lovers - obx

~ one ~

"Can I get some service over here?!"

"I gave you your food fifteen minutes ago Randy," Katie said as she passed the old man's table with two plates of food, "It's right in front of you. Enjoy," She smiled at the couple after serving them their food before leaving them alone to eat.

"Oh," Randy said as Katie passed, "Sorry honey, you know I get."

"It's alright Randy," Katie said as she spun around to face the man with her hands placed on her hips, "I'm getting paid to remind you that we served you. Believe me, it is the least of my worries.

The two shared a smile before Katie walked back to the kitchen to grab more plates. As she entered the area behind the bar she was met with Kie taking the order of their friends.

"Hey," She greeted as she reached into the window to grab two plates for another couple, "What brings you guys here?"

"We were hungry and the fridge was empty," Pope said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Ah, I see," Katie replied before walking off to go deliver the hot, steaming plates in her hands.

"Here you are," She said as she set the plates on the table in front of the guests, "Enjoy!"

She quickly walked back to the bar so she could talk to her friends. She carefully nudged Kie out of the way so she could talk to them.

"Hey!" Kie exclaimed, "I was talking to them."

"Go run the restaurant server girl," Katie said, jokingly, "Table 12 needs a refill."

Kie rolled her eyes before walking over to the drink machine, tapping Katie's butt as she walked by.

Katie giggled slightly. Giving each other little taps on pretty much any part of the body, except their boobs. Katie made those off limits.

"What were they drinking?" Kie asked, looking back at Katie.

"Uh," Katie drug on as she flipped through her order pad, she smiled when she found it, "Diet Coke and Lemonade. It's Joey and his daughter."

"Okay," Kie said, turning back to fill the cups she had grabbed.

Katie turned back to face her friends, and that's when she noticed JJ wasn't there.

"Where JJ?" She asked.

"He went to see his dad," Pope said.

Katie slammed her hands on the counter, "Without me?!" She exclaimed.

Katie always went with JJ to see his dad. She was his protection shield. His dad never beat him when she was around because he wanted to make a good impression on her.

Katie sighed as she untied her apron and tossed it to Sarah, who often covered her shifts.

"Please," Katie asked, desperately, as she held out the order pad to her.

Sarah sighed, "Fine," She said, "Go save your boy."

Katie smiled and planted a small kiss on Sarah's cheek before moving to stand behind her brother.

"Keys," She demanded, causing John B to turn around and face her.

She held her hand on and John B sighed. He pulled the van keys from his pocket and handed them to Katie. She smiled and hugged him quickly.

"Be careful!" John B called after her, but she was already too far down the dock entrance to hear him.

Katie hand one thing, and one thing only on her mind...finding JJ and making sure he was alive and okay.

❣️

As Katie pulled into the driveway, her heart sank when she didn't see JJ's bike. She looked around to see if he parked somewhere else, but his bike was nowhere to be seen.

"JJ!" Katie yelled as she stepped out of the van, slamming the door behind her, "JJ!"

Katie stood and looked around for a moment, her hands on her hips, before walking slowly towards the house. She took a deep breath and prepared herself to enter the danger zone.

"Hello?" She said softly as she pushed past the porch door, "JJ?"

The house stunk of beer and weed. She wasn't new to this smell, but she was new to this level of it. She walked forward slowly to get a better view of the couch. She let out an audible gasp when she saw Luke lying down, asleep, and covered in beer.

"Oh my god," She whispered as she moved a little closer.

She didn't want to touch him, and she knew she couldn't move him. She didn't know what to do.

She pulled out her phone and dialed for John B. She didn't know what she was gonna do, but she knew she needed help.

"Hello?" John B said when he picked up, "Are you okay?"

"Yes," Katie said, "I'm fine. But Luke isn't."

John B sighed, "Katie, just leave. Go and leave him there."

"What?" Katie said, "Why would I do that? If this happened to our dad, I'd want someone to help him."

"This wouldn't happen to our dad," John B said.

"Why not?" She replied, "He's an alcoholic too."

"That doesn't matter," John B said, "Nothing matters about dad anymore."

"Why? He gets put in jail so all of a sudden we banish him to the dark side?" Katie asked, "Why are we giving up on him? Why can't we give him another chance? Why can't we-"

"Because he's dead, Katie!" John B shouted into the phone.

There was silence for a few seconds before John B spoke again.

"He's dead. Dad is...dead."

Katie didn't say another word before hanging up the phone. She shoved it in her back pocket and took a shaky breath. How could her dad be dead? He couldn't be. But John B wouldn't lie—especially not about something like that.

She sighed and looked back at Luke one last time before leaving the house and climbing back into the van. She turned the van back on and speed out of the driveway, just wanting to be home, just wanting to be with JJ, who she still hadn't seen since last night.

❣️

author's note:
woaaaaah, what. is. happening. craaaaazy. but, she knows her dad is dead so 😬

word count: 1,006 (including author's note)