If I Fall

Chapter One

*beep beep beep*
I woke up to my alarm going off. What joy, another glorious day to work my life away.
I turned my alarm off and checked my notifications on my phone. It was just a text from my best friend and some random TikTok notifications. I read the text from my best friend, Everlee, "Good morning B! Time to kick todays ass. See you soon!" Perks of working with your best friend is that you can motivate each other to keep going to work when you're too tired. Well I guess I should get up and start the day.
    My name is Lakelynn May, and I live with my grandma in Santa Monica, California. I graduated high school a few weeks ago and have since been working my life away as a waitress at a little cafe in town. As for my family life, well I would love to tell you where my parents are. My dad left my mom when I was 12 and my mom bounced out a year later. She comes and goes once a year if that. The divorce pretty much destroyed her. I will never understand how two people so in love like they were can just separate and let their lives go to shit and not care about their child, but here we are. I moved here to my grandmas at that point, and she's been there for me more than they have. She is all that matters to me anymore.
    I got out of bed and went to my bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror. My curly brown hair was just a complete mess. You know that scene from frozen where Ana's hair was crazy? Yeah that's me right now. I wet my hair, got my comb out, and started taming the mess. I then threw it in a bun, washed my face, and brushed my teeth. I applied some moisturizer and started my basic makeup routine. I applied my concealer, a light foundation, highlight, and my mascara. That'll do it. I took my hair down and put it in a messy side braid. She basic but cute. The cool thing about my job is there's no uniform. The only rule is don't look like you're going to the club. I walked over to my closet and threw on some cute dark jeans shorts and a teal blue cropped tee shirt. It's supposed to be 90 degrees today so I'm trying to stay as cool as possible. We are mainly an outdoor cafe on the boardwalk, so dressing weather appropriate is a must. I put on my white vans, grabbed my phone and keys, and walked out of my room.
"Good morning, Lakelynn May! How'd you sleep sweetie?" Grandma said as she was pouring herself a cup of coffee. "Good morning. Eh I slept decently. How about yourself?" I asked. I grabbed a bagel and threw it in the toaster. "I slept pretty good actually. Are you working today?" She asked. I let out a sigh. "Yep, six days a week." I responded. She shook her head. "You seem to never be home anymore. You're always at that job. They seem to be working you to death." I laughed. "Grandma, they're not working me to death. It's okay. We just really need the money. Plus what better things do I have to do?" I asked as I grabbed my bagel and put some strawberry cream cheese on it. I got a cup down and put some coffee in it with my favorite creamer, caramel hazelnut. "Lakelynn May, now you know I can handle us just fine without you having to work that much. You don't have to work your youth away sweet girl. You need to go out with your friends and have fun! I may be old, but I'm not useless." She said as she sipped some coffee from her cup. "You worked your life away to make ends meet for me growing up. This is the least I can do. You deserve to relax more now. Plus, I work with my only friend every day. It's a win win!" I said and smirked. She just shook her head and chuckled. "I'm not going to change your mind, am I?" I laughed and walked around the table to kiss her forehead. "Nope, but I appreciate your concern. I'm fine, grandma. I got to go though. Love you! Be back for dinner!" I said as I grabbed my things and walked out the door.
My grandma is a very hardworking and stubborn woman. She fell and broke her hip about six months ago and has been in recovery unable to work since. She really wants to go back, but she's 60. Now I know that's not the retirement age, but when I'm perfectly capable of working and taking care of us why should she have to worry about that? She needs to heal and enjoy her life. She let me enjoy mine for so long.
I got in my car and started driving to work. What song should I play today hmm.. I scrolled through my playlist. Oh perfect, 'Manic Monday' even though it's a Thursday, it's still fitting. I only live like ten minutes from work, so it's not that bad of a drive.
