A/N: Wow guys thank you for the reviews and I'm glad you enjoyed the first chapter! Umm so I know you guys have questions and believe me they will all be answered within the next little while. Let this story just keep breathing for abit ;)
Here's chapter 2 enjoy!
Amy walked quickly down the block. Her job was only five blocks away from her small apartment but she still liked to get there early on some days. Today was no exception to the rule. Finally, after a few minutes she saw the small diner looming in front of her.
Jarla's Diner was home to some of the best burgers in town. For a small 70's styled diner it sure could still bring in the crowds of people. They still had there regular customers, who to Amy look like they never actually left the diner, and then of course you got your new faces. While Jarla's was a popular diner, it was also popular among some of the more questionable persons that lived in the neighborhood.
Amy basically lived in the more scummy part of town. Here gang violence was prominent, drug abuse happened at every house almost, and prostitutes prowled their corners in the dead of night picking up clients. Kids were kept locked in the houses and were never let out at any hour of the day or night. It was definitely not the place to try to raise a family.
At first when Amy had looked at this area she, thought it wouldn't be a good pick for her and she still felt that way, but what had cinched the deal for her was the low rent and the proximity to her job. Mainly the rent though.
Amy could see the diner and she crossed the street. It was a modest abode, the paint that had once been vibrant reds, blues, and yellows had faded with the passing of time and the sun beating down at its walls bleaching the colour away.
Amy got up to the door, as she did she noticed the parking lot jammed full of cars, pushing the door open she was buffeted back by the air conditioner and the smell of greasy burgers.
There were some rough looking people in the bar area and the usual old timers teaming around all the tables. The loud laughter and boisterous talk permeated the area and Amy noticed that it was packed for the lunch rush as usual.
Walking towards the back counter Sasha smiled at Amy.
"Thanks so much for coming on such a short notice Amy," Sasha thanked her employee as she served drinks to two men, "I knew I could always count on my best waitress."
That's right, her, Amy, was a waitress. She couldn't find a job anywhere else at the time so she had ended up with this one after Sasha had taken an extraordinarily quick liking to her. Amy couldn't afford to say no at the time so she had accepted and started the long hard work. The pay wasn't at all good mostly relying on any tips that she could get from her tables. Every once in a while Sasha would help her out by giving her a few extra bucks if she could spare it but other than that Amy was on her own.
Sasha wasn't exactly the original owner, more the original owners daughter. She was 25; curly red hair fell down to her shoulders and sparkled when the sun hit. Her eyes were a gentle emerald green that sparkled like the gems themselves. Her skin was extremely fair and pale, here and there were a few burn marks from the hot elements in the back that she had accidentally got years ago. She had a trim figure and she was taller than Amy at 5'5.
"Ok Amy take care of tables 4 and 8 if you don't mind," Sasha ordered her briskly, "we had one of our noon time waiters call in sick."
Amy nodded as she walked through the kitchen doors into the hustle and bustle of the kitchen. The chef was busy dicing onions and lettuce as he flipped patties as they sizzled and popped on the grill. Amy could see the fatty juices leaking out of them as she passed the station by to one of the back rooms. Opening the door, she came to the mini break room where they could hang up their coats for their shifts. Amy stripped off her jacket and hung it neatly on the coat rack. Pinning her nametag on, she reached into the pocket of her long coat. She pulled out two black long wristbands that would cover her whole forearms and hide the scars littering them. Pulling the black material out she smoothed it out and allowed just enough discomfort to remind her of their presence. Tightening her ponytail Amy turned back around and headed back out to the front of the restaurant.
Walking up to one of the tables that she was in charge of she plastered on a fake smile, "Hello welcome to Jarla's Diner I'll be your host this afternoon. My name is Amy; what can I get you to start off to drink?"
The two men that sat at the booth leered at her and openly stared up and down her body. Amy concealed a shiver that ran down the length of her body as she stood there and put up with the stares. One of the men gave her a smirk.
"How about you and me in the back alley? I could give you a good drink," stated the man confidently as he leered at her.
Amy didn't even react in the open to this kind of comment, "I'm sorry sir but that is not on the menu," Amy stated covering up that she was slightly unnerved by this man.
The man's buddy across the table from him stifled a snicker behind his hand. The other man glared at his friend, "Well that's just too bad isn't it? But the offer is always open toots if you ever feel the urge to walk on the wild side," he said to her as he winked.
