Chapter 12: Surprising Arrangements

"Order up!" Rick yelled grumpily from the kitchen. I rolled my eyes as I went to pick up the plate. He seems to be in a particularly cranky today. I heard from Roxy that his wife just served him with divorce papers last night. Yikes.

"Ricky… we haven't even opened up yet. How do you have an order all ready?" I asked cautiously. Ricky narrowed his eyes.

"Because I do!" he snapped and turned back towards the stove. O…kay then. I turn to Roxy who is sitting in a booth. She just shakes her head and mouths, "Just leave it alone."

Tecna, Roxy's sister, comes out from the storage room with our aprons. Yes, as a part of our uniform we have to wear aprons. Even though we won't be going in the kitchen. It doesn't make much sense but whatever.

"Here you go," Tecna says as she hands me mine. I smile my thanks and sit on a stool by the bar. "Where is that new waiter guy? We open up in almost ten minutes."

Even with Tecna working at the diner now, we still need some more help around here. Especially when the lunch rush comes around so that's why I was extremely relieved when Roxy announced that she was hiring another waiter. He was supposedly some computer tech guy that needed some extra cash during the week to make ends meet.

I honestly just want my shift to be over. Brandon and I haven't been able to spend quality time together in almost a week. That's way too long in my opinion. We are planning to have a nice dinner at my apartment tonight. Hopefully those plans don't go array.

Roxy glanced at her watch. "You're right. Just give him a couple of more mi-"

Suddenly, the bell above the front door jingles and in walks a tall young man. He has orange looking hair styled messily but it worked for him. He wore glasses, a checkered long-sleeved shirt and tan pants. The man had a sort of nerdy-but-cute air about him. He was pretty handsome and apparently I wasn't the only one noticing.

Roxy had her head tilted to the side. "It's about time you show up."

The man ran and hand through his hair. "I'm really sorry. My car was giving me trouble. It won't happen again," He swore. Roxy was about to say something, but Tecna walked up to him first.

"What's your name?" She asked him seeming a little flirty.

"T…Timmy," Timmy said staring at Tecna in a mesmerized way. I glanced at Roxy as she smirked at the two in front of her.

"I'm Tecna." She glanced down at his wrist and gasped slightly. "Is that the new Godspeed Watch 3200 from Dexter Watch Emporium?"

Timmy smiled proudly. "Why, yes it is. With new compass abilities and 4G rating systems. Even has a voice commander."

"It looks awesome." Tecna smiled at him. Timmy smiled back.

"Oh, brother!" Roxy stood up and clamped a hand on both of their shoulders. "Let's cut out the lovey dopey eyes and get to work, shall we?"

I was cleaning off the last table of my shift, when my phone beeped. I stepped over to a secluded corner so I wouldn't run the risk of talking while on the job, then I looked at the caller ID.

Brandon.

"Hi," I chirp with a smile.

"Hey, gorgeous," he replies, tiredly.

I frown at the sound of his voice. "Are you okay?"

"What? Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. How's it going for you?"

I shrugged and then realized he couldn't see me. "Everything's pretty good. I can't wait for our date tonight. I must warn you though, my meatloaf may be a little...tough around the edges," I laugh.

Brandon coughed out a small, forced laugh. "About that, Stella, I'm going to have to cancel on dinner tonight."

"What? Why?!" This can't be happening again.

"I'm sorry, Stell. Seriously. I have this last minute budget meeting with two executives from out of state. Tonight was the only time they could meet in the next week and I wasn't going to push it since we probably won't be able to meet again in the next month," Brandon explained. I stayed silent to reign in my anger and disappointment.

This would be the fourth time Brandon has cancelled on me in the last week. Every day we plan to do something but his work apparently trumps all.

"Stella? Are you still there?"

"Yeah," I breathed out slowly. "I get it, like the last four times. Your work will always be your number one priority, right?"

"Come on, Stell-"

"No!" I lower my voice back down a notch so I won't alert others. "Don't try that 'Come on, Stell' crap with me! I really do understand that you're a busy man but I haven't seen my boyfriend for more than five minutes in the last week. The sad thing is that you work only a few blocks from here!"

Brandon sighed. "Look, I'm sorry. I'm trying the best I can-"

I barked out a harsh laugh. "Really? I sure as hell can't tell."