My town is cute. We live near a tourist type of location, so everything is always bright colored but yet cozy. It's like the perfect mix of home sweet home and vacation. I kept driving while jamming out to my songs. Oh that's cool, someones finally moving into the old carter house. They must not be from around here though, they're driving an old ford truck. You don't see old trucks around here like at all. I wonder how long they'll last. To give you an understanding, the old carter house is a house that's been on the market for two years now. There's a rumor that it's haunted and that's why no one wants it. The last tenants moved out in less than two months. No one's been in there since. If you look up reviews on houses on this road, there's creepy things to be said. We tend to stay clear of it, but unfortunately I pass by it everyday going to work. I kept driving and pulled into work. I got my things, put on my apron, and started walking inside.
"Good morning, Miss Rosa." I said as I put my things behind the register. Miss Rosa is the owner here. She's such a sweet lady. "Good morning, Miss Lakelynn. How are we feeling today?" She asked in her normal energetic attitude. "Well, I got my coffee and listened to some good music so it's going pretty good this morning." I said trying to match her energy. Miss Rosa likes us to be happy at work. She tries to keep a healthy and energetic atmosphere as much as possible. She smiled at me and patted me on the back. "Good. That's good. You're going to be in section b this morning." She said while handing me some money for the register. "Alrighty, Miss Rosa." I smiled till she walked away then let the tiredness rush over me. I'm always exhausted. I literally work six days a week here and on my day off I'm either sleeping or hanging out with Everlee.
Speaking of, here she comes now speeding like a bat out of hell. She's always running behind, but she still gets her job done so miss Rosa doesn't mind.
She walked in the door. "Lakelynn May! You will not guess what I found out this morning!" She exclaimed while throwing her apron on. Everlee is from Alabama. She moved here when we were ten, and we've been best friends ever since. "Ev, you haven't been awake but for maybe an hour and you already have the town gossip? Okay, what is it?" I asked while laughing. She rolled her eyes and laughed. "The old carter house has a new owner!" She stated so excitedly. I shrugged. "Yeah, I already knew that. I drove by this morning." I laughed. "But wait that's not all! The new owner has a son around our age, and he's from Texas! I might finally have a southern man!" She yelled while smiling. I chuckled and grabbed my notepad and pen. "Two things. One, how in the hell did you find this information out this fast? Two, there's plenty of men in California why do you need a southern one?" I asked. See Everlee is really good at finding things out I swear she should work for the FBI, but sometimes she still shocks me.
"So basically when I rode by there I saw they were there, and their trucks license plate said Texas! So I did a quick google search and typed in the address and the dads name popped up. So I looked him up on Facebook and found the only one it could be and saw he had a son! He's fine as hell." She stated while looking so proud of herself. I just stood there staring at her for a minute before I could even speak. "Ev, that's borderline crazy stalking. You realize this right?" I asked in disbelief. She shrugged and grabbed her pen and notepad. "I find out what I need to know. It's not like they'll ever know." She said. I shook my head as a customer pulled into the parking lot. "Well I hope you and Mr. Texas are very happy together." I said and walked outside to wait for the customer to come up.
It's Miss Mable! I love her. I sat her in my section. "Now, Lakelynn May, why are you here again so early? Shouldn't you be out doing young people things, like sleeping and hanging with friends?" She said. I laughed. "Oh you know me, I'm a workaholic Miss Mable. You want your usual today?" I asked trying to avoid the never ending questions of why I am always here. "Baby, I'm just worried about you. Please promise me you'll find time to live outside of this place?" She asked while sighing and patting my hand. I smiled. "Yes ma'am. I promise." I said. She smiled. "Good. And my usual would be great. Thank you sweetie. I nodded and walked away to place her order in the system. She's the sweetest, and I love her a lot. I just wish the questions would stop. Ev walked up to me. "Miss Mable upset you?" She asked. "I mean no. She's just looking out for me. I just wish the questions would stop." I said. She sighed. "I mean all of us worry about you a lot. You're always here. You pull doubles more than half the week. I only work four days, but you're here morning and night usually six days a week. It's not healthy. And that's just coming from me your best friend." She said. I turned and hugged her. "Ev, I appreciate you, but I really am okay. My grandma and I just need the money right now. I promise to take a break as soon as I can afford it." I said and walked away to my other tables.
I get not a lot of people understand our situation, but I have to work. I have to make money. She's done everything for me. It's the least I could do.