When The Sun Sets

4

Lydia wakes up only to remember the events of last night. As she gets up she soon realizes she can't wear nice clothes but has to go back to her usual sweats, and the thought of that makes her sad. Usually she welcomes them because it gives her a sense of safety, as if no one can reach her, but yesterday felt so nice that she wants to do it again.

As she makes her way up the steps she realizes how harsh every movement is due to the pain and soreness. She leaves the house earlier so she can make it to the coffee shop and to school without hurting herself. Once she reaches the coffee she instantly feels at home and welcomed. She walks into the office to see Peggy. Once she steps inside nan looks up with a smile that instantly turns into a frown when she sees the condition Lydia is. Peggy knows what happens.

*Flashback*

Lydia was 12 when she first got beat, she had been in her room watching TV. It was turning night when Doug (Step-Father) had got home to find Lydia's coat on the floor and it angered him for some unknown reason.

"LYDIA! Get up here, Now!" Doug yells. He's had anger issues and Lydia knew that but he seemed like he was at his angriest. Lydia not knowing what was about to happen goes up there to make sure everything is ok.

"Yea?" She asks cautiously.

"Why is this on the floor?" He points to the coat under the rack.

"Oh I put it on the rack after school it must of fell off, I'll pick it up." She shrugs like it was no big deal which it wasn't

He grabs her by the forearms "You could have picked it up after it fell." And each second he holds on to her his grip tightens creating a bruise and red mark.

"Let go its hurting Doug." She whimpers not being able to hold it in. She gets a good look at him and sees a wild look in his eye it hasn't been caused by drinking, she didn't smell any.

"No." He says with a smile growing on his face and has he punches her in the stomach her mother walks through the door. Lydia takes that chance to run out the door.

As she runs she hears her mom say "You finally did it, good for you." And that is what makes Lydia's tears fall harder and faster her mom was on board with it.

She runs trying to find somewhere safe to go and ends up stumbling into a café that's she's passed many times before. She slides into a booth just letting the tears go with no holding back as she looks down at her arms she sees that the bruise as already started to take effect and with no money or distraction she just sits there and the new memory is on replay. Peggy noticed the young girl sit down about 30 minutes ago and she hasn't done anything but sit so Peggy goes up to her.

"Darling, would you like anything to drink?" she asks now taking notice of dry and old tear streaks

"I don't have any money." Lydia said embarrassed that she is just taking up space.

"Nonsense it's on the house, hot chocolate sound good to you." Lydia nods her head not used to acts of kindness. (See where Lydia gets it from ;)) Peggy's heat aches for the girl so she will do anything in her power to make her feel better. A few minutes later when Peggy comes back and hands her a cup she notices the hand prints on her arms but doesn't say anything just yet not wanting to scare her away. Peggy sits down in the seat opposite to Lydia and holds out her hand "I'm Peggy, what's your name?"

Lydia places her hand in Peggy's and says "I'm Lydia." And while that happened Peggy wanted to get a good look to double check they were hand prints which they were.

After Their hand shake Peggy gets right to it "So Lydia, what happed to your arms?" Lydia automatically looks at her arms and pulls her sleeves down and keeps looking at her hot chocolate not sure if she's allowed to say anything "It's ok to tell me I won't tell anyone else I promise I want to help."

Lydia believes her and teller her everything since the time she got home to now and ever since than Peggy turned into her Nan more like a parent than anything else.

*End of Flashback*

"It happened again." Peggy states it's not a question especially when she watches as Lydia's face converts to pain while going down to sit, so Lydia nods. "I don't think you should go to school today." Lydia looks at her Nan as if she's gone crazy, which is always a possibility.

"No, I have to go to school I have a test today in math." Math + Class = Tristin- And after that thought Lydia just repeats in her head that I did not just think that.

"You can always make the test up. You can't even sit down without being in pain and if I have a pretty girl behind the counter it might attract customers." Lydia rolls her eyes.

"Fine I won't go, but you just said I can't sit down yet you're going to make me work?"

"You would have worked weather I told you too or not." And she was right

Lydia goes behind the counter and starts taking orders when she spots Tristin walking in. She checks the time and sees that the late bell would be ringing yet here he is.

"Hey Lydia." He says once he gets in the front of the line than he does a double take that she's not at school. "Why aren't you at school?"

"Why aren't you?" She replies

"Touché," He laughs "I'm just running late, so if I was already late why not stop for coffee. What about you?"

"I'm not feeling to well I think I ate something bad last night," She didn't like lying to him but it needed to be done, but he nods along understanding my reason. "So what do you want to drink?"

"Coffee." She nods and while she starts to brew a pot Tristin starts to think what math will be like. He started to imagine Lydia and him talking and having a good class like yesterday, then he remembered she's not going in today and how pointless math would be without her.

"Here's your coffee." Lydia said handing him the coffee.

"You're not working today." He states, with a look on his face saying he already made up his mind, while Lydia is just confused.

"What, I'm not going to school," She says slowly to make sure he understands.

"Neither am I." He says, Lydia gets even more confused.

"You said you were just running late."

"I realized how pointless math would be if I didn't have you to tease around, so where's an apron." He says rubbing his hands together getting ready for work. She doesn't complain and goes and gets a men's apron in the office.

"Why do you need another apron." Peggy says, Startling Lydia.

"My friend is going to work with me and don't ask me why because I don't even fully understand I'm just going with it." She's still in a daze of trying to make sense of it.

"Oh ok is it Josh." Peggy saw her gab the men's apron and she only has two friends, so Peggy just wants confirmation.

"No" Lydia doesn't know what to describe him as the word friend came out.

"Then who is it?" Peggy can be like a teenager when it comes to Lydia's life she needs to know the latest scoop.

"This kid Tristin we kinda just know each other." Peggy nods her head to Lydia not wanting to pry too much. Lydia walks out to see Tristin without a coat and sleeves rolled up ready for work.

"So what is the point of staying the whole day here when you have other classes?" She asks there has to be more than just because one class will be boring all classes are boring.

With a goofy grin Tristin says "Well I thought I could get to know you a little too I mean I was in your house I need to make sure you're a good person." Their little inside joke brings a smile to her face and she nods "So let's start with 20 questions."