Kori's POV

My internal alarm clock woke me up at five twenty in the morning. I silently crawled out of bed and tip toed past my sister's bed to not wake her. I have my first day of work this morning and I am actually a little nervous. I have never worked before and I hope to not mess up on my first day. I had gone online to look up the menu so I could study the meals and their prices last night. Just so I am prepared.

I lifted up my purple uniform and inspected it. The dress is short sleeved with pointed white collars and white buttons running up the top. The bottom is just a simple pastel purple color with pockets on the side. I will just wear a white long sleeve turtle neck under it and no one will notice it. I will also wear white tights under my dress so my legs will not be too exposed.

I did not know what shoes to wear with it so I just went with my white converse high tops.

I quietly grabbed an apple to go as I passed the kitchen and placed on my outdoor fall attire by the door. I do not have a car or my license for the matter and I have to walk to places. I always wanted to learn how to drive but no one ever taught me and I could not afford driver's education classes. Garfield tried to teach me to skateboard but that did not work. My bottom is still numb from all those falls over the summer. It is okay, I do not mind walking at all. It only takes me fifteen minutes to walk to and from the diner and I only have to walk seven minutes to and from the school bus stop. It is also good for my health.

When I got to the diner, Marilyn was waiting for me at the bar. She turned to me once she heard the bells jingle. "Hello darling!" she greeted enthusiastically.

I gave her a wave. "Hello."

She jumped off her stool and motioned for me. "Why don't you come to the back with me? I'll show you where you can place your belongings."

I gave her a nod and followed her behind the bar. We walked passed the diner kitchen and through a door which lead to a smaller kitchen. It looked like a house kitchen with a rectangular table and everything.

"This is the staff room," Marilyn said walking over to the stove. She opened it and using her baking mittens she took something out. It seemed to be a pie? "See this?" she asked.

I gave her a nod.

She looked at it and laughed. "I've tried to master the art of pie baking and I just can't get it right. I can bake just about everything except this." She walked over to the sink and placed the pan in there.

I raised my eyebrows as I took off my jacket and scarf. I placed them on the standing coat rack and then straightened out my uniform.

Marilyn turned to me and opened her mouth.

I grew self conscious under the woman's stare. "Is it the sneakers?" I asked itching the back of my right foot with my left.

She shook her head before smiling. "No the shoes are fine sweetheart. I'm just wishing that I had a body like yours."

I looked down at myself. Body like mine? My body is not special.

"So anyways," Marilyn continued. "I was wondering if you wouldn't mind baking a few pies this morning? I mean what's a diner without pie? And I'd like to start selling some."

"I would not mind at all," I told her.

She gave me a smile. "Great. You should find all the ingredients you need in here. Any questions?"

I thought about it for a moment. "I have one question."

"Yes?" she asked.

"Who is Gordy?" I asked.

Marilyn let out a laugh. "Gordy was my father. He used the own the diner before he died and passed it down to me. Anything else?"

I shook my head. "No that is all."

"Very well then," she said. "I'll introduce you to the cook, William, when he gets here."

I watched as she disappeared outside the kitchen. I walked over to the fridge and opened it. "Let the pie baking begin," I said to myself.

Richard's POV

It's Sunday morning and I'm sitting in a diner, all alone. Why am I alone you ask? I'm actually here to interview a few people for the tutoring position. I have my black sunglasses on so no one will recognize me. And I'm so glad that Donna and Jinx don't work today or else I'd have to explain my situation of failing math class.

"Excuse me sir?" I heard.

I peeked to the side and tried to hide my face from the waitress. "Ah...yea?"

"Would you like anything to drink or eat?" she asked, her voice was soft. She almost sounded angelic but I couldn't look at her. She'd probably recognize me as Dick Grayson and go into a fit about taking a picture with me.

I cleared my throat. "No I don't want anything. I'm here for business so I'd appreciate it if you didn't bother me when I'm interviewing someone." That came out kind of rude but I mean I need her to go away. Dick Grayson can't be seen like this. Imagine the headlines now. Dick Grayson Failing Math! In big bolded letters.

