Finding Comfort

Chapter Four

Wednesday, May 19th. 

Tyler respected my wishes last night and dropped me off right before we crossed the tracks. I crossed over and looked back at him. Waiting for him to turn around so he didn't see me walk to the shack that I am currently occupying. Once he left, I walked the last 50 yards to my little shack. 

Now here are again, 4 in the morning and getting ready for another 12 hour shift at the diner. Thankfully I didn't walk the whole way last night so I got home before 9 and was able to rest my legs. Lord knows I would be an absolute mess today if I walked last night. doing 8 miles for one day is a lot and I'm just thankful that I didn't have to walk all of that. 

I leave the shack in record time, like always. Once again, enjoying watching the sunrise over the trees and hearing the sounds of the animals living in them. 

I make it to the diner a little later than I did yesterday since I was enjoying the fresh morning sun and the scenery of the walk I got but I still made it with a few minutes to spare. 

Just like yesterday Tyler comes in a little after 8. Get's his coffee, calls me princess, gives his mom a hug and off to school he goes. Not that I'm jealous he goes to school, but it must feel nice to have a normal life. I'm sure he has his own battles in life, but to have something so pure and the love he receives from his mom. it really looks like it feels amazing. 

Cheryl let's me know that she'll be leaving me alone like she did for the remainder of yesterday and that for the dinner rush I would be with her the whole time because Tyler won't be here to always help out and she could really use another person on the floor ASAP. 

After a successful day of getting the job under control and meeting a few of the regulars at Manning's Cafe. I'm released from the job. 

Changing back into my street clothes, I exit the cafe. I'm once again just a few blocks away from the diner when the same old truck pulls up next to me. 

"Hey, I was just coming to pick you up. Need a ride?" He questions. 

I stop and turn to him, "Why are you asking if you were coming to pick me up?" I question back.

He smiles, that gorgeous smile, "Get in Princess. I'm hungry and McDonalds is calling my name, how about you? Hungry?" 

I go to answer but my stomach grumbles needing food. I haven't ate since this morning but that was actually just a cup of coffee. If Miss Cheryl found out I think she'd kill me. She told me to eat three meals at the diner, but I've been finding a way to sneak around that. 

Tyler laughs, having heard it from the car. "Get in Princess, looks like you could use a Big Mac or two."

I huff but get in the truck none the less. Turning to Tyler who again sends me a wink.

"I've never had McDonalds before" but quickly correct myself, "Well I mean I've never had a proper meal from McDonalds before."

Tyler gives me a wondering look, "What does that mean Princess?"

The name princess makes my stomach explode everytime and I'm not sure how I feel about that.

"um, it's just um, you know, never mind, I never said anything." shaking my head from the memories playing in my head from eating half eaten burgers from the dumpster. 

Tyler accepts that I don't want to talk about it and asks me a different question. 

"So where are you from?"

"Some town in north east Washington."

"you don't know the town you are from or something?" he gives me another confusing look.

I shake my head, "My home life wasn't great, when I ran away I didn't really look at the town name, I just went."

"ran away?" He asks. Shit, I wasn't suppose to say that.. what's with this family that I just spill everything out. deciding it wasn't the worst thing that he knows I ran away, he just doesn't need to know why. 

"Yeah, like I said not a great home life."

"How old are you? I swear it looks like you should be in school with me."

"yeah, I've just turned 17 a few months back."

"Why aren't you in school then?" He questions as we pull up into the McDonalds drive thru. 

I shrug, not really wanting to go into that. "So what's good here that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?" I ask with a smile. 

Tyler shakes his head, "The entire menu is like less than 5 dollars, get anything you want. It's on me this time."

"Oh you don't have to do that," I say pulling out a few dollar bills, "At least have this so it doesn't feel like I'm free loading off you. Your mom already has done so much for me, I can't just keep accepting things from your family." 

"first, your not free loading, I offered up McDonalds it's the least I can do." I roll my eyes, putting my money in his cup holder since he won't take it from my hand. "Second, my mom offered you a job and a meal. That's literally nothing to even be worried about."

I just shake my head at him, "You don't get it Tyler.. I don't take things from people. Never have, because every time I take, something bad happens. So please, just take the money."

Something bad does happen, although it hasn't since I left the basement. However, that doesn't stop the fear from being beat for accepting a piece a bread and a glass of water. 

"Oh no, I'm not getting your bad ju-ju by taking your money. Keep it." he says laughing, trying to make a joke out of the tense situation. 

"Thank you, Tyler. Seriously. Thank you." I say reaching over to give his hand a squeeze. 

Tyler looks like his whole world just lit up just from me grabbing his hand. 

Little does he know, mine just did too.