"I'm going to get the face again." Ally groaned from her spot at the table.

"What face are we talking about?" I questioned with a raised brow. "This one." I wiped all expression off my face and stuck my lips out a bit before planting them together until I looked like a frog. "Or this one?" Morphing my expression into one of pure lust I stared down my coworker and wiggled my brow for good measure.

Ally shot me a bored expression prior to chucking a brightly coloured crayon at my forehead. She reached for another weapon to assault me with and went back to scribbling forcefully on the inner edge of her binder.

"Do you know how many dates I've had to cancel due to parents deciding they don't want to pick up their kids? It's like they do it just to spite me." She muttered before abruptly rising and moving to stand by the window.

"I'm sure the universe isn't out to get you. Why don't you just schedule them later?" I focused back on cutting out the lanterns and flames for Monday's camping craft.

"It's already almost eight, by the time I go home and get ready... any later and it's feel like a booty call." Ally puffed her platinum blonde strands away. "Which... you know, I'm not completely against. But let's at least have dinner first."

I stifled a laugh as Ally carried on her surveillance of the front of the daycare.

"Ms Cali," Sadie started as she dug through the crayon bin, "what's a booty call?"

"Ms Ally is."

Ally gapped in my direction, arms crossed defensively, until she shrugged her shoulders and nodded in agreement. She knew that statement wasn't too farfetched. The response seemed to satisfy Sadie who went back to colouring.

After a few moments of silence a grunt of a groan erupted from the twenty-two year old by the window.

"I've never wanted that crab apple of an old lady to show up so bad." Ally whined as she bounced on the balls of her feet like a tantrum-ing toddler.

Finishing up my last cut out, I placed the scissors on the table. "How much longer do you think she'll be?"

"Hopefully soon. I was suppose to be heading over to the restaurant by now." Ally pulled out her phone, clutching it in her hand before slipping it back into her hoodie pocket.

Sadie sat contently by my side, effectively ignoring our conversation. The picture of an extremely colourful butterfly graced her pink sheet.

Getting up from my seat, and taking the scissors with me out of habit, I moved towards my coworker who still stood facing the window looking distressed.

"Hey Ally," I whispered as I came up beside her.

"Yeah?"

"What are we meant to do if no one shows?"

Ally's hazel eyes darted to the little girl who was sat on the other side of the room, beyond the maze of tables and chairs.

"It's... uhh," she looked me in the eye, "it's a call to Children's Aid."

"Then where would she go for the night?"

"Definitely not home."

A ball of something lodged itself in my chest. I couldn't let that happen to her. I knew enough to know that Sadie had a family who loved her. Seeing her with Lincoln the other day just solidified that fact. Sadie loved him and he whole-heartedly loved her back.

Yeah, I know. I was shocked myself with the findings. Lincoln doesn't seem capable of any emotion, let alone love.

"Lemme try calling again. Someone has to pick up."

Ally gave me a pitying look - she had no hope it was happening - but she nodded anyways.

Grabbing Sadie's contact card I headed over to the phone that hung between the tall cabinet and the door that connected both preschool rooms.

With a heavy breath I brought the cream colour phone to my ear and dialled in the combination. The dull ringing started and anxiety began to spread throughout my body.

It felt like it took forever for it to stop.

"You're reached the Pierce residence. We are not able to come to the phone right now, so please leave your name, number and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you."

The woman's soft voice did nothing to ease the fear gripping my heart in an iron grip.

I couldn't let Sadie go through being separated from her family. Not like this.

"Hi!" I piped turning my head to Ally and flashing her a thumbs up. "It's Calista from Fingers and Toes calling. I was just wondering if anyone was coming for Sadie?"

I paused, pretending to listen.

"Perfect. We'll be here. Alright. It's no worry. See you soon."

"You got a hold of someone?" Ally questioned in excitement.

"Yeah, her mom should be here soon. Fredrick's called her like two minutes ago saying she couldn't pick her up tonight."

"You think that would be something you tell someone ahead of time." The blonde crossed her arms, cellphone still in hand, and shook her head in disappointment. "Wouldn't put it past her though." She made her way over to the table were Sadie still sat and parked herself.

"Ready to go home Sadie?"

"Uh-huh. Lincoln's going to watch a disney princess movie with me tonight." Sadie's eyes lit up as she spoke. "Mommy even said we can have pizza for dinner."

"You love pizza, don't you kiddo?"

"It's my favourite."

Ally cocked her head and gave the three year old a warm smile. "She's like a mini you, Cal."

I gave a soft smile in response before realizing I had to get back to the task at hand. "Hey Ally," I said while pulling a chair out for myself. "Why don't you get going? Both of us shouldn't have to waste our Friday night."

She turned to me with a look of surprise on her face. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. You've missed enough of your dates with Ty."

Excitement crossed her features for a brief moment prior to it disappearing. "But... would Mindy allow that? Doesn't there need to be two people closing at all times?"

A slow grin spread across my face. "I won't tell if you don't."

Ally gripped my forearm, a beaming grin sent in my direction. "Calista Hale, I seriously love you." My coworker confessed as she roughly tugged me into a hug. "Oh my Buddha, I love you so much." She repeated in a dramatic whisper, planting a kiss on the top of my head. "I owe you, okay?"

I nodded my head which was positioned against her rather larger chest, my heads yanking at her pythons-for-arms. "I'll take a rain check on that."

Ally shot up from her seat, throwing me off her and almost sending me flying to the floor in the process. She rushed to the cabinet, pulling on her three-quarter length coat.

"I'll just skip the shower. I took one this morning. I don't stink, right?" Ally continued to revise her action plan as she tugged her purse out, nearly spilling the contents.

She moved around the room like a chicken with her head cut off, muttering as she went. After collecting the last of her belongings she made a mad dash towards the door.

She was two inches from freedom until she turned to me and said, "You're sure about this?"

"Positive." She needed to go. "Have fun!" I couldn't fight the sly smile that slipped onto my lips.

Her tongue shot out at me in a childish response. With that she was off to finish her sprint towards the door.

"Bye! Have a good weekend you two. See you Monday morning Sadie."

Sadie hastily shot up from her seat to give her teacher a squeeze. Not even a moment later Ally was pushing through the double front doors of the daycare and disappeared into the desolate parking lot.

Turning my attention to Sadie, I silently hoped that someone would show up soon to get her.

Even Lincoln. And he was most likely my least favourite person at the moment.

Sadie had gone back to her masterpiece, completely accustom to being left at the daycare 'til late. However, she'd never been here this behind schedule.

I glanced up at the familiar clock that hung on the wall near the door. It was eight o'five, over an hour after closing. Sadie had only ever been here until seven-fifteen tops.

Something was wrong and I had a funny feeling no one was coming.

The pattering of my finger nails drumming against the tiny table filled the silent room.

Five minutes came and went.

Then ten.

And twenty.

Once eight thirty struck I knew something need to be done. I refused to allow Sadie be stolen from her family. Someone needed to take her home.

With my head resting on my hand my eyes randomly wandered to the class binder.

And that someone, unfortunately, had to be me.