"Hey, thanks for coming over," Paloma smiled sheepishly, her eyes studying the woman carefully as she stepped inside, shielding herself from the beaming sun.

"No problem," Ava assured.

Paloma led the mahogany-haired woman into the living room as she spoke, "I want to talk to you."

Ava chuckled and joined the other woman on the couch. "About...?"

Paloma furrowed her brow and inhaled deeply while she searched for the courage to voice the words that enthralled her mind for weeks. "...Us," she admitted.

"Paloma—."

"Just hear me out, okay?" the brunette pleaded. "When I first told you I loved you, you were right, it wasn't real, it was because I was scared. But, I've always cared about you, never doubt that and now...it's so much more than that for me. I love you, I really do. I hate that it took me losing you to see it, but...it's true. "

"Paloma, listen—."

"Look, I'll do anything, just say the word and I'll do it, but please...don't tell me no."

Ava released a small chuckle, "Can I speak now?"

The brunette reluctantly nodded her head. She creased her brow, her heart picking up its pace once she felt the other woman grab her hand.

"The speech wasn't necessary," she laughed. "I believe you and I've missed you and...I still love you."

Paloma wore a beaming smile, "Really?"

"Yeah, and you have you have no idea how long I've wanted to do this."

The brunette rested her eyes as Ava leaned forward with pursed lips, however, just before their lips could meet, the mahogany-haired woman pulled away.

Paloma lifted her eyelids and furrowed her brow once the other woman began quietly chanting her name, "Paloma...Paloma...Paloma."

The oldest Sullivan simply stared at Ava, but it wasn't until she felt her vigorously shaking her shoulders that she realized she was asleep.

Paloma quickly sat up and ran her fingers through her long hair, her eyes blinking rapidly. She surveyed her surroundings, once she noticed the familiar desk that rested beneath her elbows, she immediately realized she was at work.

After Ava nudged her shoulder, she met the woman's gaze.

"Long night?"

Paloma sighed, "Something like that."

"What were you dreaming about?"

"Nobody, nothing, I-I can't remember." Paloma grimaced at her own stammering before calming herself and shrugging nonchalantly. "Why do you ask?"

Ava lifted her eyebrows in amusement. "Because you had a big, goofy grin on your face the whole time," she giggled.

Paloma squirmed under the woman's gaze. "You were watching me?"

Ava occupied the spot next to the brunette as she smiled. "Just for a few minutes. I mean, it's boring around here, I needed something to amuse me," she chuckled. "Anyway, you better not let the boss see you slacking off, he'll have your ass for it."

Paloma nodded before turning to face the other woman. "Do you wanna hang out tonight?"

While she had to admit, knowing the happiness she just felt was nothing more than a dream was rather disheartening, it still granted her a sense of hope. She was certain that eventually, she could make her dream a reality.

"I can't tonight," Ava uttered before averting her gaze.

Paloma narrowed her eyes, Ava's abrupt response instantly making her suspicious.

"Why not?"

"Because," came Ava's simple reply.

"Look, Ava, I know things are kinda weird right now, but we're...friends, right?" As much as it pained the brunette to use the casual term, somehow, she managed to say it. "Can't two friends hang out?"

Ava sighed, "It's not that."

"Then what is it?" Paloma implored.

"It's nothing."

"Ava, just tell me...please."

It was quite possible that the brunette's pleading eyes were the only thing that made Ava respond, "Can I be honest with you, without you freaking out?"

"Of course," Paloma assured.

Ava took in a deep breath before finally meeting the brunette's gaze. "I didn't want to tell you this because, I didn't want to hurt you, but like you said, we're friends, you're my best friend and I shouldn't lie to you or keep things from you."

"Okay," Paloma nodded. "So, why—." She narrowed her eyes as realization dawned on her. "...You're seeing someone?" Her words came out as more of a statement than an inquiry. She fought the urge to tense her jaw as Ava began studying her face.

"...Kinda," the mahogany-haired woman admitted.

"So soon?" Paloma forced a chuckle in hopes of keeping the situation light, however, she was almost certain that nothing could alleviate the tense feeling in the air.

"Well, it's been a month," Ava asserted.

"Exactly," the brunette mumbled.

"Look, I don't even know what she and I are. We're...nothing, actually. If I'm being honest, we're just...screwing around."

Paloma couldn't help but grimace. Although a part of her was relieved that not even Ava viewed her new thing as a relationship, it still infuriated her to even entertain the thought of Ava having sex with someone that wasn't her.

"Okay," Paloma whispered. It was the only words she could summon.

"It's just...we're friends now, even you said that, and I have to move on. We both do."

