CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Evening. Alpaca's restaurant. the same routine day. after a weeks the restaurant are close. long day. busy. now they back on business. Belle throw her bag on the counter. quick she change her clothes. as she entered. long queue she saw. they must be craving and obsessed with Frank cooking. the crew are busy. there's nothing you can gossip about nor a rest.

"Order! order is up! hurried up!."

Belle taking a deep breath for a moment. she running toward table no 5.

"French fries with double cheese burger two set. fillet O fish one set with side dish lots of lots onion rings and coke."

she repeat after the order then look up at her customer with smile.

"All set." now she running toward the counter. then back to another table taking more order.

"Careful!!."

"Moved!!."

"Out the way!!."

"Frank special order. hurried."

"Thank you."

"Enjoyed."

"I need water here."

"Clean the table!!."

night. 10.00pm. the crew letting breath out. few customer are still dine before the restaurant are close.

Belle and Tiana take a sit and others are followed. she trying to close her eyes a bit but the customer she take order before about to leave. she walk toward table no 3 with receipt.

"It's $15.90 sir."

late old man slopped his hand inside the pocket. he pulled the money out from his wallet then hand it to Belle with smile. "You know, Belle. you too young having a job like this. aren't you still school."

the old man lose his wife about 3 month ago. cancer. he love his wife very much. no kids. nor grandchild. he used to take his wife in here and his wife favourite is pancake with syrup made by Frank. she so in love with Frank pancake. and now she gone. Frank missed her. they all missed her.

"I'am. I love working. and I can used my own my money to paid my own scholarship, college and everything. I don't like to burden my parent."

he nod with smile. "I admire you, Belle. you strong. kids nowadays never think about having a job like you. they like to waste their parent money for nothing. I like you. you could be the example for others teenagers."

"With the money I have. I can do whatever I want. I'm not gonna waste it for nothing." chuckle. "Travel maybe. people who need it."

"You have pure heart, Belle. I wish you good luck."

he leave her a tip. before he could reach the door. he spoke back.

"Your parents must be proud of you, darling."

she smile with nod. "Thank you, sir. have a nice day."

"You too." then he left.

Frank rest his elbow on the counter. after cleaning the station. he make some omelette for the crew and garlic bread for late night supper. the crew take a rest as they waiting few couple of the customer out from the restaurant.

one by one customer left the restaurant after paid. only left one behind.

"He was right." he look at Belle. continue. "You need a man beside you."

"You mean boys?." said Tiana.

Belle reach the bread and eat it. about an minute silent. she about to open her personal. but first - let her eat.

"I don't need boys, Frank. I don't need it. such a wasted. I'm teenager and young. I can work. I can walk. I don't need a man to help me everything."

chuckle. she spokes back. "One day. when I grown then turn into perfect lady."

"You don't need to be a perfect lady. and you don't have to waited to be one. you are who you are, Belle. you got what you desired for. you beautiful darling."

Frank tapped her shoulder in smile. "You're perfect."

at 12.00am. the restaurant are close. Tiana sending her home then she drove her car back to her house. Belle walk to house but then she stop. her eyes on Gibson house. no single of light appear inside the house. empty and cold. weird thing. if truly Gibson moved out from here, why don't she see pick up truck front of the house like the first he moved in here.

why?

she shrugged and don't care what he trying to do. it's best he moving. whatever. she slopped her hand pulling out the key house. unlock the door. enter then she close the door behind. running upstairs. quick shower. she went down back to kitchen. pour the glass of milk and drink it before she went to bed.

the next day. another no shown of Gibson. maybe she were right about it. he'd gone for good. no returning back. never. she went to school as usual without thinking about him. his house still looking like that. like that. hoping today pick up truck are park front of his house went she back from school. she can't wait to see it.

"Sup." Emma lean her back someone locker door. she continue. "There's a rumors."

"You pregnant. who's the father?."

Emma smirked. smack Belle arm. "Funny. not me. your english teacher, Mr Gibson."

"Don;t care."

"You should. he's getting married. he found a girl in alaska. his childhood friend and apparently his grandma still lives."

Belle looked up at Emma. she turn look around. she realise girl in her school are sobbing like someone just died yesterday. maybe the rumors are right. Gibson gonna end his personal life by marriage. he's lucky and she's lucky. again. whatever.

"So? what it had to do with me. wasting my time." she slammed the door hard. Emma smirking again.

"You seriously hated that man,Belle. they cried." Emma pointed. "Funny right. marriage. not funeral."

Belle walk. Emma followed her behind. "Forget it, Emma."

"Guys!."

the boy name, Theo Hernandez. from different class to Belle and Emma. running toward them. panting. he letting out heavily breath. patted his chest he spokes.

"So the rumors about Gibson are true huh."

Belle glare. said. "Theo, if you here because of the rumors I'm not interested. pick someone else to hear."

"Come on, Belle. no. I'm here not because of the rumors. actually I'm inviting you two at the party. it's on me. tonight."

Emma's cross arm on chest. evil smirking she said. "Your - party?."

"Fine. not mine party but she. Amelia Baldwin. her parents spend lot of money for her birthday. in hotel."

"Does it too early to celebrate. end of month her birthday happen. not mid of month."

Theo shrugged. "I don't know. but who cares. her parent already paid everything. no drug involved. nor weed."

"Yeah. last time we almost get caught because her suddenly wild party involve her house while we in it and while her parent in Hawaii. the hotel? must be expensive. does it include room?."

"I don;t know. maybe not. that's why the Baldwin's arrange everything. they not want their daughter ruined her own life with drug. she's the hopes of Baldwin's family."

Emma nod. she said. "Baldwin's industries. what kind of industries her parent running for."

"I don't know. poison apple I think. no one care. what should we care is tonight."

he look at Belle. knowing what she think in mind. "Don;t you think about that. tonight you off from your job. call your boss that tonight you going. capish?."

before Belle could said anything or rejecting the invitation. Theo turn his feet walk to his class leaving her speechless. she don;t want to go but for Emma. she have too.

"Theo promise there's no way drug involve okay. we're fine there. it's been while we two not spending our time together but tonight we will. I'm not asking, Belle. but I miss you."

the girl smile. then they went to class separately.