Noctis x Salem-_

Chapter 2: Emoji Talk and Diner Life.

Sunday, 12:29.

They tried to have a regular day. Did they succeed? Yes, but actually no. Eddie has returned and is now at the children's bar with Izzy. They have a new customer, but they are rude to Eddie and Izzy. The others are trying to not interfere with Eddie's work. As they've learned, you never attempt to take work from Eddie.

"Why does your child need to be here?" Salem overheard Eddie say. "We are not babysitting a child who can barely do anything. If the child can walk and speak. They can walk in here on their own, not your infant."

Izzy looked so done with the world. Salem genuinely thought they were passing out, but Salem knew better, so Salem did nothing. Izzy would simulate passing out in front of customers to make them feel bad, so everyone eventually caught on when it was happening.

Was this stunt legal? No, not in the slightest.

Would Izzy keep doing said stunt? Yes, they would.

Eddie sometimes carried Izzy up the stairs; other times, Reagan would take the task. The trio of "Passing Out At Random Points", or P.O.A.R.P., would always have each other's backs. Reagan and Eddie wouldn't pass out at the Diner as Izzy would. Eddie would pass out when they were around the school district of the town or specific people. Reagan passed out when she had too much work to do.

(Quick A/N: Yes, P.O.A.R.P. is a real thing. My friends and I are a part of it.)

Salem found the group hilarious but quickly snapped back into reality.

"Ma'am, you can't leave an infant alone in a Diner; that's not okay," Eddie said from next to Salem. When did he get there? He grabbed a glass from the counter and walked back over to the Children's Bar. "You could get arrested for child neglect because your child can not communicate."

Salem knew that Noctis would get a headache if they walked to the backroom, so Salem was glad Eddie chose to steal a glass from her instead. Izzy started to wobble, but Eddie glared at them. 

Izzy stopped wobbling fast.

Eddie was pissed off.

Salem could tell he was. He always did this thing with his hands. They would move in a rhythm of choice to try and calm him down. Did it work this time?

No.

As soon as Eddie opened his mouth, Salem stepped in.

"I need you to leave, Ma'am," Salem said firmly, "You're making a lot of people upset over a child that came out of your ass."

The customer looked offended but grabbed her kid and left.

"Eddie, upstairs, now." Salem continued. She knew he couldn't handle the children anymore, so she needed him to go upstairs and cool off.

Eddie went upstairs, and Salem told Noctis to go and take over his shift for now. Eddie desperately needed rest, but they all knew he wouldn't rest.

Thirty minutes later, it's now 12:59 lunch hour is almost over. 

Izzy decided to go upstairs and check on Eddie, only to come back down the stairs.

"So, he passed out." Izzy said, "But I don't know what to do."

Noctis laughed, "Leave him alone. He needs sleep."

An hour later, it's 2:00 now.

The Diner was quiet, for once.

The friend group are reminiscing on how this all started.

"Salem and I planned our entire life over Emojis. I don't believe anyone is crazier than us." Noctis said swiftly.

"Did anyone know what happened to Eddie?" Salem asked from the back room, "I didn't see him a few minutes ago."

"Eddie left!" Emma shouted at her.

"I saw him head to the town hall about ten minutes ago," Katelyn added. "I think he went to see his aunt."

"Ah, that's a shame. I made a cake!" Salem shouted as she walked out of the backroom with a cake.

"Cake!" everyone except Salem and Eddie, because he wasn't there, shouted in sync.

Salem laughed, set the cake on the table the group was at, walked over to the door, locked it, looked back at the group,

and flipped the sign to "See you in a few hours"