The Great War

Chapter 5

The next 2 weeks flew by. Hayden went back to avoiding me but I also avoided him so that makes it kinda mutual. I spent most of my time working at the diner. Me and Nick became very close. We hung out a couple times after work. Jackson and I have also spent a bit more time together. It's great to see him more often now. I only had one more week at the diner before my contract ran out. I had already looked for jobs but the nothing really caught my eye yet. I wish I could just stay at the diner but sadly that's not possible. It was Tuesday night and I had worked a late shift. I came home to a very quiet house. The company has apparently been crazy busy. I got some Chinese takeaway on the way home. I went to the living room and watched an episode of Friends while eating dinner. I went and took a shower after and went downstairs to read. No one was home and the living room was so nice, so why not? It didn't take long until Jackson and Hayden came home. Jackson joined me in the living room while Hayden went upstairs.

"Hey. How was your day?" Jackson asked while slumping down on the couch next to me.

"It's been alright. Works wasn't too busy. You guys seem stressed though."

"Yeah. You could say that. Business has been going crazy and on top of that Hayden's assistant Mila just quit because she's moving to Italy with her fiancé next week. He only has until the end of the week to find a replacement." Jackson explained.

"That sounds stressful."

"It is." Jackson leaned back closing his eyes.

He stayed like that for a moment before he sat up and opened his eyes looking at me. He looked like he had an idea. I didn't like the look on his face.

"What?" I asked him.

He got up and walked into the hallway.

"Hayden? You got a sec?" he called up the stairs.

I heard steps coming up the stairs and followed Jackson into the hallway. Hayden stood there on the stairs in sweats and a hoodie. His hair was still wet from the shower.

"What?" Hayden asked him, clearly annoyed.

"I just had the most brilliant idea." Jackson started looking between me and Hayden. "You are looking for a job." he said pointing at me. "And you are looking for an assistant." he said looking over at Hayden.

Oh no. I see where this is going. I looked at Hayden. Hayden looked at me. This was not a brilliant idea. This was the worst idea ever.

"Why don't you just hire Kaya at least until you found someone else or she starts college. She's really organised and loves planning stuff so she'd be perfect. And she could even work flexible hours when she's in college to help with the increasing workload. You couldn't find anyone better right now."

"I...eh..." Hayden scratched the back of his head looking from Jackson to me. Clearly not sure what to say.

"That sounds really great Jackson but I'm not sure if I'm qualified. I think maybe you should just find someone else. I'll get a job. I still have a few days to find something else." I said.

"Nonsense. I don't see the problem here. This is the perfect solution to both your problems. What's going on with you?" he asked.

Oh no. He can't know.

"Nothing!"
"Nothing!" me and Hayden said at the same time.

This happens a bit too often for my liking.

"Okay then it's settled. Great! You're working with us now!" Jackson said happily giving me a small hug. "I'm gonna hit the showers now."

Great. Just wonderful. Jackson and his brilliant ideas. How am I supposed to survive this. Seeing him all day. Giving me orders and telling me what to do where and...oh god. This was never going to work. We still stood there in the hallway together. He let out an annoyed sigh and turned around to walk back up the stairs. I don't love this Eiter but he didn't have to be so mean about it.