Just A Taste

1: What's Inside?

AN: VERY LOOSELY inspired by Waitress the Movie & Musical...of course. (Seriously, it's not that similar...except this first chapter, I guess.) To my Raindrops readers, that will be coming later this week!

Marron adjusted her hair, pulling it into her low ponytail, soft waves framing her gentle face. She grabbed the ribbon from her glove box and tied the ribbon atop her head. Her name tag glistening against the gleaming light of the sun. It was five in the morning, a usual start to her shift at Oolong's Diner. Though Marron was hesitant, her hands shook as she recalled a fortnight ago when she drunkenly made one of the worst mistakes of her life. Her eyes slid over to the man who sat at the steering wheel. Ryce, the man she foolishly married at the tender age of 17.

The blonde sighed, feeling another wave of nausea hit her. Her face went pale as she held the handle to the door. "Please don't forget me again," she murmured. Ryce slid his eyes to her, giving a lackadaisical wave.

"You'll be fine," he reassured. "Now get on outta' here," He continued, slapping her buttocks as she headed on out of the car.

Marron was not sure whether the disgust with the man she slept beside was what was causing these waves of nausea or something she dreaded even further...

She held herself as he heard the old rusty car leave a trail of gas behind it as he sped off. The blonde held herself tightly, the chill of the break of dawn was brushing past her. She ushered herself inside, as she was greeted by her two coworkers, Valese and Launch. "Marron!" Valese exclaimed, her hair was pulled into a bouncy ponytail, unlike Marron's. "You...don't look so good," She quickly noticed.

Launch curiously glanced at the other blonde. "Oh hon, how plastered did you get again?" She asked tipping her face up to examine.

"I wish this was a hangover," Marron responded meekly to the women as she headed behind the dingy counter and clocking herself in. "I don't know why...every morning has felt like this."

Launch and Valese eyed each other curiously but continued to watch their co-worker cautiously. Their boss Oolong, a small pig, crept up through the corner hopping up on the counter to get at eye level with Marron. "Alright Marron, what's the special pie for today?"

Marron was truly the pie baking expert, knowing how to craft some of the most delectable pies in Gingertown. It was known, Marron would whip up a new recipe every day for the regulars to taste. She tied her apron around her waist, lifting her low ponytail from underneath it. "Uh-I-" She began to choke, "Deep shit apple pie!" She announced.

Oolong quirked a brow, "deep shit?"

Valese nodded at Launch, the two's green eyes meeting momentarily there was definitely up.

"Ah-" Marron's face flushed suddenly, "DISH! Deep dish, Sorry Oolong!"

Oolong snorted, swiveling off the chair. "Come on, Girl!"

Marron sighed digging her face into her hands. Sighing as she attempted to stabilize her nauseated state. Feeling herself rock in her sneakers. "Just breathe," she sighed out as she took out her ingredients from the storage pouring them into a bowl and beginning to whisk together ingredients. Sugar. Butter. Flour. The skeleton for any good pie. Marron had learned to bury her emotions into her cooking. A skill she developed from continuously attempting to cook her mother's old recipes after her passing. Surely enough, she could feel herself connect with her mother from across the otherworld whenever she baked.

She was too young to remember their faces, but her elderly grandfather taught her the most he could with the little resources he had. He passed too when she turned 16. In some stupid, desperate attempt, she married Ryce a year later. A man child with a garage band who promised riches and food on the table. Only one of those was half true. Marron, now, at the age of twenty-three was far too jaded by life to carry as she once did.

Marron walked out as the customers came bustling in and out of the diner, she saw some familiar faces scattered about. However, she beelined towards a new sight. A man talking into his cell phone not what she was accustomed to seeing in these parts of town. "Welcome to Oolo-"

"Yes mother, I already met with the branch out in Ginger Town, I'll be leaving tonight and heading back to the city tonight," the man stated, "I-I gotta go, I'm getting something to eat-" he continued, Marron was beginning to tap her foot. "Yes, I won't clear out the restaurant, unlike dad I've got restraint."

The blonde curiously tilted her head, what could he possibly mean by clearing out the restaurant?

Marron glanced as he hung up his fancy cell phone, putting it into his coat and looking up towards her. She was stunned, for a moment, a weary smile was her response. He was, very attractive, much different from what blew in through the door day in and day out. He flashed a toothy grin at her, apologizing for ignoring her. His eyes were like two blue diamonds, framed by olive-toned skin. He seemed...warm and mysterious, like the ocean. She hadn't been there much, but for the radiance that shone off him suddenly made her head spin. Her face flushed profusely, what was happening to her?!