"I've never known you to have sex with someone you weren't serious about," the brunette uttered, her eyes refusing to meet Ava's.

Ava sighed and ran her fingers through her long locks. "Yeah, well, I tore a page from your book. The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else." She forced a lighthearted expression on her face. "Right?"

Paloma never hated her own words so much. She spoke with a tight-lipped smile, "Right."

"How's Siberia?" Charlie queried. His forest green eyes rested on Quinn who stood next to him.

The girl submerged the dirty dishes into the soapy water and cleaned them thoroughly before passing them to Charlie. "She's great! She's so energetic and adorable," Quinn beamed. "I love her already."

Charlie stacked the pristine dishes and dried his hands on his apron. "Good, I'm glad."

For a moment, Quinn tensed up once Charlie's damp hands moved her lengthy red hair from her shoulders, however, once she felt his soft lips graze against her neck, she relaxed.

She released a soft sigh and let the dish that she was cleaning fall into the sink. Although the intoxicating feeling made the redhead struggle to keep her eyes open, she somehow managed to squeak out a few words, "Charlie, we're at work." She forced her eyelids open just long enough for her to glance at the closed door that separated the couple from everyone else.

She felt the boy grin against her skin before he spoke, his breath warm against her ear, causing her to shudder. "I know, but you're hard to resist and it's not like we can do this later. I have practice, remember? Plus, I didn't give you all of your gifts for your birthday." His low voice contrasted vastly with the rowdy chatter that erupted from the eating area of the diner.

Quinn chuckled and turned to face Charlie. The boy closed the space between them even further as a result. His hands rested on the counter, trapping Quinn between him and the sink.

The redhead met his gaze. "And what didn't you give me?" she laughed.

"...Well," he slowly began, "if everyone didn't stick around so long after the party...I was gonna sneak into your room."

"And?" Quinn coaxed with a grin.

Charlie smirked, "And give you the best night of your life."

Quinn's giggle was immediately cut off once the boy crashed his lips into hers. Her argument died in her throat as she allowed herself to get lost in her boyfriend's affection.

She had to admit, Charlie was right. Between baseball practice, their jobs, and school, there wasn't as much time left to display their affection for one another as they'd hoped.

Quinn couldn't prevent the squeal she produced from slithering past her lips once Charlie lifted her up onto the counter.

"Shhh," he replaced his lips with his pointer finger in hopes of silencing the girl.

His thick curls tickled Quinn's nose as he glanced towards the door. Once he was sure no one heard them, he reattached his pink lips to hers. And while sometimes Quinn wished she had more willpower, she simply couldn't bring herself to even want to stop.

She rested her hands on his sharp jaw while his sought refuge on her hips. They both drowned out all other sounds, only their heavy breathing could be heard in the quaint area.

It wasn't until Charlie abruptly tore his lips from hers that she paid any mind to the violent rumble that caused the counter to shake beneath her.

Quinn slowly fluttered her eyes opened. She furrowed her brow in confusion, but only for a second. Once their boss made his way into her peripheral vision, she hopped off the counter and adjusted her apron. She quickly rubbed her lips with the top of her hand in attempts to rid herself of Charlie's sweet taste and focus on the man's unamused expression.

Charlie shook his head, a blush suddenly creeping onto his fair-skinned cheeks. "Grampa—."

"There are customers waiting for you to take their orders and you're in here doing this?"

The man wasn't surprised when his question was met with silence, however, it didn't stop him from tensing his jaw in frustration.

Quinn swallowed thickly, her eyes glued to the floor.

"We—."

Wilfred cut the boy off, his voice firm, "There's no excuse. Don't keep them waiting any longer. Go...now."

Charlie gave a quick nod and slipped past his grandfather, Quinn following closely behind.

"Not so fast," the man asserted, his eyes boring into Quinn's. "I need to speak with you."

The girl stopped in her tracks, her eyes pleaded with Charlie's, but only for a second. Once his grandfather looked at him expectantly, the boy relented and left the two alone.

Quinn tore her gaze from the double doors that swung to a close once Charlie left. She forced herself to look at the man that stood before her. She studied his creased forehead and she was instantly reminded of his serious demeanor.

The quiet was so prevalent that she could hear nothing more than the sound of the fluorescent lights that hovered above them and illuminated the man's graying hair and tan skin.

The girl couldn't help but fidget under his fierce glare and the tense feeling in the room didn't alleviate the situation in the least. The man's humorless demeanor never failed to make her squirm and cower in his presence and now was no exception.

Despite her better judgment, she broke the silence, "Mr. Anestis—."

"Charlie's losing focus...and this, what I witnessed just now, tells me that my theory was correct," came the man's calm response.

