desertion

140

LYDIA

I sat in my car in front of the pizzeria, gripping the steering wheel as nerves twisted in my stomach. I hated quitting. I hated letting people down, and Mr. Ortiz had been nothing but kind to me. But I couldn't pass up the internship at the police department-it was too good of an opportunity.

Athena had been the one to push me to go for it. "You'd be perfect, Lydia," she'd said with that unwavering confidence of hers. "You're detail-oriented, and you're already interested in investigative work. This could be your first real step into the field."

So I'd said yes. And now I had to face Mr. Ortiz and break the news.

I grabbed my bag and stepped out of the car, taking a deep breath before pushing the door open. The familiar smell of pizza dough and garlic hit me instantly, and for a moment, I wondered if I was making the right decision. This place had been my second home for so long.

Miles was behind the counter, leaning over to restock the napkin dispensers. He glanced up when the bell above the door jingled, and his face immediately lit up.

"Lydia!" he called, walking around the counter to meet me. "What are you doing here? I thought this was your day off."

I smiled, though it was a sad one, and his grin faltered slightly. "Hey, Miles," I said softly. "I, uh, needed to talk to Mr. Ortiz."

Before he could ask why, Mr. Ortiz appeared from the back, wiping his hands on a towel. "Lydia," he greeted warmly. "I got your call. What's going on?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat and stepped forward, clasping my hands nervously in front of me. "I wanted to talk to you in person because, well... I'm giving my notice."

Mr. Ortiz's expression shifted slightly, his brows furrowing, but he didn't look angry-just curious. "Oh? And what's taking you away from us?"

Miles's gaze darted between us, confusion clear on his face.

I took a deep breath. "I got an internship at the police department. Athena mentioned they were looking for someone to help with organizing files and assisting with some of the behind-the-scenes work. It's exactly the kind of experience I need, and I couldn't say no."

For a moment, there was silence. Then, Miles let out a loud whoop, startling both me and Mr. Ortiz. "Lydia, that's amazing!" he said, running over to wrap me in a tight hug. "I'm so proud of you!"

I laughed, hugging him back as warmth flooded my chest. His excitement was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile wider.

Mr. Ortiz nodded slowly, his proud expression mirroring Miles's. "That's great news, Lydia," he said. "Really, it is. I'll miss having you here, but I'm glad you're chasing your dreams."

The knot in my stomach loosened, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. "Thank you," I said sincerely. "For everything. Working here has meant so much to me."

Mr. Ortiz clapped a hand on my shoulder. "You'll do great things, Lydia. Just don't forget about us when you're out solving mysteries, okay?"

"I won't," I promised, smiling softly.

Miles pulled back, grinning like an idiot. "You better not. Besides, you still owe me pizza nights, internship or not."

"Deal," I said, laughing.

As I left the pizzeria, I felt a strange mix of emotions-sadness at leaving but also excitement for what was to come. This was a new chapter, and I was ready for it.