Day Trips

Oliver had been living in Ft. Lauderdale for the last year and a half. He’d gone no contact with nearly everyone back home. People who’d let their actions speak for them. People who’d shown they’d never loved him anyway. He’d let a select few people know he was okay. On occasion. He let them go about their lives though. He had gone about his. He’d been homeless the first six months after arriving in Ft. Lauderdale. He hadn’t cared. He was happy to be living in Ft. Lauderdale. He’d gotten a job as a Dishwasher at one of the most popular restaurants. Theo had taken a chance when he hired Oliver. He wasn’t so sure Oliver would be able to keep up. It was the leap of faith and trusting Oliver that he went with. 

Theo realized how hard of a worker Oliver was after an especially busy night. The night had slowed in the last two hours of Oliver’s shift. Theo had enough time to check on him and Ben in the dish pit. He walked into a clean area. A surprisingly clean area. He’d wondered how that was possible when it was a disaster the last time he’d checked on them. Oliver had let Ben take a break after the pair had put all the dishes away. They’d cleaned the machine before Ben went on a break. Oliver had cleaned the area while Ben was taking his break. Oliver didn’t mind not having a break by that point. He didn’t have long before the end of his shift. 

Ben decided to take Oliver back to his apartment instead of taking the bus back home. Oliver had gotten a studio apartment nearby. Ben wasn’t about to let Oliver trek the bus top and then to his apartment in the pouring rain. He’d sat in Oliver's apartment talking to him about their respective lives. Oliver mentioned a day trip he planned the following day. To go see a friend in Boca. He’d been looking forward to it for a while. He wasn’t sure it’d work out. He was going to roam around in the event that happened. He’d fallen in love with the area. He considered moving there the last time he was there. He knew it’d meant a longer commute. He’d known Theo would’ve accommodated it. He liked the studio apartment he was in though. He loved the quiet and quaint area he was currently living in as well. 

Quinn, yet again, had canceled. Oliver’s disappointment was obvious. Quinn had used various excuses the last few times they were supposed to get together. Oliver let Quinn know he wasn’t going to put up with anymore. One heated argument later and they were no longer friends. Oliver had said things Quinn needed to hear. Quinn responded with things Oliver was hurt over. He’d realized Quinn had never really been a friend after all. Just someone who saw him as useful when she wanted to complain about life not being fair. 

He began using his days off and taking more day trips there. He’d begun taking day trips to other areas as well. He’d fallen in love with the area. He’d wander around admiring the homegrown places. He’d taken some time off to write his memoir. A story he knew needed to be told. He wrote about the life he’d once had. About the life he currently had. About the life he hoped to eventually have. How he had finally found peace he’d been searching for. Theo had become more than a boss. Ben had become more than a friend. They’d become family to him.