Nico rode her bike through Main Street and watched the people in town going about their business. Nico pulled up to an old building with a big wooden sign looming over it with the name Joe's painted on it in red block letters. The building had old worn red bricks covering the structure and large windows in front and on the buildings with a clear view of the building's inside. Joe's was the go-to restaurant everyone in town went to, no matter the occasion. The restaurant looked like any old diner, and the place was never empty.

Nico turned off her bike and slid off her helmet before hopping off her bike and walking inside the building. Nico opened the door and was hit with the smell of burgers from the kitchen. She walked towards the counter, where a girl with her long black hair tied up into a high ponytail draped over her shoulder. As this girl leaned on the counter, she had a dull look displayed across her face as she played with her end ponytail. She looked up after she heard the sound of the door opening and saw Nico approaching her. As her dull look disappeared, it was soon replaced with a huge smile at the sight of Nico walking up to her and matching her smile.

 

"I was starting to think that you forgot about me." The girl said, leaning against the counter as her smile reduced into a smirk.

 

"Oh, please, how can I forget about my favorite college student," Nico said, sliding on the bar stools at the counter, folding her arms on top of the counter.

 

"Honey, I am the only college student that you know." The girl said, flipping her ponytail off her shoulder, revealing the name tag underneath, saying Emily was written in a script. Nico rolled her eyes and started to observe the restaurant. She noticed a handful of people in the restaurant, some alone and some paired off. The people paired off were sitting and waiting for their food or eating. As Nico scans the restaurant, she notices a couple sitting in a booth by the window. Nico couldn't make out what they were talking about. Still, she knew that the conversation was pleasant by looking at the girl's expression, and Nico sighed as she watched the couple.

"What is going on," Emily said, resting her hands on her hip, pulling Nico out of her thoughts, and turning her head back to Emily.

 

"Uh, nothing is wrong. Why do you think that something is wrong?" Nico asked, tilting her head in confusion.

 

"Because you have been behaving oddly ever since you sat down, so spill what is going on," Emily said, crossing her arms over her chest with a worried look.

 

"What do you mean? Everything is fine," Nico said, resting her chin in her hand and waving Emily off. Still, Emily knew that something was going on, and she would not let it slide this time.

 

"Yea, you and I both know that is not true," Emily stated.

 

"I'm okay, Em," Nico told Emily in a convincing tone, but Emily wasn't convinced. Emily ran a hand down her face, sighing, deciding that Nico would come to her whenever she was ready. Pushing her would make her more distant.

 

"Fine, okay. What is the order for today?" Emily said, grabbing a notepad from her apron and the pen tucked away behind her ear.

 

"Just dad's usual order," Nico replied. Emily nodded and walked towards the opening in the wall that exposed part of the kitchen. Emily leaned a little inside the space, looked inside, and didn't see anyone inside, and she tilted her head in confusion and took a step back. 

 

"Hey, Andy, you in there," Emily called out. Suddenly a loud crash generated in the back, and a young man with curly short brown hair around her age, scrambled to the opening on the other side of the wall.

 

"H- Hey, Emily. Y- you called. " Andy nervously got out.

 

"Yeah, can you whip up Nico's dad's usual order, please," Emily said, jerking her thumb toward Nico, that was hunkered down on the stool behind her. Andy glanced over her shoulder, noticed Nico, smiled, and gave her a little wave before shifting his attention to Emily.

 

"Of course I got it, and Emily y- you look really n- nice today. " Andy said with a faint blush that appeared across his freckled face. Emily pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.

 

"Andy, the order," Emily responded to Andy.

 

"R- right," Andy said, rubbing the back of his neck before retreating into the kitchen, creating a big crash followed by an I'm okay. Emily groaned and walked back to the counter, where Nico was laughing at the exchange she had just witnessed.

 

"Not funny," Emily stated, glaring at Nico, causing her to laugh even more.

 

"But it is Em," Nico said, calming down. Emily rested her elbows on the counter and supported her head with a look of concern.

 

"I just don't get that guy," Emily said, confused.

 

"Well, even a blind man can tell he likes you. Why don't you go on a date with him already?" Nico said

 

"I don't have time for dating; I am far too busy," Emily said, sitting back up and dramatically flipping her ponytail.

 

"Busy with what?" Nico said, raising an eyebrow, not believing her friend's busy schedule.

 

" Well, I am busy making sure you and Nate are staying out of trouble," Emily said, leaning forward and flicking Nico's forehead.

 

"I mean, Nate is more attracted to it than I am, but I am not going to argue with that. " Nico said, rubbing her forehead.

 

"Good, now that we are on the topic of trouble, what are we doing on Saturday," Emily said, leaning back on the counter again on the counter.

 

"No clue. You know how Nate is when he makes plans, " Nico responded.

 

"Yeah, I know it too well. I still can't believe Nate convinced you to get out of work." Emily stated, still not managing to wrap her head around it.

 

"You know it is not a big deal," Nico said, pouting.

 

"But it is Nic, but you having the day off, it is once in a blue moon," Emily said

 

"You know I still have to talk to my boss, right," Nico said, pulling out a straw from the holder and starting to play with it.