"Um...sure," she said.

My eyes traveled to her as she walked away from me and my eyes caught her white converse sneakers. My eyes traveled back up to her butt...damn! She defiantly has a nice ass. Maybe I should have been more nice to her? I probably could have scored today with diner waitress.

"Mr. Smith?" asked a voice.

I removed my eyes from the view and looked up at a guy who seemed old enough to be in college. I gave him a scowl for making me take my eyes away from the butt.

"You talking to me?" I asked.

The guy looked down at a piece of paper. "Yea. You're John Smith?" he asked confused. "You said to meet you here and you'd be wearing dark sunglasses. You're the only one with sunglasses on so I figured you're John Smith."

John Smith? John Smith? Oh yea! I gave the guy a smile. "Yea I'm...John Smith. You're?"

"Eric Turner," he said and we shook hands.

I motioned to the other side of the booth. "Take a seat please."

He did as he was told. "So you're interested in hiring me as a tutor?"

And that was only the beginning of my few interviews. Eric just didn't cut it out for me. I mean the guy talks on and on and on about numbers. I'm only trying to maintain a C average not trying to die from a brain explosion. Oh and then there's Sophie. A sophisticated little thing all the way from Germany. I would have hired her in a second with that rack but I could not understand one word she was saying. I think she shifted from English to German to who the hell knows what she's saying? Oh and let's not forget about Brian the Braniac as he likes to call himself. Dude, I honestly don't care that your supposed girlfriend is a French supermodel. And your French accent could use a little work. The rest were either too smart, too annoying, too nerdy, or just plain freaky.

I looked over at Jonas who is my last interview and watched as he talked about something. Honestly, my mind isn't even thinking about math right now. I might die if I hear a joke about another fraction again. Oh and here is Jonas ready to tell another one of his famous jokes.

"Thank you Jonas!" I said a little too loudly. I gave him a smile. "I'll let you know if you got the job or not by the end of the week."

"But I didn't finish the joke," he said.

My eyes widened. "I said thank you Jonas."

Jonas took the hint and collected his things to leave.

Once he was gone I leaned forward and placed my face in my hands. God this had got to be one of the most boring three hours of my life. Three hours of my life wasted and I haven't even found a good tutor. So much for getting that C average. I might as well go hang myself now before Bruce does.

I took off my glasses and rubbed my eyes. I need a coffee. I need some pure black coffee. I opened my eyes and searched the diner for my waitress. Where is that butt? Not the butt. Not the butt. Ew! Defiantly not that butt. Not...oh there you are. Yea that's a nice ass. All bubbly and cute. I'd defiantly like to undress her. Damn! There is a god! Richard John Grayson you will put both your fathers in shame if you don't take that home. I licked my lips before raising a finger.

"Excuse me waitress?" I asked.

The girl turned around and my face fell. That is not the face I was expecting. Hair all over her face, large square glasses, and not a dot of makeup on her face. Defiantly not the face I was expecting. Shit! She's making her way towards me right now.

She stopped at my table and looked at me through her glasses. "How can I help you?"

Quick Grayson say something. Wait I've seen her before. "Have we met before?" I asked.

She shifted from one foot to the other and bit her bottom lip. "You do not recognize me?" she asked.

Recognize you? She knows me? So we did meet. "We've met?" I asked.

Her cheeks turned a pink-ish red-ish color as she looked at me. "We...go to...school together," she stuttered.

Okay not the answer I was expecting. I'd defiantly recognize her if I did. I studied her face. School? My eyes winded. "Alice?" I asked.

She closed her eyes and looked down. "Um-

"Small world huh?" I asked.

She didn't say anything.

"Coffee?" I asked.

She gave me a nod before walking behind the counter to retrieve the coffee pot. She came back moments later and grabbed the white mug beside me to pour some coffee. She placed it down for me.

I grabbed the mug and took a sip.

