"Morning darling."

He used to greet her mornings. Stayed in bed with her until it was time for her to work in the diner.

It hasn't been the same anymore.

Now everytime she wakes up the bed was cold. Their would be an indent of his body.. but no Jack.

It started when he first applied for the gas station.

He came home late once with the excuse, "Sorry darling, busy station."

If only she knew the truth.

She looked towards her reflection on the mirror. Disgust piled up in her chest. Irene thought she looked disgusting.

It wasnt the first time she looked at herself in utter disgust. In fact she always thought she looked horrible.

Everytime she came home from the diner her hair was frizzy, eyes looked droopy and uniform looking horrible.

'maybe that's the reason why Jack barely comes home'

She racked her forehead, shaking it violently, trying to rid the negative thoughts.

Violently grabbing her hair she spat distasteful negativity thoughts towards the mirror. All in which involved her racking away .

A creek soon followed. Irene's eyes snapped open. Tip toes followed as someone the entered the bathroom.

Irene shrieked, terrified of the intruder. She scurried back way to far only to topple over the bath tub.

"Irene!"

Jack called. He hurried over towards Irene's slump posture as she groaned in pain.

"Golly Jack, please just yell your 'honey I'm home!~'." Jack helped her up but she only moan in pain telling him to put her back down.

"I think I just bruised my hip." Irene forced herself up the tub with the help of Jack.

"Careful, I dont want to send you to the hospital now."

Jack carries his injured wife into their small living room. He place her down on the couch and went to the kitchen to get another ice pack.

"You need to be more careful Irene. I know it was my fault but dont go falling for the tub." Jack scolded placing the ice on her hip where the growing bruise was forming.

Irene only yelped jumping away from the sudden cold cascading the growing blob by her hip.

She forced her way off of the couch but only to be stumbled by the sudden wave of nauseousness. "I'm fine. I need to go to work." When she starts to attempt to stand up once again, Jack took ahold of her wrist bringing her back to him.

He hugged her waist tightly and snuggled his nose to her back as he took in the smell of Irene.

Irene squirmed under him awkwardly but he wouldn't let the girl go, "Jack?"

His grip tightened, "Stay with me for just a minute." He lowly whispered. Pulling away from her back to look at her blonde locks which covered her over growing blush.

Irene sighed and obliged. Maybe just a few minutes won't hurt a dent.

♤

It turned out to be an hour of love making. In result, she was late for work. And it didnt go unnoticed by Laylani and Donald.

When she checked in she requested to take the full afternoon shift to make time for the first hour.

When she stuffed her purse in her locker and shut it close, Laylani was right next to her, grinning wickedly like a fool.

Irene looked at her friend as a growing frown gnawed her face, "What?" She questions. Laylanis grin grew wider sending a feverish shiver amongst Irene.

"How was the morning blues?"

"What? I–"

Laylani hushed her friend with a raised finger. Then she impersonated moans as she touched her covered breasts and lady area, "Ah Jack yess ah right the–"

Irene slapped her friends mouth in a frenzy. Her face was blushed red as a ripe tomato, "Pleases stop."

Laylanis laughed harshly at her friends sudden features. But it was quickly shut by a sudden impact at the back of her head causing for her to double over in pain.

Irene peered over only to see Donald with his usual drowsiness. It wasnt surprising when he was the one who hit Laylani among her head.

"What the heck Donald Duck?" She stomped on his foot making him jump at the sudden sharp pain sticking through his toe.

He gripped his foot tightly and send Laylani a death glare, "You little–"

Laylani scoffed,"Uh-uh you needed that you dick swab. She had the morning blues–"

Irene quickly slipped out the locker room to meet the sea of customers piling up in a line. But she was glad she left, she didnt want to be apart of another fight between the two workers.

She huffed as she mumbled under her breath incoherent curses. Until then she went to work while the two where still bustling each other.

"Thank you for coming."

Irene said her goodbye to the last customer before slumping down on the counter.

