Chapter 6 - The Shift

6 o'clock came around faster than Aja could imagine. She was working up a sweat. It took a minute to get used to dancing in her uniform but she was picking up the steps relatively early. Singing with Tina was really good, Tina gave Aja some good breathing tips that she's going to try out tonight.

"Are you ready for tonight?" Santana grinned at Aja while wiping her brow with a small towel.

"I think so… god I hope so!" Aja groaned.

"Hey, you'll be great. I had such a hard time following the steps because I couldn't keep my eyes off you." Santana confessed, blushing hard.

Aja snapped out of her daze watching Santana get all shy like that, it was too cute and she just wanted to kiss her right then and there! Not in front of all the staff though, this was her first day, she had to keep it classy.

"Well, easily I could say the same about you." Aja looked deep into Santana's eyes.

"Well, we better not fuck it up too bad tonight!" Santana laughed, wrapping her arms around Aja.

"Hey, what happened to no PDA at work?" Aja raised an eyebrow at Santana.

"We can hug, can't we?" Santana smirked at the shorter girl.

"I guess we can…" Aja knew Santana was going to do something, but she couldn't think of just what.

The two leaned in for the hug and Aja felt Santana's hand firmly press over the small of her back, but then suddenly pinched the top of Aja's ass.

"Hey!" Aja squirmed.

Santana burst into laughter and ran down the stairs back to the back area. What a dork.

/

Downstairs on the restaurant floor, groups of patrons lined up to enter the diner for the 6 o'clock seating. Aja watched as people came in, hosts seating the guests as they came in.

"You nervous, Aja?" JJ snuck up behind her.

"JJ!" Aja jumped. "Well, I've been a waitress before so the job itself isn't much different, but the performing aspect… That's something I have never done before."

"I'm sure you'll be fine, take it away!" JJ ran over to help the hosts seat a group of people "Right this way,"

"Hold," Aja said aloud as she saw a certain pigment she could recognize. "Fae?"

"Hey, Aja!"

"What the fuck are you doing here? Is that Quinn? Who the fuck are those kids?" Aja was trying to keep it quiet so other patrons couldn't hear.

"Okay, okay, slow down mama" Fae held her hands up in defense. "Look, I asked Quinn out at the last minute and she said yes, I told her this was your first show tonight so she brought her daughter and her daughter's friend who happens to be Rachel's kid."

"Rachel has a kid?" Aja turned to look at Rachel who was already busy helping a table.

"Yeah, some humanitarian thing, she adopted this kid from the Philippines or something. Quinn told me. Anyways she couldn't find a babysitter so she just brought 'em with me! It's cool!" Fae's smile was

"No this is not cool, this is my big break! If you do anything to embarrass me I swear to god Fae…"

"Whoa, you know I wouldn't do that, me and Quinnie here are just-"

"What did you just call her?"

"Quinn- you know what, no. I'll be good, okay? Just enjoy yourself, it's your first shift! I can be your first customer! It'll be cool!" Fae's smile was tired but Aja knew she had to let it go.

"Hey JJ!" Aja shouted. "Can you get these guys a booth?"

"Sure thing, right this way guys!" JJ gestured to the group to follow them and Aja turned to find Santana.

"Hey Aja, you're going to be helping me today." Santana looked at Aja sweetly. "You'll serve half my tables, and if there's anything you need just let me know. Remember tonight's special is the Elvis Burger."

"Got it!" Aja was pretty confident in herself. Santana had shown her which tables were her responsibility. Fae's group, another small family, and a group of teenagers. Not so bad for a first shift.

Working at the diner was similar to how it was at Roscoe's, the food was even similar, with typical diner food like burgers, shakes, and chicken. Aja started with Fae's table to take orders. Aja figured if she was going to do a test run, might as well be in front of someone she knows won't judge her (too badly) for it.

"Alright, can I get y'all somethin' to drink?" Aja smiled at Fae with a pad and pen in her hands.

"Well, miss Aja, do I ever want to drink-" Fae's horrible acting was unbearable to watch. "Me and the lady will be having your lime margaritas, and kids? What are you gonna have?"

The Filipino girl whispered into Hazel's ear.

"Umm, I'll get an apple juice. And Piper will have one too!" Hazel and Piper giggled uncontrollably for god knows which reason.

Aja smiled and took down the order. "Coming right up!" Aja walked to the POS system to find Rachel standing there.

"Aja, your performance was very mediocre." Rachel scoffed.

