I re-worked Rachel's first monologue. So that is why it may look familiar to you.
52: Wednesday Night Horrors.
I loved working at Spotlight Diner. I worked Monday to Friday, two in the afternoon until ten at night. I loved seeing customers smiling faces and I loved how sometimes if it were possible for a child's meal; to make it look more appealing. One time I hard to work a morning shift, six to one, and with a child's pancake order of two pancakes, bacon and eggs I made a smiley face for them. I liked a lot of the customers too. Kurt pointed out directors and producers and casting directors and musical theater casters. Basically everyone in the entertainment business. Kurt was nice enough to tell me a little bit of each person if I had them as a customer and what work they created was my favorite. (I guess kissing up too them was fine here, but outside of the diner being a ass-kisser wasn't proper). I had one customer who tried giving me a hard time and Santana, whom I remember from Thanksgiving, helped me out by doing a lighter version of going Lima Heights Adjacent on the customer. Again I know little about Santana because other than the once dance practice where she went through my backpack, she honestly spent most of her time with Brittany catching up together.
Then there's Rachel.
I've never thought about physically hurting someone. Other than Connie, who has disappeared from the Earth since her last e-mail to me back in...I don't even know when. All I know is that I had the confidence to changed my name back to the original spelling. Marley Rose. But back to the point; Rachel was someone who I wanted to shove a shovel up her ass and throw her like a football across a fifty seven yard line (if that makes any sense). How did everyone handle her in school? How was she not brutally murdered by Santana in high school? Santana seemed like O.J Simpson; all evidence points to her and yet gets away with the murder. God I wanted to shove that shovel up Rachel's ass hard enough to make her cry in pain and stop being annoying.
I worked with her Saturday night and Monday night. The other nights were Kurt. Thank God. The only sane person.
Wednesday I was working my last table for the night before leaving for the night. When Dani, another worker here and one of Santana's ex's, pointed to the table. I turned around and grinned ear to ear. Blaine, Sam, Finn and Artie were at my table. Quickly I grabbed the menus and walked over to them. As as I got closer I felt my heart racing quickly.
"Hi, Welcome to Spotlight Diner." I smiled.
They were shocked. "Marley?" Sam spoke first.
"Hi guys." I smiled. "I got a job here in New York, it's a long story. But just for the summer and I'm staying with a friend from back in Lima." I explained.
They all looked at me closely, studying my face and eyeing me up and down. "What?" I asked.
"You're face looks different." Artie pointed out. "It's like, wrinkles."
"Oh, I've been working non-stop since I got here almost a week ago and I've been having trouble sleeping." I said. Handing them the menus I said, "I'll be back in a few minutes for drinks and orders."
I left them to speak among themselves. I saw Kurt with the one girl about my age with a baby in her arms, ordering food. There were several more bags at the table so I assumed the girl was with friends. Kurt walked away and following behind him to check on another table I was soon stopped.
"Mary Jane." Her voice wasn't new to me. I know her voice too well.
Connie.
I turned and saw that beautiful but horrible bitch blonde. She looked the same as the last time I had seen her. A baby though?
"Connie?"
"Oh look Sydney," She looked down into the baby sleeping in her arms. "Mommy found a drug addict slut waitress."
"Excuse me?" I said. "At least I didn't cyber harass people."
"Oh please I had a kick out of it Mary Jane." Connie told me. "Besides after a while with my pregnancy going along I got annoyed and bored. So that's why I never came to Loser Lima. So, sleeping with a movie director to get a role?"
"No, I work here for my own good."
"Poor ass baby." She said carelessly putting her daughter into a carrier. "Still into your Daddy's drugs?"
"No, he's been out of my life since he went to prison. You should know since your father is a cop." I told her.
"Poor you. Daddy in jail and Mommy ate too much crap and died." She said. "I read the obituaries. I like to see if you overdosed on something one of these days." She told me. "Or did Mommy Obese die of corn syrup overdose?"
That...BITCH! I kept my temper down as long as I could and held it in. "Constance Elisabeth van Dauchen, do not speak of my mother when she is not here to say something back."
"Like that Truck Load could speak, can't breathe because her lungs are filled with gravy." Connie said. "And it's Connie, not Constance."
"It's whatever I choose to call you,"
"Keep talking and I'll find the manager."
"You lucky your ass I'm not your waitress. I'd give you three full boxes of rat poison in your food order." I told her. "And what are you doing here in New York?"
