Work Text:
loyola's family restaurant
as usual, after a long night's job, mike went to loyola’s. it was a bit later in the evening. reaching 11, almost 12 am.
he sat down in his regular booth, the waitress on duty serving him bitter coffee as she took out a pen to get his order. ordering one single omelette, mike looked out the window, the cars rampaging in the night as the engine sounds slowly became more distant the farther they raced. there was basically no one in the diner, which made mike content. he didn’t feel like dealing with noise, so he drowned it out.
fluorescent neon signs flickered unlit one by one; the local stores were closing up for the day all across town, each getting ready to go home - wherever it was.
silently minding his business, mike was suddenly alert when he saw a young girl walking in, distressed and wearing pyjamas with a baggy zip sweater as the tiny bell above the door rang a single chime. mike thought he could see a resemblance to jesse, but shook it off, picking up his mug and staring straight outside once more to clear his head.
the girl sat in front of him - not in his booth, but a couple of seats ahead of his view, close to the cold, and usually ignored corner of the restaurant.
she curled up in a ball as she sat down, steadying herself against the wall.
her cheeks were stained cherry red and her hair was a mess. she looked like she cried, and he could sense she had another round coming her way. she sniffled again, the waitress finally making her way to her. immediately, the employee looked concerned and passed her a few napkins with a suggestion of some cold water to calm down.
the young girl just nodded her head, a sad, but forlorn smile hanging near the edge of her dimples.
mike was a little curious about her situation and felt a bit of pity. she looked to be in her late teens, 16 or 17 if he had to make a guess. too young to be out this late, but, it wasn’t his business. after tonight, he shouldn’t concern himself with something out of the ordinary.
mike debated on figuring out whether she was a runaway, or had a rough day. but, the moment she looked out the window, she abruptly rushed out, stuffing the napkins in her pockets in an instant without a second to look back.
his eyes trailed her every move as she made her way to leave, the waitress soon returned confused about the absence of the customer.
shit.
fuck it, he had to go after her.
it was an instinctual worry, and an uncanny feeling reaching near his spine that he had a granddaughter to take care of, and a 24-year-old man child too. he might as well do the same for some random kid at a diner.
mike put a couple of bills on the table and thanked the waitress loudly, before chiming the bell once more as he exited the building. he walked outside and surveyed his surroundings, a pair of napkins were trailing to the side of the building in a broken line.
he could see her. this time, they made eye contact.
big beady eyes, a stuffed nose and plump lips with a few drops of blood leaking from her constant nibbling of anxiety.
oh god.
she yelled, curling up and backing away. “who are you?”
he replied profoundly, in a soft manner. “a worried old man. you okay kid?”
she had a tear fall down the side of her cheek, wiping it away from the sleeve of her sweater like she was trying to hide it. she spoke slowly, at a whisper-like level. “...was i that obvious?”
“not every day a teenager walks in with pyjamas and a hoodie twice the size of her torso.”
she chuckled soullessly, “you’re funny.” before returning to her original state.
mike walked closer to her, and slid down the wall, taking a seat next to her with his hands resting on his knees.
“what are you?-“ she started,
“what happened?”
mike cut her off.
pure silence accompanied his response. she seemed to be caught off guard.
he tried again. “what happened, kid?”
“are you sure you want to listen?”
“i’m here, am i not?”
she sighed out loudly, a weight bearing on her chest.
“i’m exhausted.”
mike glanced at her, urging to continue.
“… ever since school started i’ve felt tired as each passing day comes. my mood swings vary and i can't handle the pressure that’s been barely given. my teachers suck and the stares from the people i’m familiar with fuck with me! i just feel so overwhelmed. i don’t want to be there. i just want to be by myself, in my room, doing nothing. and, you know what the worst part is? i was excited… ”
she paused for a bit, almost choking on her own sobs.
“...i just hate it there. i don’t want to feel this way. my closest friends are starting to make me sick and i genuinely feel distant from their energy. i don’t know what to do, fuck. i’m sorry. i’m just rambling. you can just- just leave.”
mike widened his eyes, seeing this girl clutch her sleeves to stop her from crying anymore. she looked fragile, similar to porcelain; she was going to break at any moment. think, mike.
she looked up at him, both of them side by side against the cold brick wall. the passing wind blew, sweeping away the napkins and carrying the long strands of her black hair into the night. whispering a small ‘sorry’ to him, she crashed down, her head falling into her arms.
he was stunned, not expecting that reaction. and pondered for a few seconds before her sadness hit him, deep and heavy.
“you’re too young.”
she raised her head from staring at the cracked concrete, replying in an accusatory tone.
“what?”
mike continued, fiddling with his dry and rough hands.
“i’m sorry, kid. the only piece of advice i can give you is to take it one day at a time,”
he was quiet for a while like he was debating on saying something. however reluctantly, he continued talking slowly as he brought up old memories.
“in school, i was the same. before i realized i needed to calm down and try not to take everything so personally.”
the girl scoffed. “so you think i’m overreacting?”
“ no, i’m just saying it’s okay to feel this way, but it’s better to move on. drowning yourself in this won’t make you better, kid. but moving your arms - even just by an inch - can release your feelings.
she rested her head against her knees, pausing to reply.
“...okay. i’ll try. thanks old man.”
he chuckled softly, the cold air weaving in his chest.
“mike.”
tears streamed down her face, but he finally saw a small smile crack from her cheeks. “jade.”
he got up eventually after the two stayed there for a bit, staring at the moon and raised a hand to her. “i’ll take you home.” she took his hand in hers, and approached him suddenly. she hugged him, wrapping her tiny arms around his big build.
“thanks, mike.”
mike hesitantly put a hand to her head, patting it slowly as he could feel more tears soaking his jacket. the warmth they shared comforted the two of them in the dead of the night. jade looked straight into his eyes like she wanted more warmth.
whispering against the side of her head, mike spoke. “if you need help i’ll be here, okay?”
“…okay,” she replied.
but jade just hugged him tighter, not wanting to let go.
“come on, kid. i need to take you home.”
"i don’t want to go."
“you need to.”
now, she tried whining. “no.”
damn it.
————-
2:00 am. 3 nights later.
mike didn’t know how he still had a 16 year old girl in his living room starting to pace around his pyjamas, but he didn’t mind.
she laughed freely, spinning around. drunk on a euphoria of freedom.
mike had a TV running in the background of his house and paced around, unfolding his extra blanket to sleep on the couch.
“jade, go to bed. it’s late.”
she continued squealing, looking through his cd collection. “mike! let’s stay up and binge movies!”
he dropped his arms as he patted the couch down, fluffing it’s years back into the aged cotton. “i need my sleep kid, and you do too. just sleep in my room for the night.”
jade caught his arm, hugging it against her chest.
she looked up. “why don’t we just share it?”
mike flicked her forehead.
“no. go to bed.”
jade sighed reluctantly, and left. of course, not forgetting to hug him again and say a sweet goodnight.
smiling to her after she left, mike soon turned off all the lights in the house and sunk into the couch, his linen pyjamas creasing against the furniture.
this was weird, for sure. he basically adopted this kid, but, for some reason he didn’t mind.
all he knew is that he would protect her. by his side, because she matters to him.
and the people that rarely do matter, he would do anything for their happiness. mike couldnt make the same mistake twice, ever.
pulling up his blanket to his chest, mike solemnly spoke into the darkness.
goodnight, matt.
______