"Bella. You nearly took out part of the offensive line of a professional football team. I'd hate to see what you could do if you were trying to work a pole."

Bella - two weeks later...

"Any luck?" Alice Brandon inquired, as she sat down on the chair opposite to mine. She sipped on her coffee, looking at me expectantly. It was Friday afternoon, and Alice was meeting me for our weekly coffee date at Starbucks before her boyfriend, Jasper Whitlock, picked her up on his way home from his office.

I shook my head, no. "I'm vetoing any and all waitressing jobs for the rest of my life. I'll have nightmares for forever thanks to yesterday."

Yesterday, I had found a part time job waitressing at a high end restaurant near my apartment. To say it was disastrous was an understatement. Within the first hour of my shift, I had broken two wine glasses and a plate in a run in with a bus boy.

Alice laughed, "It couldn't have been that bad, Bella."

"It was!" I insisted, cringing at the memory. "I'm probably banned from all future Seahawks games, too. I'm a threat to the safety of their players."

After I apologized profusely to the manager, Rick, for breaking the glasses and plate in the first hour of my shift, he warily agreed to give me another shot. As he shooed me away, another waitress, Jill, asked me for help. A group of players from the Seattle Seahawks were dining there tonight, and she asked for my help in delivering all of their plates.

I carefully balanced three plates in my hands. I was attempting to walk confidently to their table, smiling. I could do this, I chanted to myself.

Just three tables away, a woman's hand shot out and gently touched my arm, "Excuse me, Miss? I would like my cheque when you're done there."

I turned my head to acknowledge her request, but kept walking. Unfortunately, I missed the man at the next table getting up.

"Whoa!" He shouted, narrowly missing me.

"Oh!" I shrieked.

I fumbled.

I swirled around.

I dropped the three plates, piled high with hot food, in the lap of one of of the players.

"Oh!" He shrieked, stumbling to get up and wipe away the tomatoey pasta away from his crotch.

"Shit! Damnit! Here, let me help you!" I cried, grabbing a napkin and attacking his pants with it.

"Get away from me!" He shouted, as he backed up.

"Watch out!" I tried to grab his arm, but it was too late. He'd just backed into, and then fell over a dessert cart.

"Russell! Are you okay?" Another one of the players brushed by me to help his teammate.

Russell groaned, cradling his hand gently. "I think I sprained my wrist."

Russell's teammate turned around and glared at me.

"You're a menace!" He shouted, "Stay away from us! You better hope his wrist is fine or we'll sue this restaurant!"

"Bella!" And there's my manager.

Rick rushed over to me, and pulled me away from the increasingly embarrassing scene.

"I'm sorry!" I babbled, "I'm not usually this clumsy! I swear!"

"I have to go clean up your mess," Rick hissed, "I'm sorry, you're a liability. Turn in your apron to the hostess and go."

Rick abruptly turned around and hurried back to the table of players. Most of the restaurant was looking at them to determine what happened, so I took the opportunity to flee as suggested. I untied my apron, passed it to the hostess and quickly walked out of the restaurant.

The tinkling sound of the bell on the door, signaling a new customer, brought me out of my memory.

"You wouldn't have want to work there anyway, the manager sounds like a jerkface," Alice sympathized, "But I can't believe you nearly killed a football player in a freak food accident!" She laughed.

I failed to see her humor.

"I'm getting desperate," I admitted, "At this point, I'm going to have try something drastic in order to make enough money to stay in school!"

"Like what?"

"Like...stripping!" I said, exasperated. "Something that can make a lot of money in a little bit of time."

Alice stared at me. "Bella. You nearly took out part of the offensive line of a professional football team. I'd hate to see what you could do if you were trying to work a pole."

I sighed. That was true.

Alice suddenly straightened up in her seat. "Jasper's here!" She sang, as she opened up her arms to the tall, lanky man who was approaching.

"Hi baby," Jasper dipped low to give Alice a quick kiss. "Hey Bella. How's the job hunt going?"

"Awful," I half-smiled at him. "I don't suppose you know of anyone hiring?"

Jasper considered me for a moment, before breaking out into a wide smile. "As a matter of fact, I do. Let me tell you about the last month or so…"