Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays! Yes I know I'm a day late with the whole Christmas thing, but I was up late editing and fell asleep before I published. It's here now though and there will be at least one more today for sure! (I'm trying to do four total today, but it's not cooperating today!)

I pull out my laptop and look up Dr. Hawkins. All of her credentials are great, it's easy for me to talk to her. I don't know if that's because she's the first person I've been able to talk to about this or because I went to her before. I wonder if Sue would know why. I don't want it getting back to my mom that I was asking though. I spend the rest of the day in the house with Sprinkles, my mom calls later on, it's hard for me to talk to her. I take a break from life and just read a book from home I've wanted to read for almost three months now.

The next afternoon I stop in at Sue's diner.

"This is a nice surprise." She smiles when I walk in, she notices my stitches, but doesn't say anything.

"How's everything?"

"We'll make it through."

"I want to apologize."

"What for?"

"Well I kinda abandoned this place."

"Don't worry about it."

"Could you still use my help?"

"I couldn't ask you to come out every day."

"I need something to do. I'm gonna go crazy sitting in my house all day. Maybe just for the next month?"

"Only if you're sure."

"One question though."

"What's that?"

"Does Jacob work everyday?"

"No." She smiles, "I can put you guys on the same shift if you'd like." She smiles bigger.

"No! I want the opposite actually. As little contact with him as possible."

"Are you guys alright?"

"We're fine. We're friends now, so..."

"I got it. There'll be a little overlap though."

"I know. So tomorrow?"

"8 a.m. Can you make it here by then?"

"Yup. Oh next Wednesday can I close? I have a doctors appointment in the morning."

"Sure."

"Thanks, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay." We exchange a wave and I go into town. I go to Dina's and get a booth towards the back. I order a sprite and tell him I'm in no rush. This could be a long shot coming here and hoping one of them show up. An hour and a half later and still no one. I order dessert to go and go back home.

I wake up at seven the next morning and do my hair first, it takes a while to help my natural curls. I put on a slightly tight fitting short sleeved red v-neck t-shirt and black jeans with little black shoes and feed Sprinkles before I leave. I arrive with some others. Emily, Sue and Seth are already there. "Good morning." I smile walking through the front.

"Good to have you back." Emily says.

"Good to be back."

"Do you remember everything?"

"Yup." I nod and tie on my waist apron. I stick a pad of paper and pen in one of the pockets. I go to the kitchen to wash my hands.

"Good morning."

"G'morning Jake." I quickly walk past him and to the sink.

"You working here again?"

"Yeah for a little while. Don't worry I asked Sue to schedule me mainly on your off shifts so we don't have to see each other."

"That's not what I want."

"Thought it'd be easier for you if you didn't have to see me."

"I see you every time I close my eyes." He says quietly.

"I have to get back out front." I don't let him say anything else, I rush back out to the front and let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"We'll probably start out slow, but really pick up tonight." Leah tells me.

She was right. We didn't start getting a lot people until about 2 and even then it wasn't huge. Our true rush came at 5 and ended around 9:30. We closed at 10.

"How was your first day back?" She asks.

"Good. I'd say the perfect segway back in. How do we do tips here again?"

"A percentage goes to your busboy of the day and you keep the rest." She helps me calculate the percentage out and I take it to Paul.

"Wow thanks." He takes the $20 and puts it in his pocket. "You must've made a lot. I haven't gotten twenty bucks in a while."

"Yeah I did really good. I'm really nice to them all though, being nice means bigger tips."

"No, bigger tits means bigger tips." Embry chimes in. I look down at my chest it's a decent amount of cleavage, nothing inappropriate.

"Shut up." I laugh and throw a towel at him, Jacob doesn't laugh at his joke. "And if it does, then...nothing I can do about it." I give him a wink, he laughs.

"You could wear a shirt that fits." Jacob says harshly.

"Okay, ass." He looks back to the pot he's cleaning. "I'll see you guys later." I look at Paul and Embry, they smile. When I get back home Sprinkles is waiting at the door for me. I go in and she runs over to her bowl. I fill it up and change into pajamas. Why was Jacob such an ass? He was fine earlier, then bam. He could't have really meant that. Could he? If he thinks today's shirt didn't fit, just wait until he sees me tomorrow. I take one of my t-shirts and stick it in her dryer checking on it every half hour. Maybe I'll even wear shorts tomorrow.

Even though I'm waking up at 6 in the morning I'm surprisingly chipper. I squeeze into my shrunken black shirt, blue jean shorts and shoes from yesterday. Embry snickers when I walk in. "What?" I ask him, Jacob stands there staring.

"Legs for days." He keeps staring and Jacob punches open the swinging door and goes in the kitchen.

"He thought it was over yesterday? He has no idea."

"He was just messing around."

"He was just being an ass!" I say louder, I know he can hear me. "He seriously thinks I only got good tips because of my body."

"Technically I said it."

"We were joking around about it, he was serious."

"I shouldn't have said anything though."

