Ugh. Monday. I dreadfully get out of bed as I didn't get enough sleep to make for lost time at Waverly Hills. To top the night off I had nightmares about the stupid creeper and I probably will forever.

I start with my normal morning routine of getting coffee and sitting on the couch contemplating my life's choices. Though I loved my life, I found I did this often. Kelsey will join me in a few minutes but she'll have a glass of orange juice. She was never as much of an early riser as I was. I sit there cuddled in my blanket thinking how stupid I was that I couldn't finish the investigation. The crew must think I'm such a scaredy cat. I always told myself if I ever saw the creeper at Waverly then I was done. I couldn't continue. And I was right, I couldn't.

"Morning."

"Oh, morning, Kels."

"Whatcha thinking about?"

"Just our trip to Waverly. Kelsey it was so scary." I continue to tell her everything that happened scaring myself all over again. Kelsey joins me on the couch with her OJ.

"Wow, that sounds terrifying!"

"It was. I just hate that I couldn't finish the night."

"Girl. You're a lot braver than me. I wouldn't even step foot in that building."

I giggle and grin to myself. "Well I guess we should get ready and go."

Kelsey checks the time on her phone, "ugh. Okay."

I brush my teeth, get my scrubs on, and apply a little powder to my face and mascara. When it came to work I used the bare minimum as far as makeup goes. Kelsey is usually ready and out the door before me. "I'll meet you at the car!"

"Okay! Be right there!" I hear Kelsey run down the stairs and out the front door. I stare at myself in the bathroom mirror for a second to make sure I'm decent enough for the day. "Let's do this." It was nice working together so we can carpool to work everyday. Today was my turn to drive so I grab my keys on the way out.

"Ready?"

"Yup." I unlock the car and we're off.

_

Ring ring.

I glance at my phone and answer, speaking through a mouthful of my lunch. "Hey mom."

"I catch you on your lunch break?"

"Mhmm."

"Well, I'm so sorry to tell you this at work, but Gpa just passed."

I quickly swallow my food trying not to choke. "What?"

"Early this morning." Tears well up in my eyes and I suddenly have no appetite to finish my lunch. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier I just didn't want to start your day like that. Look, I know you said your goodbyes before you moved, but if you want to come here..."

"No," I cut her off. I can tell my mom was crying now. I'm sure she had been. Her dad was everything to her. He was a very well known, loved man. Basically the father to my sister and I since our actual father was a nutto.

"Okay, I understand. I'll let you go. I just wanted you to know before you heard from someone else."

"Okay. Love you, mom."

"Love you too, sweetie."

I gather myself before I walk back in the hospital and clock back in. I find Kelsey still at the front desk working. "Hey you can go to lunch. I'll cover for you up here."

"Thanks. Hey, what's wrong?" She noticed my watery, red eyes.

"Nothing. I'll tell you later."

"Okay." She gives me a sad look and continues to clock out for her break.

About 45 minutes go by and Kelsey comes back from her lunch. She sits by me at the front desk and again asks me what's going on. She still has 15 minutes of her break so I agree to tell her. "My mom called and told me my Gpa passed."

"Oh my god, Shawn! I'm so sorry. He was everything to y'all!"

"Yeah. I'm sorry too. I'm sure it's killing my mom and my uncles."

"You should tell Diane. I'm sure she'll let you go home for the day."

"No, it's fine. If I go home then I'll just keep thinking about it and I don't want to think about it." Honestly, I just wanted to tell Zak and be with him. He made me feel safe and I know he could help me keep my mind occupied off my grandfather. Kelsey clocks back in as a customer comes through the door and I walk back to the treatment area of the hospital where us vet techs hang out. "Hey, Erika, do you mind getting this appointment? I need to make a quick phone call."

"Yeah, sure." Erika was our technician supervisor and a very understanding, sweet person. I go out our secret back door and call Zak. I just needed to talk to him and hear his voice.

I tap on his name in my contacts and he pick up by the second ring. "Hey, Shawn! I was just about to call you! What's going on?"

"I'm at work. I just wanted to talk to you." I try to sound as normal as possible, but he is always so good at knowing when something is wrong.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing. Just a rough day at work." I couldn't tell him the truth. Not now. He seemed to be in such a great mood and I didn't want to ruin it.

"You sure? You sound upset."

"Yeah, I'm good."

