This is a shift day [see above]. There was another upload this morning: Benefactors & Troublemakers.

"The Cautionary Tale of Lucy Collins"

3. Shouldn't Meet

A few days later, Artie had gone in to Breadstix with Lucy when she started her shift, after she told him they were rolling out a new variety of breadsticks that were apparently 'this close to crack.' He was made to swear that he'd be on his absolute best behavior, not bothering while she worked, so long as she in turn swore to come and join him during her breaks.

Her shoes had been cleaned, allowing her to walk at ease, and that seemed to fit with her mood. The day after her encounter with the pair at Breadstix, Lucy had gone to Anna and relayed her whole sordid tale with Grant, and when the girl had thanked her, Lucy had felt like she had done the right thing and so could be at peace. Artie was relieved to see her smile again, feeling pain for her over this whole situation. He knew it hadn't been seeing Grant which threw her in the deep end, they both saw him day in and day out at school. But now seeing him about to do the same thing he'd done to her to someone else had been too much for her, and he was kind of with her on it.

"So how are you liking the new breadsticks?" he looked up to find her walking toward him a little while into her shift.

"The people of this restaurant are planning world domination, and this is their weapon," he held up one of his last two sticks and she laughed, sitting across from him.

"I'll get you more. Though you should probably order something before Olivia threatens to throw you out… again."

"Why do you always sit me in her section then?" he complained.

"Because if I sit you in mine I won't get any work done," she smirked and he had to nod, agreeing.

"Fine, I'll order after you head back. It's feeling like a chicken kind of night," he nodded.

"An excellent choice," she pulled out what he called her 'waitress voice.'

"And it should go great with the new breadsticks," he added and she laughed.

"Addict. Okay, I need to get back, I mean those plates don't carry themselves," she spoke dramatically, getting up. "Be good, don't tease Olivia," she leaned in to kiss him.

"I'll do what I can, but I make no promises," he told her, watching head off. He looked back to his dwindling breadstick supply and was about to raise his arm to flag down his waitress, when he heard a voice from across the restaurant.

"What did you say to her?" Grant had stormed into the restaurant, going straight for Lucy. Artie dropped the breadstick to start wheeling toward them, not wanting Lucy to have to face him alone, judging by how mad he looked.

"To who?" Lucy asked her ex.

"Who? Anna, who else, idiot!" he yelled.

"Hey!" Artie came up. "Leave her alone."

"Stay out of this, Abrams," Grant waved him off like he didn't exist before turning back on Lucy. "You said something to her, I know it was you," he pointed. The volume of his voice was starting to draw the looks of everyone inside the restaurant.

"What would give you that impression?" Lucy asked, refusing to show herself as weak in front of him.

"The bitch went all Carrie Underwood on my car!"

"I didn't tell her to do anything like that, but points for the reference there, Grant," Lucy shrugged.

"So you did talk to her!" he took this as admission, which Artie supposed it was.

"I didn't tell her to do anything," Lucy repeated. "All I did was warn her about the kind of guy she was getting herself involved with, so she wouldn't make the same mistake I did, which was trusting that you'd respect my choices, and that you'd respect me. And with what you did, you made it pretty clear you didn't respect a thing." Artie was watching Grant more than Lucy while the girl spoke, and he could see the guy's fists clenching like he was resisting, and he had to defuse this before Lucy got hurt.

"Look, Lucy had nothing to do with what happened to your car, so you should back off."

"Artie, it's fine," she insisted. "Anna needed to hear those things," she looked back to Grant. "I wasn't going to let you lead another girl around like you did me."

"Oh, I didn't have to do that," he shook his head, and suddenly he looked like he had power again. Lucy blinked, blindsided.

"She slept with you," she declared more than asked.

"That night after eating here…" he confirmed.

Artie could see all the events sprout connections in Lucy's mind. Anna had said yes where Lucy had said no, only to find out the very next day what would have happened to her if she'd said no… More than that, Lucy was willing to bet Anna had wanted to say no, but changed her mind on a whim. And after finding out just what kind of guy she'd given it away to, she had flipped and taken it out on the one thing she could – his car. Everyone knew how much Grant valued that damn car.

"Good for her," Lucy's voice was flat, and by Grant's smirk he must have been dumb enough to think she was talking about his scoring with Anna Friedman. Lucy was not the kind to lash out, but words were enough, right words. "Hope she got your little toy good." That damn smirk melted away, and his hands were looking ready to come to blows. It all happened very fast at that. He'd raised his hand to strike, Lucy had recoiled, Artie was gripping at his wheels to maybe ram him away, and then all of a sudden there was a hand, holding Grant's arm in midair.

Everyone froze and looked back to find Marcel the chef to be the one holding Grant back. "You have two choices, kid. Get out of here now or I call the cops." After a moment he let go and Grant pulled his arm down. He looked to Lucy, like he very much wished he could hit her, then he frowned and stomped out. Lucy let out a breath, looking to the chef. "You alright?" he asked.

"I am… thank you…" she nodded and he went back to the kitchen.

"I tried to stop him," Artie spoke, turning to her.

"I know, I…"

"Lucy, a word?" They looked up to now find Bob the night manager standing there. They shared a look and Lucy gave a shake of the head – stay – before following Bob. Artie wasn't sure what was going on, if he just wanted to make sure she was alright, or worse… he wouldn't fire her for this, would he? It wasn't her fault her ex was kind of psycho. He waited there, in the middle of the restaurant, waiting for her.

TO BE CONTINUED (TOMORROW)