"THANKS" I SAID HEADING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LOCKER ROOM. I CHANGED INTO MY UNIFORM AND HEADED OUT TO THE FRONT TO GET STARTED. AS SOON AS I WALKED OUT I COULD SMELL EVERYTHING THE COOKS WAS COOKING. I COULD SEE EVERYBODY MOVING SO QUICK GETTING FOOD OUT AND COOKING ON THE GRILL. I WALKED PAST THEM ALMOST WALKING INTO A WALL EVERYTHING JUST LOOKED SO GOOD AND SMELLED SO GOOD. I WENT TO THE BAR AND AS SOON AS I LOOK OUT I SPOTTED THIS GUY STANDING NEXT TO ANOTHER GUY WITH A WOMEN. I COULDNT REALLY SEE HIM TOO MUCH BECAUSE HE KEPT TURNING TO TALK TO THE GUY HE WAS STANDING NEXT TO. I STARTED TO GET NERVOUS WHEN HE TURNED AROUND AND CAUGHT MY GLARE I QUICKLY TURNED BACK INTO THE KITCHEN AND I SAW ONE OF THE CHEFS RUNNING TO THE SINKS. IT LOOKS AS IF SHE HAS HURT HERSELF SOMEHOW, I COULDNT SEE HOW THOUGHT I JUST WANTED TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY. "HEY YOU NEW GIRL I NEED YOU OUT HERE ON THE FLOOR NOW" VICKI YELLED FROM THE KITCHEN DOOR. I QUICKLY TURNED AROUND AND WALKED OUT ON THE FLOOR I COULD TELL ALREADY, ME AND THIS WOMEN WASNT GOING TO GET ALONG DUE TO HER ATTITUDE. I FIXED MY OUTFIT AND MET HER ON THE FLOOR. "HAVE YOU EVER WAITRESS BEFORE?" SHE ASKED ME "UMMMM YEAH I DID FOR A COUPLE MONTHS BUT I MOVED AWAY SO" I ANSWERED HER TURNING TO LOOK AND SEE WHERE THAT GUY WAS AT. I COULDNT FIND HIM ANYWHERE, DANG WHERE DID HE DIP OFF TOO? "HELLO PAY ATTENTION I DONT HAVE ALL DAY REPEATING MYSELF TO YOU. SO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO THEN? THIS IS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER WAITRESSING JOB JUST GIVE WHAT THEY WANT WITH A SMILE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS WE KEEP THE TIPS AS WE GO ALONG. WE FOUND OUT IT TOOK A LOT LONGER DOING IT AT THE END SO GET YOUR ASS ON THE FLOOR AND GET TO WORK, IF YOU NEED HELP JUST COME FIND ME AND ILL BABYSIT YOU AND HOLD YOUR HAND." VICKI SAID WALKING BACK TOWARDS THE KITCHEN. I CANT STAND THAT WOMEN AND, I HATE THAT I HAVE TO WORK UNDER HER BUT A JOB IS A JOB SO I HAVE NO CHOICE. "OKAY JUST LIKE WITH MOM TAKE A TABLE AND LETS GET TO WORK" I WALKED OVER TO ONE OF THE OTHER WAITTESS AND TAPPED HER ON HER SHOULDER. "EXCUSE DO WE HAVE LIKE CERTAIN SECTIONS OR WE JUST PICK A TABLE AND GO?" I ASKED THIS RED HEADED GIRL WITH LIGHT BROWN FRECKLES ON HER NOSE AND CHEEK. SHE WAS ALITTLE BIT TALLER THAN I WAS. SHE HAD HER HAIR PULLED UP INTO A MESSY BUN ON THE TOP OF HER HEAD. SHE TURNED AND SMILED AT ME "OH HEY YOU MUST BE THE NEW GIRL IM TAMMI, AND YEAH WE HAVE SECTONS YOUR LUCKY TODAY YOU GET TO HAVE OUR GUEST" SHE POINT TO THE TABLE BY THE BAR, AND OF COURSE IT WAS THE TABLE WHERE THAT GUY WAS AT. I WAS SHOCKED THAT I WOULD END OF HAVING THAT TABLE. AS I WALKED OVER I NOTICED ONE OF THE GUYS WAS MISSING, I TOOK A DEEP BREATHE AND WALKED OVER "HELLO MY NAME IS SAM AND I'LL BE YOUR WAITRESS TONIGHT." I SAID "WE ALREADY ORDER WE ARE JUST WAITING FOR TO GET IT." SHE SAID "CHRISTINA, GO EASY." HE SAID SMILING AT ME, I BLUSH SIGHTLY "KHRISTIAN REALLY, I DONT KNOW WHY WE ARE HERE." CHRISTINA SAID "AIDEN PICKED THIS, SO SUCK IT UP AND BE NICE TO YOUR SERVER." KHRISTIAN SAID "UGH." SHE GROANED. "I'LL GO CHECK ON YOUR ORDER THAN." I SAID WALKING TO THE WINDOW, SEEING THEIR FOOD, I PICK IT UP AND CARRY IT OVER TO THEM "STEAK AND FRIES?," I ASKED "THAT MINES," KHRISTIAN SAID AS I PLACED HIS PLATE IN FRONT OF HIM, "I ORDER A GRILLED CHICKEN SALAD." CHRISTINA SAID "ALRIGHT I'LL GO CHECK ON THAT." I SAID.

