To all those lovely readers out there who actually seem to enjoy my stories :)

...

It was just before 7pm when I pulled into Paradise's employee parking lot. I grabbed my bag, locked my car, a red Toyota Corolla, and headed inside. My shift started at 7 so I had a few minutes to relax and get to the bar. I put my things into my locker, did a makeup touch up and headed out to relieve the previous shift's bartender.

"Heya Li," I greeted the man behind the bar. Li Akiyoshi looked up and smiled at me. "Busy day?" I asked.

"Not too bad," he replied. "Seems like it's gonna be a busy night for you though, with the game on and all." Ah football. Goodie.

"Greaaat," I replied with a sarcastic smile. He laughed.

"You may not like it brah but most the rest of the country does. Including me, so I'm gonna get goin. See ya Kila." He waved as he walked away.

I sighed. Another football game, another packed night. I was glad I was scheduled to be waitressing for most of it, not stuck behind the bar like my co-bartender would be, Shayla Read. Speak of the devil, (not that I have anything against her, it's just a saying) she came skipping towards me, in stiletto heels, and perched herself on a little stool behind the bar.

"Hey Kila," she chirped.

"Hi Shay," I replied.

"Ready for a busy night?"

"Bring it on," I laughed.

Sooner than I expected, the game was over. It hadn't been as busy as usual, which meant it hadn't been as loud and obnoxious as game nights usually were. Not to say that there weren't still plenty of obnoxious drunks around. More than one guy had tried feeling me up already tonight, and I've only been here 4 hours!

I was busy cleaning a couple tables in my section, taking the empty bottles and mugs to the kitchen. When I came back out, my friend Makani stopped me.

"There're some girls at table 5 who need a cab called for them, table 9 wants more wings and I think some guys just sat down at 13."

"Thanks Maki," I said, grabbing my notepad and a pen as I passed the counter and headed for table 9.

They wanted another 30 hot wings. Go figure. On my way to the bar to pass the order to the kitchen, I passed table 13, where three guys sat waiting. I saw one raise a hand to wave me over.

"Be there in one sec hon," I called over my shoulder.

I passed the order for wings over to the cooks and headed back towards table 13. I could hear the three guys laughing and joking. Deftly I dodged a hand reaching for my ass, flipping to a new page as I stopped next to my goal.

"Good evening," I began, "welcome to Surfer's Paradise. My name's Kila and I'll be your waitress tonight. What can I get for you three f-fine gentlemen tonight?" I stuttered to a halt, managing to finish my speel without my voice cracking too much.

Being drunk notwithstanding, I've never stuttered in my life; no matter how tired I am, how odd or awkward the situation, no matter how hot the guy or how famous, not one stutter has passed my lips. Until tonight. What is it with tonight? If I'd been taking a drink, I'd have done another spit take.

Three guesses as to why: first 2 don't count.

Don't wanna guess? Fine, let me spell it out for you: I-T W-A-S H-I-M. HIM! A young guy, with his long brown hair hanging down his back in a tight braid, tanned skin, lots of tattoos and great muscle tone. Does that description seem to be familiar to anyone else yet?

I managed to keep my composure without anyone looking at me like a complete freak. He was looking at me a little oddly but I just smiled at him and looked around at the other guys with him, waiting for someone to order.

"Uh, we'll have 3 beers for now, thanks brah," said the oldest looking of them, a broad guy wearing a ball cap, with short, dark hair and blue eyes.

"Sure thing," I smiled at him as I wrote his order down. "I'll bring some menus back with me ya?" he nodded and smiled and I tuned on my heel and headed towards the bar, trying not to hyperventilate on the way.

Shay had the beers ready way too soon and there was nothing left to do but go right back over to table 13, grabbing some menus on the way past the counter. I took a few deep breaths before I got there and put a smile on my face; I mean, really, he probably wouldn't even recognise me. I hoped…

"Here ya are," I said as I placed their drinks and a menu in front of each of them. "Anything else I can get you just now?" he was still looking at me; I tried to ignore it.

"I think we just need a minute to look these over," the big one said, gesturing at the menus.

Behind me, I heard a commotion start from the direction of table 9.

"No problem, I'll be back in a couple minutes and you let me know." I smiled and turned to leave, but a hand grabbed my wrist and held me back. I turned and saw him sitting, staring at me with his hand around my wrist.

A shiver went through me at his touch.