"I am, alright? Maybe you can't see it now but this will pay off in the end. Don't you think I hate cancelling on you this much? I do have about ten corporations spread out in ten different states that I have to moderate! Excuse me if it gets pretty hectic," he replies heatedly.

"Oh, no you don't. Don't you dare try to get angry with me! I'm not the one bailing on you again," I stressed. I see Timmy poke his head around the corner, giving me a concerned look. I shook my head at him and mouthed, "I'm fine." He nodded and went back to the front of the restaurant.

Apparently, Brandon was still talking while I made this exchange with Timmy. "...hard but I'm not purposefully trying to bail on you. I promise I'll make up for this. How about you come over here before I get in the meeti-"

"Stop, just stop," I shook my head as to clear it. "Stop making promises you can't keep." I hung up before he could reply. Huffing angrily, I stuffed my phone back in my pocket.

After I finished wiping down my table, I practically tore my apron off and hung it onto a hook with the other aprons. I heard Tecna calling out for me, but I just walked out of the restaurant without looking back.

"And then he had the nerve to start getting angry with me! Can you believe that?!" I exclaimed to Bloom as I dug my spoon into my chocolate ice-cream. This is my second tub of ice-cream, by the way.

Bloom shook her head. "Okay. So you're angry because he's not making enough time for you?"

"Not for me, for us. It's like he's taking on all these meetings and crap just so he can't spend time with me."

"Oh, come on, Stella," Bloom rolls her eyes. "You and I both know that's not the reason. He's a busy guy. You knew that even before you started dating him." She went over to the cabinet and picked out a spoon.

I scowled at her. "Why are you always taking his side?"

She sat down beside me and balked at my question. "I'm not taking his side. I'm always on your side but you're being a bit of a Drama Queen right now."

"So you think I have no reason to be upset with him?" I questioned in disbelief.

"I didn't say that, but you're going a little overboard with it all. No offense, but running a business is pretty time consuming work. How many times do you think Sky has had to postpone our dates before?"

I blinked in surprise. "I never knew that."

"That's because I haven't been moping about it." I just shrugged my shoulders and dug into my ice-cream again. Bloom clapped a hand on my shoulder and gave me a determined look.

"Let's go."

I scrunched my eyebrows together. "Go where?"

Bloom was already standing up and grabbing our coats. "To Alfea Corp."

"No," I groaned. "I'm sure we don't want to see each other right now. Besides, he is in meetings all night, remember?"

"No. You told me he invited you over before he got in that meeting, remember?"

"I have no idea what time the meeting actually is, so no." I attempted to sit back down but highly underestimated Bloom's strength because she pulled me right back up.

"Well, let's make a guess that now is that time."

We arrived at Alfea Corp in less than eight minutes. The closer we got there, the more I really did realize how much I overreacted. I was still a little stung by the fact he cancelled again, but Bloom was right before: I knew Brandon was a busy man before we even began dating.

As we walked up to the receptionist desk, I see Flora talking with someone on the phone. She gives me a smile, though it had surprise in it. I return the favor, but can't help but notice that her ring finger was empty.

Bloom was tapping her foot impatiently and I rammed my elbow into her side. She scowled at me as Flora hung up the phone. "Hello, ladies. Welcome to Alfea Corporations. How can I help you?"

I rolled my eyes. "You really have to use that generic greeting with me?"

"Sorry," she says sheepishly. "It's just kind of stuck in my head. I am surprised to see you here, though."

"Why?" Bloom asked with her head tilted.

Flora dared a glance at her but quickly looked back at me and said, "Well, I knew you and Brandon were supposed to have a date tonight but Brandon told me about how he had to cancel. The way he said it made it sound like you were definitely not happy about it."

"Oh. Was he… mad or anything?" I asked hesitantly.

Flora shrugged. "Not really but he did sound really tired like he always seems to be nowadays. I've been telling him since forever ago that he needs a vacation. You can go on up to his office if you want. I think he is on a small break right now."

She looks over at Bloom again. "I'm guessing you'll be joining her too, Miss…"

I'm just now realizing that Bloom and Flora may have never been formally introduced. I was just about to introduce them, but Bloom beat me to the punch.

"I'm Bloom, Stella's roommate slash best friend. You don't remember me?"

"Well, you look familiar," Flora confessed.

"I'm also Sky's girlfriend."

Recognition beamed in Flora's eyes. "Oh! I'm sorry."

