Evening was the same. Scott let me and Vincent eat a couple of slices of pizza before keeping up with the work. I even question myself what sort of job was doing the grape, watching me go inside and outside the kitchen.

I even started to watch after the children as well. I didn't trust Vincent nor his capabilities in being a security guard. I have to say, I spend the evening studying him.

He stayed at the same spot, at the same corner. Always there. He had probably a good view of the stage and the dining area, aswell of the exits. Sometimes, a couple of kids would approach him. When that first happened, I even thought of taking them far from Vincent. But they seemed to know him.

The kids brought him a plate of cookies, and told him to take one. He accepted, and they seemed happy when Vincent told them it was the first and the best christmas cookies he ever tasted. I couldn't stop myself from cringe at how false he was, but at least he didn't seem trouble for the kids, only for me.

At four my shift ended, and I even felt relieved to go home and forget about Vincent. Even though, I have to say I spent a lovely day at the pizzeria. Scott had been really nice to me. We talked about our favorite tv shows (he told me he secretly liked Adventure Time, even though it's a kid's show). When the other co workers of the next shift arrived, I wished him a good evening and I headed to the employer's room to change to my clothes. I thought about Vincent. During the day, every time Scott and I talked, he seemed a little bit jealous in that corner. I asked myself if Vincent finished his shift as well as me. I didn't want to find him again in that room.

Well, forget that. He was in that room again. And he was sleeping again in the couch. At first, what I thought was that he had fallen asleep waiting for me. Like, really?

Well, actually he had spent all his shift doing breaks whenever he wanted to. He would just sit somewhere and just fall asleep easily. A lot of times during the day. And the poor guy Scott just let him be. No way! How irresponsible was Vincent? Always taking naps during work… Of course Scott doesn't dare to confront him.

I changed in the bathroom after making sure the door was locked. When I returned to the locker, Vincent was still sleeping. He didn't even flinch a muscle when I approached him. Man, he really was asleep after all. I stepped there, studying his features. He had one leg across the sofa, and the other on the back of it. How decent he looked… Irony, of course. His hair was a mess. Well, all of him was a mess, actually. He was using his hat to stop the light from his eyes.

After a minute, I left. Heading finally home, where a hot cup of chocolate was waiting for me.

Second day at work, and I found again Vincent on the couch, asleep. It seemed as if he hadn't moved after I left there yesterday. Jeez, that idiot. I changed again in the bathroom, and then I woke him up by shaking his shoulder. He let out a groan.

"Five more minutes please, Scotty..." but I continued to shake him.

"I don't get how you are still allowed to work here"

The grape finally opened one eye, realizing it was me, and smiled lazily.

"If that's the only way I'm going to be touched, I'm very satisfied" and he laughed at the fact I was actually touching him. I stepped back, and I crossed my arms.

"Don't you have a house?"

"Scott doesn't let me go far." and standing out, he added "He wants me near, if you know what I mean~"

"I doubt that" I told him dryly. Starting to walk towards the dinning room, the grape followed me, stretching his arms meanwhile.

There were less people than yesterday. I welcomed Scott when I saw him coming out of his office, just to see how was it all going. At the moment he and I started chatting, I saw Vincent looking us from the corner.

Scott noticed me watching away from him, and turned, just to see Vincent starting to walk away.

"Yeah, he does this all the time" I told him. He sighed.

"Just ignore him. He can be a lot jealous for whatever"

"That's because nobody likes being with him" I joked. But Scott seemed sad about it, so I had to ask "What's wrong, Scott?"

He took a few seconds to answer. He had his eyes locked to the grape. Strangely, Vincent was, for the first time since I had arrived, wondering around the tables.

"I really feel sad for him, Mia." Scott said, not even looking at me "I don't know what to do with him"

I followed his gaze towards the security guard. He returned his to the floor, and so I did too after.

"Do you know why you're always finding him in there?" Scott asks me. His voice trembles.

"You mean in the couch?" I asked. He nodded.

"He wanted the night shift as well. He has no more places to be than in here. He was in trouble. Actually... h-he was the trouble. And I know it's better for him and everyone to let him be in here. H-he is unhappy, although h-he's always s-smiling, but I don't know hot to… H-how to... "

I put a hand on his shoulder, and almost immediately Scott stopped talking.

"You're a good friend, Scott. Don't forget that"

And he smiled, leaving all sadness behind.

"I know it's just your second day here" Scott turned to look at me, his expression lighter "but has Vincent molested you?"

"I'm always staying out of his sight, but he occasionally would approach me to speak of whatever. Gosh, I hate when he smiles like that. Just so… fake"

"Yeah..."

I felt like I was losing him again, so I tried to repair that:

"But I can handle him. No one can piss him off more than my commentaries. You should have seen me yesterday"

Scott laughed.

"I just wanted to ask you a favor" he told me after some moments. I listened.

"Could you watch Vincent for me? Not that he's my dog or something. It's just that… I-I think he's not doing so well and… yeah, he's that kind of people that always tries to look stronger than the others"

"Oh, I understand" And I agreed to take a look at him once in an hour, at least.

Then I looked at Vincent. He looked tired. Before I had barely noticed the bags under his eyes, but now I could even watch the way he walked, the way he tried to stand by himself. He looked like a zombie around the other people.

"I will do it, count on me Scott" I smiled to him.

"T-thank you Mia! You know I'm always in the office and I rarely go outside" He smiled back to me "I can't control him, but you look stronger"

"I just know how to be mean when I want to" I laughed.