"Excuse me?" Aja was ready to throw down on her first day.

"Well, it was very plain. Here is a little different than well, wherever you're from." Rachel eyed her up and down again. Can she stop?

"Okay, and what would that difference be?" Aja sassed back.

"Well, here we put in a little more pizazz in our work. We're characters, we're actors in a production. We aren't just waitresses, we're STARS!" Rachel threw her arms into the air.

Aja flinched at the action. "O-okay then… pizzaz, huh?"

"Yes. This is the Spotlight Diner. Not Crunklight Diner."

"Oh, that's it." Aja was ready to throw down!

"Aja, no!" Santana jumped in front of Aja to hold her back but it was too late, Aja already smacked Rachel. Hard.

Rachel let out a huge gasp. "You know I could get you fired for that!" Rachel huffed. Santana shot her a glare, commanding Rachel's attention.

"How about we call this even?" Santana's eyes narrowed in on the waitress.

"Fine. But we do not talk about this ever again and this does not EVER happen again." Rachel stormed out of the register area back to the restaurant floor.

"Listen, I know Rachel is a racist fucker but you can't just smack her like that." Santana looked at Aja dearly.

"I just can't be talked to like that. How does Mercedes feel about this?" Aja looked back into Santana's eyes with concern.

"She doesn't see it, she can't fire Rachel, she's our star performer." Santana sighed.

"What about her daughter, isn't she from the Philippines?" Aja pointed out towards Fae's table.

"Who the hell knows why, but I have a feeling it's all for self-image." Santana shook her head. "Rachel is a class A narc. There's no getting to her."

"Well let's hope nothing else happens tonight. It's already such a shit show." Aja sighed.

"Hey, no, it's going to be perfect. Get the orders in, we have to get ready for our performance." Santana kissed Aja on the cheek and returned to the restaurant floor.

/

"And now, ladies and gentlethems, the Spotlight Diner would like to present: performing this song tonight and tonight only, the Spotlight Stars!" Mike's voice echoed through the restaurant commanding everyone's attention.

The lights dimmed instantly and the spotlights flashed onto the stage in the corner of the restaurant. There, Aja, Rachel, and Santana stood at the centre of the group, heads bowed down as they waited for the music to start.

The intro piano riff played and Rachel lifted the mic to her face to sing.

Head underwater

And they tell me

To breathe easy for a while…

Rachel sang the rest of the verse with such passion. Aja could tell this is why Rachel was the star, even if she was a lowkey racist. Santana's head shot up and turned to Rachel as they sang the chorus together, the rest of the group dancing in the background.

I'm not gonna write you a love song

Cause you asked for it, 'cause you need one

You see, I'm not gonna write you a love song

Cause you tell me it's make or break in this

If you're on your way

I'm not gonna write you to stay

If all you have is leaving

Imma need a better reason

To write you a love song today

Okay, this was Aja's turn to shine. Aja walked in front of Rachel and Santana to sing her solo.

I learned the hard way

That they all say

Things you want to hear

My heavy heart

Sinks deep down under-

"N***r! Stupid n***r! Get off the stage!" Someone cried from the crowd. This couldn't be happening.

Aja stopped as the background music kept playing. Was this real life? Was this really happening? Aja didn't know how to react at that exact moment. She was frozen, the word echoing through her ears, washing a wave of utter disgust through her nerves. Santana and Rachel (surprisingly) were so shocked, also frozen in place. The music cut and Aja was fuming.

"What did you just say to me?" Aja tossed the mic to the floor, feedback echoing throughout the silent restaurant floor.

"You're a n****r for liking Sara Bareilles!" It was one of the teenagers from the table she was serving.

"That doesn't even make sense!" Aja yelled at the girl.

"Lileigh, maybe that's enough," One of the friends held onto her arm to the girl in question.

"Oh, Lileigh is it?" Aja was furious. "Get out of my restaurant. NOW."

Rachel came running over. "Ma'm we're going to have to ask you to leave, and never come back. Thank you for coming!" Rachel may have been superficial, but this time it was working to her advantage as the overtly customer service friendly voice was perfect.

"Ugh. This place is run by stupid n****rmen" Lileigh and her friends got up and walked out the door as the remaining patrons cheered.

"Get fucked racist!" A very intoxicated Fae jumped from the table to scream at Lileigh and her friends.

Quinn followed suit. "Taking out the trash!" Even Piper and Hazel were cheering.

