A/N: Glad you guys are enjoying it so far. Thank you all for the reviews

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

The past week hasn't exactly been great. You're still trying to find a job, but no one else seems to be in need of any extra help. So your day basically consists on walking around the city with your curriculum in hands, leaving it at as many places as you can. So far, no one called, and you start to feel a bit nervous. Being honest, you're having trouble with sleep. The last time you felt this way was when you met your stupid father. You had to sleep at that shitty place all by yourself, and you spent nights awake after that. That asshole just terrified you.

For the first time after a week, you go back to the café. You needed it. It would make you feel better, as it did at the first time. You are not sure if that's because there were people who at least seemed to actually care about you or if it was because of the friendly reminder of the few times you had a nice time on your childhood. It's kind of embarrassing to say that your mom was at all of these happy memories.

When you walk in, the smell of coffee hit you right in the face. You walk to the balcony once again, sitting at the very same spot that you sat the last time you came. Your eyes scan the ambient, only stopping when they meet a pair of blue, naïve eyes. Your lips curl into a smirk as you see the blonde woman blushing heavily. She smiles back, approaching nervously. "So, you decided to show up, Miss Vause?" She tries to joke, but you can tell she's nervous by her voice. "I was starting to think you wouldn't come again."

"Sweet you remember my name, kid, but Miss Vause is my mom." You joke, smiling widely at her. "It's Alex. And I thought about coming earlier, but I was out looking for a job." You lift a folder containing all of your remaining curriculums. "Did you miss me?" She laughs, crossing her arms. "I'll take this as a yes."

"Believe whatever you want. And it's Piper." You roll your eyes. She was still a kid anyway. "What can I get to you?"

"Coffee. And the same piece of pie someone sent to me the last time I came here. I don't know if you recall." She blushes, and it makes you satisfied. You smile crookedly, tapping your fingers on the balcony while she was gone. Shortly after, she came back with your coffee and a piece of pie, but definitely wasn't the one you had last week. "Okay, I'll assume you forgot. You bought me a slice of apple pie last week, kid. Definitely not this one."

"I know. I remember." She shrugs, like she's trying to look like it's not a big deal. It's kind of cute, actually, but you still want to laugh. "I thought you might want to try this one. It's kind of a new flavor." She bits her lower lip, looking anxiously at you. You quirk a brow but says nothing, taking a bit of the pie. And it's surprisingly good. It's sweet, but not too sweet. You close your eyes, letting out a pleasured moan. "Did you like it?"

"It's fucking great." You say, stuffing your mouth with more of it. Not very lady-like, you know, but she sighs in relief, as if your approval was what mattered the most to her. "Damn, are you going to keep surprising me like this, kid? Because then I'll seriously consider coming back every day from now on."

"I'm glad you liked it." She says, leaning on the balcony. "Sorry, let me just –" she reaches out for your face, running her thumb through your cheek. You close your eyes, enjoying the feeling of her touch on your skin, standing really close from your lips. "You had something in there." She mumbles, blush coming back to her face. "I-I should go back to the kitchen. I, uh – yeah. 'Till tomorrow?"

"Sure." You grin, watching as she goes. Your mom would like her.

"You actually came back." The Nichols girl, the one with the messy hair, says, coming into your direction. She unplugged her earphones and placed it around her neck. The music was so loud you could hear some rock band playing. "You made blondie sad by taking so long."

"Did I?" You smirk, taking a sip from your coffee. "Sorry. I'll make sure I schedule my job interviews for earlier; maybe I can spend more time here then."

"You are looking for a job?" She asked, and you nod. "Didn't get anything, huh? I'll tell you what; we kind of in need for more people for the balcony." You frown. The place didn't have any client but you. "Well, actually to clean the tables and stuff. This shit is pretty dead most of the time. Morello and I are the only ones to clean this whole shit, so…"

"What about Piper?" You question, glancing at the kitchen door.

"Who?"

"Pip – Chapman." You answer. You forgot they didn't use first names in here. "Isn't she working on the balcony too?"

"Oh, blondie." Nichols smirks, leaning on the balcony. "Actually, she was just giving us a little help here. She works at the kitchen, as a baker."

"A baker?"

"Yeah, you know, that person who –"

"I know what a baker is." You roll your eyes. "I just – she's like what, twelve? I didn't know you allowed kids to play with fire."

"Well, you seemed quite fond on her." She smirks, and you feel heat coming through your neck up to your face. "You don't have a thing for kids, right? 'Cause that's going to be a problem." You shake your head and place your cool hands on your cheeks, trying to mask the red from her face. "Cool. So, are you in or what?"

"Wait, are you serious?" You ask, surprised. It's not every day people go hiring random people who they've just met. "Uh, yeah. I'm in. W-when do I start?"

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

You are there on the next day. You didn't have an opportunity to tell your mom about the new job, since she was at work, but you would as soon as you two met. She'd be relieved. As far as she's concerned, you could have ended up accepting the job that Fahri guy offered you. And honestly, you almost did. You and your mom were so screwed that when a stranger appeared and offered you a job as a drug dealer you almost got it. Almost. You told your mom before you accepted it, and she threatened to toss you on the street in the middle of the winter with nothing but your underwear on. Drugs weren't her thing. Drugs couldn't get into that house.

"Hey kid." You greet the blonde woman. She turns around, her eyes widening in surprise and her mouth forming an "O". Just like the first time you two met. "Sorry. Did I startle you?" You give her a crooked smile, which only makes her blush further. "Okay, so no talking today? I can deal with that."

