"We need 'ya to see if Poison is behind this murder thing."
"How would I be able to find that out? They're not going to tell me."
"Maybe if 'ya pretend to join 'em they will!"
"You're insane. I'm not doing that, it's impossible." I stood by the dumpster next to the cafe, joined by two idiots who thought they were threatening by themselves. They air stood still, so our voices were reduced to hushed whispers and retorts.
"Okay, then you'll go to the diner with us and wait for 'im to come." Shark hissed, his stubby body almost jiggling as he spoke. His beady eyes looked to Hound for a response.
"Hawk told us we shouldn't go there." The tall man responded, he looked to me.
"Well I'm not working with the Beasts anymore, at least not now. You can tell Lynx that yourself.. I'm getting a job so I won't need you bozos anymore." I growled at the two. They glared in response, Hound taking a step forward. His dark eyes flared as he furrowed his eyebrows and clenched his fists.
"Ya' know Lynx isn't going to take well with ya' bailing on him. Given ya' two's history-" I strode close to his face, my eyes cutting into his pathetic expression.
"Listen, you slimy gangster wanna-be. If you don't personally go right up to that pile of steaming dog shit of a person and tell him that I don't need him anymore, I'm going find you both. And I'll slowly rip every cell apart from your body and feed it to the stray cats at the junkyard.. And guess what, no one's going to care if you two bastards disappear because you're as useless as the American education system." I punched his gut, leaving him doubled over with shaking hands. I walked away, glancing at Shark who looked pale as he comforted Hound.
"What kind of weird beef do you 'ave with 'im?" Shark called after me. I didn't respond.
Adriana had already found a job. She worked after school at the ice cream parlor, and she would babysit on the weekends. Chip was juggling ideas, and had applied at the same place as his sister, with no response. I turned in my application at the diner, after Chip's mom talked highly about me to her manager. A few nights later she handed me a uniform and told me training was on Tuesday.
Tuesday I walked in with the uniform on. It was a light blue polo that I had left unbuttoned and black pants that Chip had told me to roll up. I wore normal black shoes, which felt much better on my feet than my old shoes, that were falling apart. Chip had insisted I take another shower before my first day, so I felt clean and my hair was softer than normal. I was greeted by Mrs. Davis behind the counter.
"Hey Rowen! I have your nametag and notebook right here. She handed me a small black book for order taking, and a metallic nametag with ROWEN engraved. I looked at her nametag, reading AMANDA. She smiled and gestured for me to go behind the counter with her, where she started to explain the cash register. She took me around to take some people's orders. "You have pretty handwriting!" She smiled. I looked down, never really thinking I did. It's not like I ever practiced.
"Thanks." She scurried to the kitchen and brought me a few plates.
"Something you'll need to learn is how to carry a bunch at a time. You'll learn with time, so take it easy for now." She handed me two. "Table 6." I walked to a window seat where a girl sat alone. I placed the plates before her, making her turn her face to me. I instantly recognized as she locked her hazel eyes with mine.
"Hey!" She joyfully said, I groaned and began to walk away. "Wait!" She called, louder than she should have. Some people glanced over to us as I reluctantly faced her.
"What?" I snarled. She smirked, twirling her red hair on her index finger.
"I heard you punched Hound and told him you were through." I stood silent. "Lynx is a little upset.." She said with a pouty face.
"Tell Lynx he can go to hell." She laughed at my comment, turning back to her plate.
"I admire you, Rowen." Her fork lifted to her cherry red lips. "You've got some balls to talk about ol' Lynx like you do." I glared at her, she simply stared right back at me. "I'm Fox, by the way. Sorry, I'm one of 'em." She giggled as she took a mouthful of food in. "I won't recruit you or anything, but come on down to the junkyard on Saturday. No gangs, no Lynx.. just me and some high school kids." Her sly eyes narrowed at me.
"No thanks." She sighed.
"Well, every weekend there's something going on. I'll be there if you ever wanna come." She returned to her food as I retreated back behind the counter. She left soon after without saying another word, to my relief. Ms. Davis appeared behind me.
"Who's that?" She questioned.
