"You got to be fucking kidding me." I snatched menus from the counter as I started to form a glare at the boy in front of me.

"Watch your mouth!" My dad yelled from the kitchen.

Only if he knew who it was.

"Sorry, Dad!" I called back and watched Sammy walk in along with Ryan, who I didn't mind much. He was nice at the party to Skye and me, so I made sure to smile at him.

Sammy's eyes caught on me like he just realized something, "Shit, I forgot you worked here."

Uh huh, how else could he forget with his parents trying to shut our diner down for years?

"Sure, come with me. Also, hey Ryan!" I greeted him, and he waved back as I trailed them through a couple of tables with chairs, ending up in a booth in the back.

"Sit," I demanded, placing the menus on the table.

"Wow, you're not getting a tip with that attitude," Sammy says, making me roll my eyes at him.

"You won't be getting food then." I smiled sweetly as both the boys started to open their menus.

"Then I'll go tell your mommy and daddy in the kitchen." He motioned to the kitchen, making me want to strangle him for the millionth time.

"Yeah? They don't like you either." I crossed my arms in front of my chest as I stood my ground, making Ryan laugh at our interaction.

"Y'all both shut up, I'm trying to enjoy some nice chocolate chip pancakes with some coffee." He closed the menu as he glanced up at me, hinting that's what he was wanting.

I nod, writing down his order before moving my attention back to Sammy.

"Uh, um, what's good here? I mean if it's coming from you, then it probably won't be any good." He shudders in fake disgust, and I let out a deep breath before snatching his menu from under him.

"You're not getting shit then," I add, taking Ryan's menu in my hand as well.

He rolled his eyes before nodding toward Ryan, "I'll take the same thing as him except with chocolate milk."

With that, I nod once more and make my way back behind the counter to put the ticket in for their order.

"Thank you, Sam! You're so kind!" I heard a voice call out behind me, already knowing it was Sammy's sarcasm.

If I could, I would throw him out of here so fast.

I started to make Ryan's coffee as my Mom was standing at the counter, inspecting the two boys who had walked in. Apparently, she finally realized because she just groaned in annoyance.

"The Sandars shouldn't reproduce." She mumbled, wiping down the counter as she had eyes still on him.

"Agreed." I placed Ryan's cup on the counter and started to pour the hot liquid inside it.

"His parents tried shutting us down the other night, again. For all I care, they can try and try, their business will never overrun our diner." She threw the rag to the side as silence filled the air before I spoke once more.

"What did they do this time?"

"Saying shit like it's not a safe working environment, or trying to catch us for the most stupid shit to get us closed down. They even tried buying us out thinking that would work." She shook her head as she tucked her loose strands behind her ear, and I gave her a small frown.

"Don't worry, Mom. They can't shut a place like this down." I reassured her, but deep down we both knew the Sandars had way more money than us. We were just a small business, and they had multiple large businesses.

I sighed as I gave my mom a side hug, feeling the stress she was radiating. "I'll make sure to spit in his food." I winked, making us both laugh at my joke.

She shook her head in amusement and made her way back into the kitchen with my dad.

I poured Sammy's chocolate milk and ended up taking both their drinks to them where they sat in the back.

"Here you go." I placed the hot coffee in front of Ryan and he gave me a thankful smile, "Oh, and you." I placed the cup of chocolate milk in front of Sammy.

"Thanks, Sam." Ryan thanked me, bringing the hot coffee to his lips.

Ryan wasn't one of your typical popular kids, yes, he sure was popular, but he didn't act that way or rub it in your face. Sammy didn't either, but he still annoyed the shit out of me.

Suddenly my Mom comes up behind me, bringing my scowl away from Sammy.

Yeah, I was just scowling at him just for fun.

She had a big tray in her hands that held their food, and I helped her bring each plate to each of them. I felt tension come from Sammy as she was near, making me chuckle. He seemed scared of my parents, probably because they hated him and his family.

"Thank you, Mrs." He thanked her along with Ryan, and she gave him the fakest smile.

"Anytime for my favorite people."

Damn, she was more petty than me.

With that, she walked away and I was left there with the two boy's eyes on me. A laugh escaped my lips and Sammy knew why. He didn't find it funny, but I sure did.

