…'Meyer' made the mold…but we are all here to break it…lol…

Chapter 34

"WELL, LOOK who is back from Graceland."

Bella shook her head and smirked as she pulled her hair up into a better pony tail.

Ginger.

Gotta love her.

Checking her hair in her locker mirror, she approves after smoothing the strays down once more and slams the small metal door shut to face the older, if not ever young-at-heart, waitress. "I know you missed me, Ginger, but could you maybe lay the love on a little less thick next time?"

Bella's sarcasm shown through the jut of her hip and the roll of her brown eyes, as she continued, "Besides, you know I only came back so I could wear this awesome T-shirt again."

There was truth there, though. She was glade to be back to her small town life.

New York City had done-

Wait…correction…New York City twice in two weekends had done her in. For the time being that is. She would be frequenting the Big Apple a lot, she knew, and Mr. and Mrs. Henderson couldn't be more delighted. Gallery Nine and its patrons loved her. Especially the second time around.

After the incident which shall not be named.

Who knew?

Ginger pervs, waggling her eyes, "Oh, I bet it was thick, alright…"

"You are so bad," Bella laughs through her reply. Tying her apron around her waist tight, she moves around Ginger and walkes through the prep area and out into to kitchen.

Ginger follows, grabbing a couple of oranges and whole cloves to put into the fresh batch of spiced iced tea she was making their shift. "Bad is as bad does." She snorts at herself. "But really, Bella. I am so glad you are back. Old Mr. and Mrs. Marcum were impossible without you here."

"Oh, they couldn't have been that bad." Looking back over her shoulder, she shook her head at Ginger a little. "They are so sweet. All you gotta do is keep their cups full of hot java and give them a moment or two to listen to their stories. Easy as pie."

Ginger scoffs, snapping her kitchen towel playfully at Bella's butt, "Yeah, easy if your name is Bella Swan. They love you the most. Makes me sick."

"Well, I am glad you weren't able to steal them away from my section."

"BELLA!"

Suddenly, a flurry of footsteps was heard fast approaching, giving her absolutely no time to prepare herself for the adorable mess that was one Stewy-G. The next thing she knew she was being engulfed in a tight hug as the affectionate young dishwasher proceeded to lift her up and flop her back and forth like a rag doll. She was getting dizzy.

He seems happy to see her. Understatement.

"Bella, I am so glad to see you. Did you miss me?" Flop, flop, flop. "It's gonna be so freaking' awesome working with Gallery Nine…and with you again on your next showing…"

She slaps at his shoulder and shrieks, "Put me down, Stew!" She couldn't breathe. She continues between flops, "Put…" flop, "…me, ugh…" more flops and more squeezing, "…DOWN!"

Then someone was whooping and yelling, "Belly-boo in the hoooooooouse!" She felt two more male arms wrapping around her from behind.

It was River.

She screeches, "Arrrrrg!"

Now both of the guys were giving her a nice Bella-sandwich hello. Her ribs were going to break, she knew it. She began flailing as she yells, trying not to laugh or smile, "THIS IS SO WRONG! STOP…IT…STOP…!"

Then Ginger grumbles, "Where is a video camera when you need one."

Another whiny screech, "I'm gonna PEE…"

They release her so fast she almost dropps to the tiled kitchen floor like a limp noddle. Shaking herself out like a ruffled cat, she sent each of her co-workers a glare meant to whither. Then she said, "I was just kidding."

All four of them cracked up.

Once they settled a bit, Stew went back to his dish deck and River straightened his lopsided head-wrap as he moves back behind the line and begins placing an order up in the window, still smiling. "Order up, Ginger."

Noticing the plates of food ready for service, Bella follows Ginger to the expo line and begins helping to load the tray. She smirks at what she sees, "Hum, let's see here…two California omelets, one wheat, one dark rye, both with grits…and a large side a strawberries and blueberries only. This can only be for Tanya and Jane."

"Correct," Ginger replies, shoving her glasses back up her nose and then picking up the loaded tray one handed. She really is a waitressing rock star.

River just grumbles, "Spoiled friends of yours, those two." He turns around and began working on the next order. Looks like gingerbread-banana pancakes. She thinks of Edward. She realizes that she is hungry…starving even.

She really misses him. Like, really.

Shaking of her Edward-blues, Bella swipes a piece of cooked bacon from River's stash, then she turns to follow Ginger back into the wait pantry, commenting curiously, "It's a miracle those two women are up and Adam this early. I can't remember the last time I saw either of them before 10 a.m. on a weekday morning. It's just barely 8:00 a.m. now. Must be something going on…" She pauses to help put fresh silverware and jam onto Ginger's tray. Then she asks, "Oh, hey…is Sam here yet? I need to talk to him."

Ginger froze, looking a little strange…even for her…and nervous. "Uh, well um…he was here…but…I think he may be busy right now…"

Swallowing down her bacon, Bella eyed the older woman suspiciously, dragging out her reply, "Okaaaay." She wipes her hands on a clean cloth and began to head out of the pantry and down the hall to where Sam's office was, but Ginger stops her.