"I can do it myself." I said as he wrapped my hand "there done." he said releasing my hand, I grabbed a pair of gloves and squeezed pass him, "Thanks, but I had it." I said pulled the glove over my injured hand walking back into the kitchen, washing my hand, I groaned when I realize I still had the glove on, pulling off the wet glove, I rewashed and grabbed a dry one, putting it on, I noticed my station cleaned free of blood, a fresh cutting board and fresh vegetable were already cut. I put them into the salad I was prepping, I moved to the grill, thanking God it didn't burn while I was dealing with my hand, taking the grill chicken off, move it to the cutting board, cut it into strips and added it to the salad. Placing it in the window "Order up." I shouted as I turned around, Aiden was standing there, "Did you cook my steak?" he asked "Yes, your plate is in the window," I said moving back to my station "you should return to your seat before your food gets cold." I heard him chuckle and the kitchen door closes.

"Thank god it's over." Sara said coming into the kitchen "How the meeting goes?" I asked as I loaded the last bit of dishes into the dishwater, "We won't know until Monday." She said picking up a celery piece, munching on it. "Oh how did it go with Sam?" I asked wiping down the tables "Oh yea she's out front still with Vicki." she said leaving the kitchen. I laughed lightly as Rern walked into the kitchen, "Cher I got no idea where that boy is." he said sitting down on a stool, "I thought you stopped looking hours ago." I said sliding him a glass of lemonade "I did, but I looked again during my break and just now when I took the garbage out." he said after drinking half the glass, "Um Syria, can I speak with you?" Sara asked with just her head in the door, I raised a brow "Yea, just give me a minute." I said looking from her to Rern, he shrugged his shoulder, I left the kitchen to see the new guy and Vicki and Carly, with Tiffany and Shannon sitting at the bar, "What's up?" I said as I sat down at the end of the bar "Well as you all know Derrick's wife just went into labor, so I'm need you to continue being head chef." Sara said looking at me "Sam you did great today, when you're done with your shift come see me so we can work out your schedule. Vicki you were late yesterday again, and I saw you drinking on the job, it's coming out your paycheck." looking at Sam then to Vicki "Sara those were paid for by customers." Vicki said standing up "Well they were logged in the system. So, Carly I'm need ya to continue training Sam since Vicki will not be here for the rest of the week." Sara said, "What the fuck?" Vicki shouted, "you already cut my hours, I only worked two days this week!" "Well when you learn to show up on time and stop drinking when on your shift, whether customers buy or not." Sara said moving up the bar, taking inventory. Vicki stormed off towards the locker room, "So Sam, I need you cover Vicki's shift. Carly can cover the day shift, and you need to cover the night shift." "No problem, since Sam has waitress training already, so it won't be that hard once she gets the hang of it." Carly said nudging Sam, "Oh Sam sorry this is Syria, she is normal our sous chef and Derrick is the head chef but since it will be a while before you get to meet him. Oh, wait you'll meet him when he brings his baby for us to meet." Sara said looking over at Sam "Tiffany and Shannon thank you so much for tonight, I know it was last minute, and I'll make sure you get that bonus you want last month this time." she said looking over at them. "Paul told me, last week that he forgot to add to your last paycheck. Syria since you'll be head chef until Derrick gets back, I'll remind him to up your pay for the time you serve as head chef." "Alright," I said looking over the menu, "so I did make a few changes to tonight menu while I was on break, I only changed the wings and the steaks tonight." "We are definably changing the wings." Sara said "You guys can go, Syria and I have to go over the menu, then tomorrow morning we have ya taste and see if we should add it to the menu or not. See y'all tomorrow."