Amy swore that she could taste some bile that came up from her meager breakfast this morning, 'like that's ever going to happen,' Amy thought to herself.
"A coffee then," stated the jerk as he sighed in disappointment.
His friend was perusing the menu and looked up after his friend ordered, "I'm good with just water thanks."
Amy nodded, "I'll get your coffee then sir."
Walking away Amy resisted the urge to rub her arms away of the chills that had suddenly overcome her at the man's blatant grossness. Sasha must have noticed her slightly grossed out and disturbed look. She frowned as she saw her coming and looked out at the table that she had just finished serving. Understanding seemed to dawn in her eyes as she took in who was seated there.
As Amy came behind the counter and started to pour the coffee in a small cup Sasha came up to her.
"Hey girl you need someone else to look after that table for you? I could get one of my guys," Sasha volunteered to her.
Amy shook her head at Sasha and smiled hiding everything behind a steel wall, "No its ok Sasha, I can't run away from them now."
Sasha gazed at Amy with pity in her eyes and her fire red hair streamed down behind her in its customary long ponytail. Shaking her head, she rubbed her forehead wearily.
"Ok Amy just watch out for those two," Sasha gestured with her eyes at the two men, "especially that bigger one. He can be trouble and if things start to get out of hand I want you to tell me and I'll move you ok?"
Amy nodded at that but she did not intend to tell Sasha that things were getting out of hand at that table. She had to prove to herself that she could start to handle herself in situations that used to make her feel uncomfortable. She had no friends or really family to lean on anymore. She could look after herself and she would prove it today.
Walking back with the coffee cup Amy placed it gently in front of the man. He leered at her again and a vicious pinch made Amy jump and look down. One of the man's hands had grabbed a part of her thigh that was exposed; even now, Amy could see the angry red mark starting to form.
'Great that's gonna bruise,' Amy huffed to herself.
Moving away from the mans questing fingers she took out her small notebook, "Ok would you like to order?"
"Yeah just your Double Cheeseburger and fries, oh and on the side how about you?" asked the man as he raised his eyes expectantly.
Amy jotted down the man's order and tried not to roll her eyes at his blatant come ons.
"Sorry sir were out of stock for your side dish," stated Amy firmly, "and you sir?" she asked turning to the other man who had hardly said anything at all.
"Just your chicken Caesar salad for me thanks," he said quietly.
Amy nodded as she took both orders. Flipping her notebook closed she began to walk away to put the orders in but as she did she could have sworn that the guy that had pinched at her was staring after her with leering piggy eyes and a dark gleam smoldering in them. Amy brushed off the sudden nerves and walked faster away from that table.
Putting the orders in to the cook Amy turned and jumped a foot in the air as she saw Sasha staring at her with a disapproving look not aimed at her face but at her thigh. Amy looked down and saw that the mark was becoming an angry purple and blue bruise.
Sighing quietly Amy looked back up at Sasha's accusing stare, "I told you girl to tell me if you were having difficulties with that fricken porker at that table."
Amy almost snorted at her boss's choice of words but realized how serious her own boss was taking this. Shrugging Amy started to slowly walk past her.
"Its fine Sasha I can handle him," Amy tried to convince her boss who didn't seem to be taking any nonsense today.
"Amy no I know what that man can try to do and I know he's a pig," she whispered to her vehemently, "child I just don't want to see you get hurt. Lord knows I respect you but that's still no reason for me to shut my trap and stand by as I watch a perfectly innocent girl get mauled and drooled on by a loser, ya hear?"
Amy stared at her boss for a split second. When she said innocent… Shaking her head Amy ignored the comment and tried to make sure she didn't blush beat red like her boss's hair in front of her.
"Sasha I just put their orders in, they'll be gone soon enough," Amy reassured her.
Sasha still didn't look appeased by this though. Finally, she sighed angrily and nodded her head.
"Fine child but I'm keeping an eye on you," she stated pointing an accusing finger at her, "and I don't want you going over to that table more than necessary ya hear? Get their bloody order, take their money and make sure you give them subtle hints to shag ass out of here."
Amy raised an eyebrow at her, "Sasha you know I have to serve them, so they at least don't starve or die of dehydration right? And so they can keep coming back and give you business?" she said jokingly to Sasha.
