A few weeks had gone by, Billie had been out of my life more than I would've liked him to be. The big high school tests that would determine if I would be let out of this hell hole yet we're drawing closer and I was an honest wreck with out Billies support.

Not that I needed it, of course I didn't. I didn't need anyone support, but it would've been nice to have it.

I'd managed to get that job Billie had encouraged me to get. Morley since I had so much free time. Although working at the Café wasn't my sort of job and nothing like other part time Jobs I'd taken on before, it was alright for now. The hours were kind to me, the job wasn't stressful, the pay was doing me well.

When Billie had the time, or maybe sometimes in between his breaks, he'd stop by to grab a coffee just to see me. Sometimes he didn't even order anything, he just acted like he would.

"Mallory!"

I sighed, hearing her voice. "Esme I'm coming with your coffee now," I told her, walking from around the wall and over to the counter where she waited.

"About time," she smiled, taking the coffee from the counter where I place it.

"I didn't take that long,"

"Someone's grumpy,"

"Billie didn't come and see me yesterday,"

"Boohoo,"

"No Esme I'm serious. He's not spoken to me at all- I mean, I called him on my break. No replies to any of my messages,"

"I'm sure he's not doing it on purpose Mal." Esme assured, taking her coffee cup by the handle as she made her way over to one of the closet tables to the counter.

I sighed, leaning my arms over on to the top. "I know that,"

"I still can't believe this whole teacher thing-"

"-Hes not a teacher anymore," I ushed.

"Was this not going on while he was?"

"Well.... not like this,"

"What's this?"

"It's developed, y'know?"

"And are you guys together?"

"No..."

"No?"

"Well- it's complicated,"

"Sounds it," she whispered, taking a sip of her drink.

I rolled my eyes, walking away and around into the back.

Walking around the wall, out of sight from customers view, were where the sinks, cups, plaits, drinks, food and whatnot where kept, stored and made. It was most normally quite steamy around the back, as to why I didn't tend to stay there long. I grabbed a wet cloth from the side of the sink making my way back out. I walked around the counter to the table next to Esme's.

"Maybe he's just not seen his phone much," I spoke, mostly trying to convince myself it wasn't a biggie as I wiped the table.

"I'm sure he's not ignoring you,"

"I wouldn't think so, I don't think I've done anything wrong,"

"Had anymore fights with Tyler?"

I laughed slightly. "Dont test me, ever since he's found out I've gotten the job here he's been in and out this Cafe like he's a caffeine addict,"

"Maybe he is,"

"Maybe. With a regular order of ice tea,"

"Y'know he always had a thing for you, maybe he still just likes you Mal,"

"After I'd broken his nose and scored him weeks and weeks of detention? You'd have to be severely love deprived for that to happen and still have a crush on them,"

"Alright then smartass," She shrugged, leaning back in her seat. "What do you think he keeps showing up here for?"

"To piss me off- duh,"

"So... just fight him again," Esme laughed slightly, half joking.

"Billie'd kill me,"

"Not if he didn't know,"

I squinted my eyes giving it thought. He wouldn't know unless I told him or somebody else did. There were still be angry parts of me that hadn't yet letting go of what happened. So in order to let go- maybe I just needed to get it out of me.

Bad way of thinking. He'd definitely find out- and kill me. "I can't do that,"

"Not if he didn't know," She mumbled quietly.

After Esme had finished her coffee, and a small conversation after, she'd made her way out the café. But with two hours left, finishing at seven, I still had just a little bit longer to go.

And if the clock was telling me right, it would be just fifteen minutes until Tyler would walk in. Order his ice tea in a narky and slimy tone, go drink it over on the table near the front of the café and then leave. His usual routine.

I re wiped the counter slopely, keeping myself entertained as I did circular motions with the damp cloth. Until my phone in my apron pocket began to buzz. Billie had finally managed to pick up his phone and get in touch.

"Hey- I haven't heard from you all day," I pointed out, but still sounding happy as I straightened up my posture.