Kori's POV

I watched as Richard Grayson took a sip of his coffee. Alice? He does the hanging out with Kitten. Of course he thinks my name is Alice. I mean he is probably just like her. Constantly mocking others because they simply do not fit in. I should pour this coffee all over him as he seems to be in deep thought. Hmm? Deep thought? I studied him for a moment. He looks to be in serious thought. And I do wonder what all those people were doing here earlier with him. Maybe he needs help? Oh who does the caring? His father's money can save him from any problem. But I still wonder what he is thinking.

With a deep breath I asked, "Is everything alright?"

He did not look at me and simply muttered, "Great."

Sensing he does not want me near him anymore I made the turn to leave.

"Fucking great," I heard.

I raised my eyebrows and turned to him. "Excuse me?" I asked.

He looked up at me, looking confused himself. "Huh? Oh sorry. I wasn't talking to you."

I made the boldest move I ever made and placed the coffee pot down on the table and then took a seat across from him. I fixed my glasses on my face and studied him. "Do you want to talk about it?"

He looked up at me. "You don't care."

"I might be able to help?" I asked him.

He tilted his head. "Okay...fine. But this is a secret and you can't tell anyone in school. Got it?"

I nodded and almost laughed. I do not have friends besides Garfield. "Your secret is safe with me," I said.

He cleared his throat and leaned forward. "I'm failing math," he whispered.

It took me a moment to digest what he just said. I laughed in his face. I did not mean to laugh but he made it seem as though something tragic in his life has happened. Failing math is not that bad or so I had thought. He is on the drugs?

"And you're laughing," he pointed out.

I placed a hand over my mouth. "I am sorry but that is why you are in deep thought?"

"I've been interviewing tutors all day and I haven't found a single one who doesn't drive me insane," he whined.

A math tutor? So that is why he has been sitting with different people every half hour or so. Wait a minute...I am great at math. Perhaps I should tell him some of my study techniques?

I looked at him and noticed he was studying my face. "I do not know if you recall but I am in your math class and I am also very good at math. Perhaps I can-

"Wait," he told me and I clamped my mouth shut. He raised his eyebrows and pointed to me. "You're the geek who finished her test first?"

Geek? I was not expecting that at all. I felt him reach over and grab my hand that was resting on the table. My heart rate increased tremendously before I looked back up at him.

Richard gave me a smile. "I'm sorry Alice. I didn't mean to call you a geek. It's just that you look different without...ya know?" he asked motioning to my clothes.

I looked down at my uniform and nodded. "Oh yes. This is not something I would usually wear but it came with the job."

"So you'd really want to tutor me?" asked Richard removing his hand from mine.

My eyes widened. "Tutor? Oh no I cannot do that. I was simply going to give you some tips and techniques of what I do to study-

"Bullshit!" he exclaimed.

I looked around and made sure no one heard him. "I will ask you to keep your voice down please?"

"Look I need you to tutor me?" he asked in a lower voice.

I sighed and studied him. He does look desperate for help but I cannot do that. It is not my style and we should not be seen together.

"I don't need new study habits," he told me. "I'm really failing math because I just don't understand any of it. Please?" he asked, his voice softening.

My sweet and kind side felt a little bad for him.

"I'll even pay you," he said waving his wallet in the air.

Tempting. Very very tempting. It is no secret that Richard Grayson bathes in gold and I guarantee you he will pay me a good amount. "How much?" I asked.

He smiled at me before looking up in thought. "Well the other tutors told me they usually charge around fifteen to twenty bucks an hour."

"Make it thirty?" I asked.

He raised his eyebrows. "Really? So you'll help me?" he asked.

I will possibly regret this later but I am not going to turn down money when I know I need it. "Yes. I work Thursdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays so I will not be able to tutor you on those days."

"This is great!" he exclaimed.

I heard a clear of the throat and looked over to see Marilyn giving me a look and tapping her watch. This probably does not look so good on the first day.

I turned to Richard. "I should probably get back to work before they fire me." I stood up to leave.

He gave me a nod. "Okay. Yea. See you in class tomorrow?" he asked.

"Yes you will see me in class tomorrow," I told him.

It did not hit me of what I agreed to do until I was in the kitchen baking up pies before my shift ended.

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Remember I update on Wednesdays and Sundays unless I am slacking off and need an extra few days to write.