"Like Mother, like daughter." Sammy smugly added once she walked away, and I gave him a death stare.

"Y'all are like a married couple, I swear." Ryan pipes up from his side of the booth with a mouth full of food, making me roll my eyes.

I turned around and made my way back behind the counter leaving the two boys alone.

Why me? Why did he have to choose this place out of all places to eat?

*************

Sammy: 19 questions is still on the table

Sammy ended up texting once more, and I honestly forgot about our conversation. Work stressed me out, considering the fact I had to deal with the asshole in person.

Am I really mentally prepared to deal with him over text too?

No, but it's all part of my plan.

Eviee: Oops meant to respond to you earlier, sorry about that

Sammy: unforgivable, now tell me eviee, what's your favorite color?

I rolled my eyes at his stupid question.

Such a basic question, but it suddenly put me in my feels.

I stared at the screen about to respond but all I could think about was my ex. Funny how you go from knowing everything about someone to now sharing your favorite color with the next.

Eviee: Green

Sammy: green? huh, mine is green too

Ew, we even have the same favorite color.

Eviee: Yeah? You sure you aren't copying me?

I grinned at my text, he sure was replying fast. I'm surprised he wasn't at some party right now or hanging with some girl from school.

I walked to my bathroom, flicked the light on, and ended up taking my hair out of my ponytail. I shake my hair and place my phone on the counter as I await his text once more.

As expected, his name lit my screen up within seconds.

Sammy: copy you? funny joke, now you ask me a question

I picked my phone up and thought of a question before one came to mind.

Eviee: Worst fear?

Sammy: losing the people I love

I ended up turning the shower on before replying to him but was shocked at his answer. I was thinking more like spiders.

Eviee: Huh I relate to that, losing people you love is the worst

I hit send without thinking because memories of my brother danced in my mind for a short moment. Us, doing everything together until it was too late.

Sammy: you lost someone you loved?

Eviee: Everyone eventually does, now enough with this depressing talk, ask me a question

I sighed before placing my phone on the counter. I glanced at myself in the mirror, and just stared at myself for a moment. My thoughts are always pushed to the back of my mind until I reach home, and then everything unfolds inside of it.

Probably due to how lonely I am every night.

My mind wanders to the relationship problems I used to have with my ex to the passing of my brother.

Honestly, I haven't been able to get over either of those.

I ran my hand through my hair in a stressed-out manner before undressing and jumping into the shower.

The feeling of the hot water hitting my skin made me close my eyes as my hair started to get drenched. Again, my mind was wandering to things I didn't want to think of.

       F L A S H B A C K

"Sam, you about ready?" Travis asked from my bed as he was sprawled out on it.

I huffed before throwing clothes into a suitcase.

"Yeah, Last minute  packing, you know?"

"Maybe if you packed last night you wouldn't have this problem." His tone was not playful though, more annoyed than anything and I felt as if it was my fault.

It was a small trip he planned for our 8 months.

"I'm sorry, Travis. We're all good to go now!" I stood up from the suitcase and clasped my hands together in excitement. "I'm excited!"

No response from him though, all he did was nod as he texted away on his phone. My smile fell as he did just that, and once he was done texting he set his phone to the side as he stood up.

"Mind taking the bags out? I'm going to the bathroom." He asked, placing a hand on my shoulder and I nodded in agreement.

He left the room, and I did as he said. I started to lift the suitcase and made my way over to the bed to grab his bag until I noticed his phone ringing.

The contact name of Ally was displayed on it with a heart.

Making my heart drop, who the hell was Ally?

I stared at it as it rang for what felt like forever until it stopped. I glanced behind me to check to see if he was done, but he was still in the bathroom. I didn't want to snoop, but It was so hard not to when you see another girl's name on your man's phone.

I picked it up, and that was when the message popped up.

Ally: babe, tell me where the place is at. I'll meet you there after she goes to sleep ;)

My heart aches at this point, I couldn't move my eyes away from that text. All I could do was read it over and over again.

She.

Meaning me.

Travis was cheating on me.

I'm stupid.

Finally, my mind came back to reality once the water was turning cold due to the amount of time I spent in the shower. I squeezed my eyes shut at the memories, and that's when I realized I had been crying.

The water from the shower and my tears ran down my cheeks and all I could think about was how alone I felt.