Bad Reputation | S.M.

Chapter 91

The days went by quicker than I expected, I guess I was just counting down the days, waiting for Shawn's text that he was ready to talk. I was dreading his call or text, I dreaded having to talk to him in person even more. I spent the entire week at the diner and afterwards I'd catch every meeting I could, knowing that I would need a place to vent and talk, to prepare. Everyone in the group agreed that him wanting to give me the opportunity to earn his trust is a good thing. Apparently having him in my life again will be a good thing, for him and for me.

"So please remind me again why I agreed to talking to him again?" I asked Elijah as we were serving lunch at the homeless shelter.

"Because it means you stay sober and the quicker you get it over with, the quicker he will be gone." He shrugged and served someone mashed potatoes.

"And what happens if he doesn't leave?"

"Nicole, you can't read the future, just go with it for now and see what happens." He sighed and I nodded, blowing a strand of hair out of my face before seeing Cece, making a smile appear on my face.

"Cece! How have you been?" I asked and she grinned from ear to ear.

"Girl, I've been good, I am so glad to see you." She shook her head, her smile remaining on her face as she grabbed a tray.

"I am glad to see you too, what would you like?"

'You know the usual." She shrugged. "You know I love it when you're here, you always serve me with a smile and give me seconds." She smirked and I chuckled.

"I try my best, especially for you Cece." I winked and served her what she likes. "You staying out of trouble?"

"Trying to Nicole." She let out an exhausted breath and shook her head. "It's just hard, but I have been going to meetings like you told me to, I am thirty days clean."

"I'm glad." I smiled. "And your daughter, have you tried contacting her?"

"She doesn't want to hear from me, anyways, I want to wait until I am a few months sober." She said and I nodded. "Maybe I'll even have a job or something."

"You're holding up the line!" Some ill-mannered man said and Cece turned to look at him.

"Oh pipe down, you'll get your turn." She furrowed her eyebrows and I giggled. "Well I'll see you soon Nicole, when are you coming back?"

"The day after tomorrow, tomorrow I'll be at the diner if you want to stop by, meals on me."

"Oh you're too good to me sweetie." She said as she reached for my hand, patting it affectionately. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow." I beamed and watched as she walked away to sit down alone. I've known Cece since I started volunteering, she's such a great person, but like anyone else she's made bad decisions. I know she has it in her though to be better. I sighed and continue serving, turning over to Elijah who was just staring at me with tender eyes, making me furrow my eyebrows and slightly blush.

"What? Do I have something on my face?"

"No- it's nothing" He shook his head and went back into the kitchen to fill one of the tins with more green beans. I chuckled to my self and continued to serve food until everyone got their plates. I hauled everything back into the kitchen, taking dishwasher duty while the others cleaned up. I put on gloves and washed everything before rinsing the incoming plates and putting them in the dishwasher. I felt the beads of sweat dripping down my forehead and I wiped them off, letting out a breath of cold air as I fanned myself off.

Finally, we closed off the dining room as the last few people made their way out and we picked up everything to prepare for the dinner staff.

We set everything up and before we knew it we were done for the day. I took off the black apron I had on and hung it up, Elijah doing the same thing before we went to the locker rooms and grabbed our backpacks.