"Ahh let them die at the table for all I care;" Sasha snorted at that, "besides I have enough business going for myself right now."
Amy shook her head and stifled a chuckle as she walked over to her next table to serve.
As she came closer to her next table, an instant smile lit her face. The table was situated in the corner booth and an older man was staring out at the cars driving by the diner. He was bald on the top of his head and around the sides of his head and the back he had snow-white hair. A moustache also white covered his upper lip and curled slightly at the ends. His skin was darker, and he appeared Middle Eastern. His eyes were a gentle chocolate brown, his nose was slightly hooked and he had a thin mouth but one that was usually always smiling. Today he wore a simple jean jacket over his t-shirt and blue jeans on with some old sneakers that looked like they had seen better days.
Amy stopped at the table and the older gentleman turned his head to address her. As soon as he saw her his eyes opened wide and sparkled, his mouth turned up and a genuine smile and booming laughter seemed to light up the whole room.
"Amy! It's good to see you my young friend! How is life treating you?" asked the older man curiously.
Amy smiled at him gently, "It's treating me well Mr. Yoshiro, my I inquire about yourself?"
Mr. Yoshiro waved his hand dismissively, "Amy how many times do I have to tell you to just call me Taro? Seriously I sound incredibly old when you use my full name like that," he stated as he laughed.
Amy laughed delicately with him, "My apologies Taro, but I'm not used to this."
Taro shook his head, "You're just so polite Amy it's refreshing in your day and age. Not many younger people are like you, you're a lot wiser beyond your years."
Amy stared at him confusedly for a second, "Why do you say that Taro?"
Taro shrugged his shoulders, "You just strike me as someone who is many years older than what you most likely are."
Amy nodded her head, "Well that's a first for me I have to say! Seriously how are you though Taro?"
Amy knew that something was on Taro's mind but he had never told her what it was. For the longest time since Amy, started working at the diner Taro had been one of their oldest customers. He always came in for lunch and sometimes in the evening to just sit with the waiting staff in comfortable silence and chatter. He was a friendly older man and everyone simply adored him here. He was like a permanent wall fixture of the diner…if you could staple him to the table or something. It was just as good, considering he was here every single day.
One thing that Amy knew about him though was that Taro was adopted at a very young age. His parents were Chinese hence the Chinese sounding names and yet he was a Middle Eastern man. He grew up happy though even knowing at a young age that the people who were raising him were not his actual birth parents. Whenever Amy asked him if it was hard for him to understand or accept that idea that his parents were not his real birth parents he would always tell her,
"Amy my parents were amazing. I do not consider the people that gave birth to me any kind of parent. They never tried looking for me and I never tried looking for them. My real parents took such good care of me and loved me even though I wasn't genetically related to them. I have never met two kinder people, except maybe yourself, and I would never trade them for the world. I was blessed and incredibly thankful for them; those other people are strangers."
After hearing, that passionate response from Taro Amy had never asked him about the topic again. She knew Taro was not insulted by her asking or angry with her but she just didn't want to drag something up that maybe was best left alone.
"I'm doing fine Amy thank you for asking," Taro replied to her earlier question smiling gently at her.
Amy nodded at him, "Would you like some of our herbal tea then Taro?"
"Yes please Amy that would be wonderful and just a small basket of buns if you would be so kind and if that's not too much of a bother," Taro said gently.
Amy scoffed at this, "Of course it isn't Taro! You're a paying customer!" Amy exclaimed to him. Bending down to his level, she whispered to him, "besides we like you hear so eat as many of the buns as you want and sit here for as long as you please."
Taro shifted in his seat and gave a quiet laugh, "Thank you for that Amy."
"No problem sir! Your tea and buns will be out shortly!" with that said Amy pranced away before Taro could scold her for her use of the word sir at him.
Walking by the table that the two men were at Amy was about to pass it by when suddenly a hot liquid scolded her side. Gasping in slight pain and startlement she looked down at herself in shock and then at the booth.
The other man was sitting there quietly not bothering to say anything and the jerk from earlier was smirking at her as he raised an eyebrow.
"My coffee seems to have spilled waitress may I have some more?" asked the jerk as he leered at her again and smiled at her in a way that Amy could do nothing about.
"Is there a problem here?" asked a voice from the side of Amy.