"Do... do I know you?" he asked quietly. I turned back towards table 9 and saw the guys there getting worked up with each other.

"I'm sorry," I said quickly, "I really have to go deal with this." I pulled my wrist from his hand and left more hastily than I usually would have.

Table 9 was a good distraction for a few minutes, as I signalled to Shay to call them a cab while calming them down by showing off a little more cleavage than usual. Don't judge me; it's not a strip club and, hey, if it keeps them from breaking anything then what do I care if they see some skin? Sadly they left in their taxi and I had no reason not to go back to table 13.

I only had 3 or 4 tables full at this point; 2 of them had their meals and were eating contentedly, 1 of them had a girl slumped against her boyfriend, passed out, while he stroked her hair, leaving me with only the one table to actively wait on.

"Have you boys decided on anything yet?" I leaned against a chair at the table opposite them and looked up at them through my lashes. The big one was talking to him, joking and play fighting in the way that made me think they might be brothers. The third guy, the youngest by the look of him, with light brown hair and grey eyes, just sat watching and laughing as the other two goofed around.

All three looked up when I spoke, the 2 freezing mid "fight" and looking like guilty children caught doing something bad.

"Uh, ya," started the youngest while trying to stifle his laughter. "I'll.. I'll have the fish and chips." Writing that down, I looked to the big guy, who ordered a burger and fries. Last, I looked to him, waiting for his order.

"I guess I'll have the nacho platter," he said slowly, staring at me again. It was starting to make me feel edgy and uncomfortable.

"I'll get right on that for you."

As I left, I could still feel him watching me as I walked away. What the hell was I supposed to say to this guy? What if this kept up all night?

Turns out it DID keep up all night. They were there past 2 am, and by that time they were the only people left in my section and one of the few left in the bar. Some of the girls had gone home already and I was looking forward to getting off in less than an hour. I couldn't wait to get home, showered and snuggled up to Toni in our bed. He gives the BEST back rubs ever. And man did I need one tonight.

Everywhere I went all night, I could feel him watching me. It was reaaalllllyyyyyy uncomfortable. Almost over, I kept thinking, almost over! FINALLY I saw the younger one wave me over for their check. He was still staring at me. I brought them their check and went back to another table to clean up. I was stacking half filled glasses of beer on a tray when I heard someone behind me. I had a feeling who it would be and I didn't turn to find out. Finally, he spoke:

"Who are you? I know I must've met you somewhere brah. Just tell me!"

Without turning, I retorted:

"If you don't remember then I'm not going to tell you. Must not've been important enough brah." Yes I was annoyed and I didn't bother to try and hide it when it spilled into my voice.

"Why are women so god damned stubborn?" he asked my back. I glanced over at his table and saw the big guy watching us, the younger one doing something on his phone. No one else was in the bar, besides the employees. "If you don't give a shit then why not just tell me?"

"Because I have principles and you're pissing me off," I cried as I turned around. I'd finally reached my breaking point. I lowered my voice so that my co-workers wouldn't hear.

"You've been watching me all night and frankly, it's been making me uncomfortable, thus I haven't been able to do my job properly, thus I haven't got as much money as I could have. Money that I need for my family. You don't seem to know how to take a hint when I say I'm not going to tell you anything, so just let it go and move on with your life: I have."

I picked up the tray and moved to leave but before I could he grabbed my wrist for the second time that night.

"Let. Go. Of me." I said in a steely voice.

"I want an answer brah," he said, slurring just a bit.

"I don't care," I said. "You're drunk. Let go of my arm."

I went to yank my wrist out of his hand but at that same moment, he let go and, carried by my force and momentum, I went stumbling backwards, tripped and fell, the tray falling with me and the drinks leaving their glasses, covering me in sticky, smelly alcohol.

I sat there for a moment, blinking furiously. Finally, I stood, ignoring him as I picked up the tray and broken glasses, and walked back to the kitchen. Thank god it was time to leave. And thank god I keep a spare change of clothes in my locker. I was just about to walk out the front door when I saw a guy coming in; I stiffened when I recognised him, the big guy from table 13.

"Hey," he said as we paused in the doorway. "You ok brah?" I nodded. "That's good," he continued. "Sorry about my brother, he hasn't been having things easy lately and something was bothering him all night. I don't want to make excuses for him," he said quickly, "just want you knowin what was happenin. Anyways, only reason I really came back was I forgot my wallet. Aloha brah."

"Aloha.."