Chapter 1 ~ Barbra Laxton Knows More About My Family Than I Do

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Dedicated to niallhoran0200 beacuse they were my first follower.

I walk through the door to my flat and immediately flop onto my couch. I had just finished an eight hour shift at the diner I work at (Luke's Diner) and I was exhausted. I flip through the channels until I find my favorite news station and settle down to watch it. I sit there, barely paying attention, as the weather and reports of people saving kittens from trees flit past the screen.

I am about to fall asleep, as usual, when I hear a familiar name. My last name. My eyes spring open and I listen the pretty lady on the screen talk about something not so pretty. I sit in a shocked silence as the news lady explains that "Carrie and James Horan of 1763 Pennington Avenue have been arrested for drug possession and dealing. Their twelve year old daughter Maddie will hopefully be raised by family; otherwise she will be put into foster care. The Horans are apparently known drug dealers in this area. Police have been looking for the dealers in this area for a few months now. The town is glad that the culprits are finally caught. Here at 1763, Pennington Avenue, I'm Barbra Laxton. Back to you Will." It took me about three minutes before I could even think to call my mom. I walked over to grab my phone off the counter and dialed my mother's number.

She picked up on the first ring. "Yes. It is true. Your aunt and uncle were dealing drugs. I told you all there was something off about them, but no one listened to me. No, I wasn't the person who reported them, I wasn't even positive they did deal with drugs. I don't know how long they will be in jail, we will find out later." She rushed in the whole speech before I could even get a hello in.

"Who is going to take Maddie?" I ask, because she pretty much answered every other question that I could have asked. "Your father and I are going to take her in until someone else steps up to take her. If no one else from the family offers to take her in after a few weeks, we will have to give her up to foster care. We can't take care of another child."

"I know mom, no one can expect you to raise Maddie." I smile, even though she can't see me. My mom is such a caring person, but even she knows where her limits are. "Well I am sure you will be getting many more phone calls, so call me when you can. Love you Mom, bye."

"I love you too honey. Talk to you later." My mom hangs up. I sigh and flop back down on the couch. I guess there is nothing to do but wait.

***

I wake up to the sound of my alarm clock beeping at me. I slowly get out of bed, and turn the clock off. Great. I thought in my head. Another early shift. I especially hated early shifts at the diner. Not only did I have to get up early, but I also had to deal with other people who don't really want to be up this early. It is a lose lose situation really. No matter how hard I tried to prove that point to my boss, Luke of course, he wouldn't have it. So I am stuck getting up at 6:00 in the morning anyway.

I walk over to my dresser and pick out a Navy blue t-shirt and I pair of black skinny jeans for the day. The only dress code Luke's has for it's employees is to wear plain colors with no logos. I can't really complain because some jobs require a much stricter dress code. I walk into the bathroom inside on my room and slip off my boxers that I slept in. I take a quick shower and put my work clothes on. I look at the mirror as I style my hair in my normal style. Once I walk downstairs, I grab my keys and head to my car.

I drive my blue pickup truck to the diner and park it in my usual spot. I have been working at the diner for about five years now and everyone knows each other's parking spots. When I walk through the doors I am greeted with the smell of coffee brewing and my coworkers wiping down tables and doing other things to prepare for the day. Luke's opens in a half of an hour, but we have to start making coffee early to keep up with all of the orders. I go around back and slip on my apron before helping Kate wipe off the tables.

Kate is one of my waitress friends. We met at work, but we do things together outside of work too. I walk up behind her and swing her ponytail. All waitresses at Luke's have to wear ponytails. She smiles at me. "Hey. Are you here to distract me from working, or are you here to sit and watch me work, because we both know that you won't actually work because mornings are not a good time for you." She smirks at me while I try to hide my smile with a pout. "Hey, that isn't fair. Just because I don't like mornings doesn't mean that I don't do my job good during them." She shakes her head and moves to the next table to begin wiping it.

I jump up to sit on the next table she needs to wipe. After she finished wiping the table she was working on, she sets the rag down and looks at me. She knows that I do this when I want to talk and we are ahead of schedule today, so we are allowed to talk for a bit without getting yelled at. She also knows by now that her skinny frame can't push me off the table, so instead of arguing with me, she simply jumps up to sit on the table beside me. "What do you want to talk about?" she says, looking up at me.

"Did you watch the news last night?" I asked, surprised that she didn't jump on me about it as soon as I walked in the door. Her eyes got the look in them that means she suddenly remembered something. I smile briefly because we know each other so well. "Oh, that is what has been bugging me! I forgot to ask if you were related to them or not."

I give Kate a skeptical look. "Exactly how many Horans do you know?" She covered up her embarrassment from my question by saying indignantly, "Well, you never know. I just wanted to be sure!" I shake my head at her. "Anyway, my parents are going to take her for a few weeks until someone else from the family steps up." Kate looked at me, and a smile slowly made it's way to her face as she thought about something.

"What?" I asked her. I know that face. That is her 'I have an idea' face. "Nothing." She says as she simply jumps off the table and begins to wipe them again. "Keep me posted on Maddie."

I was still skeptical, but I jumped off the table anyway and said "Sure thing."

About an hour before my shift ends, my best mate Sam walks in the door. Sometimes when he is bored he comes into Luke's and sits and waits for me to finish my shift so that we could hang out afterward. I smile as he takes a seat in my section. I finish delivering water to a cute couple sitting in my section, and then make my way over to him. "What do you want to drink?" replaces my usual 'Would you like anything to drink?' Sam smirks and says, "Just the usual for me, thanks." Sam's 'usual' was a coffee with two creams. He also adds some sugar, which is already sitting at the table. I return to him with a coffee and two creams on the side.

"How did you know that's just how I like it?" Sam fakes and I just roll my eyes. "Thanks." I looked around to make sure everyone in my section was served before sitting down across from him.

"So, have you heard?" I ask him, expecting a yes because he watches the news religiously. "Of course I have." He scoffed. "So, who has Maddie?" 

I sighed and looked up at him because I had a feeling that I would be telling this story quite often. "My parents are taking her for a few weeks until someone else from the family steps up to take her." I explain. "Does Kate know about this?" he asks; a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Duh." I say. "What are you and her planning?" This is one of the times were I sometimes hate that my two best friends are friends too. They occasionally talk about me, obviously not in a bad way, but they worry about my together, and it is kind of weird. Most of the time they are fun though. Some of my favorite memories are the times that we would go to the mall together and look for hot boys.

Yes, if you haven't figured it out yet, I am gay. I have been gay since eighth grade, and all of my family and friends completely accept it. Sam is also gay, but we both think that dating each other would be gross. Not in a mean way, but we are totally just friends.

Sam looks up at me. "We aren't planning anything. Nothing at all." He thinks I can't hear him as he mutters "Yet" underneath his breath. I just roll my eyes and get up from the table to finish working. If they are planning anything, I will find out soon enough.

Found this addorable picture of Liam and had to post it. You are welcome! :)                                Sorry if you couldn't see this chapter..I reposted it, so it should be good now.

Stay extraordinarry! ;D

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