"I'm sorry Mal- I've been busy... y'know? We were going over the-"

"-You don't have to explain yourself Bill,"

He was silent for a second. Hesitating. "As long as y'know I'm not doing this purpsely,"

"Course I do,"

"And on the same note- I don't think I'll be able to come grab a coffee today and see you,"

"But you didn't see me yesterday?"

"I know- I know. I'm really sorry- its just-"

"-Billie,"

"Yeah?"

"You don't have to explain. It's okay, I get it your busy,"

I hear him sigh. "You dont sound as happy anymore,"

"I'm sorry- I'm tired. I had a late shift last night," I lied. Not that he'd know. "I'm just a little on edge today,"

"Well... make sure you sleep well tonight- won't you?"

"Yeah..." I looked around. "Look- Billie theres some customers I gotta take orders for. I'll- well I'll speak to you when I speak to you,"

"Oh? Oh yeah- Okay? I'll ring you later?"

"Yeah..."

"Goodbye Mal,"

"Bye Billie,"

I toom the phone away from my ear. Ending the call before putting it back in my pocket.

The café was empty. I had lied. I was a little disappointed, but I knew it wasn't his fault.

But to make things better, here came Tyler.

He confidently walzered in, making his way over before the counter where I stood behind the cash machine. Biting my tongue.

"I'd like a-"

"-Ice tea. I know,"

He looked at me slightly annoyed. "Actually- no, I was going to say I'd like a normal coffee please,"

I nodded, biting my tongue harder. "That'll be two dollars,"

He placed down the two dollar Bills. Being as smirky as per usual. I took the money pressing it into the cash machine before leaving the counter to go behind where everything was.

Lana, a quite elderly woman sat beside the coffee pot on her phone, looked up at me as I walked over.

"A regular Coffee please," I asked blankly. She nodded, didn't talk much, before I walked back to the counter.

He stared, God he stared. Just purely looking over at me. I'd considered what Esme had said, if it wasn't for the fear that Billie would find out.

After ages of staring, the cup of coffee was brought to me as I took it out Lanas fragile hands, making my way over to hand it to Tyler.

"Your coffee," I mumbled, placing it on the table.

"Where are the sugars?"

"Where everything else is, over there," I pointed.

"Well- can I have some sugar for my coffee please?" He asked rudely.

"You can if you can go get them,"

"You're the waitress,"

"Exactly. Not a slave Tyler." I rolled my eyes walking away.

"Erm! My sugars?"

"Tyler they're there! Get them yourself for Christ sake,"

"Are you aloud to talk to customers like that?" He asked me pretending to be horrified.

"I'm sick of having the same 'I'm the customer' conversation with you when you walk into the café every single day," I strained.

"Then maybe you should learn to respect customers,"

"I do!"

"Vallery!"

I cringed, squeezing my eyes shut. "Its Mallory. Lana," I corrected, turning around.

To see the lady behind the counter, looking angry. "Control your temper." She scolded before walking away.

I nodded, before looking back at Tyler who laughed. "Yeah Vallery,"

"Is there anything else you need me for Tyler? Or can I go,"

"Yes. Sugars,"

I gave in, walking over to the serving cart and picking up a hand full of packets of sugars. I made my way back, dropping them on his table. There must've been eight packets there. "Enough?"

He smiled, before pushing the cup off the edge of the table. "Oops,"

Luckily for the both of us, the cup didn't smash. It bounced on the floor, the coffee spilling everywhere which I only knew I would have to clean up.

"You shit head!" I shouted, before lunging myself over ready to grab him.

It was absolutely satisfying in the most sadistic and delusional way when his sarcasm turned into fear. It would've been all the more satisfying though if I could've got to him.

I felt myself picked off ground, pulled back with a strong force. My arms were restrained as i kicked and fought against. I hadn't looked at Tyler to see what was going on with him, I was more worried for myself at the moment.

As the person pulled me back, I saw Mike and Tre stand near the door looking with wide eyes. Didn't take long for me to figure out it was Billie joe, as I stopped resisting, and my feet dragged along the floor as I felt him drag me.

