'Jordan what the hell? Its the fourth time in a row. What's going on?'

He was adjusting to a sitting position in the blankets. The alarm clock read 2:07AM.

'I'm sorry, its just that I've been really stressed and confused lately and I cant help it, I don't know what's going on with me,' Jordan replied.

He was drenched in sweat and desperately trying to maintain an upright position on the tiny bed. The bed was creaking and him trying to find the best sitting position was just making it noisier. There was a sound of approaching footsteps in the hallway and then the door flew open. A short girl with long blonde hair stood in the doorway peering in, trying to make light of the situation in the room.

'Again?' she asked.

'Yes, this time it was much more intense than the last time. This is getting out of hand,' the roomate, who was obviously upset replied.

The girl was around the same age as both of them. She cleared a few stray strands of hair from her face and walked in.

'Well, are you feeling okay? Is there somethi-' she started before Jordan quickly interrupted.

'I'm so sorry guys, I know I'm inconveniencing you but I'm not in control of whatever's going on. Everyone has to be up early and I keep waking you up. I feel terrible. These bad dreams feel so real.'

Both of them were looking at him in disbelief.

'Let's get some rest, we'll talk about it in the morning,' the girl said as she got up and went back out.

Jordan could hear her talking to someone in the next room while he lay his head back on the pillow knowing that he would be awake for the next few hours. She thinks I'm crazy, they all do, he thought.

***

The early morning light peeking through the edge of the curtain seared his eyes and quickly got him up. Surprisingly he had managed to sleep for about an hour and a half or so. A new record since the nightmares had begun.

'Allen, it's time to wake up man, well be late.'

'Isn't it quite ironic that you're waking me up again?'

Allen shrugged and got up when he remembered that he couldn't afford to be late.

'Well this time you have a choice, either you keep sleeping and lose your job or you wake the hell up,' Jordan replied.

The birds outside seemed happy, what possibly could be bad about this brand-new day? After they were done getting ready, Allen tried to open the door to the next room, but it was locked. The girls were already gone. They decided that they would follow suit and make their way out. They walked into the next room which was the living room split with a kitchen area. Everything was neat and tidy. They got outside. The air didn't seem to be at all refreshing or uplifting. It was warm already and promised to be a very hot day. Blazing with a dash of misery.

Even with the circles under his eyes, Allen was still very attractive, a charming young man in his early 20s. A tall and stocky figure, taller than Jordan by a long shot. He wore a loose-fitting T-shirt that seemed to highlight his weirdly broad shoulders. Jordan on the other hand had a lot less stocky figure, he had thin dark curly hair which complemented his dark raven eyes and his caramel-brown skin. His T-shirt was much more close fitting, possibly because it was a smaller fit. They walked in total silence until they got to their destination. It was almost as if they were too lazy to talk and walk at the same time. They came to a building with a marquee which read JANE'S DINER with an animation of a man dramatically holding a mug, Jordan still had questions about this.

'Took you long enough.'

'There's no prize for being early here and you know that, Linn,' Allen replied while grabbing an apron and a hair net.

'Yeah but there's always a price for being late, you know,' another guy, Roy, said before Jordan burst in holding a dust pan.

'Hey, Roy,' Jordan said.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Roy, who seemed a bit older than them, was really tall and a bit toned, broad shoulders, his hair had been bleached blonde but it was a good contrast to his chocolate skin nonetheless. He definitely frequented the gym in his free time. Allen was already busying himself with some dishes while Roy and Linn engaged in conversation with Jordan whom they were clearly distracting from his task.

'So, what's this I hear about nightmares?' Roy asked.

'Of course they told you, why am I not surprised at all?'

Jordan was looking at Allen who seemed to be unmoved by the accusation. He looked so invested in his duty and he kept on with the dishes.

'Of course, they did. We're your friends, if we don't look out for you no one will, right Allen?'

There was a long pause before Allen replied, 'Sure.'

Linn and Roy gave him a stare.

'What?' He said holding up his foaming hands.

'We're not really friends like that so everyone can just stop pretending. We all came here to work, these forced relationships, they don't do it for me. I mind my business, you mind yours.'

Allen was not one for small talk. He just opened his mouth when he had to and when he opened his mouth to say this, no one was shocked at all, mostly because it was true.