"Do you want me to be mad at you instead of him?" I cross my arms.

"No."

"Then go." He flashes a quick smile and retreats to the kitchen. We get bursts of people all day, not really a steady flow though.

"That's what I'm talking about! Make them tips girl." Paul comments walking past me on my way to deliver a table their food.

"You're my busboy again?" I jog over to him before he gets to the kitchen.

"Personal request." He goes back first into the kitchen, I hear a deep thud. I look in through the window. Paul's pissed and rubbing his arm, Jacob's walking away from him. Did he punch him? I lock up after the last people leave and go back to my last table for my tip, damn. $10 from one table!

"How'd we do today?" Paul asks when I walk back.

"Amazing, better than yesterday." I pull all the bills and change from my pockets and put it on the counter top.

"Damn!" He smiles coming over.

"Don't you feel bad for taking advantage of them?" Jacob asks.

"I'm not taking advantage of anyone, here" I slide the money over to Paul.

"$50? Your math can't be right."

"I did it twice." He gives me a peck on the cheek.

"And you are." Jacob won't let it go.

"I'm providing a service and they're paying me for it."

"I know all about the service you're providing them."

"What the hell does that mean?" I put a hand on my hip, his gaze lingers at my hips for a second then shoots back up to my eyes.

"It's sick! You flaunting around like that in front of the men for money? You might as well be a stripper or prostitute. They'll be thinking of you late at night and getting off!" My cheeks heat up and are no doubt red as tears build in my eyes.

"I might as well be a prostitute?" I ask slowly. My arms and fingers start to tingle, my blood boils.

"You're shaking your ass for them and letting it all hang out! Paul's your freaking pimp!" One of the lights ahead explodes with a quick POP and sends glass everywhere. Someone screams, I think it's Sue. I throw my apron on the counter and storm out to my car. "Shit." I forgot my purse. Jacob''s in the room that we keep our stuff in. We exchange a look when I stop in the door. I snatch my purse up and turn to walk out, but stop in the door way, "Oh and just so we're clear," I whip back around glaring at him, "I officially wants us to see other people." His stare is tight, his jaw's clenched shut. He starts to slightly shake, I turn on my heals and get back in my car. I drive down the street looking for some place to still be open. There's a cafe close to the hospital my dad was in that's still open. Despite the intoxicating aroma when I first walk in I'm still pissed. I wait in line and order soup and a huge, very unhealthy, very delicious piece of cheese Danish and a large white hot chocolate. I carry my order over to a couch off to the side that's almost camouflaged with pillows. I sink into the couch and sigh. Halfway through my soup someone calls out my name.

"Oh, hi Dr. O'Brien."

"Please, Tyler." He takes a seat next to me. I catch him slip in a quick glance at my chest. "What a...pleasant surprise." He smiles. "How are you?"

"Been better obviously." I take a little sip. "How about you?"

"I'm great now." He smiles again. "I've been worried about you." He places a hand on my mid thigh and squeezes a little.

"You have?" The caterpillars inside me start to crack open from their cocoons. He nods, I give a tiny smile and look down.

"What happened to your cheek?" He lightly puts a finger under my chin and turns my head slightly.

"Oh uh just a little fight. No big deal." I lean back from his hand.

"You know you don't have to lie. I can help you if you're in danger."

In danger? "No really-"

"Did someone close to you do that?"

"Yeah."

"A guy?"

"No-"

"Are you sure?"

"You think my brother did this?"

"Not your brother, his friend."

"What, no, Jacob didn't do this. Why would you even think that?"

"I see this kind of stuff all the time. Plus the last time I saw him he seemed really upset with you."

"It wasn't him. My best friend went kinda nutso and she hit me."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to speak bad if him, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something a little more serious."

"It's not." I take another sip.

"I didn't mean to upset you." He pauses, "How much longer are you in town for?"

"Three more weeks."

"Can I take you out?" The caterpillars break completely free and fly around inside of me.

"Uhm."

"Dinner, maybe a movie."

"I..." I need to move on some how, "Yeah, that sounds nice." I smile.

"Great. I'll call you."

"Okay." He leaves with a smile. I tear into my Danish and drive back home. Sue gives me the next day off after what happened last night. I spend the day in pajamas on the couch with sprinkles cuddled next to me. Sunday were open for breakfast and lunch, but close at 4. Sue gave Jacob off and called me in.

I go to Dina's again afterwork, I eat there this time. It smelled so good in there last time. I get the same booth as before. When I get my appetizer I see Jacob come in. He's seated more towards the front of the restaurant. He glances up at the waitress, she walks away and he gaze sweeps across mine briefly. No doubt he saw me. He quickly pulls out his phone and makes a call. He turns slightly away from me and lowers his head. He gets up quickly and leaves without another glance my way. Was he meeting Bella again? I wasn't coming to spy today, honestly. I take my time with the rest of my meal. On Monday Sue has me open and Jacob closes, Tuesday it's the opposite. Wednesday when I get to Dr. Hawkins office I make sure to remember the folder.