A/N: Hey guys. So this idea popped into my head one day while I was writing my other story and I decided to write one chapter of it. Not sure if I should keep it going though. If I do continue with this story it won't effect how regularly I update my current story The Girl With the Smile. So let me know what you guys think. Reviews would be very appreciated and hope you enjoy.=)
Chapter 1
A part of me thinks that I should have stayed, stayed for everyone that didn't make it so that I could fight for them. But then I think, what good it would be if I stayed for another tour? I came out of it when some weren't as lucky, I should live my life for them. I walk around this new town thinking of the friends I lost while overseas; and it's actually pretty peaceful, well the surroundings at least. When I first came home to New York City, it was really overwhelming with all the crowds and noise. I couldn't handle it, and my parents could tell that I was struggling with adjusting to life back home. I had been away for four years. I was a different person, and they could see that. So when I got accepted into different colleges for winter admission, I ruled out all the schools that had a large student population. My parents had wanted me to go to NYU, but I knew that would never be an option for me.
I finally decided on this small college in Pennsylvania, and now I'm really glad. I've been here for a week and it's nothing like New York, and this is exactly what I need right now. I wish that I didn't leave my parents because they barely got me back, but I need to do this for me. I walk around the town aimlessly thinking about my last four years, and finally settle into a place called the Apple Rose Grille. I'm looking at a menu when I hear a popping sound, and I jump up knocking over the table while making the waitress drop the drinks she had in her hand.
"Oh my God I'm terribly sorry!" I pick the table up and drop to the floor to help pick up the cups. I grab some napkins that were on my table and help the girl clean up the mess. The waitress looks at me and raises her eye brow while smiling.
"It's okay. No harm no foul." She grabs the cups from my hand and slowly stands up. "You go to Hollis right?"
"Yeah I just started. How did you know?" I walk with the girl towards the counter while I await her answer to my question.
"I thought I saw you in my English class. My name is Hanna by the way." The blonde extends her hand to me and I smile while I see her bright blue eyes sparkle.
"Emily." I shake her hand and return the smile. "I'm sorry for that by the way, I guess I just freaked out." I retracted my hand and avert my eyes.
"It's totally fine. Sorry, I have to go and take orders, the other waitress called in sick and we have no one else to fill in her place so.." She begins to walk away and abruptly stops and turns to me with a smirk.
"Hey have you ever been a waitress?"
"Um, not really but I guess there's always a first time for everything right?" I let out a chuckle and Hanna's face lights up. She goes behind the counter and hands me a notepad and a black waist apron.
"Perfect your already wearing a black t-shirt. Just take the orders and bring them to the cooks. And I'll ring them up after okay?"
"Yes ma'am" I head over to my first table and everything went smoothly and for the next five hours it was busy with people calling in orders and people walking in. For this being my first time doing this I actually did pretty good. It was the first time in the last four years that I have actually felt like a normal person, like I never went through the things I did. Hanna finally closes out while I clean the tables and she places a burger in front of me with some money.
"What's this?" I throw the towel over my shoulder as I sit down, and she places another plate down. She heads back to the counter where she grabs two sodas and finally sits down.
"These are your tips and some extra money. I also have to feed you for working a shift with no break." She sends a smile over to me before she takes a bite of her burger. "You know you should work here. You did great for it being the first time; my sister owns the restaurant but she leaves me in charge of the hiring. If you want the job it's yours, these other girl's are flakes." She rolls her eyes and I take a sip of my drink to hide my smile. I could use a job since my classes are all in the morning and it's not like I live far from here. I thought for sure after my freak out earlier it was going to be a bad day, but it's turned out okay. Slowly but surely, I am adjusting to "normal" life. I nod my head towards Hanna and she tells me to come on by tomorrow to fill out some paperwork.
Tomorrow morning comes ever so quickly. The sun comes through the window, blinding me in the face as it wakes me up. Rosewood was beautiful in the morning, and I really could get use to this town. It was quiet and I was already feeling at home here. I look around my apartment and see that I still have boxes everywhere. I smile to myself, because I know I will have plenty of time to make this apartment my home. I realize that my sleeping habits that I had become accustomed to are still in effect, seeing as it's 6 in the morning. There's no use in me trying to go back to sleep, so I change into a sweater and some basketball shorts. I decide to head out to go get some breakfast.
I walk around the town and nothing really catches my eye until I'm almost back to my apartment; an aroma sticks out to me and I'm met with a place called the Rear Window Brew. Coffee sounded really good right now, so I walk in and see a tall auburn woman placing pastries into the glass display case. She looks up at me with a smile and a good morning. Her smile was very warm and it made my stomach do flips, what is going on with me?
"You must be new to town." The auburn girl ducks under the display case and places one croissant on a plate and pushes it towards me. "On the house. What can I get you to drink?" I thought I was the only one who was this cheerful in the morning.
