A very fair warning this chapter is hella long. Do comment and vote.

The cafe was filled with people, just my awesome luck. This place was never filled, expect for weekends, but looks like today my awesome luck decided to show me how lucky I was.

Oh and the cleaner called in sick. Gracias of my awesome luck!

I bitterly smiled while cleaning the restroom for the third time.

The manager, Adam, had taken over this place after his grandmother died. Adam was a perfectionist, I liked that about him but it was annoying at times. Like who the hell cleans, all over again, if anyone as much as breaths in the restroom let alone goes inside it just to do touch ups or to just get away from some creep.

I washed my hands and walked out of the restroom. I couldn't even catch a break because someone told me to give two coffees at some table. I sighed and went over to that table.

After that I went to the counter to ask for the bill for some other table. The two men, sitting on that table, ended up giving me a huge tip along with the bill.

"There is really no need for it."

"Just keep it, darling. You have been working really hard."

I grinned. "Thank you so much. Thank you."

Looks like my awesome luck might really be awesome.

I turned around walking but my head was still looking at the two and my mouth still running thanking them. "Thank you so much. This means a lot. I am really sorry I have a lot of work to do or I woul-" My sentence cut off as my body collided with a wall and all the cash made contact with the floor.

Ah spoke to soon, my awesome luck is indeed awesome just not in a way one would be grateful for.

I turned my head back around to look at someone with black-curly hair and electric blue eyes - he was a worker guessing by his uniform I have never seen him before though. The guy froze.

"I am so sorry." I sighed looking at the cash flying in different directions about to bend down to pick it up after sending him a sheepish smile.

He unfroze after my apology. "No, I a- am sorry. I should have seen you." He quickly bend down and picked up the cash. "I am really sorry. It's just that today is very hectic."

I bend down to pick up some notes as well. "I know right. This place is never filled with this many people."

"Yeah, except for weekends."

We stood up and he handed me back the cash, his fingers brushing mine.

"And to think I have double shifts today."

"Oh me too."

"Really?" I asked the stranger and he nodded, running a hand over his face. "Wow, atleast we will have each other. I am sorry if I come out as rude but what's your name? I mean we haven't met before, right? Or have we?"

"It's Dan-"

"Hey, Mason! Get the order from table 39!"

I looked at the guy telling him to get the order. "So, is it Dan or Mason?" I raised an eyebrow.

"-g. Dang. Yep, that's definitely what I meant. Dang, you don't know my name. It's Mason."

"Okay so then see you later Mason. I am Vivianna."

I think I heard him say something but that was definitely just my exhausted mind running tricks on me, right?

"Oh believe me I know that."

***

I forcefully smiled at the teenage girl leaving the cafe and cleaned the table. I am surprised that I could even smile forcefully by how exhausted I was I felt like I would pass out any moment.

So, my awesome luck decided to bless me with its unnecessary awesomeness yet again.

I ended up taking triple shifts instead of double because my replacement had a break-up just today and decided to take an off. Adam said that he would pay me double if I take this shift.

I didn't even have time to breathe, let alone eat anything. I always took morning and night shifts. The cafe was filled at both times, so more money, and I could rest in the evening for 3-4 hours. It was nearly empty in the evening, so I never took those shifts.

But today was like the entire city decided to go to this very cafe like it was on a 100 percent sale. Even at evening the cafe was filled, which never happens.

And I can bet all my money on that I have cleaned more restroom than any sane person in their entire life.

Shoot, you know what, no I am not I will probably lose my money. I am sure Adam atleast cleans it a thousand times if not more in a day. That guy is literally obsessed with restrooms.

"Okay, Vivianna. I am leaving. There are just two customers you can leave after them. Remember to lock the door after you do leave. I have already locked the bathroom's doors so they won't get it dirty. Anyways, there are some workers make sure they leave before you close the door." Adam said breaking me off my thoughts. "And your money is inside my office, in the second drawer to the left. Okay? Take it and close my office as well."

"Yeah, okay." He handed me a jangling set of keys. "You sure that you don't want to split the huge tip we got?" I offered again.

"Nah, you worked hard. Think of it like I just gave my half to you for your kids. It was Oli's birthday, right?"

"Yeah!" I smiled.

"Get her something with this."

"Okay thanks, Adam."

With a smile he left the cafe. The two customers left after a while.

I went to one of the tables and started cleaning it - picking up the disposable cup and other items I threw them inside the trash can.

Just as the door to the cafe opened I started cleaning the table with my cleaning cloth. "It's closed." I told the person without looking up.

"Oh, I know. I just finished cleaning the back yard but the back door was locked so that's why I am using the front one."

I looked up. "Oh it's you. Mason, how come I didn't see you after that little colliding thing?"

"Probably because I didn't have an extra shift unlike someone whose replacement got dumped today."

"Ouch, touché!"

"Well, in all seriousness heartbreak is tough she had every right to take an off. Also I had to clean the backyard almost during all of my night shift. Turns out Adam isn't only obsessed with restrooms." He said taking the cleaning cloth from my hands and cleaning the table himself.

"It's fine I will do it." I tried taking the cloth back from him but he just moved it farther away from me. Too tired to fight I just let it go and sat down on the chair.

"So, why are you still here? I thought everyone except Adam left."

