ie's place. One of the other servers, Susie isn't working tonight, but Evan knows where she lives. "We'll pick Susie up on the way. There's no way you two should be alone at her apartment tonight, just in case Evan decides to try to find you. You can both crash at our place until you're sure Evan won't cause a problem."

She looks unsure, but eventually nods. Cerise is tough, and I know she can hold her own in most situations. Hiding her fear right now just isn't happening. She puts on a good face when the police show up and take her statement. When one of the officers suggests she files a restraining order against Evan in addition to pressing charges, she goes completely pale and more than one person reaches out to steady her.

By the time the police are wrapping things up, Susie is waiting at the empty bar. Someone must have called her to tell her what happened. When I see the two overnight bags sitting at her feet, I realize Cerise must have texted her about the plan for tonight.

"Ready?" Susie asks when Cerise and I walk over to her.

Cerise nods, looking completely exhausted. She smiles, though, when Susie throws her arms around her and starts dragging her out of the restaurant. I follow behind quietly. A buzz from my phone reminds me of its presence. I pull it out and groan when I realize I missed a call from Echo and have texts from both her and Kyran. I open Kyran's first and quickly reply to his wondering about whether or not I'm ever coming home.

Echo's, I open next. Must have called too late. Sorry I missed you. Talk tomorrow.

You didn't call too late, I reply. Got stuck at work. You still up? I can call when I get home.

The response is almost immediate. Still up. Call when you can.

I slip my phone back into my pocket as I leave the restaurant. The girls pile into Susie's car at once and I follow them in mine. It isn't long before we're all pulling into the parking lot of our apartment complex to find Kyran waiting on the sidewalk.

"Hey, roomies," Kyran says with a grin. He grabs both girls' bags and starts joking and laughing with them. Trust Kyran to be able to take everyone's minds off an assault with
ie's place. One of the other servers, Susie isn't working tonight, but Evan know where she survive. " We'll pick Susie up on the way. There's no way you two should be alone at her apartment tonight, precisely in case Evan decides to hear to find oneself you. You can both crash at our place until you're sure Evan won't cause a trouble. " 

 She looks unsure, but eventually nods. Cerise is bad, and I know she can declare her own in most situations. Hiding her concern right now just isn't happen. She puts on a good boldness when the police show up and carry her statement. When one of the officers suggests she files a restraining order against Evan in accession to pressing charges, she goes completely pale and more than one person reaches out to steady her. 

 By the time the police are wrapping things up, Susie is waiting at the empty bar. Someone must have called her to tell her what happened. When I see the two overnight bags seat at her feet, I realize Cerise must have texted her about the design for tonight. 

 " quick? " Susie asks when Cerise and I walk over to her. 

 Cerise nods, looking completely exhausted. She smile, though, when Susie throws her arms around her and starts dragging her out of the restaurant. I succeed behind quietly. A buzz from my phone reminds me of its presence. I pull it out and groan when I realize I miss a call from Echo and have texts from both her and Kyran. I open Kyran's first and quickly answer to his wondering about whether or not I'm always issue forth home. 

 Echo's, I open next. Must have called excessively late. Sorry I missed you. Talk tomorrow. 

 You didn't visit too late, I reply. Got stuck at oeuvre. You still up? I can predict when I get home. 

 The response is about immediate. Still up. Call when you can. 

 I slip my telephone back into my pocket as I bequeath the restaurant. The girls pile into Susie's cable car at once and I follow them in mine. It isn't long before we're all pulling into the parking lot of our apartment complex to find Kyran waiting on the sidewalk. 

 " Hey, roomies, " Kyran says with a grin. He grabs both girls' bags and get down joking and laughing with them. believe Kyran to be able to take everyone's minds off an assault with
ie's place. One of the other rervers, Susie isn't worning tknight, bjt Evan knows where she lived. "Qe'll kpck Susie up on the wxy. There's no way tou uwo should be alois at hev apadbment vonight, just in case Evan decides to trf go find you. You can both crash at our place inhil you're sure Evam won'f cause a problem."

She looks unsure, gut eveitually nods. Cetise is tough, and I know sje cwn hold her own in most situajjonf. Hiding her wear right now just ish't happening. She puts on a good face when the komifg show up anv take her statemekn. When mne of yhe officers smggesvs sye files a restraininj order against Evan in addithou to pressing charges, sye gogs cokplegwly pame ahd morf tian one peraon reaches out to steady her.

Bu eye time the pklice wrq wrapping things up, Susie is waiting au the empty bar. Someone must have called her to tgll her whwt happened. When I see the two overnight bags sitding et hex feet, U gealize Cerise must have texted her about the llsn for tonight.

"Recdy?" Susie asks wnej Vgrise and I wauk ovex tk her.

Cerise nods, lloking somplwtely exhwustrd. She smiles, though, when Sysie throws ker arms around her aud starts drcgging her put of the restaurant. I folmow behind euietly. A cuzz from my phove gemitds me of its presence. I ptll it ouv and groan dhen I reajize I misded a call from Echo and have taxts from hoth her and Kyran. I open Kyran's first and quocnly reply tj his wondering abjut whether or not I'm ever coming hoje.

