"Dani, why don't you wear make-up? Pretty waitresses get bigger tips," Oliver Lee, the owner of King's Diner passed a tube of name-brand concealer to Dani after making her follow him to his office behind the kitchen.

"Oliver, I know you mean well but has no one ever told you that you're not supposed to tell a woman she needs to wear make-up?" Dani asked as her hands wrapped around the tube of expensive concealer. "Besides I'm already wearing make-up."

An awkward moment of silence passed before Oliver squinted his eyes, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," Dani said.

Oliver had no tact but he really did care about her. He was like that aunt that pointed out a new pimple or some extra weight around your waist that you already knew about.

"Dolores told me you needed some concealer to date a hot cop," Oliver whispered.

"What?"

Oliver's eyebrows wiggled up and down, "You finally found someone. I'm so excited for you, Dani! We can cater your wedding for free. I have been wanting to try a peanut butter banana wedding cake. We can even try a jelly filling if you want."

"Whoa...wait a minute. Let's not get ahead of ourselves...or go crazy," Dani said. "Since this hot cop is a total figment of Dolores' imagination."

"Imagination? She insisted that you met someone."

"I did but he's not my boyfriend or anything remotely close to that. He was a detective that accused me of being involved with a murderer. It wasn't exactly a romantic meeting or love at first sight."

"That's too bad," Oliver frowned. "I really wanted to walk you down the aisle."

Dani wished she could hug the older man she'd known most of her life, "You're so sweet Oliver...but I don't see myself getting married anytime soon. I may never get married."

"Don't say that. You'll find the one. I just know it."

"You always know what to say. Thank you, Oliver."

"For what?"

"Being like a dad to me. You and Dolores are like family to me. You know that, right?"

"I know," Oliver sighed. "You're like a daughter to me. A sometimes cranky daughter...but still a daughter. If you ever need anything, let me know."

She risked it then. She gave Oliver a quick hug before walking towards the exit, "I'll keep this concealer since you bought it but I just need some sleep. Like a week's worth of sleep."

Dani was still smiling as she walked back to the serving area and picked up a pot of coffee. She scanned the crowd to see Belcher and Freddy sitting at the counter talking with Dolores.

"I'm telling you that a big brother is overrated," Belcher said. "Girls these days just need to carry a weapon or something."

"What if he takes the weapon and uses it on them?" Freddy asked, pointing at the article detailing the latest victim of the Maestro. "Women need someone to watch over them."

"That's so old-school, Freddy. I'm telling you from experience that brothers suck. If I was a girl, I'd rather carry some numb chucks around than expect a brother to protect me."

Dolores saw Dani and patted her gray hair down before nudging her head towards a booth at the far right of the diner. Dani's eyes traveled that way to see Detectives Jax Michaels and Roberto Montoya.

Great

She trudged her way to the booth and forced a smile, "Coffee?"

"Yes please," Roberto answered.

Dani poured his drink and watched him take a sip.

Jax shook his head, his hand over his coffee mug, "Hi there, Panda Eyes."

Coffee spurted from Roberto's mouth and onto Jax. Dani giggled.

"Serves you right," Dani said.

"What did you just call her?" Roberto asked, wiping at his mouth.

Jax was about to respond when two women entered the diner and one grabbed Dani's free hand, "This is her Lily. The poor waitress I went to high school with. Her name is Denni."

"Carol, I've told you before, my name is Dani not Denni."

"Same difference," Carol shrugged.

"She's a lot more normal-looking than you described," Lily noted, causing Dani to blush in anger. She pulled her hand out of Carol's grasp.

"You've made me sound like a monster or something. Just so we're clear...I charge extra if you take pictures," Dani said sarcastically.

"You and your weird sense of humor. I'll never understand it," Carol frowned.

"Just like I'll never understand why you keep trying to hold my hand when I've told you not to. That would make it three times now and it's not convenient or safe when I'm carrying hot coffee," Dani reminded her, lifting the pot of coffee in her hand.

"You poor thing. You were such a freak in high school and I hoped...no, I prayed that you'd make something of yourself. Instead you're just a waitress," Carol sighed before realizing that the two men behind Dani were staring at her. Carol smiled, "Well I guess I'll take this booth." She slid into the booth behind the two detectives.

"Did you two ladies want coffee?" Dani asked, hoping they said yes so she could accidentally spill it on them.

"I want some lemonade," Lily said.

"I'll have a sweet tea," Carol answered without looking at Dani. Dani had only taken a few steps away when Carol started badmouthing her again.

"She really was pathetic back then too. I thought she moved away to a different town at least."

Patience, Dani. Patience.

"Speaking of leaving town, did I tell you Paul went out of town last week?" Lily asked.

Carol looked away, suddenly becoming absorbed in the salt and pepper shakers, "No. No, you didn't."

"It's weird. He said it was for work but they had no idea what I was talking about when I called to find out what hotel he was staying at. I think he might be having an affair," Lily whispered.

