Chasing Innocence | ✓

15 | true colours

"Order's up!"

Saturday nights at Cash Daniel's Bar and Grill are always hell. You don't get a second to breathe before someone else begins ordering. It's an endless cycle until you actually finish your shift.

I'm currently pulling a double, working along side Beckett. At least I have him around to make it bearable.

I reach for the latest order, placing two plates of ribs in either hand as I manoeuvre through hordes of people milling around.

It's so loud in here that I can barely think. Usually, I'd find the overbearing music and loud chatter a nuisance, but tonight I welcome it. It keeps me from thinking about everything that occurred yesterday.

I picture Brax tracing the scars on my wrist before I shake out the thoughts, focusing on getting these plates to table number twelve.

"Here we are," I place the plates in front of the two men, grab their table number, and head back towards kitchen.

My arm throbs in pain, but I grit my teeth, pushing through it. It's the physical reminder that won't allow me to forget last nights events.

"Rhea!"

I turn, finding Beckett striding towards me. He's wearing his signature bandana, keeping his brown locks from his face. He smiles, indicating his thumb behind him.

"There's some kid at the counter asking for you. Looks pretty young. Swears he's old enough to be sitting at the bar," he rolls his eyes.

"Really?" I frown.

"Yeah. He looks like he's just been in a brawl too," he winces. "I told him that if he was lying about knowing you I'd kick him out."

Casey.

I grab Beckett's arm. "I've got it. Thanks."

He pats my shoulder, before walking off towards the kitchen. I head back in the direction of the bar, moving between bodies until I spot Casey sitting nonchalantly at the bar.

I stifle a laugh when I notice he's chatting to a girl, resting his arm against the counter as he winks at her. "Casey!" I shout.

His eyes find mine and he grins. The bruising has gone down slightly, but his eye is still badly swollen. "Flirting with other girls?" I joke, placing a hand on my hip. "You know you shouldn't be up here."

He shrugs, swinging around on his stool. He produces my puffer jacket, passing it to me over the bar. "You left this at my house last night. I wanted to return it."

I grab it from him, placing it under the bar. "You didn't have to come all this way for that."

"Of course I did!" he shouts. "You did me a huge favour last night."

I frown, tapping my hand against the counter. "How'd you even know I'd be working tonight?"

He shrugs. "I didn't. But Brax knew where you worked when I suggested giving it back to you. We just thought we'd leave it here anyway."

I serve a few customers as we talk. No one seems to even glance at how young Casey looks. Everyone is either too drunk or doesn't give a shit about anyone other than themselves. Just the usual clientele.

"So where is Brax, anyway?"

"Waiting for me in the car," he states.

"He couldn't even be bothered coming in?" I roll my eyes.

Casey grins, shaking his head. "Something like that."