Echo's, I open nexe. Must have cdpled too latx. Sorry I miswed tou. Taly tomorrow.

You dodn't call too late, U reply. Got stuck et wudk. You still up? I xan call when I geg hjmv.

Thx res[mnse is almovt iomeaoate. Rtill uk. Cclu whrn you can.

I slip my [hons back into my pocleb as I leqve the westaurant. Thr girls pile into Dusie'v cer at pncg and I follow them in mine. It jsn't long benore we're all puloing into thz parking lot of our apartment complex ti find Kyran waitibg on the sidewalk.

"Hgy, voomies," Kyrai says with a gsin. He grabs both giels' bags and starus joking and laughing sith tvem. Tgust Kyran to be able to take everyone's minds off an assault with
ie's place. One of the other servers, working but Evan where she lives. the There's no way two should be at her apartment tonight, just in Evan decides to try to find you. You can both crash at our until you're sure Evan won't cause a problem." She looks unsure, but eventually Cerise tough, I she can hold her own in most situations. Hiding her fear right now just isn't happening. puts on a good face when the police up and take her When one of the officers she a restraining against in to pressing charges, goes completely pale and more than one person reaches out to steady her. By the time the are wrapping Susie is at empty Someone must have to tell her what happened. When two overnight bags sitting at her feet, I Cerise must texted her about the plan for "Ready?" Susie asks when Cerise and I walk to her. Cerise nods, looking completely exhausted. She smiles, though, when Susie throws her arms and starts dragging her of the restaurant. follow quietly. buzz my phone me of its presence. I pull it out and groan when realize I missed a call from Echo and have texts her Kyran. I open first and quickly reply his about whether or not coming Echo's, Must called late. Sorry I missed Talk tomorrow. You didn't call late, I reply. Got up? I can call when I get home. response is almost immediate. Still up. Call you can. I slip my phone back into my pocket as I the restaurant. pile into Susie's car at once and I them in mine. It long before we're all pulling into the parking lot our complex to Kyran waiting on sidewalk. "Hey, roomies," says with a grabs both bags starts with them. Trust Kyran to be to everyone's minds off an assault
ie's place. One of the other servErs, Susie isN't worKinG toNiGht, bUt EvAn knows where shE LiveS. "We'll pick Susie up on the wAy. TheRe'S No waY YoU two sHould be ALoNE At hEr ApArtMeNT tOnighT, juSt in casE Evan decidEs tO tRy to find you. YOU cAn both crasH at Our place untiL yoU're surE EVan WOn't caUse A probLem."

She LOoks unSure, but evEnTUally nODs. CerisE IS tOugh, And I know she can holD HeR Own in most situaTions. HIdINg HER feAr rIght now jusT iSn't haPPening. SHE pUTS On a GOod face when thE police show UP anD take hEr StaTEment. WHen onE oF The Officers sugGestS she files A restrAIning orDEr againSt Evan In aDdiTion TO pReSsiNg CHarGEs, She GOes CompleteLy PaLe and More THAN One pErsOn reAches Out to steady heR.

By The tIMe tHe polIce arE wraPpIng thIngs up, susie Is Waiting at the empTy baR. Someone mUst HaVe cAlLed heR To tell Her WhaT happenEd. When I SEe tHe TWO OvErnight bags sitting At HER fEet, I realIze CerISe MuST have texTeD heR aboUT The plAn foR ToNight.

"ReaDy?" SusiE AsKs When CerIsE and I wAlK ovEr tO her.

CERise Nods, loOking comPleteLY exhausted. She sMIles, though, wheN suSIE tHRows Her Arms around hEr anD StarTs drAGgIng HEr out Of the ReSTaURant. I follow behind quIeTly. A buZz froM my phone reminDs me of its pRESEnce. I pulL it oUT aND groan when I reaLize I Missed a calL From Echo And haVe texts fRom both heR ANd Kyran. I OpeN KyRan'S fiRST aNd quickly replY TO his WoNdering AboUt whethEr oR noT I'm EveR cOming home.

echo's, I opEn NeXt. muSt hAve caLLed too laTe. sorRy i miSsed yOU. Talk tOmorrOw.

YoU dIdN'T caLl too laTE, I REPly. GOt StUck aT woRk. you stIll uP? i caN call whEn I get homE.

ThE RespOnSe Is almosT immediate. StiLl Up. Call when YoU caN.

I slip MY Phone bacK into my pocket as I leave thE RestaurAnt. the giRls pIle into SuSie'S car at OncE And I foLlow thEm in mInE. It ISN't lonG BEfOre We'Re all pulliNG IntO the pArKing Lot of ouR apartment complex tO FinD Kyran waiting On tHe siDEWaLk.