I GOT THROUGH MOST OF MY SHIFT BUT I KNOW ILL BE GLAD WHEN THIS DAY IS OVER. I HAD TO WAITRESS THE TABLE WITH THAT HOT GUY I SAW WALK IN, TOO BAD HE WAS WITH THIS SNOBBY WOMEN. SHE WAS TRYING TO GIVE ME A HARD TIME LUCKLY I HAD WOMEN, AND GUYS BACK HOME WHO WAS JUST LIKE HER SO I WAS USE TO IT. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN THE MANAGER GAVE ME MORE HOURS, BUT IM HAPPIER THAT I GOT THE HOURS FROM THAT VICKI GIRL. SHE WAS BEING AN ASS FOR NO REASON, AND SHE GOT WHAT SHE DESERVE. I DONT USUALLY TALK DOWN ON PEOPLE, BUT FOR MY FIRST DAY, AND FOR SOMEONE WHO WAS SUPPOSE TO BE TRAINING ME SHE SUCKED. SHE DIDNT REALLY TELL ME WHAT ALL I HAD TO DO. LUCKLY I HAD WORKED AS A WAITRESS BEFORE OR I WOULDVE BEEN REALLY LOST. SHE WAS SO WORRIED BOUT GETTING TO HER STUFF ME DONT SEE WHY THE MANAGER WOULD CHOSE HER TO TRAIN SOMEBODY. WELL ANYWAY I WAS TOLD I COULD GO HOME SO I WENT AND CHANGED MY CLOTHES AND GRABBED MY BAGS. I NOTICED I HAD FOUR MISSED CALLS, THREE WAS FROM MY DAD AND THE OTHER ONE WAS FROM AN UNKNOWN NUMBER. I WANTED TO CALL IT BACK BUT MY OLD LIFE DIDNT MATTER ANYMORE. I WANTED TO RUN AWAY FROM LIFE ITSELF. MY MOM WAS MY EVERYTHING BEFORE SHE DIED, AND THE MOVE FROM MY OLD LIFE NOT ONLY WAS HARD BUT I GLAD. I WANTED MY MOM TO MOVE ON, SO I COULD HAVE A FRESH START FROM ALL THE DRAMA. SEE WHEN I WAS LIVING WITH MY MOM WE HAD THIS BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, AND WE ALWAYS WAS OUT DOING SOMETHING GREAT EVERY DAY. SO WITH ME HAVING SUCH A GOOD LIFE I GOT IN TROUBLE A BIT. SO SHE WOULD SAY AT LEAST ANYWAY, BUT I WOULD ALWAYS HANG OUT AND SKIP SCHOOL AND JUST HAVE FUN. ONE DAY WE WAS OUT AT THE MALL CHILLING AT ONE OF THOSE PIZZA PLACES ONE OF MY FRIENDS WANTED TO GO TOO. THESE GUYS WAS SITTING A COUPLE OF SEATS AWAY AND THEY KEPT LOOKING IN OUR DIRECTION. SO SHE TURNED AND LOOKED AT THEM AND SMILED THAT FLIRTY SMILE. I GLANCED OVER TO SEE WHO SHE WAS LOOKING AT AN IT WAS JAMES AND HIS FRIEND ARRON. JAMES WAS A GUY WHO BEEN TRYING TO GET WITH ME FOR YEARS, BUT I NEVER GAVE HIM THE TIME OF DAY. IT WASNT BECAUSE HE WASNT CUTE OR ANYTHING HE JUST WAS SO FULL OF HIMSELF. ALWAYS WALKING AROUND LIKE EVERY GIRL WANTS HIM, EVEN THOUGH I DID USE TO HAVE A CRUSH ON HIM. HE STARTED TALKING TO ONE OF MY OLD FRIENDS AND SHE DIDNT EVEN TELL ME SO I CUT THEM BOTH OFF. EVER SINCE THEN I JUST TRY AND NOT SAY OR LOOK IN THEIR DIRECTION. ONCE I SAW WHO SHE WAS LOOKING AT I TURNED BACK AROUND "UGH I DONT SEE WHAT YALL SEE IN HIM HE NOTHING BUT A DOG." I SAID PLACING MY HAND UNDER MY CHIN. "WHO ARRON, GIRL HE IS SO FINE." SHE SAID "OR WAS YOU TALKING ABOUT JAMES? THAT IS YOUR MAN GIRL YOU SHOULD KNOW WHY HE LOOKING OVER HERE." SHE SAID SMILING WHILE SHE SIP OUT HER CUP. "WHY YOU GOT TO PLAY SO DAMN MUCH? YOU KNOW I'M WAY OVER HIM. YOU KNOW HE A NO GOOD DOG AND I DONT WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM ANYMORE. JUST THE SIGHT OF HIM WANT ME WANT TO." I SAID BEFORE I WAS INTERRUPTED BY HER "GIRL SHUT UP THEY COMING OVER, PLEASE BE NICE."

