I'm a tall guy so there won't be much room for two of us in there." I giggled a little imagining the big man in the tiny stall with me he looked extra goofy in my mind. I couldn't stop the belly laugh that escaped my mouth at his next sentence. "I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down!" He stated in a gruff sing song voice. I unlocked the door and slowly opened it keeping my head down because I remember my dad saying not to talk to him and if I looked at those eyes I wouldn't be able to stop myself from talking. I felt a bag being pushed gently into my hands. I couldn't help the excitement that came over me when I saw two doughnuts in the bag. Doughnuts are my favorite food! I looked up at the tall man and my heart started pounding as I watched his eyes soften  while he scanned my face.

I involuntary flinched when his hand came up to touch my face. "I won't hurt you I promise." He whispered to me. I closed my eyes as his soft hand reached up and felt the two bruises down the right side of my face. I didn't catch the next few things he said mainly because some of them weren't in English and also because I'm pretty sure I have died and gone to heaven because being this close to him is like a good sandwich after swimming or crawling into your bed after a long day, a warm fire, hot chocolate in winter, being close to him is like everything good in the world. I only came back to reality when I felt the warmness of his hand slipping away. I couldn't help the whimper that slipped from my lips and I couldn't help how my eyes watered and my lips quivered when I looked up at him. "Don't worry bambino, you're okay." I felt overwhelmed and I wanted to cry.

"Do you have a phone?" He asked softly while washing his hands and turning the water on for me. "Always wash your hands before you eat." He gestured to the doughnuts. I nodded to him answering his question. "Where is it?" I slid it out of my pocket. It was old and pretty cracked from the last few episodes my dad had. "Does he check it?" I shook my head no because he was always to drunk to figure out the password. He handed it to me so I could unlock it for him. Once I handed it to him he began typing on it. I tried to peek over the screen but he locked it and handed it back to me. "Check it after work once you get home and are safe. That's where you can eat your doughnuts too." I nodded listening to his every word. I followed him to the door and walked out.

While he headed to his seat I ran to the back to put the snacks in my backpack. I quickly began bussing tables so I didn't get into trouble.

Matt's POV

Once I left the bathroom I quickly sat down with Lucy. I watched with disgust as she shoved french toast and scrambled eggs into her mouth. "Have you no shame woman? You eat like a beast!" I laughed. "Some would think you'd be the one with the appetite being that you spent like five hours in the bathroom." She mumbled with her mouth full. And I couldn't help but roll my eyes because she couldn't have been more wrong about what happened. "He's not like that Lucy. He's different." I defended him. She put her hands up in mock defense.

I looked over to see an older man reprimanding Luka.  I looked at Lucy knowing she wouldn't miss my absence. I quickly slid from the booth and approached the man who looked like Lukas boss. "Hello, I am so sorry for keeping your employee in the bathroom! I had some problems with the toilet but he fixed them for me! I meant to come find you and tell you how you have really helpful employees and I wanted to leave a larger tip but didn't know who to talk to." I winked at Luka and shot him a little smile. Thomas his boss quickly walked to the register to put my cash tip in the bottom of the till and turned around to thank Luka in front of me.

Once his boss left I heard a tiny little thank you come from the boy looking up at me with big beautiful eyes. My heart wanted to beat out of my chest right then. "You should leave before my shift is over if my dad catches you here or me talking to you he will get really mad." He said in a soft whisper like voice. I wouldn't have heard him if I wasn't looking right at his innocent little face. I nodded as I watched him bus the bar. "I promise to text you later. I pinky promise." I couldn't help but smile as a small pinky appeared from under a long sleeve dark blue shirt sleeve. I wrapped my pinky around his and kissed the top of my hand. My way of sealing the promise. I took note of the blush on his cheeks and quickly ushered Lucy out of the coffee shop. I didn't even try and stop the smile that spread across my face.