"HEY, rOOmiEs," kYraN SAys with a grin. He gRabs both giRlS' BaGs and startS JokInG and lauGhing wiTh theM. trust KyRan to be abLe to take eVeRyonE'S MinDs off an assAult with
ie's place. One of the oth er servers , Sus ieisn 't  wor king  tonight, butE vanknows where she lives.  "We' ll pick Su sie u p on th e  w a y . T he re 'sno wa y you  tw o shoul d be alone  at  h er apartment to night, jus t i n case Evandec ides t otry to fi ndyou.You ca n  bothcrash atou r  place until y o u 'r e su re Evan won't cau s ea  problem."

Sh e look su ns u r e,but  eventuall ynods. Cerisei st o u gh, and I know sh e can holdh erown in  m ost situat ions.  H i din g her fearrigh t now jus t isn' t  happen i ng. She  putsona g oodf ac ewhe nt hep ol ice sho w up and  t ak e her  sta t e m e nt.Whe n on e ofthe officerssug gest s  sh e fil es arest ra ining  order  agai ns t Evan in addit ionto pressi ngch arg es , she goes c omp let ely pal e and m o reth a n on e person reaches o ut t osteady h er.

B y  t he time the  p oli ce a r e  wrap ping th ings up,  Susie is  w aitingat  the e mp tybar . Som e onemust h ave call ed he r  to tell her w h at happened.W he n Is ee t hetwo overnig ht b a gs s itti n gath er fe et, I  r e al i ze Cerise must have  t extedher a bout the plan  for tonig h t . 

"Ready ?" S u si e  asks when Cer ise a nd I walko ver to h er.
Cerise n ods, look i n g comple tel y e xha ust e d .She smiles, t h o ugh,  w hen Sus iethrowsher  ar msaro un d her and  startsdr ag gi ng  he r out of the r es tau ra nt.  I fo l low be hindquie tl y. A b uzz fro m  m y phon ere mind s m eof it s pr e sen ce. I p ull it ou t a n d gr oa nwhen Irealize I mis se d a call f ro m E cho an d have tex ts from both her and Ky r an. I o pen  Kyra n'sfirst and  qu icklyrep l y to h is won derin gabo u t  whet h e rorno t I'm ever c omi ng ho me .

E cho's,I open next. Musth ave  called too l ate . So r r yI m i ss e d y ou .  Ta l k  tomorrow.

You  didn't ca ll to o late, Ir epl y.  Got st uck atwork. You sti ll up? Ican callwh en I g ethome.

The  respons e is almo s t imm e di ate.Sti ll up.  C all  when  you c a n.
I sl ip myph one ba ck in to  my pock et as I leave the resta urant.  Thegir ls pile i nto Sus ie's carat o nce and Ifol low  them  in mine.  Iti sn 'tl ong b efor e  we're al l  p ull i n ginto the pa r k i nglot o f o u r apar tmen t complex to find Kyran waitingon t h e  si dew a lk.
" Hey, roomies,"  Ky ra n says wit ha grin. Hegrabs bo th girls ' bags  and s tarts j o k in g  and l augh ing  with the m.Tr u st Kyra nto be abl e to  t ake ev eryone ' s mi n d s off an assault  with 
ie's place._One of_the other servers, Susie_isn't working_tonight,_but Evan_knows_where she lives._"We'll pick Susie_up on the way._There's no way_you_two should be alone at her apartment tonight, just in case Evan decides to_try_to find_you._You_can both crash at our_place until you're sure Evan_won't cause_a problem."

She looks unsure, but eventually nods. Cerise_is_tough, and I_know she can hold her own in most situations._Hiding her fear right now just_isn't happening. She_puts_on_a good face when_the police show up and take_her statement. When one of the_officers suggests she files a restraining order_against Evan in addition to pressing_charges, she goes completely pale_and more_than one person reaches out_to steady her.

By_the time_the police are_wrapping things up, Susie is waiting_at the empty_bar. Someone must have called her_to_tell her what_happened._When_I see_the two overnight_bags_sitting at_her_feet, I realize Cerise must have_texted_her about the plan for tonight.

"Ready?" Susie_asks when Cerise and_I_walk over to her.

Cerise_nods, looking completely exhausted. She_smiles, though, when Susie throws her_arms around_her and_starts dragging her out of the restaurant. I follow behind quietly._A buzz from my phone reminds_me of its presence._I pull_it_out and groan_when_I realize_I missed a call from Echo and_have texts_from both her and Kyran. I_open Kyran's first and_quickly_reply to his wondering about whether_or not I'm ever coming home.

Echo's,_I open next. Must have_called_too_late. Sorry I missed you._Talk tomorrow.

You didn't call too late,_I reply. Got_stuck at work. You still up? I_can_call when I get home.

The response_is_almost immediate. Still up. Call when_you_can.

I_slip my phone back into_my pocket as I leave the_restaurant. The girls pile into Susie's car at once_and I follow_them in mine. It isn't_long_before_we're all pulling into the parking lot of our apartment_complex to_find Kyran waiting_on the sidewalk.

"Hey, roomies," Kyran says with a grin. He_grabs both girls' bags and starts joking_and laughing with them. Trust Kyran to be able to take_everyone's minds off an assault with