"Some girl that's been following me around." I grumbled. "I don't know why though." I looked at her. Her pale grey eyes flashed me an expression I can only describe as motherly.
"Maybe go with her and find out why." I simply stared, puzzled. She smiled as she looked to the cash register. "Sometimes you have to entertain people to get rid of them." I was confused by this, but she trotted away before I said anything else.
Lunch had arrived, which meant the diner became extra busy. New workers showed up to cover their shifts, and Ms. Davis said I could sit lunch out, since it got so hectic. She handed me a sandwich that had been prepared and told me to eat in the kitchen. I started to walk back when I saw a familiar head of curls bounce into the doorframe.
"Rowen!" Chip smiled, his lunchbox swinging in his hand. "Mom!" He also called to his mother, who beamed at him.
"You boys go sit in the kitchen, there's going to be a lot of people who need the seats." She said before walking over to a customer. We headed back and began to eat, Chip rambling about his day so far between mouthfuls. I silently listened to him, eating my food as quick as I could.
"So.. how has work at the diner been?" He asked me. I pondered for a second.
"It's fine. People are annoying though." He laughed at my grumbling. We chatted for a bit until we heard a loud shout from the front. We quickly got up and peeked out heads outside the kitchen, along with the other staff. We saw an employee being lifted up by a large man. His fist was clenched as he held the other man up by his polo collar.
"This diner had been through some shady shit! I saw you outside here the night my son died!"
"I-I was just out for a smoke, I d-didn't have anything to do with it! I swear!" The man didn't listen, only holding up his fist ready to swing.
"Sir, this is a public eatery not a bar. If you have a problem with Al take it to the police." Ms. Davis had piped in, her hands on her hips. The man's eyes widened at her.
"You were there too! You're the slut that's the number one suspect!" His burly arm dropped the other man, who scattered to behind the counter. "Did you sleep with my son then kill him?!" He loudly accused, making everyone in the diner catch their breath. He stepped toward her, who barely seemed fazed by the enormous angry man in front of her. Chip whimpered beside me, fidgeting with his hoodie strings. The man suddenly grabbed Ms. Davis, similarly lifting her up. I could almost feel Chip's anxiety beside me. I saw the sides of the diner fade into darkness, as a tunnel vision on Ms. Davis. I looked down at my feet and saw dark hands pulling me, trying to drag me to them. I fumbled over and found myself a few feet away. As he lifted his fist, I ran closer and drove my fist right into his big stomach. He dropped the woman in shock, and turned to look at me. He growled, and prepared to lunge at me. I swiftly turned behind me and grabbed a knife from one of the tables, pointing it towards him. He stopped.
"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." He bellowed at this.
"You think a little knife can stop me, boy?!"
"No, but they can." Said Al, where soon after a policeman came in. The man stepped away from me. I awkwardly dropped the knife and returned to Chip, who frantically asked if I was okay. We heard the man start to threaten and argue with the police as he was dragged into a cop car. Chip's mom walked over.
"Rowen, thank you but that was dangerous." I tried to not roll my eyes.
"I could've stabbed him if he came closer." She sighed, looking to Chip.
"Things like that keep happening.. admittingly, not that bad but.." She looked for words that wouldn't upset her worried son too much. "..people are getting upset." Chip looked to the both of us.
"So you two might get hurt any day now?!" He cried. I put my hand on his shoulder.
"We're fine. Your mom's got me while I'm here, and I doubt she ever works alone."
"But there's still a murderer! What if something happened-" His mother hushed him.
"It'll be okay, the police are super close. Shifts end at 8 now, it's not as scary anymore." He held back more worries, merely looking at the floor in defeat. She kissed his forehead. "It'll be okay, Baby. You need to head on back to school, okay?" Her voice sweetly sang reassurance, causing a small nod in the boy. She left, leaving only me standing in front of him. He rammed his head into my chest, groaning in frustration.
"If only we could figure out who this sicko is.. everything wouldn't be as scary." The tan boy lifted his head to meet my eyes. I thought for a minute.
"Well.. what if we figure it out?" I suggested, resulting in Chip eyebrows to furrow. "We can hold our own investigation.. The police are stupid anyways."
"That's crazy." Chip said, but still smiled. "Let's do it."
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