Author's Note: Well, I wanted to give y'all Jasper and Bella but I just couldn't get it right. This one's kind of a filler but bear with it yea! The drama is coming!

Chapter 4
Bella POV

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They tried to make me go to rehab but I said 'no, no, no'
Yes I've been black but when I come back you'll know know know
I ain't got the time and if my daddy thinks I'm fine
He's tried to make me go to rehab but I won't go go go

-Rehab, Amy Winehouse

--

"Hey old man, I'm done for the day. See ya on monday." I removed the sparkly hot pink apron from my waist and clumsily pulled on my pair of worn jeans under the indecently short skirt.

"Alrighto bitches. Be careful when yer leave aye! It's late and ah wouldn't want to lose my most favouritest gurl to some drunk idiot."

Waitress at Gomez's diner/pub wasn't something that I exactly had in mind when I agreed to look for a job after my 'heart-to-heart' talk with Charlie. I had become somewhat proficient at serving, carrying plates, finding my center of gravity after starting a month ago. Not that it is enriching much with life skills, but still. Seeing how I was decided not to go to college (not that I had a choice, since almost all the application deadlines were closed), I had no choice but to find work before Charlie used the probation threat to get me to do so anyway.

Not that I've regretted it since. It gave some structure to my already messed up life. It helps that Gomez was a great guy as well. Crude, somewhat lecherous and whips up one hell of a tortilla. His wife left him 20 years ago. A perfect case of the saying 'birds of a feather flock together'.

"Okay pops, whatever you say. Claude is picking me anyway."

I hadn't planned on getting a job when I first entered this shabby diner over a month ago. Yet now it's my reprieve. The complete opposite of what I'm so accustomed to; dirty, scruffy, gaudy- my perfect sanctuary.

--

(Flashback)

"What are we doing in this shit hole Claude, seriously?"

"I told you woman, I'm hungry."

"It's 10am and we just had breakfast less than" I checked my watch "an hour ago."

"I'm still a growing boy?"

I snorted.

We had just gone over to the petrol station to pump up Claude's scooter and I needed a lighter. He had insisted that we drop by nearby for a snack. Hence, resulting in us sitting in this dumpy diner with beer-sloshed seats and underpowered lights.

"Are you ready to order?" Blonde bimbo asked as she fluttered her eyelashes coyly at Claude.

"You have something in your eye Blondie? Too much mascara causing your eyelids to sag?" I asked irritated.

She scowled at me.

"It's tru-"

"We'll just have a fish and chip each darling'" Claude slaps one hand over my mouth and gave Blondie a wink.

The food arrived quickly and boy, it was gross. They should have renamed it fish swimming in oil.

"Blondie, what is this trash? Purposely trying to poison me eh? I want to see your manager!"

Blondie rolled her eyes and went off, bringing Gomez back few minutes later.

"Yes gurl, yer have a problem with my food? This is the regular shit that you kids eat nowadays no? Ah don't see no problem."

"I'm not drinking oil old man! Bah! I can cook better than this."

Gomez stared at me and I stared back defiantly. Finally, after some time, he gave a booming laugh.

"Feisty one here aye! Ah like it. We could do with someone like yer here. If yer ever need a little job, come find me. Meals on meh. Can't do anything about yer drinking oil though sweetheart."

I was stunned into silence by the sudden turned of events. Claude nudged me violently.

"Job darling'! You need one remember!" oh yea.

--

And so begins my wild and wacky adventures as waitress at Gomez's Bar and Diner. I live to serve- Drunks, perverts and whatever junk that comes across the place that is.

Old Bella would have fretted over the fact that the world was such a terrible place. Then again the old me wouldn't even have gotten the job in the first place being the naïve sheltered girl. New Bella takes everything in her stride. After all, life was just a sick game.

The soft purr of Claude's scooter alerted me of his arrival.

He has been really accommodating of late, fetching me home a few times a week when I worked the night shift. Unlike me, Claude still had semblance of a future. He was entering community college when summer vacation ends. That would probably be when our friendship expires as well, when we cross different paths at the fork of the road, his to a new life, mine self-destruction.

The journey back was relatively quiet. I was too tired to really talk much and refuse to disrupt the harmony of crickets chirping and leaves rustling anyway.

Charlie was waiting for me in the living room watching sports as usual.

"Hey Dad. Sorry to keep you up, business was busy at Gomez's."

In typical male response, he grunted. Giving a little nod at Claude, he went up to his room.

He was keeping me on a really tight leash nowadays. Just a couple of days ago, I was forced to throw out my lighter and two packets of cigarettes after he did a surprise raid of my room.

I didn't know how serious he was about the probation saga until then.

He even got me nicotine gum. A lifetime's worth of supply. I was half expecting him to shout 'April Fool!' at me.

I appreciate the fatherly gesture but it was really not necessary since I didn't exactly want to quit the habit. Of course Charlie wouldn't accept that particular answer. The stash of unopened gum packets at the back of my closet would be an indication.

Claude had made himself comfortable in the kitchen with some leftover pizza and a can of beer while I dump my stuff in my room.

For some reason unfathomable to either of us, Charlie didn't mind Claude too much. He was more amiable with him than he ever was with him.

Getting a can of soda for myself, we moved to the front porch to share a smoke.

I had limited access to such little pleasures nowadays.

We took turns taking puffs from the little stick of joy.

"I heard of a new adventure activity nearby. We are going on an excursion tomorrow. Bring a change of clothes and I'll pick you up in the late morning." Claude announced mid-puff.

I rolled my eyes. He stopped asking me for my participation a long time ago. I am always up for a little danger and he knew it.

A/N: We made 10 reviews! I love you all! Hope y'all can keep it coming!