Disclaimer: Don't own them, didn't create them

Summary: Modern Cinderella, Tori's life is harder than most at school, she has to deal with living on her own and working at a dirty diner. The people in the diner are nice but she still has to deal with her best friend and her other friend leaving their group to be popular.

The Life and Times

Tori Hanson wasn't your average girl. She was about to graduate high school and head off to college but first she had to get an acceptance that would pay for her schooling. She had no money, it disappeared along with her mom and dad and she was left with the small house. Her job consisted of waiting on tables at a diner owned by a cruel and unkind lady. But she made her fun surfing the waves of California's beach in Blue Bay Harbour.

Although the owner was cruel, the workers were as nice as they came. Rhonda, the head waitress knew all about Tori's sorrows and understood because she had gone through them to at her age. The chef, Mario, was the kindest guy you'd ever meet in a diner, he always had a smile on his face and never said anything that he regretted. There were a few other nice waitresses: Mandy and Fiona.

Tori's best friend was Dustin Brookes. He was the nice guy who usually had no clue about anything, anything except motocross. He knew everything about Tori, they were friends since they were four and surprisingly, never fell for each other. His eyes always offered comfort to Tori and she was usually there for him when he needed her.

Shane Clarke used to be a friend of theirs until he joined the 'popular' group of people. He would talk to them still but only when his clique was not around, he didn't want to lose his cool guy status. He was the skater of the group, almost always late for everything and hardly paid attention to anything except what was cool and who was cool, like his new girlfriend, Molly Barker.

Popular meant, jocks or cheerleaders and usually it was a couple consisting of each. Kate Martin and Blake Bradley were the second in command. If their leader were ever gone, they would be left in charge. Blake was a motocross rider, pretty good too but Dustin could beat him any day of he wanted.

The leader often felt like he didn't belong, no one understood but no one cared, as long as he was still popular, that was all that anyone ever cared about. Tori grew quite fond of the young man, best motocross rider of the whole town and probably the best in the state. With his girlfriend, the head cheerleader Melanie Brown, Hunter Bradley was the perfect guy to crush on.

Tori and Dustin carpooled to school everyday, taking turns in each others cars and pulling in to the popular group. Shane usually kept quiet but the three girls went all out, making fun of her job and lifestyle. Her car wasn't the best but it was better than nothing and although better than nothing wasn't enough to be left alone, Tori didn't reply to anything the girls said, usually. Today was different. She knew if she didn't do something, she would graduate with regrets.

"Hey Diner Girl, nice car." Melanie shouted.

"Where's yours, did daddy buy you a new one this week?" Tori retorted as Dustin looked on in shock.

"No, it's only every month." Molly yelled, adding to Melanie's taunting.

"Is that because you can't maintain a car or just because you're spoiled rotten?"

"Diner Girl." Melanie glared at the girl and everyone around her laughed, except Shane and Hunter, they were off in their own worlds.

"Whatever." Tori muttered.