Bloom smiled and waved her apology off. "No problem. I've been meaning to tell you what a nice Wedding party that was. You and Riven look great together." She glanced down at Flora's finger and widened her eyes. "Uh… I'm sorry if-"

Flora had paled a bit by then but replied, "It is fine."

We stood in a couple of awkward, silent moments until Bloom cleared her throat. "So… I'll be leaving. I just was only dropping Stella off here. Bye, guys!" she exclaims quickly and rushes out the door. I shake my head in exasperation.

"Sorry about th-"

"It's no trouble, really," Flora said and pointed to the elevator. "Go on up."

I sent her a small smile before fast-walking toward the elevator. As I rode up I thought of what exactly I would say to Brandon. I mean, I know what I should say but it doesn't mean that what I say will come out the right way.

His office door was ajar when I approached it. One glance around the room and I saw that he wasn't here. I step inside and close the door firmly behind me.

Sighing, I walk over and plop down in his desk chair. He must have already left for his meeting. I'll just wait here for him then. After about ten minutes, I laid my head down on the desk. A girl has to rest her eyes sometimes, you know? I didn't realize I was drifting off...

A warm, light pressure on my cheek woke me up. My eyes fluttered open to see a pair of beautiful brown eyes staring back at me. Brandon smiled gently at me and said, "Hey."

"Hi," I whisper back and sit up. I look back down at his desk and my cheeks flamed. "Uh, sorry about the drool." I use the edge of my sleeve to wipe up the tiny mess.

Brandon grins slightly. "No harm done." He sits on the desk edge, facing me. "I didn't think you would come here. Especially considering our last conversation."

"Yeah, about that… I overreacted. I mean, we haven't spent much time together recently and I just got crabby when you cancelled again." He tried to speak but I held up a hand. "Just let me finish. I get that you're a busy man and I respect that. I just want a little Snookum time."

He chuckles at my facial expression. "And you'll get that time soon. Actually, you'll be getting it all next week." I gave him a curious look.

"What are you talking about?"

"I made enough changes in my schedule so that I can go with you to your Dad's place for Thanksgiving."

I stay put for a second before launching up from the chair and into his arms. "Really?"

Brandon stands up with me still wrapped around him. "Yes, really. That's the reason I've been having all these meetings and stuff this week instead of next week."

I pull back and hit him on his arm. He winces jokingly. "What was that for?"

"Why didn't you just tell me that?" I may have not been such a witch about everything if I had known that.

"Because I didn't want to hear you say, 'Brandon, stop working yourself so hard' or 'Brandon, you don't have to do that for me'." He mocked my voice which made me pinch him in the stomach. He laughed and kissed my lips lightly. Even that little kiss sent a shiver down my spine. "Come on, you know that's exactly what you would've said."

I scowled at him. "I wouldn't have said that."

"Yes you would've."

"No I wouldn't."

"Yes you would."

I pursed my lips. "Okay, I might have said that."

"Exactly." He wrapped me in his arms again.

"Wait, what about your family? Don't you usually celebrate Thanksgiving with them?" I asked.

Brandon shook his head. "Nah. We're all in different states most of the time. I do eat at a restaurant with Flora every once in a while."

"Hmm..." That was pretty sad. This wonderful man hasn't had a proper Thanksgiving in maybe forever. I hope my 'family' doesn't screw this up.

Resting his chin atop my head he said, "Besides, I need this vacation as much as you do."

"Seeing my dysfunctional, phony, and rude family isn't exactly what I would call a vacation." I mumble into his chest.

"I think you're over exaggerating."

I pulled back. "No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

I put my hands on my hips. "How are you going to tell me if I'm over exaggerating or not?"

"Because," Brandon clasped the hands I had on my hips with his own hands, "I know you."

"So you say."

He only smiled in response.

A/N: Thanks sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooo much for the reading and reviewing! Sorry it took so long to get this up but School gets very hectic most of the time.

So, do you all agree that Stella was overreacting? This won't be the last time we will see her exaggerations, trust me.

So Brandon's meeting the parentals. What do you think is going to happen there? Is it going to be a peaceful visit or drama induced one? I think you all may already know the answer to that one ;-)

If you haven't noticed, I'm trying to bring all the Winx club characters into this story. I think you'll be surprised at how I'm working in the next characters soon.

But, of course, I must know your thoughts on this chapter to get me motivated for the next chapter. Plus, it's Spring Break next week meaning I'll have some extra time on my hands.

So... Review!