Check, Please!

Chapter One

It's Thursday which meant one thing...karaoke night at my favorite dive bar, Meno's. It's mostly always full of college students but considering I'm only 25, I feel I blend in. I've always enjoyed singing but never thought I was any good until one drunken bet and over $50 in tips on a lucky night. Unfortunately, before I could hit up Meno's, I had to work my shift at the diner, Leigh Anne's.

I stared at my reflection in my one and only mirror in my jail cell of an apartment. It's all I could afford so while tiny, I was proud. I stared at my simple uniform of a black, knee length skirt and hot pink ¾ length button up shirt. My shoulder length, wavy, dark auburn hair tied in a tight bun and a basic winged liner above my crystal blue eyes. I slipped on my all black sneaker's and headed out.

It was late September and the weather was in that weird "sweater in the morning, tank in the afternoon" phase, which was perfect for my 10-block walk! When I got to the diner, I was delighted to see the dinner rush hadn't started yet. I got a quick run down of how the day went from Lois, who was older than sliced bread and more miserable than her panties that were constantly in a bunch. Lois was out the door the second she finished speaking and I was so thankful to see Michaela walk through modeling the same outfit as I. Equally happy to see following her was the cook for the night Tony. We were all roughly the same age and got along like we knew each other forever, even though I just moved here two years ago and started walking here one year ago.

I was getting the coffee ready when I felt a smack on my ass and her favorite greeting,

"Hey, hey sexy thang!"

"Well hello to you too Michaela."

"And me!" Tony exclaimed as Michaela hung up her jacket.

"Yes, of course you Tony." I said as I gave him a peck on the cheek. You see, Tony is gay, so on top of feeling like a brother, I feel like he's another girlfriend.

"Let's get this day done so we can get to fun!" Michaela whispered as she got her note pad ready to take an order for someone sitting at the bar island.

"Agreed" I whispered to myself as I turned both coffee pots on.

Several hours flew by and we were down to the last hour before 11PM and we could bust out of this joint (we're a 24-hour diner). I was in the back chatting with Tony when Michaela told me I had a customer.

"Good evening, I'm Annabelle and I'll be your server. Can I get you something to drink to start?" I asked as I got my notepad out. When the gentleman looked up at me, I had a sudden cold chill go through my whole body...well, that was weird.

"Annabelle...." he said as if testing it in his vocabulary. "beautiful name."

"uhh....thanks." I've never been good at compliments.

"You're cute when you blush."

"oh...um....what about that drink?"

"I'll just have a water please. I'm not staying long."

"Uh...so nothing to eat at all?"

"Nope, just water. Thank you, Annabelle."

After I fetched and delivered his water, I started to wipe all my tables down and fill the salt and pepper shakers. I could feel Mr. Friendly staring at me the whole time but wouldn't give him the satisfaction of catching him gawking at me. When I finally did decide to check on his water, I was met with an empty booth. I grabbed his glass that was still filled with water and went to turn to grab my rag and noticed there was a napkin with writing.

"Hope to see you again." I read aloud and looked back at the table and there was a $40 tip. I just stared dumbfounded at it. He tipped me for.... what? A nice name? As much as I could use the cash, I decided to tuck it away and give it back to him if I ever saw him again. I can't accept a handout I didn't deserve.

"Are you ready yet?!" Michaela and Tony both asked leaning against the door.

"Yeah, I just need my jacket." And with that, we were off to Meno's.

****737 words according to Word****

I will put up what I envision the characters looking like once I introduce a few more characters. Please be patient and polite! Writing is strictly a hobby that I simply don't have time to do when I'm in school.