Sidemen Oneshots

Rockabye -- Josh

She works the night, by the water. She's gonna stress, so far away from her father's daughter. She just wants a life for her baby. All on her own, no one will come, she's got to save him.

I sighed, wiping down the glossy wooden table. The group of teens that were just here had left a mess. I knew it was coming the second they walked in, a couple stumbling as if they were tipsy. Working the late shift at this dumpy restaurant always meant drunk or high teens coming in at all hours of the night. 

It hurt to be away from my baby at night, but one of my co-workers watched him while I was at work. She worked around noon and got off just before my shift began. I let her sleep at my flat and I made her dinner. In return, she watched my son while I had to work. The job didn't pay much, but I managed to pay rent and all of my tips went towards food.

Just as I finished cleaning the table, a large group of boys came in. I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath. Here we go. I put on a fake smile and walked over, abandoning the cleaning supplies at the small table.

"How many?" I asked, my fingers running over the menus in their little box.

"Seven, but there might be more coming later." One of them yelled out. I just nodded and grabbed the menus, leading them to the round corner booth near the back of the restaurant. I had seen this table fit almost a dozen teens so I was sure the seven boys would be comfortable.

"I'll give you a minute to look over the menu." I nodded at them, turning around before letting out a yawn. I rubbed my eyes and groaned quietly as I felt the bags forming under my eyes.

I never had the chance to get much sleep. Whenever I was home I was busy with Noah and whenever I wasn't home I was working. The amount of sleep I got every night seemed to decrease every week.

The sound of their chatter increased in volume as I walked away, the group of boys obviously becoming more comfortable. I just shook my head to try and clear my thoughts and continued clearing tables around the restaurant. After a few minutes passed, I returned to the table and took their drink orders. The seven of them seemed nice, they all said please and thank you and they didn't make a mess with their straw wrappers.

A few minutes after I gave them their drinks, the little bell went off at the door. I looked up and locked eyes with a bearded man. Next to him was a dark skinned boy with a hat on. The one with the beard smiled at me, but I didn't return it, I just walked over and grabbed two menus.

"We're supposed to be meeting some friends here. Have they arrived yet?" The shorter one asked.

"Seven boys came in about twenty minutes ago." I shrugged, a yawn coming through right after my words.

"That should be them!" The bearded one said, far too cheery for this time of night. I just put on another fake smile and led them to their friends. 

Half an hour passed and I found myself sitting at an empty table, ten tables away from the only group of diners in the restaurant. I picked up my phone and dialed my friend, hoping she would wake up and put the phone by Noah, my son.

She tells him ooh love, no one's ever gonna hurt you, love. I'm gonna give give you all of my love. Nobody matters like you. She tells him your life ain't gonna be nothing like my life, you're gonna grow and have a good life. I'm gonna do what I've got to do.

Thankfully she answered and I found myself singing softly into the phone. I could hear the little giggles from the other end and my face immediately lit up with joy. I kept singing and talking to him, mentally praying that the boys in the corner wouldn't need anything for a few minutes.

My face sank as I heard baby Noah start to scream and cry. I let out a small gasp and quickly sat up, my phone pressed against my cheek as I tried talking to him to calm him down. Singing, talking, singing, talking. He wouldn't stop.

So, rockabye baby, rockabye. I'm gonna rock you, rockabye baby, don't you cry. Somebody's got you. Rockabye baby, rockaby. I'm gonna rock you, rockabye baby, don't you cry. 

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the bearded man come closer. A sigh of relief came out of my mouth as I heard Noah's cries subside, my muscles instantly relaxing. I quickly hung up so I could get back to work, slipping my phone into the pocket of my apron.

Single mom what you doing out there? Facing the hard life without no fear. Just see and know that you really care, 'cause any obstacle come you well prepared. And no mamma you never shed tear, 'cause you hafti set things year after year. And you give the youth love beyond compare. You find the school fee and the bus fare.

"Baby at home?" A deep voice asked. I looked up to find the man staring down at me. He had really kind eyes, trusting eyes. 

I nodded my head, yawning quietly.

"What are you doing here, then?"

"Gotta pay rent somehow." I shrugged.

"Well, would you mind getting us our bill?"

I shook my head and stood up, walking over to the register and printing out their bill. I clipped it to the little metal tray and dropped it at their table.

Not ten minutes went by and the group was making their way out of the door. I got up and went to their table, collecting the cash that they left in the tray. A small card slipped out of the bills and I bent down quickly to retrieve it.

If you ever want to work normal hours for better pay, give me a call. -Josh x

I stared down at the card, the messy note and phone number seeming to glare at me under the dim lights.

Rockabye baby, don't you cry