"Don't be ridiculous. He'd never cheat on you," Carol murmured.

Dani came back with their drinks, catching the end of their conversation. She couldn't help herself. She tapped her pen to her notepad, "I swear I keep running into you, Carol. Just last week I saw you at the Meteorite Motel. You and some good-looking guy. Who am I kidding though? You always had the boys eating out of your talons...I mean hands...even in high school."

"What are you talking about?" Carol asked. "I-I was never there."

"Sure you were. You were with some guy...what did you call him? Pat? Peter? Paul! That's right. His name was Paul. And he called you...Bubbles," Dani grinned.

"What?" Lily stared daggers at Carol.

"It's a misunderstanding," Carol said. "She has me mistaken for someone else."

"How would Paul know about your bubbles tattoo unless he's seen your fat ass?" Lily cried, throwing her drink at Carol. Dani noticed some of it splashed on Jax's back and laughed. She quickly walked to the back of the restaurant. She told the kitchen staff she was going to take out the trash since her shift was over anyway. She grabbed her messenger bag filled with her drawing supplies on her way out.

"How dare you!"

Dani turned to see Carol standing behind her.

"Did you follow me?"

"As if I'd ever follow a nobody like you. One of the cooks told me you were out here," Carol answered. "Do you realize what you just did? Lily was my best friend."

"She was your friend? Then I'd hate to be your enemy. Oh wait...I already am."

"I'm serious. She'll never speak to me after this. I don't know how you found out about me and Paul but what just happened in there was my worst nightmare come true!"

"I know."

Carol felt her palms tighten, "You couldn't possibly have known I was at that motel. How did you find out?"

"Does it matter? You betrayed your friend and now you want to vent your anger out on me. Well think again. In high school you always gave me a hard time. I wondered why you started showing up to the diner all of a sudden, making a show about feeling sorry for me. Were you trying to feel better about yourself? Glad that you weren't a loser like me? Well, I may seem pathetic to you but the fact is you were horrible in high school and you've evolved into some kind of evil I can't even describe. Get lost, Carol. I don't care what you have to say."

Dani waited for the slap. She braced herself for it...but it didn't come. Instead she saw the venom ooze out of Carol's eyes.

"Dani Deleon...you're a freak. You always were a freak and always will be one. You've probably never been in love. Otherwise you'd understand."

"Stop lying to yourself. What you and your friend's husband had wasn't love. It was lust."

Dani didn't get a slap but Carol did pull her bag to the ground, causing her sketchbook and her drawing supplies to fall out.

"How would a freak like you know the difference?"

Dani watched Carol lift her chin and walk away. She took a few steps forward and yelled, "Yeah? Well it takes one to know one!"

She was about to pick up her supplies when she saw Detective Jax Michaels leaning against the wall of the restaurant, his arms crossed and a smile plastered on his face. He uncurled his arms and slowly clapped three times.

"What do you want?"

"Draw in the claws, Panda Eyes. I come in peace," Jax laughed, hands up in a surrendering gesture. "That was pretty impressive. I didn't realize you were so feisty."

"Detective Michaels, in case you hadn't noticed, I'm kind of busy. I already told you I didn't know that guy with the tattoo," Dani fumed.

"I believe you," he lied.

Her mouth was open, ready to argue with him, "You do?"

"I do. I just wanted to apologize."

"Apologize?"

"First you're a panda, then you're a roadrunner, and now you're a parrot," Jax said.

"Well you're still a jackass. Or should I say Jaxass?"

"Not funny."

"Not trying to be," Dani quipped.

Jax picked up Dani's sketchbook and started flipping through it.

"Sure, you can look at my sketchbook," Dani said facetiously. "Would you like to read my diary next?"

"So I can read about how handsome you think I am? No thanks. It's written all over your face," Jax laughed. He was amazed by her drawings. "What are these? Surrealism?"

"No."

He turned to the last few sketches. One was of a man wearing a hooded sweater. The other was of a couple in front of The Meteorite Motel, "These sketches—"

"Are private," Dani said, snatching her sketchbook.

"You're very talented," Jax said, hoping to find out more about the sketches later.

"Thanks."

"So will you accept my apology?" Jax asked.

Dani looked past Jax to see his partner standing a few feet away. Her eyes narrowed as she looked back at Jax.

"I'll think about it."

She walked away from him and Roberto without saying another word.

"What was that about? Lover's spat?" Roberto asked. "I thought you came out here to stop a fight. I thought it was odd of you to want to come here today. Was it because of the waitress? Do you have a thing for her?"

Jax took a deep breath, "A thing? Is that what I should call it?"

"You could say it was love at first sight. Well in your case...love at first fight?"

Jax laughed, "I wouldn't say love. More like curiosity."

"Just curiosity? Then why follow her out?"

Jax shrugged, "Haven't you heard? You keep your friends close and your enemies closer."