"Daniel," a loud voice said, waking me from my sleep. I groaned and turned over, covering my head with my pillow, but that didn't help because it was soon ripped away from me. "You're late."

I tiredly opened my eyes, squinting so they could adjust to the bright light. "Hmm?"

"You're late," Mom said. "You were supposed to be at work fifteen minutes ago."

When my eyes finally adjusted, I looked at the clock resting on my nightstand, seeing that it was seven—fifteen in the morning. I sighed and laid back on my bed, pulling the covers over my head.

"Daniel, you're not a little kid," Mom said. "You're twenty. I shouldn't be waking you up. Now get dressed and go to work."

"But I'm tired," I whined, my voice sounding muffled due to my blankets being over my head. "The boss can fire me for all I care." He really wouldn't fire me, unfortunately. One of the many disadvantages of working at a family business; you most likely wouldn't be fired, unless you were a terrible employ.

"You and I both know that's not going to happen," Mom said before taking the blanket off from over my head. "Daniel, go get ready and go to work. You're going to have to start going more if you want to save up for a ring."

"Mom, how many times do I have to tell you? I'm not proposing to Courtney. Not yet, anyway."

Mom huffed. "I don't know why you won't. You've been dating for six years, and you're both twenty."

"Really? I didn't know that," I said.

"Just go to work," Mom said before leaving my bedroom and closing the door behind her.

I sighed and pulled myself out of bed, rubbing my eyes and lazily making my way to my closet. I was really getting tired of my parents trying to pressure me to propose to my long—term girlfriend of six years. Even though we have been dating for quite some time, I didn't think I was ready for marriage.

I just wish my parents would understand that it doesn't matter how long Courtney and I have been dating. If one of us wasn't ready, the marriage would only end up being a disaster.

After I got changed, I went into the washroom and brushed my teeth before heading down the stairs. I grabbed my keys sitting on the hook by the door and opened the door to leave.

"You can at least fix up your hair," Mom said, right as I was about to close the door.

"You see, I would, but I rock the messy look."

"Daniel...."

"Bye, Mom. Love you." I left the house, quickly closing the door so she wouldn't stop me.

I made my way down the front steps of our house before I began walking to The Gold Mine; the restaurant my family owns. I have been working there since I was fourteen and I was kind of hoping my dad would fire me.

He didn't, even after I 'accidentally' spilled some of the most expensive drinks on the ground. Once or twice. A month.

Oops.

I got to The Gold Mine and immediately went into the kitchen. I grabbed one of the aprons off the hook and tied it around my waist. "You're late," Dad said.

"Nah, I'm just on time," I said.

"You need to stop being lazy," Dad said. "And let me guess, your mother was the one who woke you up?"

"Hey, there are some customers here, we should start getting to work."

"Daniel...."

"I'm sorry, Dad, I can't hear you, I'm too busy working." I grabbed a notepad and a pen before walking out of the kitchen. The very first customer here was Enzo Simms, my grandpa's best friend. He was here with a girl I actually haven't seen before. I was guessing she was new to Spruceworth because I knew almost everyone, and if she was here with Enzo, then I definitely would have seen her before.

"Ah, Dan, my favorite worker here," Enzo said when I approached the table.

I smiled at him. "Good morning, Enzo. So, what can I start you off with for drinks?"

"Two of your finest white wines will be great," Enzo said.

The girl sighed. "Grandpa, I'm seventeen. I can't drink wine."

"Well, you technically can, just not legally," Enzo said. "Besides, Dan here won't tell anyone. He's good at keeping secrets." He then looked at me. "My granddaughter her is totally nineteen—years—old, not seventeen."

I chuckled. "Okay, one white wine for you, Enzo." I wrote that down on the notepad before looking at his granddaughter. "And you?"

She was about to answer, but Enzo cut her off. "Like I said, white wine."

"Enzo, come on, it's not good to peer pressure," I said. "Let your granddaughter decide herself."

"You're such a party—pooper," Enzo said. "Alright, Destiny, tell the young man what you want."

"I'll have a water," Destiny said in a quiet voice and I couldn't help but notice the saddened look on her face.

I wrote down a glass of water as well, then told them I would be right back with their drinks.

Dad was already cutting up some vegetables and was looking over the half—wall at Enzo and his granddaughter. "I didn't know Enzo had a granddaughter," I said as I began preparing their two drinks.