Turning Amy saw her boss Sasha staring there looking down at Amy's wet side. Looking at the men at the table a small glare was glowing from her eyes.
"Nothing boss," said the main in an oily voice, "my coffee just spilt, and I was asking for more."
"That's not what happened Sasha, I saw it he threw it at her there's no way the liquid would have sloshed all over her like that without someone directing it," stated Taro from behind them.
The bully in the booth turned around angrily, "Shut your mouth ya old geezer!"
"Now that's enough!" Sasha stated in a loud ringing voice, "get out of my diner now, and don't ever come back the both of you or I'm calling the cops! You're not harassing my staff anymore and neither are you insulting my other customers."
The man just shoved his plate off the table so it smashed on the floor and the food scattered everywhere. Amy looked down as her flats were splattered with left over ketchup and bits of burger. Turning her nose up Amy looked up as the two men got up from the booth.
"Whatever; food sucked here anyways," stated the jerk, "come on Rolph lets truck out."
With that, the two men left the diner slamming the door behind them and making the window rattle in it.
"You ok Amy?" asked Taro politely as he glared at the men's retreating backs across the parking lot.
"Yeah I am thanks Taro, and thanks Sasha," Amy said as she rubbed her head sheepishly.
Sasha smiled gently at her and Taro turned back around and nodded. Leaning down Sasha and Amy started to clean up the bits of food that littered the linoleum and the broken dishes.
"Oh Amy you don't have to help with this," Sasha chided her gently, "go back and clean up, I know I carry some spare shirts in the desk drawer in the back room."
Amy shook her head, "No Sasha this is just as much as my fault. I want to help you."
Sasha glared at Amy her blue eyes turning into twin ice chips, "Don't you dare say that it was your fault Amy, I've been watching you closely with them."
"But they were still-"
"And don't you say that they were paying customers Amy," Sasha stated vehemently, "that's a pathetic excuse. I should have kicked them out months ago, but I didn't and I just couldn't stand to see you being picked on."
Taro suddenly leaned down next to them and started to help pick up the food. "What a waste," he would constantly mutter as he helped them.
"Taro no, don't help us, we should be done soon," Sasha pleaded with the older gentleman.
"No girls I'm going to," Taro said kindly, "some men are pigs or worse and you just saw the worse right there."
Amy smiled at him and Taro grinned at her through his white mustache. Silently they all worked until the mess was cleaned. Amy quickly mopped the area until the tiles shined and all of them grinned at each other for a job well done.
Suddenly, Amy jumped, "Oh Taro! Your buns! I'm so sorry I totally forgot about them!"
Taro waved his hind in a gesture dismissively, "Not to worry Amy I can eat them now."
Sasha turned to Amy a tray balanced on her hip from the broken plates, "Amy go to the back room and get changed I'll serve Mr. Yoshiro here his buns and tea."
Taro rolled his eyes, "How many times do I have to tell you girls to just call me Taro?"
"At least once more old man," Sasha said good-naturedly.
Taro threw his hands up in the air as a gesture of defeat, "So you'll call me old man but not by my first name! I deserve a discount on those buns!"
Amy laughed as she walked back to the back room to change her shirt. As she locked the room door she stripped off her work shirt and opened the desk drawer on the desk. Inside folded neatly, were a few pairs of plain black shirts, identical and in different sizes.
Amy leafed through the shirts until she found her size. Holding up she gazed at it then put it on over her body. Smoothing out any possible wrinkles she took a look at herself in the small mirror and nodded. It would do until she could wash her other one.
Amy winced and lifted the shirt again, the scolding hot coffee had left her side slightly blistered, and red, the wound glaring angrily out at her. Amy sighed as she saw this.
'Great,' she thought to herself as she lowered her shirt gently.
Her hands brushed the sides of her and she winced again. Holding up her hands she looked at the black forearm gloves that encased her arms, thinking of what lay on the other side of those gloves.
Amy shoved her dirty shirt into her coat pocket, unlocked the door, and walked back to the front of the diner. She would deal with everything later as soon as she got back to her apartment. Although she knew she would regret that decision as she felt her side starting to throb with pain.
Amy just gritted her teeth and bared with the pain, glad she could feel something even if it was only physical.
A/N: So I hope this was ok! Remember thing's aren't always as they seem ;)