"Ah, where was I-" he paused, a strong hand brushing through his lavender hair. Lavender hair? She did a double-take, and lo-and-behold, the soft coloring clashed with his darker complexion...he was almost unearthly? Before she could manage another word out, she swiveled on her heel, her face hot.

"I'm so sorry-" Marron quickly cut him off, "I need to- I am feeling sick-" She quickly ushered her way to the bathroom. Something Valese and Launch caught almost immediately.

Valese ushered her way towards the man, apologizing profusely for what occurred. "It's quite alright," the man responded, his eyes shooting between the new waitress and the blonde that was attending him.

Meanwhile, Launch pet the younger woman's back whilst she expelled the contents in her stomach. "Marron, you've been acting pretty off these past few days," the green-eyed woman stated, "tell me, did you mess around with Ryce?"

Marron hitched her breath, wiping the vomit from her lip. "Not exactly willingly," she managed to get out, her throat hurting from the retching. "I got drunk..."

Valese made her way into the bathroom, a worried look striking her face as she held Marron's hair away from her blue uniform. "Marron, I thought you didn't sleep with your husband?"

She gripped the porcelain sides of the toilets, gagging with each breath. "I got drunk, I do stupid things when I drink...like sleep with my husband."

Launch dug a concealed wrapper from her bag, handing it over to the retching blonde. "Test, now."

Marron warily stared at both of her co-workers, "what, do you just carry these around like candy bars?" Marron joked.

"Look at the wise gal, seriously though...time to pee on a stick," Launch demanded. Marron opened the wrapper and defeatedly walking into the bathroom stall. She listened to the two girl's words of encouragement. "Just say a prayer, you're gonna have to take the test one way or another."

Valese nodded, "yeah, just a stick an' a line!"

Marron sighed as she attempted to sit on the seat, watching the women's calves warily from under the stall door. "Just one of them, if I'm lucky."

Valese glanced at the wrapper, tilting her head at the directions. "Alright Mar, do not stick the test stick into your vagina!"

Launch and Marron, though on separate sides of the room, looked up simultaneously mouth agape. "Wow, thank you Valese," Launch replied sarcastically before turning towards Marron who remained in the stall, "hope you drank enough this mornin' this might take a while."

Marron felt her stress rise as she tested herself, "How did I get myself in this mess," Marron whined, her eyes feeling like they were burning, "I put on that...stupid red dress and-"

"Aw," Valese cooed, "I love that dress, the way it sparkles like a-!"

Launch shook her head, snapping her fingers in Valese's face, "Ugh, stay with us Valese!"

Marron emerged closing the cap on the plastic rod. She emerged from the stall and handed the test to Launch. "This, may take a bit...so just focus on all the positive-"

The blonde paced about, watching as Launch set the timer. Her fingernails jamming their way into her teeth. Much like a woodpecker she'd chip away at her nails from the nerves. "M-Maybe his sperm doesn't work?"

Valese propped herself up on the sink and swung her legs, crossed behind each other. "That'd be miraculous!"

Launch agreed, "Oh yeah, to get away with an unprotected fuck? Definitely."

Valese, to ease the tension, brought up the client Marron saw mere moments before she rushed herself into the restroom. "Did you guys see that hunk?" Valese fanned herself, "City boys aren't my type n' all but damn!" Marron dug herself deeper within herself, not wanting to talk about the sudden rise he had ignited in her for the mere seconds they interacted. "He seemed loaded too."

Launch perked her ears up, suddenly interested in what the brunette had to say. "How'd you find that one out?"

Valese smiled, waving 500 zeni in her hand. "He told me to give this to Marron," she waved the thick wad of cash in her hand.

Marron's eyes grew wide at the cash, "he knew my name?" she asked curiously.

"Mmm, not exactly," she sang out before sliding off the sink and handing the blonde the tip. "He told me to give it to the cute blondie," she giggled.

Marron's cheeks flushed, flattered by the handsome tip. However, she knew that none of that tip was truly hers. She sighed, not wanting to think of other ways that Ryce was the human equivalent of vermin. "I'm sure he just felt bad at how I got so sick."

"Mmm, sure," Launch began before the ringer erupted on her phone. Signaling to her that the test was ready. She could see the panic across her face, desperately hoping for a negative result. Marron, for all intents and purposes, was deathly afraid of having another chain linked to Ryce...especially a child...she didn't want a life like the one she led for her daughter. A woman who never finished high school and ran off with someone who based a relationship based on lies.

Marron tensed, too afraid to look. But she needed too. This will either quell her fears or worsen them further. Peering icy blue eyes wandered to the exam Launch held out.

Two Lines.

"Fuck."

A/N: So this is only the beginning, I promise there's more to it! I hope you all loved it - please leave any concrit! And like I said, don't worry Raindrops will be updated soon!