𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐓 𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐓⁰²ʰᵉᵐᵐⁱⁿᵍˢ

24 dagger-clad

asari
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Liz didn't come the morning after. I'd almost forgotten that I was meant to expect her every morning, great tip in hand, Hemming grin flashing at me that reminded me too much of Luke when it shouldn't have but did anyway. I was only reminded when Ellie started preparing her usual order, telling me to start on the coffee.

We waited for an hour, reserving what we'd made, but when the morning filled with our regulars, 8AM, and soon 9, we'd lost hope. She only sent me a confused shrugged from across the room when I gave her a questioning look.

"What if she's sick?" I asked after clearing away some dishes and cups from a table, following Ellie into the kitchen to send an order.

Ellie shrughed again, helping me unload the dishes into the sink. "I don't know... she's come over a couple times while sick,"

I ran somw water into the mugs. "Then what if she's really sick?"

Ellie sighed, wiping the tray and stacking it onto the others. "Who knows. Let's hope she comes in tomorrow,"

It felt selfish to be worrying for a customer. Some part of me thought I was caring because she was the main reason my daily tips were over 50 bucks, another part just hoped someone I knew was alright.

"Two large fries, medium plate chicken tenders," Ellie laid her list of orders onto the table as Mike returned from an errand. "Mike, you're on it. Ase, one medium coffee with milk, no sugar, strawberry milkshake but swap out the milk for almond, and lemon water soda. Table four,"

I nodded, repeating the order in my mind as I returned to the counter, starting on the milkshakes first and letting my mind wander as I instinctively pulled on the ingredients for the drinks.

I had another list of things to do, people to see later in the day, and errands to run since Darlene had texted she'd come home later than usual. Now, it didn't matter as much.

Before, there used to be Calum to think about. But returning home had become a lonely thing to get to. Of course, I loved Darlene's company. I liked her solitude and how she could make the room smell like the walls had been infused with berry-mix tea. However, I didn't have as much of a liking for the evenings I'd wake up and hear her quiet sobbing through the wall. In these unfortunate scenes, I found out the wall between her bedroom and mine wasn't as thick as I'd presumed it was.

But coming home had become terribly uneventful. Darlene was all calm and order, I liked to comply.

I finished the milkshake and coffee and started on the lemon water soda. It sounded convoluted and confusing but it was simple. There was already pre-infused water that contained lemon and hints of mint, all I had to do was pour it halfway into a glass then fill the other half with sparkling water. It was a hit or miss. A miss for me, I didn't like sparkling water.

I listed down my day once again.

All I had was see Calum, buy oregano, and get blueberry pie for Calum and Cade. I decided to throw Cade into my plans as well, considering he was the majority of the help Cal had been given. I figured a slice of the diner's blueberry pie would offer enough gratitude. To me, anyway. Maybe he just wanted a soda.

"Asey Lace," Michael called, pulling me from my thoughts as I looked towards him. He grinned. "Ey, you responded,"

I let my face contort into confusion. "Asey Lace? Really?"

"What - don't like nicknames?" he slid a tray of fries and chicken tenders through the window.

"Not when it's Asey Lacey," I took the tray from him and moved the beverages onto it. "And Ase is already a nickname. You can't nickname a nickname,"