meet me at midnight.

10.

A:N: Please show some love to GreenDruidess for the amazing edit above. How cute is this? This has bought me so much joy today. Thank you so much. 

Also trigger warning for the chapter for use of the f*g slur. 

"Creep." Desiree said.

I looked at her. I'd been cleaning a table in my section and she'd moved towards me. I followed her gaze and noticed Dawson, staring at me. Had he been watching me all this time? He glared at Desiree and walked away.

"W-was he watching me?" I asked.

"Yeah, I finished serving that Karen at table 12, looked round and he's just eyeing you like a creep." She said.

For the whole week, I noticed Dawson watching me. I thought maybe he was trying to be subtle, but he didn't seem to care about that. I'd told Marie and she'd dragged him into the office, giving him a verbal warning.

He'd stop for a shift or two then start again. I'd have to tell Marie again. Desiree had been stand-offish with him and I had caught him being rude to her. Desiree, unlike me, wasn't scared of him and would give as good as she got. Maybe that's what I needed to do.

The shift ended and the customers left. Desiree and I sat at the counter, waiting for Marie to finish counting the money.

"God, that woman at table 12," Desiree said, then adopted a nasally voice. "I asked for my bacon extra crispy, how hard is your job? Don't need a degree to take an order, do you?"

"You should have said and I would have kicked her to the curb." Marie said.

"Nah, babes. I can handle that bitch," Desiree grinned. "And anyone that picks on my Daisy."

The staffroom door opened and Dawson walked out. We all went quiet. He was wearing a checkered, chocolate colored jacket. It looked expensive. He noticed Desiree, and then me. He smiled in what he probably thought was a charming way.

He walked over and I felt my heart rate pick up. I didn't want him near me. Desiree was watching him, eyes narrowed.

"Hey Daisy." He said.

"H-hey." I replied, wishing I wasn't so nervous.

"Been wondering if you wanted to go out sometime?" He asked.

"She has a boyfriend." Desiree snapped.

"I wasn't asking you," He snapped, and Marie shot him a warning glare. "And girls make up boyfriends all the time. I could show you a good time."

"I do have a boyfriend." I said, softly.

"You mean the fag that picked you up last week." Dawson said.

I looked at him. I'd never heard anyone say a slur before. I suddenly felt incredibly annoyed. Marie slammed the register shut and lifted her head, rounding the counter.

"No," She snapped. "We DO NOT refer to people in that manner."

"What's the big deal?" Dawson said.

"The big deal is that word is a slur," Marie said, eyes fiery. "I want you gone. I'll be contacting Dwayne in the morning."

"Imagine calling a 6'4 goth with tattoos a slur," Desiree laughed. "Couldn't be me."

"You can try and get rid of me, but my dad owns your ass." Dawson grinned, backing up.

He was aiming to back away. Given the look in Desiree's eyes, I half expected her to leap at him and claw his eyes out. My phone buzzed and I checked it. I slid off the stool. Desiree's face went from furious to amused in a second.