Alex starts cooking the steak for me. He looks up from the grill and says. "Can you help me out here? I need you to place the food on the plate. I've shown you how to organize the food on the plate."

I set up plates on the bench and I put food onto it. I wipe around the edges to get rid of food that was on the corner of the plate.

When I'm finished he looks at the plates. "That's perfect. Maybe, I should ask Donna to move you in here. I need someone that knows what they're doing."

I ring the bell and a waitress enters the room. She takes the food from the counter and takes it out to the customers.

Alex looks at me. "Your steak is done." He places it on a plate with fries and vegetables. He puts the plate on the table. "Enjoy, your dinner."

I pick up a knife and fork and start to cut into the meat. I look over at Alex. "Alex, your favorite customer is coming in tonight. But, he won't be dining alone. His sister and her boyfriend will be with him. I hope you save the best food for them."

He laughs. "I'll always save the best piece for your friends."

"Al," a sultry voice says from behind us. "Can you make me my usual?"

He looks towards her. "Sure, but, you'll have to wait outside like everyone else."

She moves towards him and puts her manicured hand on him. "But, you let her stay in here with you. What's so important about this bitch?"

He shakes her hand off him. "I promised her Mom I would keep an eye on her when she's at work and I intend to keep my promise."

"Her mother wasn't the best worker here. Donna kept her around because no one wanted to do the Graveyard shift, over the weekend. Looks like she's taking after her mother."

I rise. "I'm glad that I take after my mother. She's my hero. She's the one person I look up to and I was lucky to have her in my life."

Donna enters the kitchen and she looks at the girl. "I told you to place you order and then finish up your tables. The other girls have more work to do since you decided to stay in here and flirt with one of my kitchen hands." she turns towards me. "When you're done, Paige. Tables will be waiting for you." Donna and the girl exit the kitchen.

I look at him. "Did Mom actually ask you to look after me?"

He shakes his head. "No, I said that so she would go away. She's been annoying me since she started working here. She keeps asking me out even though she knows I prefer guys. But, it never sinks into her head."

I finish off my dinner and then take the dishes over to the sink. I wash it and place it on the dish rack. "Thanks, Al. I'll see you when my roommate comes by." I exit the kitchen. I walk over to the counter and clock-in. I pick up an apron from under the counter. I put it over my work uniform and walk out onto the floor.

A group of people from my High School enter. Damien walks in holding a girls hand. He looks at me and his eyes widen for a second.

I walk over to them. "Welcome to Donna's bar 'n' grill. I'm Paige. I'll be your waitress this evening. Would you follow me to your table?" I show them to their table.

The group squeeze into the booth. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

Damien looks at me. "Sure, I'll have a glass beer."

I cross my arms. "You're not twenty-one."

He pulls out an ID and places it on the table. "Yes, I am. Now, give me a beer. Or do I have to talk to your boss."

I smile. "I'll get her for you, Damien Josef." I walk away from the table and head towards Donna's office.

A hand touches my arm and the person spins me towards them. I look into the eyes of my ex. "Are you really going to get Donna?"

I nod. "You can't pull that shit in front of me Damien. I'm not going to order you beer. Besides, I can't handle alcohol as Donna is strict and even if she wasn't I'm not going to let you drive drunk and kill someone or one of your friends." I point to the group. "All of them are our age. What makes you think they would get served?"

Damien whispers in my ear. "At UCLA we get trashed on the weekends and use our fake ID's. So, have you decided what you want to do with your life yet? You seem to be wasting it living in this shithole."

"I never asked for your opinion on my life Damien. You're just the asshole ex that wants to keep throwing things in my face. Yet, you keep coming back to declare your love for me. It's not going to be reciprocated. Give up on this delusion of us getting back together and leave me alone." I spin on my heel and walk over to the bar. I make some drinks for the table. I place it on a try and carry it over to the table. I place the drinks in front of them.

Nick enters the bar n grill and he looks around the room. He smiles when his eyes land on me. I run over to him and hug him.

I do that every time he walks in.

I pull back from his embrace. "I saved your usual table and put two extra seats there for you."

Nick wraps his arm around my waist as we walk to the table. He looks at the table and he whispers. "What's that ass doing here?"

I sigh. "He's here for dinner. He also came with a chick. I think he's trying to make me jealous."

Nick laughs. "It didn't work did it?"

I shake my head. "I've got you now. Why would I go back to someone that didn't treat me right at the end? He's made his bed now he has to lie in it."

He smiles. "Good to know."

Jody and Jay move toward the table and they take their seat. Jody leans her elbow on the table and she looks at us.

I look at her. "What?"

She shrugs. "I was thinking how cute Nick and you are together. I'm hoping that you two will have babies running around in the upcoming years."

I don't want babies yet. I'm too young to think about that. I want to have a career before I think about that.

Nick clears his throat. "I'm not going to start a family any time soon, sis. There's things I want to do in my life."

