My Waitress (NOT EDITED)

Chapter 16

"We should go to New York!"

I turn around from the table I'm serving and face Jace with a smile creeping across my face.

The diner quiets down from Jace's outburst. Everyone stares at him as he looks at his friends about his suggestion. Noah sighs. "First of all, you're loud." He grabs Jace's shoulder and forcefully pulls him back down in his seat. "Second, that doesn't sound like a bad idea."

"Yeah, a trip with your friends to New York sounds fun." says Naomi. "But when would we go?" I turn back to the family I'm serving but my ears are open to my friends' conversation.

Jace rubs his invisible chin beard. "We have to go during a break."

"Duh," Ashton replies. "But which break? If we all wanna go together, it can't be Thanksgiving, because I'm with family. How about—"

An imaginary lightbulb illuminates on top of my head. "For New Years!!" I shout across the diner with confidence, but my ears heat up when everyone pays attention to me. I finish taking the family's order and head back to their booth. "We can go to New York for New Years! We can go to Times Square and countdown to the new year, go see a broadway, walk in the Central Park. And since it's Christmas time, it'll be beautiful because of the snow and decorations.." And I would get to see my home again. Plus, if I go to New York, maybe some old memories will catch up to me. "How does that sound?" I look straight at Malachi when I ask. It would be nice if he can come too..

He looks up to see my exciting expression, which makes him smile. "That sounds fun," he only says. Only that?

Everyone brightens up and agrees with going to New York for the winter break. I look down at Emily, and my excitement slowly drains away when I see her face is pale and full of terror. Her eyes gaze into mine. Does she not want to go? I thought she loves New York, I can remember the times where she would always walk around and shop while Ethan and I hang out. Is there something in New York she doesn't like? Or someone?

"Let's discuss this tomorrow, I gotta get home," says Ashton, and everyone leaves.

The plan has been in my head for a week. It keeps me all night thinking what fun we're going to do. I wonder what time we're gonna leave, which airline we're going to fly with. If Emily is generous we can go on her family's private plane and fly from there. It's been five months since I've seen my home, it feels like forever! I wonder if the house is just there with everything left the way as it was before the summer began.

But Malachi's silence and Emily's horrified look has kept me all night too. Emily actually called me a few days ago...

"Nicole, I don't think it's a good idea to go to New York.." she said.

I was confused. "How come, Emily? I thought you would be excited to go back.. You looked pale when Jace first said the idea."

"There's some bad people that's been left behind in New York. They're against you and your parents and I don't know what they'll do when they see you, and also I have to tell you—" her voice shakes with her fear. This makes me frown. Emily's voice is never shakes.

"Emily, calm down. We'll be safe, I'm sure of it." But now I'm not so sure. If my parents' enemies are left in New York, then I have to be careful. I have no idea what they're like.

Malachi's silence bothered me too, all because I told him I came from New York. It's putting me on the edge of my seat, because it makes me wonder if he knows my background and about the crash. If he did, wouldn't he mention it by now? And I remember him saying that he doesn't get involved in the rich life, so he shouldn't know. But lately he's been more close to me, like the protective type. He is going back to his old self, which I'm happy, but I can tell something is bothering him. I should ask him when I get the chance.