I clean the counter once the couple finally leaves, putting out new silverware and coffee cups as I do.

It's 6:30 at night and I leave in half an hour.

The bell above the door chimes as someone walks in.

I look up and I smile etches itself my face.

"Well hey there pretty lady," the tall, dark haired man says, leaning his elbows on the counter, "do you happen to have any specials tonight?"

"I do, sir," I lean in too, "and I just so happened to save you a slice."

He grins widely as our lips connect.

"I missed ya cutie," he says as I pull away.

"I missed you too," I peck his lips again before getting back to work, "how was New York?"

"It was great, got everything I needed to done and had a great time," he sits on the stool.

"Any pretty girls?" I grin at him.

"Yes actually," he beams, "met her on the plane back. Her name's Scarlett."

"Did you get her number?" I ask as I finish wiping off the counter.

"Hell yeah I did," he chuckles.

Charlie and I are not a couple. We've been friends since elementary school and this has always been our friendship. Do we hook up on occasion? Yes. But it's never been serious and it's never effected how we act around each other. The only time we aren't like this 24/7 is if one of us is in a relationship.

"And," he continues, "I invited her to the club tonight. You work tonight right?"

"Yep," I fill up a coffee mug for him.

"Thanks," he takes it, "perfect. You'll get to meet her."

"Looking forward to it," I smile widely, "now is she pretty like 'aw she so cute' kinda pretty or 'holy shit let me get on my knees' kinda pretty."

"The second one," he answers without hesitation.

"Nice," I notice a man walk in, "be right back."

I go over and take his order quickly before returning and giving the ticket to the cook.

"So how's your mom?" Charlie asks softly as I come back to the counter.

"Not so good," I sigh before explaining what Doctor Cumberbatch told me.

"So you're gonna somehow get all this money and pay for this shit," Charlie starts after I finish, "without the guarantee that it's even gonna work."

"We have to try, I can't just let her die," I say as I pick at the rag in my hand.

"I get that. But what if it doesn't work and you waste all you time trying to work for a miracle that doesn't happen?"

"I don't know."

There's a silence before the cook dings the bell, letting me know the order is ready. I take it to the man and go to clean off one of the tables some guests just vacated.

My shift finally ends and I clock out, finding Charlie waiting for me outside.

"Ready to go?" He asks.

"Yep," I nod and we head towards his car.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I finish with my final meeting and huff an exasperated sigh.

"Hey, Bud," Anthony says as he walks in, "me and the guys are gonna go to the club, wanna come? I'm buying."

I think for a moment.

I do just need to relax for a bit, unwind.

"I suppose," I say as I get to my feet.

We exit the mansion and head for our vehicles.

"I'm gonna guess I'm following Anthony," Jeremy says as I take my seat.

I chuckle as we begin to drive.

Jeremy has always been a good friend of mine, even if he is my driver, I never tire of his company.

We arrive at the club at 7:30, handing our keys to the valets so they can take care of the vehicles for us.

We pass the line and head straight in, the bouncer nodding to us as we enter.

The music blares around us, the lights changing colours with the beat of it, and people drink, dance, laugh and shout all around.

"Hey hey hey, I can't get drunk right now my shift starts in half an hour."

My eyes find the source of the laughter quickly.

It's the woman from the hospital.

She sits atop the back part of one of the corner booths, surrounded by a small group of people.

Her clothing is changed a bit.

She now wears a fitted tank top with the word 'staff' on the front of it tucked into a pair of tight leather pants and black army style boots.

The new top exposes the tattoos that litter her upper arms and chest.

I can make out the name 'Amanda' etched across her left collar bone, a lover perhaps.

My attention is brought back to my company as Anthony finds us a booth.

"Shots! Shots! Shots!" Robert chants as we sit, making us all laugh as Anthony goes to retrieve them.

"I'm the DD so that's a no for me," Jeremy says.

"Come now," I scoff, "we can hail a cab or stay at one of the hotels across the street."

"I donno man," he protests.

"Take the damn shot," Roberts pushes one to him as Anthony sets them down on the table.

He rolls his eyes but concedes and downs the alcohol.

"Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!"

I look over and find the woman chanting along with her group as a darker skinned man chugs a mug of beer.

They cheer as he finishes and slams it down on the table with a shout of triumph.

"I could easily do that," Christopher says beside me.

"Well you are probably twice his age so I don't doubt it," I chuckle before taking a shot.

"Care, come on," one of the girls says, "you ain't a light weight, one beer ain't gonna get you drunk."

The woman from the hospital lowers her head with a laugh.

"Fine," she raises her head with a smirk, "one beer. That's it. I don't needa get in trouble for being hammered on the job."

"That's my girl!" Charlie cheers as he wraps his arm around a red headed woman. She easily looked at least ten years older than him, but who am I to judge?

They hand her a bottle as they continue not laugh and jest with each other.

I turn my attention back to my group and we do the same.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rawr
How is it so far?