When I reached the apartment, I was soaked to the bone. My skin and hair were slick with rain, and my breath came out in puffs of cold air.
I took the back steps and fumbled with my key, hopping from one foot to the other, trying to warm myself.
I opened the door, entering the now familiar confines of my apartment. It was cold.
I pulled out a broom from the closet, and hit it several times against the ceiling. "Wally!" I shouted, knowing he was fast asleep, probably from too much liquor.
A minute of banging, and I heard the heater turn on. "Thank you!" I shouted, putting the broom back into the closet.
I went into the small bathroom, and filled the tub with scalding hot water. I liked it that way, it made me feel clean, and refreshed.
I sunk into the water, releasing all the stress of my day.
The nightmares had been getting worse. It was keeping me up at night, as I was unable to sleep from fear of seeing his face again.
"Stop that. Its over with," I said out loud, "you have a new life now, he cant find you here." I scolded. Sometimes I needed to be harsh with myself.
I sighed, looking up at the little clock by the mirror.
Crap. I had work.
Grudgingly, I pulled myself out of the tub. I toweled myself off, and put on the outfit we were to wear.
It was a waitressing dress. It was an ugly olive green, with a white apron that came with a matching hat. It was very short, it came mid thigh, "To attract the male customers," Bob, my boss had said. But the shortness of it made it so I would have to put concealer on my arms and legs. That may sound odd to you, but for me it was a way of life.
I put a black jacket over the dress, shoving the hat into the pocket of my apron.
I got on the bus and rode it over to work. The ride there was dull. The bus was practically empty, except for the men and women trying to get home after a hard days work.
"Last stop, everybody off!" the driver said gruffly, his voice raspy.
Myself, as well as two other people got off, each going our separate ways.
I walked slowly toward the blinking neon sign that read: Bob's House of Lobster.
I walked through the back door.
"Hey Elizabeth," Said Matt, his hands in the sink that was piled high with dishes.
"Hey Matt." I said tiredly.
"Didn't get much sleep last night?" He asked, accurately judging my expression. Sometimes I was too easy to read.
"Yeah." I sighed, pulling the hat out of my pocket, and putting it onto my head, smothering my pride.
"That sucks," he said, still trying to make conversation.
"Hey look, Matt, I'll talk to you later, I have customers." I said, walking out the door.
"Okay, see ya!" he called out after me.
I went up to Julie. "Hey Jules, I'm here to take over your shift." I said somberly.
"Oh, Thank you." she said, pulling on her jacket, "I stamped your time card fifteen minutes ago, so Bob wouldn't be mad that you were late." she said taking off her hat. "Oh, and watch out for table three." she said, waving and walking out the door.
I looked over at table three.
It was filled with scruffy looking men, they were all laughing boisterously, telling dirty jokes. I wasn't up for this, so I decided to take the easier tables first.
I went up to table six. "Hello, welcome to Bob's House of Lobster, may I take your order?" I asked, pulling out a notepad, and a pen.
"Bella?" I heard someone exclaim.
I glanced up startled. It was Jordan, a friend from my old life. She was looking at me, in shock.
"Uh, no," I said, as people looked up in curiosity at Jordan's outburst. "I am Elizabeth." I said, pointing to my name tag. "May I take your order?" I asked, in a slightly panicked voice.
She looked at me skeptically, her eyebrows raised. "Do I look stupid to you?"
"Uh, miss you have obviously mistaken me for someone else, so if I may take your order..." I said, wishing I had taken on table three first.
Jeff, Jordan's boyfriend turned to her. "This isn't Bella, Honey, see, her hair is darker, and she is taller. Though there is a slight resemblance, you cannot keep accusing everyone of being Bella, she is gone." he said, putting an arm around his distraught girlfriend.
She turned back to me and sighed, "I-I'm sorry, but ever since my best friend ran away, I haven't been able to get her out of my mind." she said, shaking her head sadly.
I frowned, the gentle ache in my heart making me want to cry. "I am sorry miss, really I am, but your order?"
They both ordered the number thirteen, which was endless shrimp and crab.
"What was that all about?" Matt asked me, as I gave the slip of paper to Thomas, and Spencer, our cooks.
"She thought I was one of her old friends, what a laugh eh?" I said, trying to laugh.
"Yeah," he said, laughing with me.
I felt like I was ready for table three, too tired and annoyed to put up with whatever these guys would dish out.
"Hello, My name is Elizabeth, I will be your waitress this evening, is there anything I can get for you gentlemen?" I asked.
The men laughed. The man with the greasy blonde hair spoke up, seeming to be the bravest and most arrogant of the lot.
"Yeah there is something you can get 'fer me!" He said, taking his fork, and trying to lift up my skirt.
I stepped away from him and the offending fork. "Please sir, may I have your order?"
"Yes, I would like the endless tits with a side dish of bootie," He said smiling, handing me his menu.
I began to write, "So that would be an order of kiss mine, and dream on." I said, taking him menu, and moving on to the next guy.
They all ordered the things off the menu, figuring I wasn't to be messed with, but that greasy blonde haired guy just didn't take a hint.
"Hey, Liz!" he said, pointing to his glass that I had just filled moments before.
I sighed, and picked up the pitcher, and carried it over to the table.
I bent over and started pouring, I realized when the glass was nearly full, the reason behind his extreme thirst.
When I bent over he was looking straight down my dress, which had fallen open just enough to see properly.
In a moment of blind fury, I dumped the whole pitcher of ice water over his head.