Right Down Cherry Lane//Warrant •Jani Lane•

It's Jani, Right?

1989. It was a Saturday, I was working my usual shift as a waitress for a diner in Los Angeles, California. I'm 20 years old, trying to get to college, but that shit is hard.

I was in the middle of wiping down a table when the bell on the door jingled and in walked a group of guys. I wasn't really paying attention to them, I was focused on cleaning the table.

"I'll be right with you guys." I said as they sat down. I finished the table and walked over to the one they were sat at, grabbing my order pad and pen. They looked like they belonged in Mötley Crüe or Ratt or something.

"What can I get started for you guys?" I asked as cheery as I could. I've been working all day and night this week.  It's fine, I had to. "A cup a coffee." One of them said. I nodded and wrote it down.

I was in the middle of taking the last guys order when the door jingled. "Lori." A person said exasperated. I looked over and I furrowed my eyebrows. "Mom, what are doing here, I'm working. I told you not to bring her when I'm working." I then shot an apologetic look to the guys I was waiting on.

"Mommy!!!" She yelled as she let go of my moms hand and ran over to me, wrapping her arms around my leg. "Are you serious right now?" I asked my mom honestly pissed off.

"Look, I'm sorry, but I'm needed at the hospital." Is all my mother said before she walked out the door and left.

I sighed and shook my head. "I am so sorry. I'll-I'll be right back." I told the guys. "Who are those people?" Carrie asked me. I shrugged as I put her in the booth behind them. "I'll get you some crayons and some paper, and if your good, maybe some pie or a milkshake." I told her.

She nodded. Carrie wasn't mine. She was my sisters kid, I knew that, Carrie knew that. But I didn't know where my sister was. She ran away a year after she had Carrie.

I got her some crayons like I said I would along with some paper. I then walked back to the table of guys. "Cute kid." One of them said. I smiled a small smile and nodded a bit. "Thanks...so what can I get for you?" I asked again, hoping there'd be no more disruptions.

They all finished giving me their orders and I went to the kitchen to give them to the cook. It wasn't busy so I sat down in Carrie's booth across from her. "Hey Care?" I questioned slowly and softly.

I'm glad to be her aunt and I'm happy she's my niece and I don't have much of a problem with taking care of her, but the conversation we were about to have was one we've had before.

"Yeah?" She questioned as she focused on the picture she was scribbling with crayon. "We've talked about this. I'm not your mom, I'm your aunt." I told her.

She nodded. "I know, but mommy's gone and you're here. You and Grama watch me." She stated. I stared at the 5 year old in front of me.

"You gotta stop calling me your mom." I explained. She nodded like she understood. "But why?" She questioned. I sighed. "It's complicated." I told her honestly, doubting she knew what that meant.

She nodded and continued coloring. I ended the conversation and got up. The guys were whispering and I knew that they were talking about me because they kept looking my way.

"No, you ask her!" I heard one of them say loudly as the others laughed. I sighed. I did not feel like dealing with this fuckery today. I walked to the kitchen again and right as I did their orders were done.

I grabbed em all and started walking to their table. "Okay so, cheeseburger with fries?" I questioned them. No way was I going to remember who ordered what between 5 guys.

One of them said that it was his order. I couldn't tell but it sounded like he had an accent.

It got down to the last guy. As I sat down his plate he looked at me. "It's Lori, right?" He questioned. "Yeah?" I asked, wondering what he wanted.

"You ever make Cherry pie?" He questioned with a smirk and wiggled his eyebrows. The guys around him let out a few small laughs. I stared at him. Under normal circumstances, I'd flirt back but with my mom bringing Carrie in, me being fucking exhausted, and where I am financially right now?

I was about to either punch this guy in the face or go ahead and kick him along with his friends out.

But I decided to play along, in my own way. I faked a sweet smile and walked away to the counter upfront where we keep cakes and stuff on display.

I grabbed a piece of cherry pie and started walking back to their table. "Since you asked so, nicely." I said with the same smile I gave him before I left. As I got closer I fake tripped over my feet and accidentally dropped the piece of pie onto him.

"Jani, she's got the fire!" One of his friends exclaimed. Apparently the guy who was trying to flirt with me or whatever the fuck it was he was doing, apparently his name was Jani.

He looked at me and then to his friends with a smile. I was honestly kind of surprised he wasn't pissed off. I then grew a smirk of my own and looked at him. "It's Jani, right?" I questioned him.

I'd beat him at his own game. His friends then laughed at him, astonished that I could very much well not take their shit.

I then crossed my arms over my chest and watched as Jani stood up, the pie that fell onto his lap going on the floor. He stared at me and I did the same as he walked to the bathroom.

When he was out of sight, I looked at his friends. They weren't laughing anymore as they looked at me. "Now, boys, I'd appreciate it if you and your friend Jani could stop with the shit. I don't get paid to deal with immature asshats like yourselves." I told them.

"Yeah...okay, point taken." One of them said. I uncrossed my arms and smiled a genuine smile again. Jani now was coming back to the table and as he was doing so, Carrie walked over to my side and grabbed my hand. "Can I have milkshake now?" She questioned.

I smiled down at her. "Why of course you can, Carrie." I said as I turned to walk away, walking past Jani, he and I exchanged a look.

I let Carrie come behind the diner counter with me so she could see how her milkshake was made. When it was done, she followed me back to the booth I sat her at earlier and I gave her the milkshake.

I then walked to the guys' table. "Since you did ask if I made cherry pie and I so kindly delivered it, be a peach and clean it up off the floor please." I asked Jani as I handed him a mop.

His friends laughed. "Oh I like her!" One of them said, I couldn't help but smile at them. They were a crazy bunch of people, that is for sure.

(A/N: yay, first chapter done. I am sorry if it's not great. I had trouble trying to find a plot for this, man. :) Happy reading - Jaimie ✌️🦆)