Quinn furrowed her brow and spoke softly, "What theory?"

"You're at the root of it all."

The girl met his gaze, but only for a second once his intense glare made her nerve waiver. She shook her head. "I don't—."

"My grandson, he used to be focused, present, aware..." he allowed his words to trail off before continuing, "however that's no longer the case."

Quinn expunged a deep sigh but allowed the man to continue, "Ever since Charlie began courting you, other responsibilities in his life such as his studies and," he motioned to the area around him, "work has become second class. Despite my vast attempts to steer my grandson in the correct direction, somehow, you manage to disrupt my efforts, thus resulting in Charlie's shortcomings."

"Charlie's...shortcomings?" Quinn pondered.

"Yes," he swiftly asserted.

"...And what are those shortcomings exactly?" the redhead uttered.

"Well, let's just say this isn't the first time he's failed to tend to his responsibilities here at the diner. And not just that, I rarely see him. It's important for a boy his age to spend time with someone that's going to show him the way, how to be a man. I'm that person, however, he's been a bit too preoccupied with yourself to care." His hands rested on his hips as he pressed on, "Also, his grades aren't what they used to be, I'll admit, they're far from poor, but I know his potential and he's not reaching it, plain and simple. I can't help but notice one particular trend that's present in all of these shortcomings...you. Correct me if I'm wrong."

Quinn shifted on her feet, her eyes scurrying around the room, searching for a safe place to rest.

"When Charlie came to me saying he wanted to continue playing baseball, I instantly knew that it was your idea."

The girl finally gathered the courage to speak, "Sir, I—."

Wilfred lifted his finger into the air, effectively silencing her. "And I let that slide. But, I rarely see him anymore and that's a problem. He's always either out with you, at your house, hanging around you at school, or at baseball practice. So, when he's here, I need him here. Do you understand?"

Quinn found herself silenced by his words, so she opted for a simple nod.

"I'm sure Charlie's told you about his parents. Him and his father, they're very much alike. My son was a good kid, I raised him to be an upstanding gentleman. He was loyal and respectful...the key word in that sentence being was," he relayed. "He met a girl and everything I taught him went out the window. The girl got pregnant and my boy, the way he was, that went out the window too. My grandson, he's a good kid, but he remains just that...a child. He's still impressionable and I'm not gonna let what happened with my son happen with Charlie."

"I don't want that either," the teenager asserted. "I'm not that kind of girl."

Wilfred crossed his arms over his chest and studied the girl carefully. "That's exactly what Charlie's mother told me when she was your age...a few months before she got pregnant."

Quinn rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. "We aren't...I wasn't...I'm not gonna," she stuttered.

"Don't talk, just listen," he asserted. "You seem to be a sweet girl and I know how much you mean to Charlie and believe it or not, that means something to me," he paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in before continuing, "but still, I can't repeat the same mistakes I did with my son, not if I can stop it. I'm well aware that it's highly unlikely that I'd be able to keep the two of you apart and that's not what I want, but I do need to keep Charlie focused, at least when he's with me...and that's exactly what's going to happen."

"Look, I get it, okay?" Quinn assured, her hands slightly raised in surrender. "It won't happen again, he'll stay focused, both of us will. You have my word."

"You're right, it won't happen again," Wilfred relaxed his arms at his sides, his eyes filled with sincerity as he spoke, "You're fired."

Quinn's lips parted once she processed the man's assertion, she could practically feel her heart sinking into the pit of her stomach. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait," she pleaded. "Sir, please—."

"You're a decent worker, one might even say a great worker," Wilfred admitted with a nod. "But, you can't work here. I'll write you an astounding reference letter for your next employer, but that's the best I can do."

Quinn had to admit, she felt a bit childish once a whine escaped the depths of her throat, but she didn't care. "Mr. Arnestis, please, just listen to me. I love this job, I love it here, I love your grandson. I won't mess anything up, okay? I swear."

Wilfred released a soft sigh before holding out his hand expectantly. "It's not up for negotiation."

The redhead sank in defeat and unclipped her name badge from her clothing before placing it in the man's palm. She bit her lip and once he raised his eyebrow, she reluctantly untied her apron and lied it on the counter next to her.

"Please?" she implored.

"You can pick up your final paycheck tomorrow."

The tense air that surrounded Quinn suddenly grew crisp as Wilfred left her with her thoughts. Instead of lingering in the reality of her termination, she swiftly vacated the premises, being sure to use the back exit.

She crammed her hands into her pockets and allowed the wheels to turn in her head. For once, she was thankful for the ten-minute walk home that was ahead. She was gonna need it.