Disclaimer: I don't anything except my imagination.
Thanks everyone for the reviews and the follows. This is going to be my last update before the new year because of all the parties and such. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I wish all of you the best for 2015.
Abbey's POV
My alarm clock started buzzing and I looked up at the flashing red digits that read 4:30. I grunted and got up to take a shower. I dressed in jeans and the diner t-shirt. I put mascara and brushed my teeth before putting gloss for effect and I quietly ran down the stairs and in a pair of sneakers before grabbing my bag by the door and I was off to meet up with my mom.
"Morning mom." I screamed from the back door.
"In here sweetie." She was in the kitchen.
"Is that pancakes I smell?" I closed my eyes taking in the delicious aroma of my mother's pancakes.
"Yeah, have a seat it's ready.
"Thanks mom, it's been forever." She placed a plate in front of me as I sat on a stool at the counter. I wanted to eat slowly but I knew we had work to do before customers arrived. I made quick of making the pancakes disappear under my mom's watchful eye before muttering a thank you with my mouth still full. We then proceeded in doing the prep work so the cooks could be ready to work. It was usually a quiet time between my mother and I so the tradition was kept this morning as well. Bill and Grace were next to come in. He slowly started cooking the bacon while Grace and I proceeded in bringing all the chairs down and cleaning the tables. Time flew by and when I dared to look at my watch it was already six so I went and opened the doors. For the next hour, our regular early birds came in so there was stillness in the restaurant you could only find between six and seven. Then the normal customers started coming in. Grace and I each had a section to serve but until there were people in mine, I was serving at the counter. I started a new pot of coffee without flinching and my mom came next to me and chatted a bit while we had a chance.
"How was diner with Lieutenant Casey last night?"
I turned an extra shade of red that didn't go unnoticed to her. "I'm going to kill him." I seared.
"Hey there he did nothing wrong, I was calling to see if you'd join me for diner and he just told me where you were."
"It was a friendly diner is all. The Darden boys were there." I avoided looking at her because she could look right through me.
"You wish it was more don't you?"
"Damn it." I thought. She always knew everything about me. "Maybe, but nothing can happen." I looked at her this time.
"Why not, I'm sure he's a great guy."
"He is mom but he's lieutenant and nice and gorgeous." I whispered that last part. "And well I'm me."
"And you're nice and gorgeous." She smiled at me. "He'd be lucky to have you."
"Just drop it please?" I begged still feeling my cheeks red and heat radiating in my chest. I raised my head just in time to hear the bell ding as new customers came in and I felt the degrees in my face go higher because there he was, walking through the doors with the two boys. He was wearing black jeans and that navy blue with the lighter blue button sleeve I always thought he looked especially good in. He had two buttons undone with his sleeves up to his elbows and flashed that hundred watt smile that always seemed to reach his eyes.
"What are you guys doing here?" I felt myself stutter but either he didn't notice it or chose to ignore it.
"These two knuckleheads wanted to see you again." All three sat at the counter.
"Mom you remember." She must have felt me waver because she finished my sentence.
"Lieutenant Casey, it's good to see you again."
"Nice to see you too Mrs. Reed."
"Coffee?" I raised the coffee jug.
"Yes please." He smiled as I poured it. I put it away and went in front of the boys.
"Hey guys, what do you feel like having this morning?" I leaned on the counter to be at eye level with them. I could hear my mother and Matt talk next to me but I ignored them as much as I could.
"Banana and chocolate pancakes." They said simultaneously, which made me laugh.
"Coming right up." I smiled at them before turning around and make the food myself. I had overheard my mom ask what Matt wanted to I did all three meals. I poured the batter that was next to the heating plaque into two big circles and proceeded in making the eggs and bacon as well as dropping two toasts in the toaster. I really loved cooking and this was an easy order. I put the two pancakes in two plates and served Matt his meal. I don't think he was expecting me to give him his plate since he hadn't directly ordered what he wanted.
"Wow, that's some good hearing."
"Thanks, enjoy." I smiled at him and went back to the boys before their food would become cold. "Are you guys really hungry?" They both nodded. I took two bananas and quickly cut half of one on each. Then I took chocolate syrup and poured a generous amount on both. I rolled them up and put the other half of the second banana on top of the pancakes before putting more chocolate under the watchful eyes of both Darden siblings. "And to top it all, you guys like whip cream?" They were so attentive that they just gave me a nod and I looked at Matt with a smile as he chuckled. I put a big swirl of whip cream on top and pushed it in their direction.
"House special." I winked at them.
"Thank you." They both looked up at me and smiled before digging in. I watched them for a few minutes before I had to take care of customers that were seated in my section. I poured them some coffee and took their order. I put the order in with Bill and waited for it next to Casey.