"S-sorry." Piper quickly stutters, only making your smile grow bigger. It was fun to see her like that. "You didn't startle me. I'm all good. So, uh, what can I get you today?"

"As much as I'd love to eat one of your pies, I'm here to work." She frowns, tilting her head. "Nichols told me I should come and talk to Red. She's like the, uh, boss or something?"

"She owns the establishment." She answers you. It kind that make sense. The café was named "Red's Café". Not much creative, you've got to say. "Since when are you a new employer in here? I mean, what exactly did I miss yesterday?"

"Weren't you paying attention when I said I was looking for a job? I'm kind of disappointed." She huffs, crossing her arms. "Oh, come on. I'm just kidding. Don't get pissed, you're not cute when you're pissed." Bingo. Her face is as red as a tomato again. "Nichols offered me a job yesterday. Unlikely someone, she actually paid attention to me."

"I was paying attention." She hisses. "I'm just – never mind. Come, I'll take you to Red." She grabs your wrist, pulling you to a door that said only staff allowed. She stops in front of it and take a look at you. Then, she runs her fingers through your hair, pulling your dark strands away from your eyes. She straightens your shirt and adjust your glasses, and for a moment, she remembers you of some parents on their sons' first day of school. Not your mom, of course. Your mom wouldn't embarrass you like that. "Okay, I think you're good."

"Thanks, mom." You mumble, and she laughs at it. "Was I looking that bad?"

"No. Not that bad." She teases, making you smile. Good luck." She knocks on the door, opening it and looking inside. "Red? The girl that Nichols –"

"Tell her to get in." You hear a woman say behind the door. Piper looks at you for a second before opening the door and letting you in. "Are you Vause?"

The woman is not very tall compared to you. But you are very tall, so no comments about that. Her hair is red (duh) and short. She's pale skin and a strong Russian accent. She's exactly the kind of person who'd make people cross the street if ever meet her by chance. But she didn't fright you. In fact, she only encouraged you to take a step closer. And by the way she quirked a brow, she had liked that. "Yes. Alex Vause. Nichols told me I should come."

"Do you have any experience on serving customers, cleaning or at dealing with animals?" You quirk a brow, but nod. "Which one of the above, kid? Don't waste my time."

"Cleaning and serving customers. Why would I need to deal with animals?" You question. She smiles, actually laughs. You're not so sure if that's a good sign.

"No worries, no rats in here. By animals, I mean people in general. And some of the inspectors you'll meet soon." She answers, getting on her feet and walking straight to you. "I'm Red. I own the place. You follow my rules or you are out. Clear?" You nod, but don't quit staring at her eyes. By some stupid reason (which actually got you fired from a job or two), you've always needed to show you're not easy to scare, that you're tough. And thinking about it now, that's probably the kind of thing that almost made you turn into a drug dealer. "You have to be here on time, no exceptions. When you are at work, you'll have to wear your uniform, and at least look presentable. And no drugs are allowed in here. Any objections?" You shake your head, earning a slight smile. "Good. Then you can start already. I'll have someone taking your uniform."

You get out of there relieved. You smile, actually smile for no reason apparently. Your mom would be proud. You sit on one of the empty tables, waiting for one of the girls to show up with your uniform.

"So, how did it go?"

You turn around, meeting the blue eyes once again. Piper approaches you, sitting on the chair by your side. She offers you another piece of pie. "Fine." You tell her, smiling softly. "I'm going to be your new mate, kid. Or kind of that." She smiles at you, sighing in relief. "Thanks."

"For what?" She questions, frowning.

"I don't know exactly. For not charging my pieces of pie. For being nice to me. For actually caring." You can't help but stare inside these sweet blue eyes. She's really beautiful. But you're kind of ashamed for letting your feelings shown like that, so you stare back at the table. At your pie. "Don't tell anyone I said that, trough. Might ruin my badass reputation."

"Can't you be serious at least once?" She smacks your arm playfully. "Try it on." She says, pointing to your pie. You smirk, but cut a piece of it. And it's fucking amazing. No surprise.

"Did you make this?" You ask, moaning in delight. "Kid, these are fucking great. Is this new?" She nods, smiling shyly at the compliment. "Oh, great. Whenever you need a guinea pig, you can call me." She rolls her eyes, and that Nichols kid shows up with a bag, throwing it to you. She smiles, putting her earphones back on.

"Welcome on board, Vause."

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Your mom arrives home at almost midnight. You were asleep on the couch, but you woke up as soon as she got in. You didn't get up, trough. You waited until she ate her dinner quietly in the kitchen, then left the dishes on the sink and came to see if you were okay. She always checked up on you. She pulled your blankets and leaned to kiss you goodnight when you opened your eyes. "Mom."

"Hey baby." She greets you. "What are you doing awake? It's fucking late." You smile, sitting on the couch.

"I got a new job." You tell her. She smiles, a huge smile. "It's at a café down the street. I started today."

"That's great, kiddo." She says softly. "How was your first day?"

"Nice. Except for the asshole who smacked my ass when I was passing by. But it's quite alright. Nichols smacked his face. Apparently, we are allowed to do that." Your mom laughs, and it makes you smile. "How was your day?"

"Not nearly as fun as yours, baby." She kisses the top of your head, getting on her feet. "It's late, Al. You should sleep; I don't want you getting late on your job tomorrow." You nod, getting under your covers once again. She made sure you were okay, and you felt like a child again. You loved that feeling. "Goodnight, baby."

"Night, mom."