Page 3 (1/2)

Chapter One

“If that guy at table four touches odda onto the table by the kitchen sink Burt Stiller, the aging owner of the diner and head cook, looked over at her with a raised eyebrow

“And if you break anything, you pay for it” he co his head at his temperamental waitress

Jessie made a face, wiped her forehead with her sleeve, and backed out of the kitchen's swinging door with a plate of hot food in each hand The hungry guests aiting, and she alorked hard toHer commitment to prompt, courteous service meant better tips, and at twenty-six she needed every diet

“Probleood for the e she thinks she's better than the rest of us,” her coworker sneered as soon as Jesse had left the kitchen Burt ignored her catty rerill

Melanie, a simple yet outspoken woman, was a full-time waitress at Burt's Diner She watched the kitchen door swing closed, rolled her eyes towards the greasy kitchen ceiling, and followed Jessie out onto the diner floor They were the only taitresses on duty that evening, and thanks to its prime location the small diner was busy as usual

It was an exhausting dinner rush, but Jessie preferred it when the diner was busy Not only did the tiht home more money which was of ut to pay her tuition A packed restaurant also meant she didn't have to listen to Melanie's inane banter and the constant bitching about her supposed friend, Lorelle Jessie didn't know and had never even oing on about her

When Jessie first took the part-ti a little over one year earlier, Melanie was the first person she'd spoken to She thought they'd hit it off, ith theh part of town and knowing a few of the sae, but like so hborhood, Melanie had dropped out of school which explained why Jessie had no recollection of her She tried to connect with the girl, but the ot to know Melanie theherself, and Jessie knew for a fact that she wasn't honest when it ca payments If the till was ever short, Jessie knew exactly as to blame

She never pointed a finger at her coworker, but the fact that she had purposely distanced herself frorow bitter towards her in a hurry She constantly ai to her as stuck up, and delighted in telling the rest of the staff how Jessie looked down her nose at thee education Despite Melanie and her catty s just fine with everyone She had a love-hate relationship with her boss, Burt, as as short-teood side

Even with all the friction between theot upset with Melanie, and it had taken place a fewquite seriously, and it bothered her that Melanie had no respect for it

“So what if I want to do well for ued

“It's a waste of tiet a better job than this Even after you finish college You coonna' look at your address on the application and toss it straight in the trash,” Melanie had said with a wave of her finger

Jessie had tried not to get into a debate with her si to shut Melanie up would be to do well in college, and so far her grades were stellar She'd prove to this fool that a person like her could use her brain to get a good job one day and hborhood and cli, she vowed

“Order for table four!” Burt's voice sounded loudly fro a double cheeseburger with extra fries on the kitchen's s a meal was ready

The order was for Earle Jackson A portly, filthy man in his early forties, he was Jessie's worst custo on a coronary with his double cheeseburger meals He also made it his mission to drive Jessie crazy with his inappropriate behavior

“You're up,” Melanie grinned at her, knowing full well that Jessie was beyond sick of the rude slob He always sat at table four, ordering the sa to hit on the waitresses Since Jessie typically covered table four on her shifts, she'd be stuck putting up with his blatant passes that were just as disgusting as the stains on the armpits of his shirts

Jessie picked up the plate and walked with trepidation to the salivating Earle Jackson Earle had no front teeth, worked in the local car parts factory, and lived on his own just up the street Jessie set the plate down in front of hiain, to make a swipe for her backside She had scurried off to take an order at the next table, and he had hit his hand on her set He let out a loud wail as if he'd been mortally wounded, and everyone turned to see what the disturbance was about

“Okay, relax everyone!” Jessie shouted “That's just another happy customer who can't wait to eat his meal,” she joked with a smile

At the next table, she stood with her pen poised on the pad “What can I get you?” she asked with a polite grin, allowing herself to be distracted for a second by the televisionThe news channel rolled as usual, but there was no sound since Burt preferred to keep the set muted The featured story appeared to be about billionaire John Harwood and his wife, the former supermodel who made a name for herself simply as “Ki into a black limousine, and Jessie couldn't help but wonder what all the fuss was about this tim

e

The couple had been in the news a lot recently thanks to John Harwood, a respected tycoon banker, being seen having dinner with an up-and-coe, Jessie laossip took a front seat to the world's larger problems Everyone seemed to obsess over the rich and faular basis by repeating the latest garbage gossip Jessie had a busy life of her own to worry about betork and school, and couldn't be bothered by these ly reminded Melanie countless times that billionaires don't walk into diners and saitresses off their feet, and that real life wasn't like theabout the day when some wealthy stud would waltz into the diner and walk out carrying her

After taking table five's order and placing it in the kitchen, she ca at the television, her eyes locked onto the screen as the celebrity gossip continued to flash

“You planning on doing any work here or what?” Jessie asked her indignantly

“Chill out, chick You're not the boss What's wrong withht nod towards the television

“Snap out of it,” Jessie said as she glanced at the screen and saw John Harwood’s io for actresses Models Girls with size zero waist lines Blonde hair Fake tans”

“Oh, be quiet, girl Don't spoil it foryou out to show you a good time,” Melanie fired back

“I'd rather make my own money than rely on soirls with no a into money,” Jessie scoffed

“You calling me an airhead?” Melanie turned her buxom five-foot frame towards Jessie, asn't much taller but was certainly slimmer Jessie had always understood the ireasy food, ordering salads on her breaks instead of throwing back fries and burgers She had neither the tied to do light aerobics and yoga on a daily basis from the comfort of her small apartment

“You better watch yourself, girl One of these days” Melanie trailed off as she walked away to clear an e to herself but couldn't make out the words

“Melanie, focus on work instead of running that mouth of yours,” Burt shouted fro you for?” For a