After talking with Sara about the changes to the menu, I was walking to my car when I noticed Charles leaning against the back of it. "Charles, what the hell?" I said walking over pulling out my keys "you left me on the grill tonight, where the hell did you go?" He looked pale "Hey you ok?" I asked as I got closer to him, I noticed the dark spot on his shirt "Oh god are you bleeding?" "I need your help." he said holding his side "We got to get you to the hospital." I said helping him around the jeep to the passenger seat. Rushing around to the driver side, I got in, throwing my bag in the back seat "What happened?" I said backing out of the space, "I'm in trouble," he said grabbing my shirt off the floor pressing it to his side "Dude you need to go to the hospital." I said looking over at him, "No hospitals they be looking for me there, and I can't go back to my place neither." he said panting "So where do you want me to take you?" I asked looking at him again "you don't look so good Charles." "Take me to your place." he said "Oh no you can't," I said stopping at the red light "you need a doctor or someone." "Syria I'm serious I need your help," he said pulling out a gun pointing it at me "now go home." "Charles! What the hell?!" I said "You aren't listening!" he shouted sweating and panting "just go home." "Alright, alright! I'm going." I said changing directions heading towards my house "I have to call my dad and let him know I can't make it." I said pulling out my phone "Call him and put it on speaker" He said as I dialed my dad putting the phone on speaker "Hey sweetie, are you on your way?" he asked laughing "Um something came up so I can't make it tonight." I said turning into the parking lot of my building "Oh no, is everything okay?" he asked "Yea everything fine," I said parking the car, shutting the car off. "Okay so tomorrow night then?" he asked "Yea tomorrow, I got to go. Talk to you tomorrow, I love you dad." I said "Love you too. See ya tomorrow." he said hanging up "What now?" I asked Charles looking to him "We got to get inside." he said "I'm not sure we weren't followed." "Followed by who?" I said as he pulled me into the elevator, he pushed the third-floor button and then the tenth floor. "How did you know what floor I live on?" I asked standing in the corner "I don't." He said pushing the fifth-floor button after the elevator stopped on the third floor, "Well don't you think it would be nice to ask me what floor I live on? Or are we just going to ride the elevator all night?" I asked him "Well smartass what floor do you live on? Or are you just going to let us ride the elevator all night?" He snarled pointing the gun at me. I pushed the twelfth-floor button. I unlocked my door, Charles walked in after me, "Where is your bathroom?" He asked as I was putting down my bag and keys, I pointed down the hall "First door on the right." I said, "Let's go." he said pointing the gun at me "I'm need your help." "Um you need a doctor." I said walking to my bathroom, flicking on the light; "I told you No, now you're going to help me." He growled at me "I don't even have bandages how am I going to help you." I said opening my medicine cabinet to show him the inside. He sighed as he looked inside "well go to the store and get some, and if you talk to anyone or bring anyone back......" Someone knocked on my door, I jumped; "Who is that?" he snapped pointing the gun at my chest "How am I to know? Last time I checked I can't see through walls." I snapped back moving down the hall to the door. "RIA open the door, I know you're in there! I see your car in your spot." Kris said through the door "Oh crap." I said looking the peephole seeing Kris standing there "Who is it?" He said behind me "It's my neighbor Kris." I said looking at him. "Well get rid of her." he snarled "And how do you propose I do that?" I asked him "I don't know think of something." he said jamming the gun against my