It had taken two weeks of working at the diner before any of the customers knew her name. It took a month for them to begin to see her as another one of them. The diner had customers from all over, Port Angeles, La Push, and the occasional tourist. All of them just made for great tips.

   The best part of the job was how easy it was. All she had to do was smile and bring them food. Sure, she had to have a little hospitality but that was easy.

   "Hey, Lee, order for table 3 is ready," John, the middle aged cook, called from the kitchen.

   "Got it, Jay," she replied as she grabbed the three breakfast platters for the teenagers sitting in her section of the restaurant. "Here you guys go, three breakfast platters, all with scrambled eggs and bacon. Is there anything else I can get you?"

   The tallest, and possibly the oldest, of the three tan skinned boys attempted to talk to her but was cut off by his friend. "You could get me your number? Just add it to the check," he answered with a wink.

   Helena laughed at him. "Aw, that was cute. How old are you, 16? That might be more my little sister's speed."

   The boy tried to hold back a slight blush but failed as his friends laughed at her rejection. The tallest boy spoke up. "No, we're fine here but thank you. For the food and the laugh. Don't let Paul bother you too much. He doesn't mean anything by it."

   "Good to know. I'll be back to check in but until then, enjoy your meal." Helena sped off to the kitchen to see if any other orders were done and to help Cora seat the influx of new patrons.

   "Hey, Cora, need any help up here?"

   "No, but your dad and Bella just sat down over there if you wanted to go ahead and take your break. I can cover your table."

   Helena smiled. "Yeah, I'll go sit with them a minute. Don't let those boys give you any shit, they're all talk."

    "Don't I know it," Cora replied while rolling her eyes.

   Helena made her way to the booth her family was in and plopped down beside her sister. "What's up, dudes."

   Her dad was unbothered by her antics and her sister laughed. "Hey, Lena, how's work been?"

   "Eh, it's been the same old, same old. Nothing new. Well except some rez boys trying to flirt but nothing I can't handle. Y'know, Bells, I've got it covered if you want to start dating again," Helena joked as she nudged her sister's shoulder.

   Bella's face dropped but she didn't say anything in reply so Helena quickly changed the subject. "How was work for you, Dad? Catch any criminals?"

   Charlie laughed. "Not today, Honey. Just a lot of bear sightings. I'm not sure this thing even exists."

   "A bear? Why are you dealing with that? Hardly seems like a job for the police chief."

   "Well," Bella interjected, "have you seen any animal control? I didn't think so."

   Helena rolled her eyes at her sister. "I just meant why not sic some deputies on it. Can't one of them do it? Perks of being the boss?"

   "Lena, that's not how it works," he said, laughing again.

   "Hm. It should be how it works. Anyway, are you guys gonna eat here or did you just come to visit?"

   "We're eating here. None of us have gone grocery shopping lately and the house is running low on supplies."

   "Okay, the usuals?"

   Both Swans nodded and there head so Helena went to put in their orders before checking on a few other tables. "Cora, did you get those boys rang up?"

   "No," Cora called back, "they got milkshakes. They might be done now."

   At her words, Helena went to check on the table of troublemakers. "Hello, boys. I see you changed your minds on needing anything else. Are y'all ready for a check?"

   The boy from before, Paul, spoke up. "We did decide to get milkshakes. Cora can convince Sam, here, of anything," he said, gesturing to the oldest boy who rolled his eyes.

   "I'm pretty sure Cora could convince a nun to drink, so no surprise there."

   The boys laughed at Helena. This was what she loved about the diner. A couple jokes, a little small talk, and the customers treated her like an old friend.

   "I do believe we are ready for the check this time, as long as Cora stays over there."

   "I heard that, Samuel. Don't blame me for the fact you have no impulse control," Cora called across the small diner.

   The diner cracked up at the banter between them, a regular occurrence when working with Cora or Helena. Both of the women were quick to crack jokes.

   "I'll be right back then. Let me take these dishes out of the way." She reached down and grabbed their few plates and soon returned with their check. "Okay, just take it up to the counter whenever your ready."

   "So," the third boy finally spoke, "where are you from? I don't remember ever seeing you around Forks."

   "Grew up in Salem, Oregon, but Forks is home. Chief Swan is my dad."

   "You look a little older than 18," he answered, confused.

   "Nah, I'm the better Swan daughter, Helena. I'm 19, but my birthday is in June. Aren't you rez boys, anyway? How would you know who's new in Forks?"

   Sam laughed at the girl. "That's true enough. I forgot Charlie had two daughters, but I knew you weren't Bella. How's she doing?"

   "She's doing fine. Right over there if you wanted to talk to her," she replied, pointing towards her family's table, "I've got to get back to the kitchen though. Thanks for coming."

   Making her way back to the register, Helena could see the smirk on Cora's face. "Oh, no. What are you plotting now," she asked the older woman.

   "Nothing, nothing. Just noticing how friendly you were towards Sam Uley and his buddies. He's about your age, you know."

   Helena playfully smacked the woman on her arm. "Cora, we both know that boy is engaged. I may be new, but I've got eyes. Don't be playing matchmaker for me, I break enough hearts on my own."

   "Sure, sure. Whatever you say, darling. Whatever you say." Cora smiled at the younger girl who just rolled her eyes at her coworker's teasing.

   "Keep it up and I'll start working only day shift again and leave you on evening all by your lonesome."

   Cora scoffed her Helena's bad attempt at a threat. "We both know you rather work with me anyway. So don't you bluff like that."

   The younger woman just laughed and walked towards another table.