"An Americano. Also thank you. Yes ma'am I am. How did you know?" I grab the plate and hand her some of the tip money Hanna gave me yesterday.
"Ma'am? I don't think I'm much older than you." She lets out a small laugh as she makes my coffee. "It's a small town. Everyone knows everyone and everything around here. Here you go and sure thing."
"Sorry I guess its force of habit. How old are you by the way?" I grab the coffee and sit at a nearby table while she opens some boxes and starts stacking the coffee cups. "You know I'm slowly starting to figure that out."
"Just turned 25. And you solider?" I freeze as I hear her words, dammit I didn't want anyone to know about my past just yet. I look at her and she looks at me awaiting an answer.
"I'm 22 ma'am. How did you know I was a soldier?" I shyly look up at her and she comes and sits across from me.
"You called me ma'am, most young adults are not so proper. Also your posture is impeccable, most people slouch. My husband was in the army so I know how to spot a fellow soldier. " She gives me a weak smile and I notice she is holding onto a locket on her necklace. While we are sitting in silence, it seems like she's not here for a moment but she quickly snaps out of it, getting up and walking back to the counter to help a customer. I grab my croissant and coffee and head out the door. I walk over to the park to enjoy some more silence while finishing my breakfast. Even though it's winter, the sun still makes its way through and it feels good. I close my eyes as I soak up the little sun that's there, and listen to the wind rustle through the trees.
The hot sun beating down on me was something I became accustomed too, walking in very high temperatures with my uniform and armor weighing me down. During boot camp one of the tasks we had to master was being able to withstand a long period of time with our armor and uniforms. Still, the amount of training we went through couldn't have prepared us for this. I was usually on the day shift of our watches, which meant my squad got the worst of the heat. Roaming around the camp securing everything in the heat wore my squad and I down. When we had our off days we liked to just lie out in the sun without our armor. Granted, we hated being in the heat because of our armor, but without it the sun hitting us felt good. Soaking up the sun without my uniform, was one of my safe havens during my tours. I guess it was the thought of being at peace for at least one minute that got me through my four years.
Thinking about my squad and my tours passed the time; I was supposed to meet Hanna at 10 at the Grille. I walk to the Grille and open the door to find Hanna and two other brunettes at the counter looking at me.
"Emily. These are my best friends Spencer and Aria." The bubbly blonde introduces her friends to me and they seem nice. Looking at them, I can see Spencer is a bit shorter than me, while Aria looks like she's almost a foot shorter than me. Both girls had a pale complexion but Aria looked friendlier than Spencer, who looked weary of me. I extended my hand towards the two girls, and Aria shook my hand first and Spencer after some hesitation did the same.
"Nice to meet you both." Hanna moves forward and hands me the paperwork and I sit at the counter to fill it out. The three girls give me space and move towards a table nearby.
"So what brings you to Rosewood?" I turn to see that Aria was the one that asked the question.
"Um." I didn't want everyone to figure out I was soldier today, so I leave out some parts. "I needed a change of scenery, and I got accepted to Hollis so it just worked out that way." I continue to fill out my paperwork, when a little girl comes out of the back and runs to Hanna. Where did she come from? I guess I expressed a puzzled look because Hanna began to explain.
"Oh, she was in the bathroom when you first came in." Hanna picks up the little girl and the brown-haired girl hugs her and stops when she spots me. "That's Emily. Go say hi." The little girl looks at Hanna and back at me. She jumps off of Hanna and makes her way towards me. I kneel down to be at the same level as the girl, she couldn't be more than 4 years old.
"Hi" she says shyly.
"Hello. What's your name sweetie?" Hanna stands up and makes her way towards us and stands by the little girl.
"Evelyn" The little girl answers and holds on to Hanna's leg.
"You have a very pretty name" The little girl hugs me and I return the hug and give her a smile. "How old is your daughter?" I say as I look up at Hanna who lets out a small laugh, while the other two girls look at me wide-eyed. The little girl tugs at my shirt to get my attention.
"She's not mommy, she's auntie Hanna."
"This is my niece. She's my sister's daughter." I feel my cheeks burn in embarrassment, and I see Evelyn run over to Aria and Spencer where they begin to play with her.
"I apologize. I didn't know, I just assumed." I stand back up and I'm met with Hanna's eyes.
"It's fine. I'm always around her so I do get that sometimes. She's 3 almost 4 though." Hanna says with a smile and begins to walk over to the counter where I was filling out the paperwork and asked if I had finished. "Well, my sister should be here any minute to sign off so if you could wait that'll be great." I nod and as I'm about to sit down, I hear Evelyn run towards the door yelling 'Mommy'. I turn and see the woman from the coffee place I went to this morning. "There she is."
"Hey Paige." Spencer and Aria say in unison. Paige looks over at them and replies with a 'hi' and she looks over at Hanna and sees me. She smiles at me and I feel my stomach do flips again as she walks over.
"We meet again." I smile at her cheerful words. Yeah I really like this town so far.