It was only mid afternoon and her shift was now over. The rest of the staff are cleaning up after, mostly Laylani, she was slacking the whole entire morning.

"I'm gonna take my leave now." Irene told one of her coworkers, Jenn Harrison.

The middle age woman just nodded. She went back to the register counting some pennies. When she was about to turn away Jenn called her back striking a horrible conversation.

"Does your husband work in a gas station?" Jenn questioned.

Irene's forehead creased, she knew Jenn was one for gossip, "Uhm, yeah he actually does.. why do you ask?" Just  nearby the corner Donald was open  ears, eavesdropping on the two.

Honestly, he couldnt help but over hear the conversation. Especially if it's about Irene and her husband.

"Funny to say.. I actually saw him leave with an old lady. You know anything about that?" Jenn enquired leaning on the counter for an acceptable answer.

But Jenns words only made Irene feel at lost for words. Jack wouldn't cheat on her. But it would also explain the times he wasnt home. But she didnt believe it. Did she?

The only words Irene could only stumble upon her words as she finally excused herself from Jenn, "Uh-uh.. I gotta go."

She hurried to the locker room to get her things. But what Jenn has said to Irene wouldn't leave her mind. But she started to add somethings up.

'It all started when he worked in the gas station..'

Constantly shaking her head. Constantly telling herself that nothing was going on. Nothing. But she knew their was something up Jack's sleeve.

Donald then walked in eyeing the worried girl leaning against the door with a raised eyebrow, "I think you should watch out for Jack."

Her eyes snapped back to Donald. Eyes gleamed with worry.

"I heard rumors of a certain gas station," his voice was low, almost intimidating as if he was trying to scare her, "They have this thing called Dreamland. Men in that gas station get money to have sex with customers by demand."

Irene played with her nails, a nervous habit whenever she felt something bad was about to happen. "What are you implying Donald." She queried.

When Irene glanced at her coworker his eyes gleamed in anger. But she couldnt ponder why.

After seeing his angry eyes confidence washed over Irene. She hated it when others talk so lowly of Jack. Especially when they inquire him as 'dumb'

"Donald," she started, she took her things away and passed him before whispering, "Dont you dare talk about my husband associating with those types of Dreamland associates.. He is not that man."

With that said she passed Donald before bumping him by accident. But she didnt apologize after his accusation.

"Dont talk about my husband if you dont have anything nice to say."

After making her way out of the smelly diner she spotted a familiar convertible. Need more clues? A familiar tall man who dreams to be a movie star slumped on the door and smoking a cigarette.

When Jack glanced up his smile gleamed. He threw his cigar on the floor and lightly stomped on it.

Irene quickly skipped towards Jack before jumping to embrace him. He lightly peck her hair and rested his chin on her little head.

"God I missed you." He mumbled making Irene laugh just a slight bit. God she just made him adore her more than he actually has.

Irene mumbled incoherent words into his jacket making him question her.

"I miss you more." Her face flushed and her smile gleamed. Oh my, if only she knew.

"That was a foul move and you know it." Laylani scolded.

Donald and Laylani where on the counter. Donald was staring at the the couple by the street. He only scowled in jealousy.

"Shes naive Lay, she doesnt know shit."

She scoffed, pure annoyance bubbling upon her, "You dont know which station hes working in." She stated.

"And you like that naive girl."

Donald didnt reply. Irene and Jack got into their convertible and drove off. Her smile bright as day.

It only made his muscle clench along with his jaw.

"Donald," she warned her fist equally rounded and fingers digging deep into her flesh making blood seep out, "Its been two years since you fell in love with her. Shes married and happy. Let. It. Go."

Laylani sighed massaging her temple feeling tired all over again.

"Shes non of your business.. that's Jack's job." Her face faltered. She wanted Donald to understand, to leave her bestfriend alone, "Stop being a huge dick.. support her."

With that said, she left Donald alone as he started at nothing but the outside world.

"Morning blues? Yeah more like morning, 'im sorry to disappoint you', sex."