Stefan trudged down the sidewalk towards the cafe in the center of Mystic Falls. It was raining atrociously, so he'd tucked his computer case inside the front of his coat to protect it until he was inside. Of all days to decide to leave the house he'd chosen today. Figured. Once he entered, he shook off the excess water from his garment and shed it, claiming the booth near the window. A quaint place, he'd only been there a couple times. It was your run-of-the-mill diner, serving breakfast until 11 and coffee until the maker quit. Being that today was Sunday and despite being a lively town, it was still a little old fashioned in Mystic Falls. People closed up shop on Sunday for the most part, leaving here the only place to eat a breakfast or get that hangover cup of joe. So, naturally, it was full of sick-looking folks. Uninterested in food, he decided to have a cup of coffee. Maybe, he thought, he could turn caffeine into words to mail off by next month. Across the room, the only waitress on shift had spotted him make his seat and rushed to take his order, putting on a smile and pulling out an order ticket. Stefan spotted her as well, freezing like some deer who'd heard a noise. Her hair wasn't in its messy curls and her face wasn't painted up. It was sleek, in a simple ponytail, and her eyes had just enough to make them even prettier than before. And, notedly, he couldn't say he'd ever seen her with clothes on. But he'd notice those brown eyes anywhere. She stopped beside his table, flipping out a fresh ticket to jot on. She started talking before she'd even seen his face.

"Hi there, I'll be taking care of you this morning. I'm E-" And when she did, she froze. This guy. Lexi's friend. Lexi's gorgeously hot friend. God damn it. Him? Here? Now?

"Hi," Stefan smiled at her. She choked. This was ridiculous.

"Uhm..."

"I think this is the part where you ask me if I want anything," he smirked, holding up the menu in his hand as he looked up to her.

"Well do you?" she inhaled, composing herself as she picked up her pen.

"You can start by telling me your name." That made her laugh. A dry laugh, but a laugh.

"You know one name. That's all you need to know."

"What? Marie?" He snorted. "Please. You're not a Marie."
"Excuse me? Not a Marie? What the hell does that mean?"

"That you don't look like a Marie. Believe me. I know these things." She narrowed her eyes, irritated.
"Are you going to order or what?" Behind her was an order window, and the cook stuck his head out, a row of platters waiting. He had an angry look on his sweat-drenched face as his eyes landed on Marie.

"ELENA! FOOD. NOW," he yelled, and disappeared back into the kitchen. Back beside his table, her eyes closed, jaw visibly clenched as she sang a string of curses under her breath. Stefan grinned up at her proudly. She'd just been outed, like it or not.

"That's a better name. Elena."

"Are you going to order or not, jackass?" she hissed. "I've got food to throw out."

"Just a coffee. Take your time." He hauled out the laptop from its case and woke it up, the screen waking to that same document from the night before. Elena glared for a short moment, before she finally turned to tend to the plates of food in the order window. God forbid Tyler see a plate of food twice. He was so damn particular. He didn't like her late because that screwed everyone up, and he didn't like her early because that meant more he had to pay her. If she was the first waitress in, which usually she was the only waitress in, she helped him in the kitchen. She didn't mind the kitchen. She actually liked to cook. But after remarks he'd made about her a couple times and a grabbing hand, she'd made sure she stayed out in the dining area until the first customer arrived. Tyler had seen her at Topsy Turvy. She tried her best to keep makeup on and even wigs to keep her own face safe, but he saw right through it. She just loathed the day that he decided to waltz in and request a dance from her. She'd probably vomit on the spot. She didn't complain. She'd stabbed his hand once, but he just barely let her slide. He paid her well, and along with the tips she made she left with a nice chunk of cash by the end of her shift each time she worked. And even if he did decide to be shitty enough to play the card Elena sometimes felt wasn't that far away, she was pretty sure she wouldn't quit even then. So many things needed money, and this was her other good job that helped keep the lights on.

It was a near twenty minutes before Stefan saw his coffee. Not that he cared, but he noticed Marie/Elena got caught up between waiting, cleaning, and taking checks. She was so solemn the entire time, giving a flat, unhappy smile before continuing to another task.

"Are you working by yourself?" he asked her when she finally appeared with his order.

"Always do," she shrugged, setting a few packets each of sugar and powdered creamer beside him.

"You were just like three women out there," he observed, eyes skitching across the now-calm room.

"It's not that bad. Unless the entire city decides to come eat at once. You need anything else?" She was really itching to get away from him. Talking to someone she danced for seemed made her feel dirty. And not in a good way. Although she supposed she probably served more observers than she really knew. But she never remembered a face. Not until this guy, anyways.

"Uh..no, I'm okay. Thanks." She nodded, gave him that flat smile, and left.

For several hours, Stefan let the clanking of dishes and low, milling sound of voices numb his mind. He honed in over his computer, determined to spit out at least a chapter before he left his booth. And so far, he was doing okay. When he went back and read it it might be shit, but for now at least he was even typing. He'd begun to gather what was happening in this story and he was afraid not to write it down. Not that it would simply go away, but it'd change. Little bit by little tiny bit, and what he was hearing now was what he liked. He couldn't count the times he'd thought of something genius and pledged to write it later, and it came out something magnificently less brilliant than what had crossed his mind earlier.