There was yet another awkward silence before Roy broke it off, 'Well, at least we are trying to get along here dude. I'm sure you cant say the same.'

Allen just glanced at Roy for about a second then got back to his task. Linn started up the coffee machine as Jordan took the trash out to the back. It was already a few minutes after 8 but there was barely anyone out yet. This wasn't a very popular part of town; mostly because it was at the edge of the city.

Roy was already getting the tables set. Jane walked in and was met by a variety of 'good mornings' before she went over to the kitchen area to see if everything was in order.

'Are you okay today Jordan?' Jane asked.

The boy was perplexed for a second before he realized that everyone in the diner knew about his embarrassing nightmares.

'Heard you were having quite a fit of nightmare episodes, you know, the deep stuff,' she said grabbing a coffee mug.

'I'm fine, Jane everyone is making it seem like I'm dying,' he protested.

She had insisted they call her by her first name so that she seemed younger and much more youthful. It's what happens when you have a staff of millennials.

'He was literally falling off the bed,' Allen suddenly chimed in, rolling his eyes.

'Have you considered seeing someone?'

Jane was trying to keep the balance between enjoying her coffee and participating in the conversation.

'Seeing someone? You know the boy can't afford all that,' Roy said.

'Besides,' Jordan began while looking at Roy whom he had just interrupted, 'I don't think I'm really comfortable with that, its not my thing,' he said rubbing his completely fine shoulder.

'I could definitely hook him up. You know Danny is a shrink, Roy,' Jane said, completely ignoring Jordan's 'im fine' speech.

This was like a conversation between two parents who had already decided their child's fate while he had to sit there and listen. He wanted to argue but he knew it was only to his detriment; plus, he had to save his energy for work.

'I'll call Danny so we can make an arrangement, you seem to be going through a lot, kid. Sometimes keeping your trauma to yourself will only make it worse.'

Jane concluded the chat and it meant that everyone had to go back to their work and treat her like the boss now.

The weather had changed so suddenly, dark clouds had enveloped the sky and the atmosphere was dreary. The lights in the Diner had already been turned on and it was barely four thirty. Roy was chatting with someone in the kitchen. Jordan was staring at Jane who had been on the phone for close to thirty minutes. His mind was elsewhere, he was thinking of the conversation that he had with his mother the previous day. He quickly brushed the thought away and found Jane staring at her.

'Danny says you have to meet him tomorrow at two, I will text you the details and location,' Jane said after the long phone call.

This was carefully orchestrated since the next day he finished work at one. Great, just how I anticipated spending my Friday afternoon, he thought to himself so sarcastically that it almost outwardly showed.

'Thanks Jane, I really appreciate it' was the reply he gave instead.

It wasn't yet time for them to clock out but Jordan's spirit had already been worn out; plus, those sleepless nights were catching up to him really fast. He really needed to have a good night's sleep. He almost depended on it today.

Allen always kept the chatter at a minimum, even while on his phone he seemed like he was working. Like Jordan, he also seemed to be tired at this point. This was quite understandable as they were tied to the same fate.

He was fated to be woken up every night by the ramblings of a boy in distress. He glanced at a man in the corner going through the paper and having some coffee. Must be nice to only be here to relax, he thought. His random thoughts were interrupted by Jane who was asking him for a smoke.

'I forgot them today. They were in my other jeans,' he replied.

'Is that why you're not in your element today?' she said bluntly before turning around.

This was followed by low murmured jokes about the thrills that came from nicotine. Linn was already wrapping up the shift. The increasingly worsening weather made this day a lot less bearable. More minutes of dilly dallying meant that the rain would meet her half way. The murmuring in the back increased, signifying the fact that her shift was over. She went over to investigate. Roy and Jordan were collecting their stuff and getting ready to leave.

The walk home was completely uninteresting and met with sudden splatters of raindrops. Jordan, Allen and Linn shared their apartment with a fourth individual; Kim, who worked elsewhere. Roy lived with a cousin of his.

The three got home after they parted ways with Roy. The place where they had met, they had all come here looking for affordable accommodation; Jordan, after he had run away from home; Allen, after he had finally left foster care and Linn, who had been in and out of struggles her entire life.