"Bella Swan," hand on hip, fully loaded tray still weighing in one hand, Ginger scoldes, "if you make me take this tray past those ornery Marcum's without either one of them having their coffee yet, I swear I will deliver all your orders to the wrong tables for the rest of the day…" she glares and then adds, "…maybe for the whole week! You know I will do it, too."

Bella blinks. Her shoulders went up along with her hands in defense, placating, "Alright, alright…simmer down there Bessie…I just got here, and besides, you didn't tell me they were out there waiting…coffeeless." She mock gasps.

Switching gears, she grabs a fresh thermos of coffee then pushes through the double doors and heads out towards table 8 where the Marcums were sitting, as usual. Their eyes light up when they see her approaching, pony tail swishing behind her. Bella couldn't help her smile. She was fond of them, too.

She teases as she stopps at their table, pouring coffee into both waiting mugs, "What's this I hear about you two torturing the wait staff in my absence, hmm?"

Mr. Marcum gave a sly smile, "It was all Ruthie here, Bella. She was impossible."

Ignoring her husband's statement, Mrs. Marcum begins excitedly, her hand fluttering around a bit, "Oh, Bella! I am so glad you are back, dearie. You have got to tell us all about your adventures in New York." She reachs over to pat Mr. Marcum's cheek as she continues, reminiscing, "Max and I went there for our 30th anniversary, don't you know. Saw that show on Broadway…Porgy and Bess. And, we went to the top of the Empire State Building. Oh, Max," she turns to ask her husband, "what was the name of that famous restaurant at the top of the twin Towers, the North Tower?"

"Windows on the World," he said then blew on his steaming coffee. "1983…had the best steak of my life there."

Mrs. Marcum sighs, looking back to Bella, "Such a shame. It's gone now, of course…911. Max and I fell in love all over again that night. But let's not brood over that horrible tragedy." Her eyes twinkle again, "I hear that you caused quite a scene for the Yanks."

It was like déjà vu. Word sure does travel fast. Not surprising really, but her face flames nonetheless. "Oh, um…you heard about that, did you?"

"Now, Ruth…" Mr. Marcum chastises, "…you leave Bella here alone about that. I'm sure she's had enough already. And I am well past being hungry."

"Oh, alright then. I'll let it go…for the sake of your old-man stomach." She teases.

Setting the thermos down, Bella reaches inside her apron and pulls out her pencil, saying, "It's fine you two, really. I seem to have developed a recent habit of trying to kill or maim my lover."

Mr. Marcum gives a hoot at Bella's words. "Lover indeed. You just wait and see. It's more than just that what's goin' on I am thinking. You'll see. And, I would say that by the look on that boy's face earlier, he seems to have survived both incidences just fine."

Bella blinks. She blinks again. "What?"

"Max!" Mrs. Marcum swats at her husband, and then turns quickly to Bella, diverting, "You pay him no mind, dear. He's old. Constantly miss-speaking. Now, I think I will have your strawberry crepes this morning, with a side of turkey sausage, please." Eyes back to her husband, she presses, "Max…now order so Bella can get back to work."

He clears his throat, looking a bit guilty. "Yes, yes…something different for me today, dear," his eyes were practically gleaming he's so cheery as he speaks to Bella, "it's a special day after all." His eyebrows waggle. "I'll have the cream cheese stuffed French toast with your homemade blackberry syrup…and some crisp bacon, too."

Whoa…

He never orders anything but the oatmeal…

Bella narrows her eyes, moving them quickly back and forth between the two of them repeatedly. They have each pasted on their best innocent face.

Something is up…

"Okaaaaay…" Still eying them, she finishes writing down their orders, puts her pencil back in her apron pocket and pick up the coffee thermos again, and starts backing away. "I'll, uh…just go put your order in…"

The Marcums just smile back. Sip their coffee. It's weird.

Shaking her head, she turns to head back into the kitchen and gets intercepted by their hostess, Kelly. "Hey, Bella!" She pushes her glasses back up her tiny nose as she speaks, giving a small awkward waive.

Bella smiles at the younger girl, noticing that she seems a bit out of breath, "Hey Kelly, what's up?"

Kelly's eyes widen. "Um…nothing!" she blurts. "I mean, why would anything be up?" A nervous little laugh erupts.

Bella's head cocks to the side. "Um…I…wasn't…" she blinks, "… really…asking…" and shakes her head, "…a question, Kelly."

"Oh. Ha ha, that's funny!" She glances quickly behind her toward the hostess stand then back. "No, um. I just needed to tell you that Jane and Tanya want to chat with you, so um…I will take the Marcums' order to the kitchen for you. Okay?" She snatches the piece of paper from Bella's hand quick as lightening. "They are at table 19 in Ginger's section in the back." In a flash she's gone.

Bella just stands there, more confused now than she was before.

Mr. Marcum gives another hoot.

Whipping around to face her older customer, Bella glares at him. He's the picture of innocence still. So is his wife. "I know something is up…so…so…" She has no idea what to say. Frustrated, she gives up and sighs, "Ugh…never mind…" Then she storms off to the back of the restaurant to find her friends.