Funny, I hadn't even heard the bell ring.

I was dragged through the side door leading out to the back. Where shipping of more stock would be taken in and out, and where we would take out the trash. Well, thats where I was.

He let go as I made my own balance back getting to my feet spinning around to see him. "You told me you wasn't coming!"

"I was going to surprise you! What an earth was you doing in there!?"

"I was about to rip the idiots spine out his own mouth thats what!"

"Mallory I told you that-"

"-I know what you told me! And I told you back that it wasn't enough!"

He took in a deep breath, he held the bridge of his nose with his fingers trying to calm himself down. "Are you trying to loose your job?" He grunted.

"No Billie, I'm not," I spat.

"Why are you angry at me!?"

"Because I was about to have him and you ruined it!"

"Ruined it!? Mallory you are unbelievable- You can't just beat the shit out of a customer in a café! You're gonna loose your fucking job and you've only been there few weeks!"

"Why do you care so much about it!?"

He shook his head. Mumbling 'unbelievable' under his breath.

We'd walked back into the café, Mike and Tre still there, Tyler seemed to have vanished and Lana moped up the coffee from the floor looking unamused. "Go home early Vallery. Cool off." She mumbled looking over at me.

"Am I gonna loose my Job over this?"

She gave me an honest shrug. "There's been worse. I'll see you again tomorrow,"

"I'll drive you home," Billie mumbled.

So Tre and Mike stayed at the café, grabbing coffee. Billie agreed to drop me off home in his car the meet them back. For them to drive back up to their studio. Which meant with no one around, I'd be getting a classic scolding from a disappointed Billie.

We climbed into his car quietly. I decided to speak up as he started the car. "He purposely pushed the cup off the table,"

"I saw,"

That failed at starting a conversation.

We went back to being silent until we began to drive away down the street and he spoke. "Your lucky you didn't manage to get to him,"

"Oh thank you for raging me away. My hero,"

"I'm trying to keep you out of trouble Mallory,"

"I'm not a child,"

"Don't act like you are then,"

"I don't! Billie- I was mad!"

"So that was a good excuse to lunge at him?" He asked me.

"Obviously!"

"I can not keep pulling you out of trouble Mallory Valentine-"

"-So stop!"

"So have self control!"

"I have self control!"

We went quiet. I knew I had no self control, it was obvious to everyone. But I didn't need it anyway.

Maybe I didn't need it because other people kept pulling me out of bad situations.

"Alright, so I don't have self control," I admitted, slightly annoyed.

"I know,"

"But thats not my fault,"

"Not your fault or not your problem?"

"Both,"

"You can't keep causing problems Mallory- I'm not here to save you anymore,"

I sighed. "I don't know why you do anyway- I can deal with myself,"

"Because I keep you out of trouble Mallory. That's how its always been and always will be," He shrugged, his voice seemed pretty certain he was right.

"But I'm causing problems- like you said. So I'm only just causing problems for you-"

"-So what?"

"So... that makes me a problem?"

He didnt seem to care. "And what? You're my problem,"

"But I shouldn't be your problem I should be my own,"

"Says who?" He asked, looking over for a second.

"What? Says me,"

"So?"

"What do you mean so?"

"Mallory. You're my problem. Like it or not. But personally I like it,"

"But I shouldn't be your problem Billie this is what I'm trying to say-"

"-So then be my problem,"

I paused. Looking at him confused. I think I understood what he meant. But it wasn't clear. "What?"

"Be my problem,"

"What does that..?-"

"-If you're saying you're a problem. And I'm saying you're my problem but you're saying I shouldn't be. Then just- be my problem,"

"You're asking me to be your problem?"

The car parked slowly, I realised we'd made it to mine.

Billie looked over at me once the car was still, smiling slightly. "I'm asking you to be mine,"

"You are?"

"Well? Will you be my problem?"

I smiled, so much it hurt. My whole face engulfed into a goofy grin. "I'll be your problem Billie Joe." Before I reached over to kiss him.