Santana ran up to grab Aja's arm. "We're not done. We're going Lima Heights style."

Aja's eyes grew wide as Santana grabbed Aja's arm and ran towards the back area.

Rachel grabbed the mic. "Everyone please enjoy a free round of desserts, on the house!"

/

"Where are you taking me?" Aja asked Santana through heavy breaths.

"We're going out the back way," Santana said. "Rachel won't mind, we have business to take care of."

Aja was confused yet excited. "If you say so!"

The pair found themselves on the backside of the building, Santana leading Aja through the alley to confront Lileigh and her friends.

"Hey, listen here, salt shaker!" Santana yelled at the group of girls.

"What do you want n****r" Lileigh snapped at the Latina.

"Listen up klansman, you did not just bring your boiled chicken soggy cum stained sock face expired box of cracker ass to say those disgusting, horrible slurs out of your cocaine dry baking powder 100% cotton ranch dressing mouth, and how DARE you say those words to my beautiful, amazing girlfriend."

Holy shit, Santana was going off. Hold up. Girlfriend?

Lileigh rolled her eyes at Santana. "Whatever."

"You'll be blessed to see another day after this, you yeast infection flavoured snow cone!" Santana had the fire in her eyes.

Lileigh's eyes twinkled as she inhaled sharply, releasing her breath and puffing her chest. "Oh yeah? Will I?" Lileigh leaned over and pushed Santana's shoulder.

"That's it you mutated marshmallow monkey, we're going down!" Santana yelled charging at the younger girl, pushing her to the floor.

Aja was so turned on right now. Santana was wailing on the girl, slapping her again and again across the face. Lileigh's friends were standing there in pure shock, unable to do anything. One of them began to pick up her phone.

"Hey, wonder bread, I'd advise you to put the phone down," Aja yelled at her.

The girl jumped, throwing her phone in her purse. Meanwhile, Lileigh and Santana were pulling at each other's hair, biting arms, kicking, punching and screaming. They eventually got up from the ground and shoved off of each other.

"Aja, will you do the honors?" Santana turned to look at Aja.

Aja nodded and jumped in to give Lileigh one loud, loud slap across her pale face.

"Don't you ever say that disgusting word ever again. And don't you ever show your mayonnaise-coloured unwashed ass anywhere near here ever again. Mark my words." Aja lunged her head forward, causing Lileigh and her group of friends to run away.

"Holy shit, Aja, that was sexy. And loved the nicknames. Great touch." Santana winked at the darker girl.

"Well, you gave me such beautiful inspiration-" Aja leaned in to grab Santana by the waist.

"Oh-" Santana's voice was luxurious and sultry.

"Now, what was it you called me earlier?" Aja asked the taller girl.

"I- um… beautiful?" Santana jittered, looking away.

"No, you called me your girlfriend." Aja pressed her lips together, giving Santana a smug look.

"Well, maybe I said that… well, would you be?" Santana looked back to meet Aja's eyes.

"I think tonight really solidified that, and I really like the way girlfriend sounds." Aja smiled. "So yes. Yes I will be your girlfriend Santana Lopez"

"Aja, I-" Santana was at a loss for words, but words were not necessary, as the two of them leaned in to kiss one another, the meaning of 1000 words in one action, passion swelling throughout their bodies, the warmth only another human could give to another, the kiss. It was everything, it was perfect.

"Come on," Aja said to Santana, breaking away from the kiss. "We have a dinner shift to finish. Let's make this the best day ever."

"You got it, babe!"

/

The rest of the dinner shift went amazingly, patrons were tipping extra generously after witnessing the horrible events that occurred prior, and Aja was loving the constant support from staff, management, everyone.

"Hey, here's a little extra somethin' from me" Fae handed Aja a little piece of paper.

"What's this?" Aja said, unfolding the paper.

"Half the month's rent, you don't have to pay it." Fae winked at Aja.

"You're only doing this because you're trying to impress Quinn, aren't you. This isn't real." Aja doubted Fae, but as she looked down, it was a genuine cheque with half the rent money, signed by Fae herself.

"Holy shit, Fae!" Aja leaned in to give Fae a huge hug.

"No problem kid, hey, this won't happen all the time, but after tonight and with your new job n' everything, just get me something nice when you get your first paycheck or somethin'." Fae let out a hearty laugh.

"You bet. You're the best" Aja jumped for joy. "See you back at the house?"

Fae nodded, leaving Aja for the rest of her shift.

This really was the best day ever.

/