Alex's Pov:

Within the next hour everyone was tired and hungry and I had just finished cooking.

"John I need plates," I said turning around.

He was half asleep sitting on the bar stool with his head in his arms.

"John,"

"John,"

"John,"

I sighed.

"Babe?" I tried seeing if that would wake him up.

As I predicted his head shot up.

I smiled, "good, you're awake, I need plates,"

"But-"

"Get the fucking plates,"

"Jeez, okay,"

He took down 6 plates and 6 glasses.

"Thank you," I smiled.

"Now all of you get your ass in here!" I yelled after them.

"Ughhsisk," Peggy whined.

"You're not gonna get any food at this rate," I said in a sing song voice.

"We're coming," Maria said.

The 4 made their way into the kitchen joining John.

"You all have the choice of salad or no salad and salmon or chicken....or you can make a salad with the chicken,"

Thomas grabbed a plate and started spooning rice into it.

Maria suprisingly took a little of everything.

In the end, Peggy, James, and John had no fruits or vegetables. They started to walk into the living room when I called them back.

"Line up," I said.

"What?" James asked.

I shot him a glare and they quickly got behind each other.

"Salad or vegetables," I said to John who was in the front of the line.

"Wha-"

"I said pick one," I put my hand on my hip.

"Ha, you're like my mom," Thomas said from a  bar stool, his mouth filled with food.

"Vegetables," he dragged it out like a 2-year-old.

"Good choice,"

I went down the line making sure they all were getting something.

They all managed to sit up on the bar stools in front of the top kitchen counter.

I watched them all eat while I cleaned up the kitchen.

"This salmon is heavenly," James sighed as he continued to stuff his face.

I stayed silent as I placed the dirty dishes in the sink. I wiped down the counters and looked for some containers or Tupperware to place the leftovers in.

"You're not gonna eat?" A voice that could only be recognized as John's said, mildly concerned.

"I couldn't," I brushed it off, "I cooked for you all anyway, I'm not even hungry,"

John raised an eyebrow.

Which he looked extremely sexy doing by the way.

"But it's so good, you spent so much time cooking this," Thomas joined him.

I sighed finally finding the containers to place the rest of the food in.

"Have you tried this?" Maria asked.

"No actually,"

The 5 of them gasped.

"I'll be washing the dishes if you need me," I tried to get rid of the awkward tension I was creating.

"Come here Lex," John said.

"Ha ha ha washing dishes," I said turning on the water.

"Fuck the dishes and get over here,"

"No, I don't think I will fuck the dishes actually,"

"Smartass," he mumbled.

"Where is the sponge?" I inquired after I rolled up my sleeves.

"Where is what?"

I turned the knob for the sink turning around.

"A sponge, to clean the dishes,"

"Oh yeah, under the sink....maybe,"

"You're hopeless," I shook my head.

"Just come here," John begged.

"Uehskhriw," I threw my head back in annoyance stomping towards John.

"Try this," he held out his fork with a piece of chicken on the end.

I hesitantly ate the chicken.

"Should've used more salt," I shook my head causing John's whole face to fall.

"Nigga did not," Thomas dropped his fork.

James smacked the back of his head.

"Watch your fucking profanity,"

"Dumbass," Peggy snickered.

This time Maria slapped her arm.

"This is making me feel even lonelier then I already am," John groaned, "I what someone to slap me,"

"Where?" Peggy wiggled her eyebrows.

"On the other hand, I've never dated anyone, never kissed anyone, but I'm still somehow not a virgin," I said ignoring them.

The room went silent.

"Finally y'all shut up," I said finding the sponge, "now eat, also, James, do you want any food for work or something,"

Thomas spoke up, "what about me?"

"You too," I said turning back on the water.

"If it's okay with you," James shrugged.

"We have a lot of food anyway,"

"Now we won't have to eat trashy ass sushi," Thomas said as if he was daydreaming.

"Thank you Alex for the wonderful food," Maria spoke up for the first time.

"Your welcome," I hummed along.

"He's like a black mom just when friends come over and Maria is the good one," James groaned.

"He's a doctor right?" I asked Maria as she came to hand me her plate.

"Nurse actually,"

"Noted,"

"Give me the plate," I said.

"What,"

"I'm going to wash your plate,"

"Oh, OH, right, here," she handed it to me.

"Thanks,"

"Why are you thanking me? I should be thanking you,"

"It's how I was raised I guess," I shrugged suddenly feeling almost drunk and queasy.

"Where are you from?" she asked.

Ah, there it is. The dreaded question.

"The Caribbean actually," I whispered.

"Oh, me too, I'm actually from Nevis,"

My head shot up as my eyes glossed over, "really?"

"Well, my family left in time for the hurricane to arrive, my dad borrowed money so we were not only broke when we came here we were lost," she whispered to me.

"The hurricane was the worst," I mumbled.

"You were there?"

"Unfortunately,"

"Things will get better, trust me,"

"Do they really?"

"They will,"