Hey Guys. Sorry it took me forever to write this chapter. Stupid Writers Block. Hope you like it!

Chapter 9

I always had a thing for community service, so when I got the call that Squid, ZigZag and I had to work at the San Antonio homeless shelter to finish our time at camp green lake, I wasn't that bummed about it. Since the Halloween party incident things were on the rocks with Squid and I. Sure we still hung out and stuff but it wasn't the same. I was hoping that spending more time together in the shelter would get us closer. The day that we started our first weekend of our service, Squid picked me up in his mom's car. His mom recently returned from her rehab and from what he told me she was better, a lot better.

"Hey." He said perkily as I slowly climbed into the front seat of the car.

"Hi." I replied as we backed out of the driveway.

"Are you alright?" He asked as we sped down the street.

"Yeah, why?" I asked, smiling fakely.

"Well, you're not as happy as you were before Halloween." He said, looking at me as we stopped at a light.

"I wonder why." I said sarcastically and sort of mockingly. He sulked in his seat before pulling forward.

"Just forget about it, Squid." I replied to his mood change.

"I'm sorry, Shorty." He said, outright.

"It's okay. I over reacted a little." I said, linking my arm in one of his.

"Is that it right there?" He asked pointing to a small building with a line of people outside.

"Yeah it is." I replied as he pulled into the parking lot. We got out of the car and started towards the place. "I love you Squid." I said looking up at him.

"Love you too." He replied, pulling me close to him as he kissed the top of my head.

Inside the place a line of people were waiting to get food. ZigZag waved us over. We immediately burst out laughing at the sight of him in a hair net and rubber gloves. I wonder were they found a hair net big enough.

"I wouldn't be laughing." I man said from behind us. We both turned around. "I'm Mr. Turnbomb and this is your uniform every weekend for the next 5 months." He shoved a hair net and gloves into our hands.

"You also have the pleasure of working with three other young miscreants from the detention center in Dallas. Two young men and a young lady." He gestured to a girl popping a bubble with too much blue eyeliner and two thuggish guys. The girl looked us up and down before looking away and at the sight of the two other guys I leaned into Squid.

"You two will be on tray duty. You hand the people their trays. Think you can do that?" He asked wickedly. We nodded, put our gloves and nets on and walked to the tray section.

Later on we got a lunch break and we all gathered in a small room with one table in the back. I gave Squid the lunch my mother packed for him and took out mine as well.

"You made him lunch?" The gum chewing girl asked me from across the table. She stared at me blankly.

"Yeah, see his…" She held up her hand and I quickly stopped talking. Who did this girl think she was?

"I'm Brooke." She said in some kind of accent, her voice was tough and strong. Maybe it was New York.

"I'm Kelly." I said, clearing my throat.

"Is that you're boyfriend?" She asked nodding to Squid as he talked to ZigZag.

"Yeah." I replied, taking a bite of my peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

"Damn." She said admiring him quietly, going back to her lunch.

"Shorty!" ZigZag said, leaning behind Squid to talk to me.

"Hey Zig!" I replied. "How's it going?"

"Man this sucks, I was sure we were home free from doing anything." I laughed.

"The state wouldn't let a bunch of criminals like us get away with anything would they." Zig looked puzzled.

"Why do you have to be here? They found you innocent didn't they?" I shrugged.

"Guess they just needed some help." I replied. Mr. Turnbomb entered the room.

"Lunch break is over." He bellowed.

"He's so going to get on my nerves." I whispered to Squid as we got up. He smirked in agreement.

About five minutes into serving, a little boy walked in and asked me for a tray.

"Hi I'm Billy. Can I have a tray? What's you're name? You're pretty. Can I have a tray?" He asked me a million questions.

"Here you go Billy. My names Kelly and yes that's my boyfriend." I answered back, predicting his next question. Apparently I was right because the boy blushed.

"What brings you here Billy?" I asked, noticing no one was coming in so I had time to talk.

"My mommy told me to go here, so she and my daddy could talk." I raised my eyebrows.

"Well Billy, have a good meal." He skipped away.

"You shouldn't talk to the customers." Brooke said from behind me.

"They aren't customers they are consumers. And why shouldn't I talk to them?" I asked.

"'Cause one day you're not gonna be here to talk to and they will be so depressed." She said smiling.

"What? That doesn't even make sense. Shouldn't you be fixing the ketchup bottles or something?" I asked. She rolled her eyes and walked away. Squid walked over carrying a new stack of trays.

"What did she want?" He asked, just as I spotted a familiar face come through the door.

"More importantly, what does she want?" I asked, pointing and the person entering the shelter. Lianne walked in, looking around nervously. She approached us, trying to avoid our eyes.

"Lianne?" I asked, trying to look at her face.

"Yeah, just give me a tray." She snapped.

"Whoa Lianne is that you?" Squid asked. She glared at him.

"Oh hi Alan." She said once she realized who was talking to her. She smoothed her hair. "I'm just here to do some research for my campaign. Helping out is the way to go!" She made a fist pump like a cheerleader. Squid and I looked at each other then back at her with disbelief.

"Fine." She said giving in to our look. "Money's been a little tight since my dad lost his job and we spent a lot on our cruise for the summer. Ok so money's really tight. I figured this would be a good place to get some free food." I smiled.

"Well go on and get some." She smiled weakly and began to walk away.

"If you tell anymore I swear you will regret it." She said turning around and glaring at us. We raised our eyebrows and shook our heads and she left. Squid and both went back to work and didn't talk about it the rest of the day.

"I wonder why Lianne was at the service place." Squid asked as we climbed into his car after a long day of tray handing out.

"Squid that was yesterday. Why are you still thinking about that?" I asked.

"I don't know. I just think that there's a lot more than what she said." I looked at him.

"Are you serious? Squid, Lianne was probably there to check out how idiotic I looked and how good-looking you were." Squid stopped at a red light.

"'Were'?" He asked smiling.

"Are." I replied laughing.

"That's better." He said chuckling, reaching over to ruffle my hair.

Hehe. Alright so what's the deal with Lianne anyways? Is there something she's hiding? Find out next chapter as Squid and Kelly dig to find the truth...