The Worthy

Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO
Jillian
AS SOON AS I OPENED my eyes, I am nearly fifteen minutes away from my fun and exciting job as a waitress (note to sarcasm). I looked outside the window, there were no more rice fields. Just boring, old, short and rusty buildings. There were barely enough greenery in this place, in Poniente's City.

I never got to ask why it was named that way, but all I know was King Henri Sherlock's P. initial stands for "Poniente", nobody really knew what the L. stood for.

They say that when he was young, he used to own this restaurant that serves 'goto', even I don't know what that is. Anyway the restaurant's name was Poniente's _uga_an. The two words were rusted so nobody really knew what it said.

The bus's tire screeched to a stop and here I was.

I got out, there was the name of the restaurant, Poniente's. They removed the rusted one. I entered through the back door. As I got in, I wore my apron over my head and started to tie the shoes required on my feet. Then I grabbed a pen and paper and started to make my rounds.

You see none of the employees here has time to exchange "hi" and "hello's." We just work and work.

Besides, we aren't even allowed to speak to each other during work, unless you want to get a pay deduction.

"Waitress, over here!" A customer said, when I looked at his direction, he had the menu covered over his face.

As I walked to him, curiosity got the best of me, because he holds the menu as if he was hiding.

"Hello Sir, what can I get you?" I said, with the best kindness I could master.

He finally removed the menu from his face, but just enough for me to notice who he is.

"You're P..." He cut me off.

"Shhhhhhhh..." He started looking around if anybody had heard. "Please, don't call out my name," he looked at me pleadingly.

This customer was Prince James.

The Prince is in this restaurant.

"Of course," and I almost forgot, "Your Majesty" I whispered as I tipped my head a little downward. He nodded, he never really looked at me until now.

And I stared back.

It was quite sometime until he came to his senses and snapped out of his stare. It was so intense that I almost looked somewhere else, but I couldn't unless he gave me permission to.

"Sorry," he looked down to the table.

I just nodded, because we aren't allowed to talk to higher rankings, also unless they tell us so, "Can I get you anything?" I asked.

"Oh!" He said it as if he remembered his purpose here. "Well, I would like a... Poniente's special" he looked unsure, but I couldn't argue.

"Of course, I will be back with your order." I had no smile on, so instead I nodded.

To be honest, I wasn't what they call 'fangirling' over this. Just surprised and I wondered why would someone like the Prince be doing here? It took four minutes for our cook, Tyler, to finish it.

As I got back, the Prince was still looking around, seeing if anybody will notice him. Then I realized, he is wearing the Prince's uniform, but he hid it under a black and long coat. "Here is your order, Sir," he jumped a little until he knew it was me.

He sighs. "You scared me there." Arching one eyebrow.

"I'm so sorry, Your Majesty" I apologized, looking nervous.

"I request you to call me just by James" he said, probably so that people won't notice.

I only nodded.

Then Tyler rang the bell indicating I need to serve another order. I was about to leave until a hand covers my wrist stopping me.

To say I was shocked was an understatement, no customer has ever done that.

I looked back in shock, the Prince said with pleading eyes "I'm sorry, but could I ask you a favor and promise to secrecy that you will keep this information to yourself?"

To me it was more of an command. "Of course, Your..." I almost forgot again "...James." It felt weird calling him that, James just smiled.

"Can you show me the comfort room, please?" letting his voice be heard so that others won't be suspicious. I nodded and lead the way.

As we were getting out of view I peaked at Tyler and saw him frowning with a brow arched. I just shrugged and continued walking. Tyler worked here about 2 months before me and also 2 months older than me.

I knew this because he is the only person I ever talked to in this restaurant. Every night we are the ones who clean the restaurant at closing time and it all started with a simple "hi."

The comfort room came to view, Prince James pulled my elbow, okay that was the second time in the first day. He lead us to the supply closet, which was strangely larger than the cooking area. He locked the door and his face went serious when he turned to face me.

"I am here because I am trying to escape from the wrath of my father," he explained as a whisper. "I cannot share the information that I hold about that matter, but my agenda is that you could help me find where is Bellevoir? There is a piece of history that I need to show him in my defense and it will prove something very important to me"

My eyes were bulging ever since he said Bellevoir, my home.

"Yes, I know the place, because it's my home," rising both my brows.

Prince James smiled brightly. "The easier it gets! I need you to bring me there through simple transportation."

I frowned. "I am sorry but if I will be leaving work for one day I will need to pay 40 dollars, umm...James."

"Well then I will pay it, so let's go to your manager," Prince James suggested.

Again, third time of shock today.

I couldn't argue or it will cost me a trip to jail.

Prince James went in to the manager's office; every step I take increases my heart beat. I have never done anything this drastic before.

While I waited, a hand find its way on my elbow and the person turns me around.

The fourth time.

"Who was that?" Tyler said angrily, "You know no employee can normally talk to a higher rank." fire still present in his grass green eyes.

"I know, but he is the one who asked a favor," I tried to reason.

His expression soften, but was still angry.

"Then what 'did' he ask for?" He ask questionably.

I swallowed a lump on my throat, I haven't thought about what I would tell him.

"Ummm.." Then it clicked. "I need to go home because ...he is my cousin and he needs a place to stay just for today, just for circumstances he cannot explain."

Well that sounded believable.

"You want me to believe that a Branch needs a place to sleep?" He asked questionably, it was obvious that he was at least a Branch.

"Umm, yeah." I said still a bit unsure.

He raised a brow.

I cleared my throat, "Yes." More determined.

Tyler was about to say something just as the doors for the manager's office swung open. Out came Prince James with a pink slip in his hands, a paid leave from work.

The last time this establishment gave someone a pink slip was when this girl named Gabriella was planning to leave forever. Prince James just nodded to me, which I think means it's time to go.

I followed in suit. I looked back to Tyler one last time, he was still fuming, the information I gave him wasn't satisfying to him.