𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒏'//𝑫𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒔 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏×𝑶𝑪

💥|TWENTY|💥

AS THE YEAR progressed into fall, the days got chilly and the leaves turned into different shades of red, brown, orange, and yellow, painting the ground with the colors as the leaves fell swiftly from the tree.

I hold my thin jacket closer to my body as a rather large gust of wind blows from my right, making my hair fly to the side.

I can't shake the watchful eyes I feel on me, and I glance behind me, watching as busy passers bustle about, not paying any attention to me. My eyes didn't miss the shadow of someone ducking into an alley. I couldn't tell their build or if they were a man or woman and I can't help but wonder if it was him. He's been stalking me around ever since I got out of the hospital. Every so often I'd get a glimpse of him, but that was it.

I turn back around and continue my walk to Betsy's Diner for my shift. Due to the circumstances of the situation and the help of Beatrice's sweet-talking our boss, I got my job at the local diner back.

I had let work and school consume my every hour of the day. In reality, I didn't know why I kept up with it. Ponyboy and Darry were the smart ones. Not me. I knew how to work and get stuff done. And that's seemed to take me pretty far.

Soft chatter and the scraping of forks against plates fill my ears as I step into the warm diner. Nobody even glances up as I discard my jacket and quickly walk to the back.

I open my work locker and throw my jacket and duffle bag of clothes inside, pulling my apron out. I put the apron on and grab my notepad and pen, clocking in and heading out to take orders.

The minutes blend into ours as I work, my cheeks starting to hurt from the smile I force on my face every time I walk up to a customer. I could feel my chest tightening, and my sore ribs started to ache. The rib that I had broken was mostly healed. The doctor had told me the pain would last a few more weeks at least.

"I'll be right out with that, ma'am," I tell the woman in front of me, giving her a dip of my head before I rush off to give the order to the cook. As I rip the order off my notepad and stick it where all the orders sat, I heave a breath.

I wipe at the sweat beading on my forehead and lean against the wall, closing my eyes as I take deep breaths.

"You alright?" I open my eyes to see Beatrice standing in front of me. A hand lay on her hip and there was a crease of worry in her brows. I nod, pushing off with wall, grimacing at the ache in my ribs.

"Is it your ribs?" Beatrice questions.

"I've gotta get back to work, Bea," I say, dodging her question. I loved Bea to death, but ever since I've been back she's been babying me.

Take a break, Angie.

Don't stress yourself too much.

Have you taken your pain medication?

Is this too much to do for you?

I felt guilty for getting annoyed with her. Bea was only trying to help and it showed she cared. But I was sick of being babied.

Beatrice frowns. "Okay, just...don't overwork yourself, okay?" She says.

"Okay, mom." I joke with a grin.

Beatrice rolls her eyes, hitting my arm lightly. "You're still coming over, right?" She questions. Beatrice and I haven't had a girl's night in forever, and Beatrice demanded that tonight we do. I didn't really know how her mother felt about me coming over. Since now my brother was an accessory to murder, I doubted she wanted me anywhere near her daughter. But it wasn't really her choice.

I nod my head "Of course. Who else am I gonna fan over Alain Delon with?" I amswer in a 'duh' tone.

Beatrice smiles dreamily. "God, the things I would let that man do to me." She groans.