"You're still here?" When he finally looked up, the sun was setting and the diner was near empty. Chairs were overturned on tabletops and "wet floor" signs were out. Elena/Marie was leaving the kitchen, coat and purse on her arm and keys in her hand.

"Closed already?" He shut his laptop.

"It's like 5:30. They close early on Sundays. What in the hell are you working on that you didn't move for six hours?"

"Oh. Book." Stefan drug the computer and its bag off the table and over his shoulder. Elena rose a brow.

"You're a writer?" He nodded. Great. And he was smart. She laughed a bit.

"What?" She shook her head, heading for the door.

"Nothing." Stefan slipped out the door behind her and she turned to lock it. She hated this key. For some reason Tyler thought that raises and power to the restaurant would swoon her. Or just get her to suck his dick. The most it got him was an ass grab once in a while. God. He found out she worked at the strip joint he'd be there for a dance in thirty seconds flat. The thought make her gag.

"Can I ask you something?" She almost jumped at the sound of his voice. He was still there? She looked up to Stefan, holding her keys tightly. He saw her form tense and glanced to her clenched hands. Was that a can pepper spray on her keys? He laughed.

"Look, er- can I call you Elena?"

"I guess..." She was still on guard, nervous as hell.

"I'm not trying to be weird or anything, but I-" Oh fuck. This definitely was something she had waited on happening since she started dancing. A stalker. Where was Beamer when you needed him?

"I don't date clients," she cut him off. "It's like picking favorites. I don't pick favorites." Not even with her dolls when she was four. It just wasn't in her. Stefan let out a laugh.

"Actually, I just wanted to ask you why you danced." Elena's neck grew hot with embarrassment. Thank God it was dusk and he couldn't see. She started to relax.

"Oh. I—it pays. Rent, car note." She shrugged. "It's all I really know. What? Don't tell me you think it's trashy."

"What?" Stefan blinked. "Oh, no. Not at all. I just..you seem so out of place up there. Compared to some of those girls." He rolled his shoulders this time. "It's not my business I suppose, but I had to ask." He smiled at her kindly as he tucked his hands into the pockets of coat.

"I never got to go to college. And money's so tight. Just have to do what you can," she found herself admitting, toying with the can on her keyring. She regretted not getting to go, but not everything goes according to plan. That was something she learned right quick over the past few years. "I will, one day. Just...not today."

"What would you do? When you go back, that is."

"Nursing. I think." In all honesty, though, if she could just go, she would be fine with taking every course on the campus. Just because she could.

"I can see you as a nurse." Elena snorted. Of course he could.

"Right. Bending over for you?" Stefan laughed.

"No. I'm being real. You'd be the head nurse. Bitching at the other nurses."

"Whatever." She giggled a little, which surprised her. That made him smile.

"'Whatever?' You run Topless. I've seen you do your job. You can be a bitch." Elena was shaking her head, still smiling, blushing at the thought that he watched her besides when he was supposed to. Any other time she may be worried, but it was sort of okay for him to. And yes, she was a bitch. It was almost a regular thing for one of the girls to spit out a word at her. Bitch was her favorite. Minnie, her best friend there, called her Queen Bitch. But she kept them in order. Just like a good manager would. Always keep them on their toes.

"I know you said you don't date customers, but sometimes, maybe we could get drinks. I'd like to get to know you, Elena." He glanced up as a quiet chorus of thunder started up. Elena cursed it, finding herself enjoying a little conversation. "I've go to run. I'll see you another time." She nodded, gave him a small smile as he turned away. She glanced back, seeing his disappearing figure as she walked to her car. She tried to push the thought from her mind. Drinks? With Lexi's Hot Guy? She flushed. She had more things to think about than him. A whole list of things that needed to be done before she went to the club tonight. Cleaning up the house, cooking dinner, making sure all was well at home. She had to be at the club by 11:30 to get ready for her 12 show. Maybe by the grace of God she could catch a few hours sleep. A line sometimes only got you so far. She was really beginning to feel it. The club boss offered her a few days off since she'd been going non-stop for the past three weeks, but she refused. She needed all the money she could get. Bills didn't pay themselves. And at the money she got a night, she was getting a healthy bit to pay on the hospital bills that were piling up. Elena dropped her purse on the floor beside the door and began stripping the ugly butter-yellow dress from her body. She needed a bath, but she had to tend to other things first. She drug out a pan and a pound of hamburger meat, cooking it over the stove as she chopped up lettuce and tomato for a taco salad. It looked delicious, but the thought of just trying to chew made her want to sleep for a week. She set the plate on a tray and carried it to the room down the hall where her mother lay, wondering what condition she might be in today. And despite her long day that wasn't even over, the smile that greeted her lifted her spirits.