Rachel brushed an auburn lock of hair out of her grayish blue eyes as she started to wipe the counter down. Where were the others that helped her around here? She was starting to hate this job and she couldn't until she wait until she could get a new job. It had been a while since she had graduated high school, about six years or so. She wasn't sure anymore because of working here all her life and having to attend school around here. It had been at least three years since they moved the high school up into trees with all the rest of the buildings. They needed protection or something...she didn't remember what it was exactly that made them move up into treesafter all this time. She barely remembered who came in the day before for something to eat and drink. She didn'tneed to since it wasn't part of her job description but she did remember when her friends left her here in this stupid school.She sighed as she heard someone walking out towards her and she gave the man a quick glance. He was taller than her by five inches which met he was pretty short since she was only five feet and four inches. He wasn't fat but he had a rounded face and broad shoulders. She just liked to make fun of him and call him fatso. He usually would get ticked at her and dock some of her pay to make her stop which wasn't right but by the end of the night he added it back on. She could tell when he came every time by his heavy foot steps.
"What do you want Andy?" she asked the man who had to be a year younger than her. She didn't glance at him as she manuvered around the bar to clean tables.
"You staying extra shifts?"
"I guess but I do like to have time to rest," she said bitterly and looking up quickly from her work.
"Well, you're the best waitress we have here."
"I'm one of the few who doesn't have a life right now. I want to know why the school had to get an inn in it."
"For visitors. I thought I told you this before."
"You did. I just think it is stupid."
"And I think it is stupid that you still wear that clarinet around your waist."
"At least I don't have my baritone, okay? And so what if I have it? You have your drumsticks," she said with a sigh as she threw down her bar rag.
He muttered something and walked out of there quickly before her temper started. She liked the man but sometimes he got a little testy. He was like a little girl sometimes and still acted like he was in high school. She did like that he brought up old memories like the one trumpet player who had been tackled by the drumline. Good times they had back then in the marching band but all their friend had gone off and she was left behind. She was too wrapped up in her own thoughts to hear someone cominwere many steps to climb. A knock resounded through the area and she opened the door to reveal a man standing there. She thought she had seen him somewhere before and she gave him a questioning look. They didn't open for an hour or so. He gave her a smile and she had to smile back.
"May I help you?" she asked, her manners taking over. She was glad she learned some manners after high school.
"Yes, I just want to sit down and prepare for a party that will be coming here," he replied.
"Party? What do you mean?"
"May I?" Even though the man asked, he went passed her and started to rearrange one of the tables. He didn't even ask to come in or answered her questions."It should be over here," he was muttering, pulling a table to the wall near the fire place. "These chairs should be here," he said, placing three chairs by the fire. "Not enough chairs," he added, placing three more chairs at the table.
Rachel stood back in a mixture of surprise and horror. Who did he think he was by rearranging the furniture? She couldn't stop him because she had to be nice in case that would make them lose customers. She would be fired for sure if that happened and Andy knew she was out here. She went over to the man as he sat down in a chair. Finally, he had finished and it actually looked pretty nice. She gave the man a smile as she leaned against the unlit fire place. She had to do that pretty soon so that it would be warm when night came.
"Do you need anything, sir?"
"No, no."
She turned away to get back to work. She thought she heard him speak again but she wasn't sure. It was soft and low like a whisper and she turned her head.
"Be ready, Rachel. Things are coming that you wouldn't imagine," she thought he said.
It was soft and she shook her head, thinking she imagined it. She turned away and headed back to the kitchen. She was going to have a long night ahead of her when the patrons came. She needed to get ready and rest a bit. She thought about telling Andy about what she heard but she thought against it. He wouldn't believe her at all if she did tell him.
A/N: Okay, I decided to write the prologue to the story. It might be a little short. R&R!
