What if I was nothing (Tommy Conlon fanfiction)

Part 5

It took me almost an hour to get that stuff out of my hair. Coffee, coffee everywhere, my shower looks like covered with a millions of fleas. Cool, two hours and I have to go back to work, so, I take at least a quick nap. It felt like few seconds, I just closed my eyes and my alarm started to ring like crazy. Well this is going to be a funny day.
"I didn't hear you coming yesterday," my father  murmured, when I met him in the kitchen.
"Yeah, I had to work late," I poured myself a cup of tea.
"You could at least text me. But I am nothing to you, right?" he threw the newspaper on a table and stood up. "This way you will never finish that school you do. You look like a garbage, old shirt, jeans, dark circles around your eyes and you smell like a fried chicken. You're so hideous, I feel like I'm gonna throw up everytime I see you."
"I have to go," I turned my back on him, so he couldn't see me cry.
"Yeah, sure run away, like you always do! But remember to come back as a dog, so you don't have to sleep under the bridge somewhere!" He yelled and followed me to the street. "It is better, that she is dead! She would be shamed, if she saw you like that!"

All the time. Something is wrong in his work and I am the one who will be blamed. It was my mother before, now it's me. Thank God I work whole weekend and that means I can sleep at Mary's place.

"You look terrible!" Mary exclaimed, when she saw me in the work.
"I am late," I breathed heavily, I had to run, because I missed the bus. "I'll change and I'll be back."
"Relax, honey! I got this," she winked at me.
Gold, dearest Mary and her big heart.
I changed my clothes, braided my hair and I went to kitchen.
"Hey, guys, any chance you have something small for me to eat?" I smiled at our cooks.
"Sure! For you anytime!" Mike gave me a big smile and he made me in five minutes big breakfast with eggs, toasts and vegetable. I made myself tea and ate breakfast.
It was like a heaven for my stomach.
"You guys, are the best," I smiled and went to help Mary.
"You did a really great job with these," she pointed at coffee machines.
"True," I sighed and chuckled, "I'll be honest with you, I really don't wanna drink or smell coffee for some time."
"Hey, can I get a coffee?" I suddenly heard a voice and my heart jumped in my chest. I grabbed a coffee pot and turned.
"Sure," I smiled, when I saw those beautiful deep eyes. What colour do they even have? I could swear I see all shades of green, grey and blue.
"So, what did you do, that you look so crappy, Shani?" Mary asked me without even looking at me, she was just checking her phone.
"Nothing," I said softly with a smile, while I was staring into Tommy's eyes. He had that gentle smile on his lips, you could barely notice and even though he was quiet, his eyes told everything.
"What do you mean nothing? Don't lie to me, girl!" Mary exclaimed and put her phone down. "Did he beat you? Tell me, I swear, if he touched you, I'm gonna kick his ass!"
"Mary, stop it," I turned to her quickly. "Nobody is beating me, okay? You don't have to scream. I simply had to clean these stupid machines and I got home really late. That' s it."
"Alright, if you say so. But you were crying, I can tell."
"He yelled at me this morning. That is the truth. Something about how hideous I am and stuff, nothing new." I whispered.
"We should find you a new place. This will destroy you," Mary sighed and hugged me. Then she noticed new costumer, so she went to take orders.
I turned and saw Tommy. He was stil there, watching me all the time.
"Shani," he said my name. I came closer.
"More coffee?" I smiled softly.
"What is going on?"
"Can we not talk about it now?"
"Did your father hurt you?"
"No, he was just in a bad mood this morning. That's normal, I am used to it."
"Waitress!" I heard another costumer.
"I had to go, Tommy," I looked at him.
He frowned a little, I guess he didn't believe me. I left him and went to the table to take orders. The old couple, they come everyday and have the same breakfast and in the evening they come back to have an apple pie with a hot milk. This is what I call love, you know? Two people spending life together holding hands on a walk.
"Hello, so do I even have to ask, what will you get?" I came to them and smiled.
"We'll have everything as usually, but we would like to ask about that special you have on board outside?" the old man pointed out, but I had no idea, what our specials for today are.
"Mary? Could you come here, please?" I turned to my friend and I bumped into Tommy.
"How about I pick you up after you finish your shift and take you for a diner?" he asked and let me speechless.
I looked at Mary, who came to us, and then the couple, they were staring at me with both having a wide smile on their lips.
"Say yes!" old lady whispered and chuckled quietly.
"Alright," I put few locks of my hair behind my ear nervously. "You can come here at 8."
"Okay," Tommy smiled gently and when he passed me he said softly. "By the way, I think you look beautiful today."

I stood there, smiling like an idiot and watched him leave. He put a headphones on and run across the street and he disappeared in the crowd.

"Shani!" Mary exclaimed so loudly, that all guests looked at her immediately. "Are you having a date? You? How on Earth did it happen?"
No idea, I thought and went back to work.