"I didn't know you were so versatile." He turned his stool and leaned on the counter.
"This is where I had my very first job. I've been working here since I was sixteen, my mom taught me a lot about hard work and ethics."
"She taught you well."
"Want to see a trick?" Bill just placed all four plates on the counter. He just smiled so I stacked three plates in my left hand and took the last one in my right. "I can even do this." I chuckled before heading over to the table. By the time I got back, all three plates were empty.
"I won't ask if any of it was good." I laughed.
"The best." Ben exclaimed dramatically to which Matt laughed out loud.
"Leave it to Ben to scream the truth. Food was great, thanks."
"It was my pleasure." My section was pretty quiet so I managed to hang out with Matt and the boys a while longer.
"Ok guy, it's time to leave, Abbey needs to work. We've taken enough of her time." They both put their jacket on. "How much for the breakfast?"
"It's on the house." I didn't need mom's approval to make such a decision because it was a regular custom with the firehouse.
"No really, how much?"
"I'm not telling. Like you said, I have to get back to work. I'll see you day after tomorrow. Bye guys."
"Bye they said together."
"This isn't over."
"Sure it is Lieutenant." I walked away taking care of my three new tables. I saw him wave in my direction and thank my mom before leaving with the two boys.
"He left this for you." She pointed in the direction of the money on the counter.
"You can put it in the 51 jar mom." I took a new round of plates for another table.
I kept waiting tables until it started to die down around ten so I sat in the corner booth at the end of the restaurant and dialled up Mills at home.
"Hey Pete, how's studying?" He told me he was nose deep in it. "Want me to bring you lunch after my shift?" He ordered what he wanted to I told him I'd have it with me when I got home before hanging up. Grace managed to escape from the few remaining customers she had to come sit with me a few minutes.
"Who's that hot guy you were talking with earlier? Those boys his kids?"
"That hot guy as you call him is the Lieutenant on truck at firehouse 51 and no those two boys are not his, he's taking care of them for a while though."
"You should totally have that." She giggled.
"I'm not having anything and it's not that simple. We work in the same house."
"Not for long. You told me you were waiting for your results and your new assignment." Grace was a good friend of mine but sometimes her mouth ran just too much.
"It just wouldn't work. Drop it please."
"Fine, be in denial." She got up and went to finish up the three tables she had left. It took about two seconds before my mom came to sit opposite me at the table.
"He's a really nice guy, I like him." She smiled at me.
"Mom, please don't start, you're not helping." I sighed. She patted my hand and just left. She and I had become closer since my dad's death and as much as she could see right through me, she knew when to back away. I quickly got up and started cleaning up my section before the lunch rush started. I had time to eat half a sandwich before people started coming in around eleven thirty. It was a very busy lunch and I waited one table after the next and I was thankful when it died down around one. I counted my things and put half of my tips in a jar that read 51. I had started putting half of my tips in there ever since I had the first problem with the stove. Plus I figured since we didn't have funding and the guys needed to eat then I had to get that thing fixed. No one knew about the jar except for Mills and I, as well as both our mother's. I washed my hands and didn't waste time doing Mills's lunch before leaving.
"I'll see you tomorrow for lunch mom."
"Don't be late, we're having your favourite."
"I can't wait, bye." She waved at me and I was out the door. I got home and Mills was waiting impatiently at the diner table.
"Sorry I'm late." I quickly put the bag down in front of him.
"I've been starving for an hour, waiting for this food. Thank you."
"You're welcome. It was made with love." I teased.
"How was shift?"
"We had some visit beginning of shift and then it got crazy busy, that's why I got here so late."
"Who came by?" He shoved the huge sandwich in his mouth and took a bite.
"Casey and the Darden boys." I sat down with a glass of OJ.
"Ooouuuuhhhh." He hollered.
"Mills, don't you start it too." I swear him and my mom were the same; I didn't need to say anything out loud for them to see right through me.
"What, I know you have a thing for him. Plus I know he's a really nice guy AND that he's available."
"I know all of that too but I will not embarrass myself if he doesn't have feelings for me."
"I never said you had to throw yourself at him if that's what you mean. And by the way; what do you mean by not me too? Who has told you about this?"
"My mom and Grace." I sighed
"Grace?"
"Yeah. In her words: I should totally have that." I made air quotes making him laugh.
"Yeah, trust her to have no filter."
"Ok that is enough about me. Are you ready for tomorrow?"
"As ready as I'll ever be I suppose."
"You're a great firefighter Mills, squad will be lucky to have you"
"I just wished we could be in the same house though."