 

"Yeah, but your boss is super chill, so he wouldn't give you a hard time about it. "Emily responded. Nico sighed like she had something on her mind, but before Emily could ask what was going on, Andy walked out of the kitchen with a bag in his hand and stood beside Emily. 

 

"Here you go, Nico. " Andy said, passing her the bag of food.

 

"Thanks, Andy," Nico said, grabbing the bag and pulling out her wallet.

 

"No problem, oh, I also made your usual and put it in the bag on the house," Andy said.

 

"Awe, thanks, Andy, you're the best," Nico told Andy, handing Emily the money before sliding off the stool.

 

"I-it's no problem at all," Andy managed to get out, causing Nico to giggle at Andy's awkwardness. Nico never understood why Emily would not go out with him; he was just so adorable.

 

"Okay, well, I am off to the hospital to give these to my dad. See you, guys. " Nico announced as she proceeded to head towards the exit.

 

"See ya Saturday and stay out of trouble 'til then," Emily called out as she counted the money and placed it in the register.

 

"No promises," Nico said, waving them off before walking out the door. Nico hopped on her bike and looked back one last time, watching the pair at the counter. Emily was talking well, more like ranting, and Andy's elbows were propped up on the counter. He was resting his chin on his hands, looking at Emily in awe as she spoke, content on listening to her. Nico shook her head at the display she was watching, feeling slightly bad for Andy. Nico could never understand why Andy wouldn't move on because he would only get heartbroken. Still, she was not going to question his feelings. Nico sighed, slipped her helmet on, started her bike, and proceeded to the hospital.

 

Nico walked into the hospital and headed toward the nurse's station to look for her dad. As Nico walked through the hospital, her face turned into an uncomfortable look as she's never been fond of hospitals. It was not like she could avoid them. Her dad was the head nurse there. Nico walked to the main desk at the nurse station and was met with a nurse talking on the phone. Nico stood there and waited for the nurse to finish whatever conversation she was talking about. Still, to no avail, Nico stood there for about 5 minutes, watching this lady talk about how attractive the doctors were and how she was single and was ready to mingle. Nico couldn't care less, in all fairness, and she could look for her dad on her own, but if she did that, she would be late for work, and Nico couldn't afford to miss work. So she had to deal with this lady to get to her dad. 

"Excuse me," Nico called out to the lady politely, and the nurse finally looked up and noticed her. 

"Yeah, I am going to call you later. Yea, some brat just walked in, yea apparently, we're a daycare, yea let me take care of it, ha bye," the nurse said, and Nico felt her eye twitch, wondering who this lady was and how she could be so rude. So she hung up the phone and rolled her eyes before addressing Nico, who was now annoyed.

"What do you want, kid?" The nurse asked rudely.

 

"Well, I want you to change the attitude, lady," Nico spat back, matching her attitude.

 

"You better watch your tone, kid. I'm an adult?" The nurse said. 

"Really, because I don't see it," Nico stated. The nurse paused and glared at Nico.

"You know what," The nurse barked. 

"What," Nico responded with the same aggression. The nurse shot up from her chair, and before she could answer, a deep voice interrupted them that Nico knew all too well.

 

"What is going on over here." The voice said. The nurse snapped her head toward where the voice came from, and her eyes widened in panic, and she started to fix herself up. Nico watched this lady trying to make herself more attractive and failed to do it in her eyes. He stood between both ladies switching his gaze from the nurse to Nico as they both stood there in silence.

 

"So nobody is not going to tell me anything?" He said

 

"Greyson, I was helping this young lady out. You know that I love helping people," The nurse said, twirling the end of her hair, trying to get in Nico's dad's favor. So he looked over at Nico and waited for an answer from her.

"What is going on?" Nico's dad said.

"I was looking for you, dad," Nico said, looking at her dad. The nurse snapped her neck toward Nico in shock. Nico looked back at the nurse and felt a smirk form, and the nurse broke out in a cold sweat and looked at her with pleading eyes.  

"And what did I do to have my daughter grace me with her presence ." He said, rubbing his chin. 

"Dinner, remember? I said that I was going to bring it to you ." She said, pulling his dinner out of the bag and giving it to him. As much as it would feel good to put this nurse in her place, she didn't have the time, and she was not going to stoop down to her level for her entertainment.

 

"Oh, yeah. Sorry, today was hectic, but I am glad you came. I was starving. What would I do without you?" Her dad happily said, taking the dinner from her.

 

"You probably would end up a cranky mess," Nico replied to her dad crossing her arms. Her dad patted her head; he faced the nurse and noticed that the nurse was white as the uniform she was wearing.

 

"Ms. Stacey, are you alright." He asks, concerned. She looked at Nico's dad and back at Nico before staring at her lap and nodding.   

 

"Well, my job here is done. I will go before I get in trouble for being late," Nico said, turning on her heels and heading towards the exit.

 

"Okay, be careful and text me when you get home after work. Love you," Nico's dad called out.

 

"Will do. Love you too. " Nico replied before she was out of her dad's view.