"Order up!" I said un-enthusiastically, slipping my headphones out of my ears so I don't get in trouble for listening to music on the job. I'm 11 years old, whatever I'm doing should be illegal. At least in America, it's illegal. But with my situation, I really had no other choice.

I'm an 11 year old Irish girl. Paper-thin shoulder length hair, a shade of light brown that was nearly blonde. Tall and thin, almost as tall as my biological brother, East. I haven't seen East for four years, Mum kicked him out a while ago because he was gay. I was seven, he was twelve.

Then came the American exchange student opportunity. I was put with a host family in Burbank, California. They had three kids. Two girls and a boy. Amelia, Samantha, and Brandon. They all loved theatre, some more than others. And the parents were angels.

But three weeks later, I was on a plane to Dublin, heading home.

Or so I thought.

The minute I arrived back in the Dublin airport,. I couldn't find my parents. Anywhere. I checked all over the airport, asked security, everything and anything I could do. So my only choice was to walk all the way back to my flat. And trust me when I say that the walk back wasn't an easy walk.

I arrived back at the flat and realized my key didn't work. Odd. I tried knocking on the door, several times in fact, and then I heard Mum say, "Don't let her in, it's probably our brat of a daughter."

Me. I'm that "brat of a daughter."

So that's how I saved up enough pocket cash in a month to fly economy class back to Burbank, and I pounded on the Miller's flat at three in the morning. Let's just say, they weren't pleased. Long story short, I was turned away by the family that had been my home away from home for three weeks, left on the streets, at 11 years old. I then found this job at Sawyer's Burger Joint, a slightly upscale burger place owned by a family who I soon found out was a family friend of mine.

Speaking of Sawyer's...

Snapping back to reality, I noticed people clamoring and trying to get their orders placed. Which I couldn't blame them for, it was a Saturday night, our usual rush hour.

"Emi! 2 bacon cheeseburgers and one kid's meal!" I called out as Emi was putting yet another burger on the grill. Emi Sawyer was my family friend's kid. They've been working here since the day they turned 14, and they're really nice and a super hard worker.

A dark-haired man came into the restaurant and sat down at one of our barstools overlooking the kitchen. It's not an actual bar, it's just a simple counter. Still, he sat down and pulled a paper menu from the pile, scanning it.

Taking this as my cue to sweet talk him into getting one of our more expensive options, I said, "Hi! Can I suggest anything to you tonight?"

"Nah, I'm okay, I just want a plain cheeseburger. With ketchup, please." the man said.

"Okay then." I said, whispering the man's order to Emi. "Side of fries with that?"

"Please." The man crumbled up his menu and tossed it into the nearby trash. "You seem awfully young to be working here."

"That's because I am, mate." I said. It's no shock that I'm under 14, I have the height and build of a third grader. "I'm only eleven, but this work is kinda my only hope for survival. It gives me food, dwater, a home, money, pretty much everything I need to survive besides an education. It's all good though, I teach myself. Sit over Emi's shoulder when they do homework."

The man looked like he didn't know what to say for a minute. Which I didn't blame him for, what I told him must've been a lot on his mind.

"What's your name?" he asked. I was about to answer, but Mrs. Sawyer did it for me.

"Edison Fraser! Back to work! No mingling with the customers!" she screamed.

"I'm not a customer!" the man screamed, thinking on his feet.

"Oh, really?" Mrs. Sawyer said. While her back was turned, the man whispered to me.

"My name is Ben if she asks." he whispered.

"Edison! Do you know this man?"

"Y-yes, ma'am, his name is Ben, mate." I said. Mrs. Sawyer groaned and said, "Fine" and turned back to the counter. I noticed Emi give me a warm, comforting smile.

"Do you need some help?" Ben whispered in my ear. I tried to swat him away but he stopped me. "Don't do that, Edison, your boss over there thinks we're friends."

"Okay...if you say so...then yeah. I need to get out of here." I said. Ben nodded and then said, "But how do we sneak you out..."

"I'll sneak out the back!" I said, taking my apron off and throwing it in Emi's arms.

AN: I finished Superstore yesterday and decided to post this a little early so it gives me an excuse to rewatch the entire show. And yes, Emi from the restaurant is aster-alpine Hope you enjoyed and catch ya later! Love you all!