Behind Their Backs

"Please?Please?Please?Pppppplllllllleeeeeeaaaaaaaassssssseeeeeee Hee- chan!?" Heero Yuy sighed and rubbed his temples.

"I said NO Duo! Stop begging, I'm not going out with you guys tonight and that's FINAL!"

"But you NEVER go out with us! It'll be fun, just please?!"

"No."

"Please?"

"Dammit! How many times do I have to say no?"

"Five million and six."

"I didn't ask how many times I have said it, I asked many more times do I have to say it to get it into your little brain that I'M NOT GOING!?"

"You can keep saying it forever, but I'll keep begging! Please Heero? I'm getting hungry, but I can still beg all night long!"

Wufei shook his head. "Duo, just give it up, Heero's not going to come with us and you're just wasting your time, again."

"How would you know, Wu-man? Maybe one day I'll get through to him." Duo said, grabbing his jacket. "I drive!"

"You'll get through to him when pigs fly." Wufei snorted.

Duo grinned. "I guess I'll get through to him soon, Wu-man, because pigs DO fly."

"They do not!"

"All you have to do is pick them up and throw them."

"You're hopeless."

Heero sighed contently and sat on the edge of his bed. Quatre, Wufei, Trowa, and Duo had finally left, after Wufei and Duo got into a long argument about who would drive. "Peaceful, alone time." Heero muttered. The only time he wasn't the perfect soldier was when he was alone; when he was sure no was watching. Only the inanimate objects surrounding Heero knew his secrets, and he was keen on keeping it that way.
Hotaru yawned. Why did this stupid restaurant have to stay up so late? More importantly, WHY had she taken a night shift?

'Stupid,stupid,stupid. I know I need the money, but I also need the sleep...' Hotaru was two yawns away from falling asleep.

Ding,Ding,Ding,Ding went the bell atop the door, signaling that four someones had just entered the restaurant. Hotaru grabbed four menus and walked over to the door, fighting back the urge to yawn again and rub her eyes.

"Hello, welcome to Silver Water, how may I help you?" She said, plastering on a fake grin and making her voice too cheery.

"Hello babe!" Said a natural cheerful voice. Hotaru smiled some, wondering how someone could be so cheerful so late at night. "Table for four?" Said a shy voice from off to the side. "Oh, yes, sorry." She smiled again and began walking. Even though it was so late, the place was still fairly crowded with the night owls.

"Here you are." She said, handing them their menus and seating them at a quaint candle-lit table off to the side. The restaurant was known for its dark, mysterious appearance and attracted Goths, couples, and a few oddballs. The walls were black, offset by purple, with sparkling stars in beautiful silver paint. It fit Hotaru well, and that's why she had applied for a job here.

She walked off to side and sat on a stool, looking around. No one seemed to need her at the moment. Her violet eyes wandered over all the tables before landing on the table with the four guys she had just escorted in. One had light brown hair, sky blue eyes, and a cheerful, upbeat personality. 'A female Mina.' She thought and giggled.

Next to him sat a Chinese man with hair as long as the male Mina, done up in a pony tale. He had a slight scowl, but seemed to be enjoying himself. 'Hhhmmm...he could be a candidate for Rei, with the guarded-yet-relaxed posture.' Hotaru amused herself by comparing each to one of her friends. All of the guys' personalities were readable, and yet a part of them seemed to be hidden. She could relate. 'Alright, moving on...'

Across from male-Mina sat a boy with brown, gravity-defying hair. His face was emotionless, but his eyes showed happiness. He slowly sipped at a cup of tea another waitress had brought him. 'Setsuna.' Hotaru decided in an instant. Quiet, reserved, and with an emotionless façade. But the eyes gave everything away.

Next to male-Setsuna and across from male-Rei was a blue-eyed blonde. He looked more delicate than the others, shy, and friendly. 'I don't know...shy, friendly, delicate...Ami-chan? Or Michiru-momma, but I think Ami's closer.' Hotaru stopped her chain of thoughts when she noticed male-Mina calling her over.

Bright, happy smile, forced happiness, and tired eyes is what the boys' saw as the girl walked towards them. She looked like she needed an aspirin, a hot bath, and a good nap.

"What can I do for you? Are you ready to order, gentlemen?" She said, with another fake smile, and happiness forced into her voice, masking the tired irritation.

Duo felt sorry for the girl, but there was nothing he could do. He was still too busy plotting ways to get Heero to come with them on their weekly Friday-night outings. It had been something they had done to kill time when there was nothing else to do, and lately, there was nothing else to do. He gave her his order, which covered two pages of her small order-taking notebook, and then sat back and let the other three give her their orders.

Hotaru looked at the clock as she walked away from the Gundam Pilot's table and smiled. Oh, pure bliss! Midnight! She was off in half-an-hour. She almost started a happy dance. Almost.

"Here. Matari, order for table 12." She said, handing over the three- page order, two pages of which were Duo's orders.
"Woah, somebody eats like a cow." Matari said, looking over the
orders. "Thankfully these don't take long to cook. I'm getting too old
for this job..."

Hotaru laughed. "Matari, you're only 26."

"Like I said, I'm getting too old for this job..."

"Sure you are... let me know when you're done, this ought to be my last
order for the night."

"Gotcha, kit." Matari said, using his nickname for her.
Half an hour later, Hotaru felt like she was going to MURDER
somebody. One of the other waitresses had left early and the manager
expected her to fill in!
"Oh, the nerve!" Hotaru stomped her foot childishly and sighed,
walking over to the chefs' door, where Matari was standing expectantly
with orders for table 12.
"What's up, kit? You look more irritated than per usual."
"Hilde decided to take off and I have to fill in!" Hotaru whined.
"Tough one...but Hilde's shift only lasts another hour or so, right?"
Matari wasn't good at sympathizing, but at least he was optimistic.
"Try two hours." She said, fuming to herself and taking the order to table 12.
Duo fiddled with his straw and took a sip of his fourth Dr.Pepper. It had been half an hour and he was starved! Where was the waitress?!

Twenty minutes later she walked over, looking like she was
having a hard time holding all the food on the trays. "H-here you are,sirs." She said, carefully putting each down on the table. "Will that be all?"

Duo looked at the lady skeptically. She sounded like she was
going to rip someone into pieces any second now. Was it that bad having to carry all that food? It didn't look too hard. Any way, now that the food was here...
Hotaru gaped. Not even Usagi could eat THAT much THAT fast! Or could she? She probably looked like a fish standing there with her mouth wide open, staring. Pulling herself together she walked off to fill another evil person's order. Tomorrow she was going to have a long talk with her manager...and probably get fired...