"Yeah, I just found out recently," Dad said. "Your grandfather was telling me about it. She's living with Enzo know because her parents died in a work fire."

"Wow, that's horrible," I said. At least now I knew why she seemed so sad.

"Yeah," Dad said. "They're both coming over for dinner tonight, by the way. Same with your grandfather."

"Okay," I said.

"Now about you actually getting here on time...."

"I'm sorry, what was that? I can't hear you while I'm taking these drinks to our customer." I took the two drinks and walked back over to Enzo and Destiny's table. I then took their order before heading into the kitchen again and placing their order on the counter for Dad to read.

"Ugh, it's so early to be awake," Courtney said suddenly, walking into the kitchen.

"Then why are you here?"

"Oh, it's good to see you too."

I rolled my eyes and kissed her cheek. "Seriously, though. Employees only." I gently pushed her out of the kitchen, though I stayed out of there as well. "Again, why are you here?"

"I was just up all night watching this new series on Netflix," she said. "It was addicting and I'm really tired, so can I get a coffee?"

"Sure, but you still didn't answer my question of you being here."

"Oh, well, I couldn't fall asleep, so I thought I'd just come here for some coffee since it is the best coffee in the village, and the server is pretty cute too. Bonus."

"He is pretty cute, isn't he? I'll get you some coffee and be right back."

When I walked in, Dad told me that Courtney was allowed in the kitchen because she technically was 'family'. I told Courtney to come in and she waited as I made her coffee.

"So, want to do something tonight?" Courtney asked.

"I can't," I said. "I'm having dinner with the mayor."

Courtney sighed. "Dan, how many times do I have to tell you? Just say you're having dinner with your grandpa, not the mayor."

"Oh, come on, it sounds cooler."

"Yes, but I'll still know that you're having dinner with the mayor if you just say your grandpa."

"You can come too if you want, Courtney," Dad spoke up. "Enzo and his granddaughter will be there as well."

"Sure," Courtney said. "What time?"

"Six."

"I'll be there."

~*~*~*~

"I am so sorry I'm late," I said as I walked into my house where everyone was already sitting at the dining room table. "I was....Well, it wouldn't really change the fact that I'm late." I took off my shoes and sat down in the spot beside Courtney and across from Destiny.

"We kind of expected it," Dad said. "I swear, Daniel, are you ever one time for anything?"

"I was on time for....Hold on, let me think of something." School, nope. Work, nope.

I think I was even late for my high school graduation.

"Keep this up, and you'll probably be late to you're own wedding," Mom said and I was tempted to roll my eyes. Okay, this time she wasn't really asking me when I was going to propose, but that was totally a hint.

"Ooh, new subject," I said. "So, what play is the school putting on this year?"

Mom was the drama teacher at the school and since school just started two weeks ago, she must have thought of a play right now. They usually started auditions in the first week of October.

"Oh, this year, we're doing The Wizard of Oz," Mom said and at that moment, I saw Destiny's eyes light up.

"You like The Wizard of Oz?" I asked.

"A bit, yeah," Destiny said.

"Destiny here loves theater," Enzo said. "She has been the star of every single play at her old school."

"Grandpa...."

"Don't 'Grandpa' me," Enzo said. "It's true, isn't it? In fact, I don't think you've done The Wizard of Oz yet. It's settled. You're auditioning."

"I'd....rather not."

"No, you will," Enzo said. "You need something to be happy again."

"Well, yeah, but....This is a new place. It took me a while to get comfortable singing in front of an audience when we did the first musical I was part of."

"I got a solution for that," I said. "Every Friday night is karaoke night at The Gold Mine. A lot of people come, especially from the school. Sing there and you'll feel more comfortable about singing in a play."

"I don't know...."

"Look, if it will make you feel better, I'll even sing something there so you can see it's not nerve—wracking. I rarely sing in front of people."

"I didn't even know you can sing," Courtney said.

"Of course you did," I said. "Remember that road trip we once took with Gerard and Priya? I was singing in the car, like, the whole way."

"Were you even trying?" Courtney asked.

"Uh, yeah," I said. "I have an amazing voice, you should know." I then looked at Destiny. "So, will you do it? I will if you will afterwards."

"I guess," she said.

Enzo smiled and looked at me. "Thank you," he mouthed.

_