Chapter 1

"ELENA! PICKUP!" The obnoxious over-weight cook called out from the front.

"GOT IT THANKS!" She yelled back. Elena was currently hiding in the back of the small restaurant. After ten hours of nothing but dealing with rude customers and co-workers who do nothing but gossip she was sick of this shit. She was supposed to have today off. Of course her dick boss would call her in. She had worked the last five days on double shifts and she was tired to say the least.

One more hour Elena. You can do this. She told herself. Her black apron was covered in grease stains and spots. Her hair, which was once in a tight bun had fallen and turned into a pile of hair on top of her head. She had opted to wear black Nikes, even though they weren't dress code, because she thought they would be more comfortable, but now she just wanted to take them off. She was sure she had makeup smudged somewhere on her face because the cook kept looking at her strange.

As she grabbed her tables' food off the counter she saw her manager stick his head out of his office.

"ELENA! I need to see you in my office as soon as you deliver that." He told her quickly.

Fuck, the last person he called in there got fired. Elena could not afford to lose her job right now. Between her little brothers' tuition payments and rent she was barely making it as it was. She loved Jeremy, don't get her wrong. It's just sometimes she wished she could have gone to New York with the rest of her friends after they graduated instead of staying behind to take care of him. After her parents died though, she knew it was her responsibility. She was all the family he had left.

Elena delivered the customers food with a fake smile for a good tip before heading into her boss's office. She knocked twice on the open door to get his attention. He was busy typing away at the computer. Elena had never really like him. He was a tall lanky man who was always making passes at her. She knew he did it to all the waitresses, it's just that he was gross the way he went about it.

"Elena, I have some bad news." His nasally voice started. He looked up shortly to eye Elena's body up and down before smirking and returning his attention to the computer screen.

"Due to budget cuts we're having to let some people-"He wasn't allowed to finish his sentence before Elena cut him off.

"Mr. Fell, I have worked here since I turned seventeen. I'm almost twenty-three! I work harder than anyone in this damn place and you're just going to 'let me go'?" She questioned angrily with air quotes around the last part of her sentence. Logan Fell was the absolute worse boss ever. He called you in on your days off, payed you little to nothing for the time spent, and fired you if you didn't sleep with him. Elena knew exactly what he was about to say when he stood up and walked around the desk to stand in front of her. Before he could even start to make a pass she started again.

"Don't even try that shit with me. I quit." She quickly undid her apron and tossed it at him before storming off. There was no way in hell she was about to let him talk to her like she was some piece of meat. She walked right out the back and turned down the next street to make her way home. She was tired of this good for nothing, small town. Elena was sick of always having to smile and wave to everyone, pretending she was fine. Otherwise some nosy lady would start bugging her. She sighed as she walked into the center of town and sat down on a small park bench. She took her hair out of its halfway bun and let her chocolate waves fall down her back. It was nearing fall so she couldn't sit outside this late too long or else she was start freezing. Elena sat back and looked at the stars until the weight of what happened really set in.

Great going Elena. She thought. You just lost your job.

She put her elbows on her knees and covered her face with her hands. What was she supposed to do now? No job meant no money, which meant no rent, which in turn meant no place to live and no money for Jer to go to school. Maybe it was time she start fresh anyway. Bonnie and Caroline, her best friends since the age of five had both offered her a place to stay in New York. While they both lived close to each other Caroline had wanted her own apartment to share with her boyfriend, Tyler. She had moved out of Bonnies place about three months ago. Which meant that Bonnie didn't have a roommate anymore. Perhaps it was meant to be.

Elena looked down at her phone it was nearing ten o'clock. She knew her friends definitely wouldn't be sleeping, but out partying, so she went ahead and called Bonnie. It rang twice before a loud voice answered.

"Elena?!" Caroline screamed.

"Yeah it's me." Elena replied. She could tell Bonnie was out with Caroline because she could hear her telling Caroline to give her the phone.

"Elena are you okay?" Bonnie asked worried. Elena smiled. Bonnie had always been the kind one in the trio. Caroline the obnoxious no filter friend, Elena the compassionate one, and Bonnie the kind down to earth friend.

"I'm fine Bonnie. I had a question I wanted to ask you actually." Elena said hesitantly. She knew her friends had wanted her to come stay with them, but it was still awkward asking after she had just lost her job.

"Before you even ask, yes you can stay with me. Caroline has had your furniture in storage since we graduated so we'll get the guys to set it up and you just need to get here okay?"

Elena pulled the phone away from here ear when she heard a shriek come from Caroline's mouth on the other end.

"Sorry about that Elena, she's just had a little too much to drink tonight." Bonnie told her.

"I have not! I've only had maybe three or four. Maybe five, I forgot." She heard Caroline argue back.

"It was seven and leave me alone so I can talk to Elena!" Bonnie yelled back. "Elena?"

Elena smiled. She missed her friends. This was definitely the right choice.
"I'm here. Are you sure it's okay?"

"Are you kidding me? I'm surprised you didn't just show up. You're like a sister to me Elena." Bonnie reminded her. It was true though. Bonnie's mother had died shortly after Elena's parents. As a result she and Elena had become a lot closer. They had spent countless nights comforting each other and finishing tubs and tubs of Ben&Jerry's.

"I know. I'm sorry. It's just been a rough couple of years. But it's time for a fresh start, especially away from this town." Elena said confidently. "New job, new city, new me."

"I'm glad to hear it. When do you think you'll make it up here? I have an old friend who might be able to get you a job at a well-known bar. He's super laid back and I'm sure he'll hire you on the spot." Bonnie knew Elena would need a job and her friend paid very well.

"I could probably make it to your place by afternoon tomorrow if I left soon. I just need to pack my bag. That sounds amazing by the way. Think you could give him my number?" Elena asked excitedly.

"I'll do better. I'll have you an interview for tomorrow at seven okay? Send me a text when you're on your way."

"Will do. Thank you Bonnie."

"Anytime 'Lena. Love you."

At that she hung up. She stood up and made the short walk back to her house. She knew it wouldn't take her long to pack so she called Ms. Forbes, the town sheriff and Caroline's mom who was more than willing to look over the house while Elena was gone. Elena smiled when she thought about all the family she had gained when her parents had passed. It made the hurt not cut so deep.

After grabbing two large suitcases and a duffle bag Elena was ready to pack. She made sure to pack any clothes she might need and anything with extreme value. It wasn't much, but she knew she could get anything else she needed while in New York. With her bags packed and her dad's SUV loaded Elena headed to New York.

Little did she know that her entire life was about to change.