I smile. "I agree." I look at Jay and her. "You two might be the ones starting the family."

Jody looks away.

Nick turns to his sister. "How could you be so careless? You won't be able to look after the child and study."

Jay pulls her into his arms. "We'll be able to attend school and raise a family. My family are willing to help."

"I'm going to place your order." I walk away from the family conversation.

Walking into the kitchen I place the order for Nick's table. "This is for Nick. You know how he likes his steak. Tonight he's here with his sister and her boyfriend."

Alex moves over to the window and he looks at them. "I better hurry with the order. It looks like the sister is about to leave."

I turn back and look at my best friend. I watch her rise and head in the direction of the bathroom. "I'm going to see if she's alright. Please, hurry with their order." I move toward the bathroom and I enter. "Jody,"

She opens the stall door and I enter. She wraps her arms me and sobs.

I rub her back. "Shhh, it's alright. Nick will get over it soon. He was just shocked. When he has time to think things over he'll congratulate you." I pause for a second. "I'm not Nick so, I'm going to congratulate you on being a Mom. It sucks that I won't be there when you have the baby. I'll be here in University I hope."

She laughs. "About that? I have something in my bag for you."

I wonder if it's acceptance package. I hope I got in UCLA. That would be great if I did. I know what I want to study, so, my time in University won't be wasted like most.

I look at Jody. "Splash water on your face and then we'll join Jay and Nick. I hope those guys aren't at each other's throat. That would be terrible if they were."

She smiles. "Thank you for checking on me."

"What are best friends for? I better get out there before Donna goes nuts that I'm not cleaning and serving my customers." I exit the bathroom and make my way around my section.

Damien snaps his fingers at me and I walk over to him.

I cross my arms. "What can I get you?"

He looks around at his group and he says. "A jug of soda. Make it snappy. I don't have all night."

I roll my eyes. "I'll get it to you when I can." I walk over to the kitchen and I collect the order for Nick's table. I walk over to them and place the food in front of Nick, Jay and Jody. I look at her. "Do you have it for me?"

She pulls an envelope out of her bag. "They send thick packages like that if you got accepted into University."

I look at her. "Let me read the letter first, Jody. Don't take this opportunity from me."

She laughs. "You saw the package I got when I was accepted."

I roll my eyes and then pull the letter out.

Dear Paige McGuire,
Congratulations! It's my pleasure to offer you acceptance to UCLA Class of 2020.

I yell. "I GOT IN!"

Donna exits her office and she looks at me. "What was that?"

I run over to her. "I got into UCLA. I'm I've been invited to go on the tour of the school next weekend, but I have to work."

She shakes her head. "No, you don't. I'm going to let you take the day off. Go to your school and let me know what it feels like to be a student. You'll have a job here when you have the time. I don't want to fire my best employee."

I hug her. "Thank you, Donna. That means a lot to me that you're going to let me work here."

"If you continue to work. I want your homework completed before you start a shift. I don't want to ruin the hard work I know you'll put into your studies. I want you to take the rest of the night off. Have fun you deserve it, kiddo." She kisses my cheek.

I take the apron off and stuff it under the counter. I pick up my handbag and move over to the table where my friends are. "What do you want to do tonight? I got the rest of the night?"

Jody looks around. "I was thinking that we should stay for the night club. They won't be selling alcohol to minors."

Damien walks over to me. "Did you get accepted into University?"

"Yeah, but I'm not going to tell you which one. As where not friends and you don't need to know that information. You should run along. Your friends are waiting for you. I don't know why you think it's alright to show up all the time trying to get me back. It's pathetic, Dam. You have plenty of girls to choose from at University. They are better than me."

He whispers. "There's only one Paige McGuire and she belongs to me. I'll let you have your fun with Nick. One day you and I will be together again, Paige. You'll see how right we are together." He kisses my cheek and then walks over to his friends.

Damien and his friends walk down the stairs and I see them move over to the bar.

Jody looks at me. "I want to dance? Will you come with me?"

I rise and help Jody out of the booth. We hold hands all the way to the dance floor and a few guys whistle at us.

Jody and I sway our hips to the music. We have been dancing for a couple of minutes when hands are placed on us. I look behind Jody and see that it Jay. I turn towards the guy with his hands on my hips and see its Nick.

He brings his lips down on mine and we make-out in front of everyone. He whispers. "Do you want to get out of here?"

I nod.

Nick looks at them. "I'm going to take Paige home. Do you want to stay a little longer?"

Jody shakes her head. "I'm starting to feel tired." She yawns.

Jay picks her up and carries her out of the bar 'n' grill. He places her in the backseat of the car and sits next to her.

Nick opens the door for me and I climb in. He shuts the door before he moves to the driver's side. He starts the car and we head in the direction of the caravan park. He pulls my hand towards him and holds it as he drives. He brings my hand to his lips and says. "I love you."

I smile. "I love you, too, Nick."