"You know you can tell me anything, right?"

"Zak, I promise. What's up?"

"Okay. I was going to call you because I want you to meet us at headquarters this evening when you're done with work."

"Everything okay?"

"Everything's perfect. Just tell me you'll be there."

"Yeah. I can meet you there at 6:30."

"Perfect."

"Okay, bye Zak."

"Bye, hun."

These names he's starting to call me are getting to me. There's no way he was getting feeling for me, right? I somehow make it through the rest of the day. After closing I meet Kelsey at the front desk. "You about ready?"

"Yup. Just finishing closing the register."

"So Zak wants to meet me at GA headquarters at 6:30. You wanna come or do you want me to drop you off at home?"

"You can drop me off at home. Aaron and I have plans."

"Ohhh!" I get wide eyed. "I didn't realize y'all were hanging out."

"Yeah! We started to and then you took him away to Waverly."

"Sorry. Well, I'm happy for you."

"Thanks. All done!"

"Alright, lets go."

I take Kelsey back home and I decide to go in for a few minutes and change. If I'm a couple minutes late I'm sure they'd understand. I throw off my scrubs and put them in the dirty laundry. Rummaging through my dresser drawers I find my skinny jeans. I put those on and a black tank top. I figured going a little casual was okay for tonight so I just slip on my flip flops and throw my light brown hair in a bun. I didn't even bother to add to my make up. I casually walk into Kelsey's room where I find her also looking through her closet for something to wear. She pulls out a lightweight, black floral, long sleeve shirt and a purple long sleeve shirt. "Which one?"

"I like the flower one," I point, sitting on her bed."

"Me too. You're gonna be late. It's almost 6:20."

"I know."

"Why do you think they wanna meet you?"

"I have no idea, but I guess Aaron isn't going to be there since y'all are going out."

"I don't know. He might. He said he had something to do before so..."

"Do you know? I mean you knew about Zak texting me for the first time."

"I swear I really don't this time," Kelsey throws her hands up in surrender.

"Alright. Well, I'm going." I exit her room and start down the stairs.

"Have fun!"

"You too!"

_

"So you want me to join your crew?" I raise an eyebrow staring at Zak.

"We would love it if you did," His tone very matter of fact.

"But isn't this like your thing?" I quickly waived my finger pointing to all four guys. "I don't want to mess anything up or impose on your investigations."

Aaron shook his head, "you wouldn't. We want you on the crew."

"But I couldn't even get through an entire investigation at Waverly. Why would want me?"

"We've been thinking about adding another person to the crew for a while and we believe you'd be amazing. The timing that we met you couldn't have been more perfect. And the whole Waverly thing doesn't matter. Seeing the creeper would be an end all for anyone. I think you were amazing at Waverly."

I smile at Zak's words. I couldn't believe what was happening in this very moment. I wanted so badly to say yes but my mouth wouldn't let me speak. Never in a million years would I imagine this happen to me. I would consider myself just an average girl from Florida now living in Sin City of all places and sitting in front of four guys that I secretly adore and can't seem so to yes to.

"So?"

I quickly come back to earth as I hear one of them speak but didn't know who. They're all staring very intently at me waiting for a reply since they still have not received an answer. Why am I so hesitant? This would be an opportunity of a lifetime. No. This is an opportunity of a lifetime. I wipe of the creepy smile I realized I was wearing and very seriously say "yes."

They all give a small cheer and Zak reaches out to my hand for a handshake. "Welcome to the GAC!"

"Wow" was all I could muster to say. They laugh and Zak ushers me to the door with Aaron right behind him.

"I'll call you tomorrow and we'll go over more details."

"Sounds perfect," I shyly grin at Zak and head towards my car. I take a few steps into the parking lot before turning back around. "Oh, Aaron! Be good to Kelsey," I shake my finger at him.

He laughs, "you got it."

_

After getting settled back at my apartment I'm completely speechless as I relive over and over everything that just happened at headquarters. How was I going to tell anyone about this? I know I had to tell Kelsey, I mean she's my best friend. All I knew from that point on was that my life would be changed. I wasn't quite sure yet if it was for better or worse but I'm sure I would soon find out. I suppose this meant I had to quit my current job! But I loved it there. My coworkers were all so nice and that's rare to find a place of work where you get along with everyone.

I could only hope this was all for the better.