"Trust me, there's no where else I'd rather be but it's just bad timing."
"Yeah I know. What are your plans for tonight?"
"No plans, I'm all your if you want." I smiled finishing my glass of orange juice.
"Ok so I was thinking, since tomorrow is it, we could have supper and catch a movie after. Oh and you need to go take a nap." My eyes were closing by themselves at this point.
"Yeah, I think that's a good idea. Unless you want me falling asleep at the movies."
"That's not the plan no."
"Thought so, see you in a couple of hours." I dragged my body up to my room and just threw myself on the bed. Just as I put my phone on the nightstand, there was a ding signalling I had a text. I quickly looked at it, it was from Matt. Thanks again for breakfast, I owe you one. I quickly replied. We'll see about that. Nap time, later. I put it back on the table and I was out.
CASEY's POV
I texted a thank you to Abbey again for the breakfast and when she replied it was naptime, I took it as the perfect opportunity to ring Mills and ask him to meet me so we could plan something for her as a graduation party. It only took two rings before he picked up.
"Hey Mills, It's Casey. If you're not busy, do you mind meeting me at the diner around the corner from the firehouse?" He replied that he'd be there in five before I hung up and headed to my car. I went in and he was already sitting at a table with food in front of him.
"Hey thanks for meeting me here."
"No problem what's up Casey?"
"Ok well yesterday when Abbey was at my place, I asked her if she had something planned as a post graduation party and she said she didn't have any. I thought maybe we could do something for her."
Mills seemed to eye me suspiciously before he answered. "Yeah, she says she doesn't want one. Says that graduation at the academy will be enough. I think she's trying to avoid the celebration on the account of our last year."
"That's what I figured but I think that she deserves to have something like that done for her. I'm sure everyone at 51 would agree."
The suspicious look came again but this time he sighed. "Ok, she's going to kill me if she finds out about this." I wasn't sure what to make of this statement. "Do you have a thing for her?" I wasn't expecting that question coming from Mills. I wasn't sure what I was feeling for her. All I knew is that I wanted to get to know her better. I tried to put some thought in my answer.
"I don't know what it is I feel for her to be quite honest. She's a great girl with a great heart that I would love to get to know better."
"Ok. So I'm in the obligation to give you the big brother speech because she's my best friend and I don't want her to get hurt. Don't lead her on Casey. Her heart isn't healed completely and I don't know if it could stand it if it got broken again."
"I get that and it's the last thing I would want. I think she's come a long way since she first got to the house."
"That she has. So, with that being said, what did you have in mind?"
"I thought that maybe we could have a bbq or something with her friends and everyone from the house after she's done at the academy, nothing too flashy. I don't think that's her thing."
"That your right. I think that would be a great idea but where do we do this? I mean we can't do it at our house, maybe we can do it at our mom's."
"Ask them and if they can't I don't mind doing it at my house. That's not a problem."
"Ok I'll talk to them now and keep you posted tomorrow. I got to get back before she wakes up, I told her we'd go for supper and a movie." He got up and left.
"See you." I got up as well and headed home. During the whole drive back I thought about what Mills had said. She had a big heart and didn't deserve to have it broken. I didn't want to lead her on but I couldn't deny that there was an attraction, especially after yesterday and this morning. I tried to clear my mind when I got home so the boys wouldn't think I was a complete weirdo. I just hoped things wouldn't get awkward during next shift, knowing what I suspected. There was still a whole day for me to think about that.
Abbey's POV
I woke up a few hours later and quickly washed my face. I changed into something more casual since I had fallen asleep in my work clothes. Cropped shorts and a camisole with flip-flops would do it; it was really hot outside. As usual, I made a bun over my head so it wouldn't get sticky on my neck and I headed downstairs where I found Mills cleaning up a bit.
"Hey, I was thinking. Maybe we could try that new restaurant on main, sit on the terrace and grab a beer with supper before heading out to the movies. What do you think?"
"Yeah that's good. I figure a beer wont hurt anyone. Are you ready to go?"
"Yup, let's get out of here." We headed out with Mills car and the drive to the restaurant was short. We ate talking about the next few days since we were supposed to get our final grades and placement in the coming week. Then we went to the movie theatre and decided on a cheesy comedy. Part of the movie was spent laughing out loud and throwing pop-corn at each other. I'm not sure that whoever was picking up after this would be too happy about it but I couldn't stop to think about that as we giggled our way out of the room. We drove back home and went to bed early so Peter could be ready for his final exam tomorrow.
a/n: So next chapter will be mainly Mills and Abbey waiting to get their results. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and i'll see you next year with new stuff.