side "Alright poky." I said unlocking the door. "Hi Kris, can you do me a favor." I said opening the door enough to see her, "It's about time," She said pushing the door, as I pushed back against it "what the hell?" "Sorry you can't come in." I said smiling "I'm little busy." She smiled "Does Missy have someone in there with her?" she asked trying to look over my shoulder "Yes so we have to reschedule." I said "Really?" she asked, "who is he?" she asked "Look Kris I got to go." I said as I felt Charles poking me with the gun. "Alright. But I want details." she said walking back up the hall. "Alrighty girl. Bye." I closed the door, Charles leaned heavily against the wall, "Grab a towel." he said moving to the couch, laying down, I rushed to the bathroom and grabbed a towel, "Here." I said tossing him the towel, he quickly pressed it to his side. "Charles please I beg you." I said sitting down on the table in front of him "Let me take you to the hospital, I'm not a doctor and you're not getting any better." He looked up at me, "Look I can't go to the hospital, they will be looking for Me." he said "you said that earlier." I said getting up walking to my window "Who would be following you? And why the hell did you pick me?!!!!" "You were the only one I trust not to call the cops." he said "only because you have a gun." I snapped at him as I threw up my hands. "I'm sorry, once I'm patched up, I'll go." he said sitting up a little, I walked back around the couch to look at him "Fine, I'll go get your supplies." I growled getting my keys and bag "Try not to bleed too much on my couch." walking out of the apartment.

I walked out of the store, I got in my car "Why the hell am I helping him?" I asked myself as I got in the car. I stopped at the red light, my phone rang "Hello?" I said "Hey girl your first door is busted wide open!" Kris said as I pulled in to my parking spot, "Hold on I'm coming up now." I said getting out of the car, walking to the elevator. Getting off the elevator, I saw two officers and Mrs. Gordon, and Kris was standing in front of my door, "What happened?" I asked as I walked over to them "Excuse me Madam Do you live here?" the male officer said looking at me "Yes I do." I said "I'm Officer Wilson this is my partner Officer Carson" Officer Wilson said as I looked inside; my apartment looked like a hurricane went through it. "What the hell?" I said "Madam do you anyone who would want to do this?" Officer Wilson said as I stepped inside my apartment looking at the other people dusting and snapping pictures of the mess, "No I just went to the store." I said looking for Charles, not seeing him. I turned to the officers "How long were you gone?" Officer Carson said walking in "Twenty to thirty minutes," I said walking back out of my apartment "I was going to get something to eat. But I left my wallet." Kris walked over to me "You can stay the night with me, and since I'm get off early tomorrow night I come over and help you clean up." Kris said wrapping an arm around my waist.

"WHY THE HELL WOULD I BE NICE TO SOMEONE LIKE THAT?" I SAID JUST AS THEY ARRIVED TO THE TABLE. "BECAUSE I KNOW YOU STILL LIKE ME GIRL I DONT KNOW WHY YOU PLAYING HARD." JAMES SAID STANDING BESIDE ME, HE PUT HIS HAND ON MY SHOULDER AND RUBBED IT ALITTLE. "GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME BEFORE I BREAK IT" I SAID PUSHING HIS HAND OFF OF ME. I STOOD UP AND TURNED TOWARDS HIM, "LOOK HERE I DONT WANT YOU OK IF I WANTED YOU I COULDVE HAD YOU. SO THEREFORE SHUT UP AND GO AWAY, NOT EVERY GIRL WANT YOU YOUR NOT ALL THAT OK." I LOOKED BACK AT MY FRIEND AND SIGHED "IM BOUT TO GO ILL SEE YOU LATER DONT HAVE TIME TO SIT ROUND HERE WITH THESE TWO." I SAID LOOKING AT JAMES AND ARRON. I WALKED OFF LEAVING HER THERE WITH THEM TWO. I SOMETIMES DONT GET HER SHE ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR ATTENTION. I DONT CARE I GOT THINGS BETTER TO DO ANYWAY I HAVE A DATE LATER ON TODAY.