Saving Athena ✓

27) Universe

A t h e n a

I didn't see the violin man this morning, that made me upset for some reason. And that sadness added onto the guilt I was already carrying on my shoulders with the weight of the universe pending. I walked with a heavy heart to the diner, and when I saw the familiar blair of red and blue police lights, that's when I knew something's wrong.

"What's going on?" I ask, tapping the back of a random man crowding around the diner doors.

"They found a boy passed out in the back," is his short reply. I furrow my brows and feel my heart beat faster when they bring out Vinnie on a stretcher. I take a step back and feel vile rise to the tip of my throat. He doesn't even look at me as they load him into the ambulance and drive off.

Everyone trails away, leaving me in the middle of the sidewalk as I try and understand what happened. I wipe the sweat off my upper brow and carefully make my way into the dinner, my hand wraps around the handle as I slide it open.

Milo immediately runs to me and holds my shoulders. "You better tell me why the Chad-lookalike came here yesterday and asked me where Vinnie is, and the new girl found him unconscious in the back room."

I bite my lip and run a hand through my hair, I avoid looking into his eyes and instead opt for Eve, she looks cute in the apron as she rakes her hair into a loose ponytail. She sees me and I excuse myself from Milo, he opens his mouth to argue but I'm far gone.

I smile at Eve. "Hey, how was your first day?"

"Well let's see," she says, I nod along. "I think I made an impression on the manager, got my nametag, found a boy nearly dead in the back, made a few friends-"

"I- Okay," I shake my head and walk to the hangers, I hook my jacket up on the hook and turn to see her gawking at me. "What?"

"I just said I found a boy nearly on the brink of seeing Prince at the pearly gates, and you shrugged."

"Oh, oh, what happened? Sorry, I was just a bit distracted?"

"I found a boy in the back," she explains. "But the look on your face tells me you already knew, or you're going to burst into tears."

"No," I rub my eyes. "I'm just tired, but it's okay." I drop my arms down at my sides. "You, my dear, need to learn the basics around the diner."

"Ah, yes," she links arms with me and points to the diner. "Teach me your ways, Walker."

"Okay," I hold up the notepad. "This is where you write the orders, and please don't think you can just memorize them. I thought that too and never before have I been so embarrassed."

"Don't, be, a smart, ass," she writes down on her notepad. I stifle a giggle. "Okay, what's next?"

"There's a secret backroom, but you're not supposed to know, so just, you know, pretend like you don't."

"I heard that!" Miss Sage yells, my cheeks turn pink and I bite back a laugh.

"She's a bad influence on me!" Eve yells, I scoff with an open jaw. "You heard her! Wanting me to lie! What type of person do you think I am?!"

"I- Eve Sinclair-" She cuts me off by laughing so hard she has to grip the countertop to keep her composure. I shake my head and swat her shoulder before walking away, Miss Sheila has finally made an appearance. I slide into the booth beside her and smile. She sets her napkin down and gives me her full attention.

"Hey, honey," she says softly. "I missed you the past few days."

I nod. "I know, I missed you too. How are you?"

"I'm fresher than a daisy, let me tell you," she laughed at herself.

"How so?" I bring my hands to the side of my face and relish in her conversation. She talks about her books as if they were real people, she describes them with so much passion and desire. I find it adorable. She gets so lost in conversation and I don't stop her, it's nice to have someone to distract you from real life. From all of your real problems, she apologizes for talking multiple times but I shake my head and tell her it's okay. But one of her questions catches me off guard.

"How's that boy that's always with you?" She asks, my insides turn as I bite my lip and scratch the back of my neck awkwardly. "He seemed sweet."

"Oh, he's okay," is my short reply.

"He talked to me the other day," she says, my eyebrows raise as I look up at her.

"What did he say?"

"He's a sweetheart, I think he was just curious about who I was, he even asked about my book." She holds it up and her fingers graze over the lettering. "He's very nice, I can tell he cares about you, don't lose him.

I let her words sink into my head as I nod and give a small smile, I ignore the pang in my heart and say, "I won't."

✧