"Moved. I wanted to give Sydney a better life than Ohio. So I decided to go to New York City. I live in Brooklyn now though." She said. "Then one day I'll be an EGOT winner and you'll still be slaving away here."
"You've never met Rachel Berry, have you?" I asked.
"Who?"
"Holy shit, never heard of that girl? Ms. Streisand met Rachel Berry once and when Rachel sand Don't Rain on my Parade, Ms. Streisand wanted Rachel's autograph." I told her.
"Liar." She told me.
"Marley Rose, me, a liar?" I asked her.
She looked at me up and down before rolling her eyes away. "Good point. But I will make it through the world of Broadway once I get into my dream college. New York Academy of Dramatic Arts. NYADA for short."
"Rachel attended. But like a super genius she is, she got bored and dropped out and is now on Broadway." I told Connie. "She's working with Paolo San Paolo and Rupert Campion."
Damn did that shut her up. I don't know who these guys are but she turned back and rolled her eyes. "They're just getting fucked by this Berry for the role, once they're bored with this Berry they're want another girls berry juice."
"Ugh, that's a disgusting comparison!" I yelled. "Gross, keep your sexual life to yourself and keep your legs closed!"
"Where is your manager!?" Connie yelled. "Where is your manager!"
I rolled my eyes walking away. Bitch.
I got back to the guys, who had seen the scene, and were surprised. They never thought I would do that, or have the confidence. "I've been growing my confidence out." I told them boldly. "Is that it?"
They nodded. I left to give the order and get the drinks. I saw Connie leaving with her friends, Sydney in her carrier in Connie's arms, and Connie left with a smirk. I rolled my eyes and handed the paper over to the one of the chefs.
"Marley, back room now." Gunther called me.
We talked for about twenty minutes. He wasn't pleased with my behavior, but was giving me another shot. As long as I didn't cause any more commotions I would be fine.
I left his office, saying intermission, and went into the back ally. I pulled out of my boots a cigarette and a lighter and had a cigarette before going back inside and getting the food.
I brought the food over and handed them out. The guys thanks me and then I notice Finn made a face. A gross one. But shrugged it off as he bit into his burger. Artie asked, "Are you okay? You're still working here right?"
"Yes. Just have to watch myself when that person is around." I said.
Half hour later just as my shift was ending the guys were getting ready to leave. They left me a pretty nice tip; twenty dollars. They all left and soon after cleaning the table and bringing the plates into the back kitchen and went to use the bathroom.
I left the diner and started walking to the bus stop when I heard Finn call my name. "Marley!"
"Finn?"
He came running up. "Hey, I was waiting for you to finish." He said. "Marley, what happened?"
"With Connie?"
"No, smoking. I can still smell it. You smoked after the whole Connie thing," Finn said. "Marley you need to stop."
"I'm fine, I'm quitting. I just had a bad night." I said.
"Think of your Mom." Finn said. "She'd want you to stop right now."
I turned and walked away. I didn't want to talk about Mom. After all the insults Connie said about Mom I had no reason to talk about Mom now. It still hurts when I think of Mom.
"I'm sorry," Finn said when he realized how I was feeling. "But, Marley—" I kept walking. "Marley stop," He forced me to stop. He turned me to face a store window. "Look. Look at yourself. You're face is wrinkled because of the smoking. It's getting bad."
"Finn it's two lines on me forehead and they're small." I said. I knew what the fuck I looked like. "I'm fine. Really." I told him.
"Marley Rose, stop saying that. You're not fine. You're...you're sick!" He said. "Where's Ryder?"
"With his parents on vacation." I lied. "They're on a cruise."
"When are they coming back?"
"They're on for another two weeks and then he's going with his grandparents to Ireland for a month." I said.
"When he comes back to Lima I'm getting him here ASAP to come help. You're the only person who'll listen to him, I know." Finn said. "Do you want a ride?"
I nodded. The bus was twenty minutes away anyways.
The guys dropped me off at the apartment and asked who I was with. I lied and said one of my old foster sisters. Once I was inside they drove off.
Inside Lark was asleep on the couch. I smiled looking at the fatigued boy. I threw a blanket over him and tucked him in before going into the kitchen to get food.
I saw he left a bag on the counter. I looked in and saw cigarettes and some weed. I saw a note on the cigarette box.
Unless tonight is your last night, take some.
I took some cigarettes and some weed and went on the roof deck.
Okay last upload for the night. Won't be able to upload again until at least Friday. And with Thanksgiving coming up soon, I want to wish all who celebrate it.
Happy Thanksgiving!
