meet me at midnight.

8.

A:N: Zara's faceclaim is Grace Van Dien.

I started back at college, finally. I'd taken a couple of extra weeks to adjust to being back at work. Andrea had allowed me the two extra weeks and I'd started back the 2nd week in October. The college cafeteria were serving pumpkin spice lattes and cold brews and some of the students had pinned pumpkin cut outs to the classroom doors.

I went to the cafeteria and got a pumpkin spice latte and sat drinking it whilst I waited for my first class of the day. I checked my phone in case Officer Sonia had been in touch. She'd put out an APB to other police precincts, giving a description of mom, and of Lionel. Nothing had come of it so far. Apparently Lionel was probably lying low.

A part of me was terrified he'd fled the country with my mom before the APB had been sent out. At half nine, I got up and walked to my Fine Art lecture. Louise looked thrilled to see me back. I was so happy to be back in class.

Louise was aware of the situation involving my sketchbook. I still showed her the drawings I'd been working on and she smiled as she went through my book.

"I see a massive amount of improvement," She smiled, breezily and I blushed. "Perhaps, you have found your muse, Daisy."

I went and sat down. We'd moved on from drawing fruits into drawing objects. Louise had piled various objects on a table including bike parts and an alarm clock.

"Pick a section of this to focus on," She said. "After the Thanksgiving break, we'll be moving into drawing people."

I focused on my drawing. I could hear the scratching sounds as my classmates continued drawing. After an hour and a half, Louise sent us on a break. After I finished college, I'd be going straight to work from here.

College went by quickly and I got the subway and arrived at IHOP twenty minutes early. Desiree wasn't in today. I greeted Marie as I walked into the staffroom. She gave me a friendly smile and continued taking payment from a customer.

I changed into my uniform and took a few deep breaths to prepare for my shift. I left the staffroom and started my shift in earnest. I was entirely focused on my section and my shift went by really quickly.

"I'm just going to clear that table and then I'll finish." I said to Marie.

"Thank you, Dais," Marie said. "I'll see you in two days."

I nodded and walked to the empty table, picking up the plates and stacking them so they'd be easier to carry. I walked to the kitchen and then went back, wiping the table down with anti-bacterial spray. Once I'd finished I put the spray bottle back and left the main foyer.

I'd have an hour to wait. Josh's shift ended an hour after mine so I'd sit in the foyer and draw. I folded my apron and put it in my bag and left the staffroom, heading back to the foyer. I found a seat in the corner. I pulled out my sketchbook and started drawing.

About ten minutes into my drawing session I felt eyes on me again. My head shot up and I looked around. There was no one looking at me. I lowered my eyes and kept drawing. 45 minutes later, I closed my sketchbook and put it away. I felt eyes on me again, but from behind me. I glanced around and noticed a guy behind me.

His hair was close cropped, but curly on top. It reminded me of a llama. His eyes were dark brown. He was wearing a red shirt and black slacks, meaning he was one of my colleagues, but I had no idea who he was.

"Hi there." He said, stepping a little closer.

"H-hey." I said, keeping my eyes on him.

"I'm Dawson, you must be Daisy." He said.