Abandoned

chapter twenty.

"About time." Greg, my manager at the diner, exhaled as I made my way into work and clocked in.

"I'm two minutes late." I rolled my eyes as I threw my hair up and put on the dumb cap we have to wear.

I served tables for two hours, beyond exhausted and wishing I could just crawl into my own bed and sleep. Or maybe Justin's bed.

God, shut up. I silently scolded myself for being the idiot that I am.

I grabbed another set of menu's and was getting ready to turn around when I heard something strange. There was a man's voice that for some reason stood out among all the people chatting loudly in the restaurant.

I didn't turn around as I tried to place the voice that was telling a waitress that he needs a table for one. It only took a few seconds for me to remember the voice I'd heard from the call from social services.

I took another step away, freezing in place as not to turn around. His voice faded as a waitress walked him to a table on the other side of the room. Once it was completely gone, I willed myself to move again, ducking my head and going straight for the back door.

"Taking my break." I mumbled to Greg, still never turning around to even catch a glimpse of the man.

I made it outside, immediately pacing around on the uneven gravel. I counted my breaths, feeling anxiety bubbling up inside of me, threatening to blow me up. Needing a good distraction, and with not enough of time to really make it anywhere, I pulled out my cell phone. Still mostly clueless on how to use the thing, I poked around and came across Justin's saved contact.

"Hey." He answered after a few rings.

"Hi," I breathed out quickly, still pacing around the back of the restaurant, but avoiding the windows. "Are you with Rose?" I asked, mostly just as a distraction for myself, but it came out sounding frantic.

"Yeah..." he said slowly, "why?"

"What are you guys doing?" I didn't bother answering him.

"Um... watching Spongebob." He breathed out a quiet laugh. "Is something wrong? You're kind of freaking me out."

"Nope, nothing. I'm fine. Why?" I laughed nervously, contemplating just hanging up.

"Ray, seriously."

"Fine." I sighed. "I was working and this man came in, I didn't see him but his voice sounded exactly like the one from the social services message and now I'm in the midst of a panic attack."

"Are you sure?" He questioned. "You heard that message one time, like weeks ago."

"I'm sure." I nodded. I'd replayed that message over and over in my head.

"I really doubt that that's him, Ray, it's probably just your mind messing with you. And, even if it is him, I'm sure it's just a coincidence."

"Yeah, yeah...okay. I just need a distraction."

"So you called me?" He questioned, mocking the fact that he was my first choice.

"The only damn numbers I have saved on this phone is yours and Pattie's. Plus, you're usually aggravating enough to distract me."

"Wow, thanks."

"Mhmm." I quickly hummed a 'welcome.'

"Well..." He paused like he was thinking. "We never talked about the fact that you kissed me the other day." He said. I could practically hear the smirk growing on his face.

"See, this is exactly what I mean. And you kissed me, jackass."

"And you kissed me back."

"And then spent the night in your bed?"