Wicked

Chapter I

I watched as the gray clouds come closer through the diner windows. I got lost in a trans of thought about what my life could have been if mom and dad were still alive.

It's been 5 months since the car accident and I wonder if they had just stayed home that night than maybe my life wouldn't be like this- our lives wouldn't have been like this.

Busting tables from morning till dawn with less pay than than I could imagine was not exactly what I pictured myself doing at 19 years old. Maybe if dad didn't gamble away all our money than I could have at least inherited something to get myself by.

"Ella... Ella can you hear me...Ella!"

Cindy

"Huh, y-yeah. Sorry, what is it?"

I watch her eyes shoot open as if I said something to disrespect her. And with her clamped pearly white teeth she gives me fake smile.

"I said table three needs refills. Stat!"

I look past her at the table standing by the far left corner with it's almost empty cups "I-I'm on it."

I quickly walk past her grabbing the coffee pot and making my way over to the table she mentioned. It was seated by what looked to be some college friends having their breakfast.

College. The one thing I was looking the most forward to after high school. I dreamt of it saving me from living in that horribly unstable house.

Guess I got what I wanted while losing what I had.

I give them a small apologetic smile as I refill their glasses and walk back to my original post.

"What's up with Cindy? She's been on edge lately."

Lisa looks up at me from the register.

"Who cares." She rolled her eyes
"Everyday for the past month all she's been doing is acting like everyone that works here doesn't know how to do their jobs. Probably why her husband left her, couldn't handle her control freak ass."

I let out a small laugh.

That's what I liked about Lisa, zero filter. Always saying things as they are cause we all know no one would speak like that about the boss.
And she wasn't wrong, least not about the husband part.

"But enough about her." Her hand waves off "Cause we have something much more important to talk about."

"Oh yeah?" I asked, sarcastically while wiping down the counters.

"Yup." A big smile now covering her face.
"His name is Brian. I met him at a club downtown and he's absolutely everything I've wanted in a guy and so much more. You have to meet him."

"Sounds nice, but, tell me... how long have you known this guy?"

"Umm... oh- well what's it matter, Rose?" She groans, dramatically rolling her eyes and head towards the sealing like I just crushed her daydream.

I laugh at her childish behavior. Typical Lisa, always claiming the next guy in her life to be 'the one' by just the second date.

"I mean, if you speak of this guy like your gonna marry him than yes, it matters."

Lisa responds with a playful yet serious glare.

"Well, I'm sorry not all of us have perfect relationships with perfect boyfriends and our oh so perfec-"

Lisa's sentence was cut short by Cindy's hand loudly slamming agents the countertop making us both jolt up a bit.

"Last time I checked, I do not pay you girls to just stand around and gossip all day. Save it for your brakes. If I see it happen again, I won't hesitate to have you both fired."

She was bluffing. The diner was very much understaffed. So much so that working overtime was an almost every-shift occurrence for us.

Yet, she protested to to lifting her hand up and shift her head to glare us both down before backing up and turning to walk back to her office.

Just as the door closes I hear Lisa mutter an array of curse words under her breath marking me let out a quiet chuckle as I got back to wiping down the rest of the counter.

—— {next day} ——

{5:00pm}

"You think you'll be good to close up tonight, Rose? Cindy asked- well more like demanded of me.

"Yeah, sure."

"Okay, good. I'm going downtown to drop some papers off, so if you need me just call me on my cell."

"Alright." I replied as she turns to walk out the door, letting it hit the tiny bell from above.

The diner was pretty empty, except for a few tables being occupied. It's a bit late in the afternoon so I wasn't expecting too many people to come in anytime soon.

***Dingg***

I hear the bell go off by the door, indicating that someone had just come in.

I look over and see two guys. Both, tall and very handsome, but one of them stood out to me.

"Brian, hi!" I watch Lisa go up to the first guy and have him a hug.

So that's Brian. Dark brown hair, blue eyes. He looked like the unfaithful type... Lisa's type.

"Hey babe." Brian gave her a kiss.

"Oh! This is Stella." Lisa turns to introduce me.

I say a quiet 'hi' to them both. The one next to Brian seemed to just keep staring at me. He had jet black hair and piercing green eyes that felt like they were looking right through me.

Brian gave me a smile and then proceeds to introduce the guy on his left. "This is my friend, Noah."

I give 'Noah' a slight nod.

***Ringggg***

I hear the diner phone go off

Thank god

"Um, I'll be right back."

That dark look Noah kept giving me made me feel so intimidated and small. I just had to get out of there.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Yes, can I speak to Cindy, please." The caller says.

"Sorry, shes not in right now. Could I give you her personal number instead?"

"That would be helpful, thank you."

I give the individual on the other line Cindy's number and then proceed to hang up the phone.

As I walk back to the register, I notice that Lisa is no where to be found. Just as I thought that all three of them left together I see Noah, sitting by the counter.

"Stella, right?" His voice sounded deep and coarse, sending shiver down my spine.

"Yes, but I prefer, Ella."

"Ella." He tried saying it, almost seeming like he was contemplating if he liked it or not.

"Beautiful." He responds, making me slightly blush.

"U-um, can I get you anything?" I quickly changed the subject.

"Coffee, black." I watched him put the money on the table.

He kept his eyes on me the whole time as I poured him the the coffee. And just as I put the cup in front of him, he puts his hand over mine.

"Your number?" He asked, tilting his head slightly to the side.

I pulled my hand away form his touch. "I have a boyfriend" I replied, trying to remain calm, his eyes darkened.

"Not for long." He whispered, then left.