They are sitting by the window in a comfy booth. You can see the parking lot behind the diner from here. Bella plops down beside her best girlfriend and sighs, haphazardly placing the thermos on the table top.

"Aww…What's wrong, BB?" Tanya pouts her lower lip at Bella's slumped form, and then she takes a bite of her omelet.

"Nothing, except that everyone must be drinking from the crazy cooler since I've been away."

Tanya snorts. Jane hides a grin behind her napkin.

Bella continues, sitting up, "And you two…" she accuses, "…better tell me why you are here so freaking early in the morning, or, I swear on all your designer purses, that I will never step into another dress for the rest of my life."

Jane scoffs out, "You know you have absolutely no control over us when it comes to dresses, Bella. Please…" She takes a bite of her rye toast smeared with orange marmalade.

Tanya swallows her bite of omelet, and then explains, "We just felt like we needed to be here for your first morning back at the diner. Nothing weird about that." She shrugs and hides a smirk.

Bella looks at Tanya. "Nothing weird about that?" Then she looks at Jane. "Nothing weird about that, huh?" Bella is a little incredulous. "Wow, okay…it's like the Twilight Zone just came to town. You two seem to have forgotten that I know you're both like the dead-"

Tanya interrupts, "Jesus Christ, girlfriend! Relax. You just miss your man, admit it. When did you talk to him last?"

Bella slouches down again, remembering her last conversation with him just before he left for his unexpected business trip. "Last Friday afternoon," she sulked. "I'm feeling so emo and childish all of the sudden. It's so pathetic." She had spent the better part of these last three days trying not to think about Edward…which was absolutely impossible.

It was weird being in New York for her Saturday opening without him there, too. Of course, this time around there were no problems whatsoever. And the recent publicity along with the fact that all her pieces had already sold caused the crowd to double. Angela stuck by her side through it all and before Bella knew it, Demetri was driving her back to the airport for her midnight flight. It was just one big huge whirlwind.

"Bella, you're in love. You are supposed to be 'emo' and childish when you can't be together."

Tanya choked on her juice at that. "Mom, you aren't allowed to use the word emo…it's just wrong…really wrong…"

Jane just grinned, "Oh, honey, it was my generation that created it in the first place, and…oh…" Her cell phone interrupts her. Glancing down at its screen, she reads a text and smiles, then plops it into her huge purse. "That's my que. Gotta run, babes." She gathers her stuff, preparing to leave.

"And, where are you off too this Tuesday morning, Ms. Jackson?"

Jane just smiles secretive like. "These lips are sealed, Bella. But I will be back in a few days. If you need help with your girls, Tanya will be ready."

Bella gapes. "But who is gonna watch the boutique for you? You never leave that place…"

"Oh, I hired that cute little girl from the candy shop next door. So don't worry. Now, I gotta run. Mwa…"

Bella just watches, open mouthed, as Jane walks to the front of the diner and out of sight.

She turns quickly to gape at Tanya, who had just fired off a text of her own to some unknown individual. She motions over her should and asks, "What was that all about?"

Tanya just smiles a huge smile and blatantly lies, "I have absolutely no idea whatsoever."

Just then, Bella could see Jane in the back parking lot as she walks to what is most definitely the vehicle of one Sam Morrison, owner of Sam's Diner. The passenger side door swung open for her and the petit blonde woman slips and shuts the door.

"What the hell is that?"

"Nope."

Bella shines, "You're mean."

"I know. Look, B. There's someone I have been meaning to tell you about."

Oh, they were completely switching gears now. Bella had a hunch. "It's your secret boyfriend, isn't it T-Dog? All those texts and sexy phone calls." She starts poking at her friend's side, taunting, "Tanya's got a boyfriend, Tanya's got a boyfriend…"

Tanya swats her away, "How old are you, again?"

Stopping her silliness, Bella points at herself, saying, "Emo 34 year old child today, remember…"

Straightening up, Tanya begins, "Seriously though, BB. His first name is William but most know him as Billy."

Bella can't help the laugh that escapes then. She quickly recovers, slapping a hand over her mouth as she faces her friend, wide eyed.

"Bella…" Tanya whines.

"Sorry…it's just that…I never imagined you with a 'Billy'. Country boy Billy."

Heavy sarcasm here, "Oh, like Edward is such a perfect name. And Billy is not some podunck country boy name, either."

Bella just snorts and continues, "So like, when you guys are having sexy times, you're all like… 'Oh, Billy…yes, pleeeease, Billy…right there, yeeeessss, Billy…Billy, Billy, oh Bi-"

"Did someone say my name?"

Oh.

She freezes, mouth wide open. She sees Tanya's eyes shift from her ridiculous self to someone standing directly behind her right shoulder.

Wait…that voice sounds strangely familiar.

No fucking way…

a/n…leave me some love…review review review…please…and don't forget to check out the DIRTY TALKIN' EDWARD CONTEST…you can search for it under 'author'…i have submitted an entry and voting starts today…i think…yeah it does…voting begins 08/13/13 and ends on 08/27/13…love…

xxx jess