Chapter Twenty-Three
It's been a week since I had that meeting with Jacob, it was finally time for me to get back to work. My face had somewhat healed, it wasn't as bruised anymore but the cuts and gashes were still there. My boss did tell me I can have more time off, but honestly, I needed to get out the house and allow my mind to think about others things. Sitting in the house all day allowed thoughts of Markus, worrying about everything with Jacob but also, the memory of the attack to consume my mind.
Austin was also somewhat against the idea, he told me I could quit my job all together and he'd take care of everything. I thanked him for his kind offer, but told him I definitely cannot quit my job and how would we explain that to Roman when he got back? He kept telling me he'd sort it but I still shook my head, I liked my job in a sense and I wasn't about to just quit on the spot.
Austin would have dropped me off to work but he told me he had to leave really early, he had some business to attend to that was a few hours away. I told him it was fine and it would be nice to have the walk before work, he said to keep my phone on me at all times and to ring him on my breaks. I knew he was only doing this as he was worried, but I assured him that I'll be good and he doesn't have to worry.
I wasn't as scared as I thought I would be walking alone, I know I walked to the coffee shop alone to meet Jacob last week, but I knew Austin was still in town so I could call if I needed him. Right now, Roman is in a different country and Austin is somewhere hours away. But actually, I enjoyed the peace as I walk passed all the cars racing past me.
In no time, I arrive at the restaurant where I walk through the back. I knew with the cuts on my face I might draw some attention from the customers, when I'm in my work clothes they might not ask me what happened and stop me as much. As I walk through the door the familiar smell of the kitchen fills my nose, I used to hate the smell but now being back, it was nice. I make my way over to my locker putting my things in, whilst also taking my apron out and putting on.
The door to the side opens which does make me jump, since the attack I have been a little more on edge when I'm alone. Thankfully, it was only Brooke who was carrying in a broken tray. We make eye contact for a few seconds, not wanting to deal with the drama I look away to grab my name badge.
'Payton, what happened to your face?" She asks as the door closed behind her, I don't answer her question but move to the mirror to fix my hair into a ponytail. 'Dustin told me you wouldn't be in few awhile, but he wouldn't tell me why" he says when I don't move to answer her question.
'I bet you just loved talking shit about me when I was away" I say moving over to the machine to clock in, something I haven't done in such a long time.
'Of course I wouldn't talk shit about you while you're away, that's something I enjoy to do to your face" she laughs making a joke, I suspect she was trying to lighten the mood, but I couldn't just shake off the hurt feelings I felt from all the crap she put me through just before I left for awhile.
'Why do you even care Brooke, before I left you accused me of cheating on Roman and acted like a complete baby?" I say about to grab my notebook and pen I keep in my apron, while she just sighs standing by the door.
'I'm so sorry for the way I treated you, when I accused you of cheating on Roman-' she starts to say but stops mid-sentence, I look over at her raising my eyebrow. 'I found out that morning, Henry was cheating on me with the girl he always told me was just a friend. I know I shouldn't have treated you like that but when I saw you with Austin, my mind instantly went to what happened to me" She tells me looking at the ground as she went, I wish she would have just told me that at the beginning and not just start throwing accusations around.
'I'm sorry you had to go through that Brooke, but I can assure you that Austin and I are strictly friends. I love Roman to death and would never even think about cheating on him for even a second" I say where she nods her head looking down at the ground, at least we're actually talking and not shouting at each other.
'I know that, it's just I was so happy with Henry and then he did that to me. I've seen how happy you and Roman are together and it made me think, maybe things aren't so good but I know that's not my place. I hope you can forgive me Payton" she says looking up at me with hopeful eyes, I just laugh looking at her which does take her by surprise.
'Of course I can forgive you, you know I also say life is too short to hold grudges" I smile where she walks over hugging me, I hold her tightly once again missing be able to talk to her about things like this. 'And to answer your question, I got jumped just over a week ago but I'm okay" I say where she pulls away looking quite shocked, which does make me laugh as I hear Dustin shout for us to go to the front. 'Let the show begin" I laugh before we both make our way out the door and to the front, it's good to be back.
I was now fully into my shift, for the first time in a really long time I was enjoying being here. Maybe what they said is true, distance makes the heart grow fonder. I think now Brooke and I weren't at each other's throats, the day was just breezing by. I had just returned from my lunch break and was waiting behind the counter. I round up the plates handing them to the kitchen when I hear the door close behind me, this once again making me jump for reasons I've explained before.
'Little Payton, you're more jumpy" a terrifyingly familiar voice says from behind me, I place a fake smile on my face before turning around to face the person.
'Yeah, since what happened I've been a little more on edge recently" I smile taking a cup from the side and placing it in front of him, while Brooke sends me a worried look from across the restaurant. 'So what can I do for you Markus?" I ask once I had finished pouring his coffee, the entire time he had been watching me with a smile on his face.
'Austin told me about what happened to you" he says whilst picking up the menu, I use this time to slip my hand into my apron to take my phone out slightly. 'Do you have any idea who attacked you?" He asks which makes me snap my head back up to look at him, I knew for certain who attacked me but I knew I couldn't say that.
'I have no idea, Austin told me there was no point calling the police as it was highly unlikely that they'd catch who did it" I explain which does cause him to smile and nod his head, he probably thought from that comment that he was in the clear. 'So what can get for you?" I ask placing my phone in my notebook, he once again looks down at the menu which gave me the opportunity to text Jacob, hey do you wanna grab a coffee. That was the code for Markus is standing right in front of me.
'I think I'll have to get the all day breakfast again" he smiles handing me back over the menu, I take it once again telling him good choice before turning around. 'If you ever have any problems Payton, I want you to come to me and I'll deal with them" he tells me as I pass the note over to the kitchen, I knew what this guy meant when he said he'd deal with the problem, he's someone I definitely do not want to deal with my issues.
'I really appreciate that Markus, thank you" I smile putting the act on, he sends me a smile telling me it was nothing while I go to clear off a table.
As I begin to pick the plates up, Brooke walks over standing beside me pretending to help me as he went. She kept looking back at Markus then me.
'Who's that?" She asks looking back at Markus slightly as she went, I look to Markus who turns slightly too so I knew he could hear what was being said.
'Just one of Austin's friends" I simply reply whilst placing all the dishes on the tray, pulling the spray out to clean the table.
'Be careful Payton, I'm getting bad vibes from him. The way he looks at you is creepy" she whispers which does make my eyes go wide, luckily I was facing away from Markus at this point.
'You get bad vibes from everyone, he's just being friendly and is a pretty nice guy" I say lying through my teeth as I finish cleaning the table, as I turn I send her a slight worried look which she does catch onto.
Before we could say anymore, I turn to walk back to the front to hand the kitchen the tray of dirty plates. On the way I lock eyes with Markus, where I send him a smile as though I didn't know he heard everything that was being said back there.
At least I'm not the only person noticing that.