"Oh well, Adam left and there were these two customers who just left, so yeah, I am still here." I yawned.

"Who is gonna close the cafe now?" He gave me a confused look.

"Me. He gave me the keys." I waved the keychain.

He shrugged. "He always closes this place himself."

"I guess he trusts me."

"That. Or you just let him walk all over you."

"Walk all over me?"

"I mean look at yourself, you look utterly restless. Like, you just got run over by a truck kind of restless. If he doesn't have an evening replacement, that's his problem, not yours."

"Well, he did pay me double for that shift. Also, he let me have all of the huge tip we got today." I yawned again. I felt like I could pass out any moment now and the fact that I hadn't eaten anything today really wasn't helping.

He just rolled his eyes not commenting.

He came beside my chair still cleaning the table. All the restlessness started to sink in farther and my body started falling to my side.

Two arms wrap around me stopping me from falling. "Woah, woah, woah! You alright there?"

I yawned. "Yeah. Just feel like passing out."

He placed me back on my original position - his arms still not leaving me. "Did you eat?"

"Today was real-"

"Did you?"

"Nope." I told him my eyes slightly closing shut. "I was hoping to at evening but we all know what happened."

"Okay. You know what, just don't fall asleep. As much as I would like you to get some rest, I don't think you should sleep here. You might not want to wake up again until morning."

"Okay. Just can you clean it really fast and we can all leave."

"Ugh, I don't care about these stupid tables. We will leave after I make you something."

"Make me something?" I frowned. What did these words mean again? Make me something? What did he mean by something? Well, I don't want something I want food and sleep an- My eyes widened open as his sank in and I let my shock gaze land on him. "You can cook?"

He chuckled. "Sure can."

"Wow. Okay so you are probably finding it weird but I can't cook and I basically think whoever is one hell of an amazing person. I mean come on that has to be the most difficult thing to do."

He laughed at my rant. "Do you have a headache?" I nodded. "I would normally give someone with a headache my special tea but since you haven't eaten at all that won't be a good idea. So, how about hot chocolate?"

"You have a special tea? And also yes for the hot chocolate."

"Yes, I do have a special tea. I should warn you tho, my hot chocolate isn't the best but yeah, it will do for right now. Also, I will quickly make a burger for you to eat."

And with that the chef went to cook me food, after cleaning his hands. Only to come back to give me some chips, making me roll my eyes. We went back to cooking and I started eating – my stomach and head relaxing a bit. The conversation flowed easily between us.

We were bickering like two best friends, teasing each other like two teenagers, lecturing like two adults, well he was lecturing me about how I shouldn't overwork, but still counts – basically acting like two long lost besties. Is it fine to flow in a conversation this easily with a stranger you just met?

I frowned and glared at the empty packet of chips but a grin made its way on my face as a cup of hot chocolate was placed in front of my vision. I quickly took a sip, only midway through my action, realizing that it would be hot, but to my surprise, the drink wasn't too hot or cold. It was just perfect.

I moaned. "You sure this isn't your specialty?"

"Nope, that is still my ice tea."

"Wow! If it is this good, how good would that tea be to make it to the top?"

I quickly finished half the drink and he placed the burger in front of me. Burger and hot chocolate were a match made in heaven. I smiled at him as he sat down across from me and quickly ate my food.

After we were done. I told him I had to lock Adam's door so he quickly cleaned the tables while I got my money from Adam's office.

"Let me drop you home." Mason said as we were walking out of the cafe.

"It's fine. I can walk."

"I know you can but why? I have a car and I can drop you."

"Ugh, okay. If it won't be a problem."

"It won't be. Address?" I told him and saw he looked like he wanted to say something but didn't, at the same time. He finally decided that he should say it. "Oh really? I think we might be neighbors. My house number is 54!"

"Wait, what?"

"I know right that's crazy."

"Yeah. You know what you should totally meet my kids they would love you."

"Yeah, I would love that."

I frowned, he didn't look surprised that I had kids. He probably knew it, half the cafe knows about it. I sat down in his car and he jogged to the driver's seat before settling down as well. "You should come to my daughter's birthday party. That is tomorrow at 8 pm."

"Sure. How old is your daughter again?"

"This year turning ten."

"Okay."

After that,we settled in a comfortable silence. I will go take a bath and sleep. A very, very hot long bath.

It's been a long day. I deserve this.

I really feel for the cleaning guy though.

I am not surprised he was sick.

I just had to do it for one day and I would rather be a chicken and lay countless eggs than be Adam's cleaner.

We reached home and Mason and I found that our houses weren't that far from each other actually they were just across each other.

I made my way to the door. I will pick up the kids tomorrow from my neighbor's place right now I just needed to sleep. I was just finding the key when the door was yanked open by Anna.

"Hey, what are you doing here? I thought I told you that you could leave the kids at one of the neighbor's house."

"Believe me, you don't want that,"

"Huh? What?"

I entered inside giving Anna a confused look. I looked around and saw that Sam was there as well and she a panic look in her face.

"What happened? Is everything okay? Did-"

"Don't worry. Everything is fine. It's just  that,"

"What?"

"That Oli has been crying ever since she came back from the mall and said that she would only talk to you. She didn't even eat anything. Heck, she didn't come out her room. Not once."

And to think I just wanted a hot long bath and some sleep.