"Over there is Tiffany. She'll be your fellow peer in this joint. Bonnie and Dylan are the cooks. Richard does the dishes. And I of course am the manager." Mister Dennings smiled. I looked around at the busy diner.

"This place looks like a typical diner back in California."

"Well, we like to keep things that way here. You may be surprised by how many people actually love this place. We get usuals, newcomers and a few tourists. The Americans like it here because it's the closest thing they have to home."

I nodded and grabbed the notepad off the counter. "Thank you for the opprotunity sir. I'll make you proud."

"Please do. We've atleast gone throught about twenty girls these past six months. You can have your break along with Tiffany at noon."

And with that, he made his way to the back, leaving me alone in the crowd of people. I noticed a few women walk in, giggling when they noticed a few guys across the room looking at them. They sat at a table. My first table. I took a breath and approached.

"Hello. Are you all ready?" I asked.

"We just got here." A snooty red head whined. "Why don't you get us some tea alright?"

"We don't serve tea here. We do have coffee..."

"No tea. What kind of a place is this??"

"I um...." I stood nervously, looking around for help. The other waitress must have noticed this by the way she walked over. She had to be about my age. High blonde hair and pink lipstick.

"Is something wrong here?" Tiffany asked, putting a hand on her hip. She held a pot of coffee in the other. I was glad to hear her American accent.

"I was told there was no tea available." The redhead gave a fake smile.

"You were told right. Here, have some coffee."
Before she could pour their glasses, the red head waved her away.

"This place is a joke. Come on girls, let's go to a real diner."

"Yeah go on. Stinking up the joint anyways with your cheap perfume."

I giggled and hid my smile.

"Well, atleast I'm not the one serving people."

Tiffany just watched them leave out the door. She sighed and turned to me. "I'm sorry about them. We get some rude people. But before you get to a table, wait a few minutes alright? I usually give it five. Just to get people situated." She smiled.

"Thanks for the tip. I'm Molly."

"Tiffany. But you can call me Tiff. We better get back to work now or mister Dennings will be off his head. Let me know if you need help alright?"

"I will."

We went our seperate ways and soon everything began to go smoothly. I took her advice and began waiting tables. Some people were nice, some rude, some in a hurry, others just plain ignorant. By the time noon came around, I was happy to finally have a break. We closed for twenty minutes to change over for lunch. Tiffany was sitting at a small table, eating a burger that Richard made. I walked over.

"Hi um...can I sit?" I asked. She nodded. "I never knew a first day could be so tiring."

She smiled and wiped her mouth with a napkin. "And it was only three hours. You got six more ahead of you."

I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck. "You work here long?"

"A few months now. Saving up for a car. Mom won't let me move out unless she sees I can provide for myself." She rolled her eyes. I giggled.

"Sounds like my dad. I love him but, things are kind of rocky at this moment."

"Why's that?" She asked.

"I um...ever since my mom died, things...they just kind of broke." I looked down at my hands. She had a sympathetic look on her face and reached for my hand.

"People always say things like, they know how you feel but they don't. Well...I know how you feel. My dad passed a few years ago. I was fourteen when he was killed. Hit and run. It was hard. Mom was distraught for months. How long since your mom's been gone?"

"A few months now. I'm slowly moving on. Dad hasn't been the same. I got involved with a guy who..."

"Well hello Molly. Didn't know ye got up this early. Didn't even know you existed outside of my arms." Peter walked in, a coy grin on his face. Tiffany just watched as he approached our table.

"I'm working Pete."

"Doesn't look like it. And who may your friend be? You never told me about her." He smirked.

"I'm Tiffany. And you are?" Tiff gave a sarcastic smile.

"Peter. Molly's boyfriend. Although, there is room for another girl in these arms of mine. It'd be interesting to see what could happen." He winked. I looked down embarrased out of my mind.

"Oh pooh. Sadly I have a boyfriend of my own." She said sarcastically.

"Your loss then love. Come on Moll, let's go." He grabbed my arm. I flinched. Tiff saw this.

"I have to work Peter."

"I told you I'd take care of you. Ye don't need a bloody job! Now come on!" He gripped harder, pulling me out of my seat. I squeeked in pain at his grip until Tiffany stood up and grabbed my other arm.

"Didn't you hear her? She wants to work." She pulled.

"She's none of your buisness you fuckin bitch! Fuck off and give someone their coffee yeah?"

"Peter stop it!" I yelled. He just pulled me hard until our manager came out angrily.

"Alright what's all of this noise?? Young man take your hands off her. She's not an object you can just man handle. That's not how you treat a lady."

"Fuck off old man."

"Peter please go." I said shakily. He just let go, shoving me to the floor and stormed out of the building. I sniffled and wiped my eyes, smearing my makeup. Tiffany helped me up.

"Come on. Let's go to the ladies room." She whispered.

"I'm sorry." I said to my boss as we passed him. ..

"What the hell was that!?" She asked, wetting a napkin and wiping my makeup off.

"He just gets a little grumpy sometimes when he sees me out. That's all."

"Grumpy?? That was full on abuse....Molly what.." she trailed off when she wiped off the makeup covering my bruise. "Did he do this to you?"

I nodded and stayed silent. She just stroked the side of my cheek. "You poor thing. Come on, let me help you fix up. I can assure you he won't be bothering you here. Mister Dennings is a pretty big guy, he's had to throw people out physically before."

For the first time since I've been with Peter...I felt safe. Like the dark cloud over my head was removed. I was....comfortable. The only other place I ever felt this way was at George's house.
She fixed my makeup gently, smiling as she held my hand out of the ladies restroom. Our boss sitting at the counter.

"You alright Moll?"

I nodded and scratched my arm. "Just a little embarrased. I didn't mean to bring my personal life into work..."

"It's alright love. Ten more minutes alright?" He pointed to the clock and left the room. I covered my face with my hands and groaned.

"I'm so humiliated."

"Come on. Let's just sit and forget about it alright? Forget Peter."

"Good idea. Let's just talk huh?"
..

After break, we got straight to work. I made a few more mistakes now and then but luckily I had Tiffany to help me out and mentor me. I was really getting used to her company. I've never had a female friend before.

When six came around, I was exhausted and ready to leave. Mister Dennings congratulated me for my first day and soon I was in the ladies restroom again, changing my clothes. Tiffany fixing her makeup.

"First day exhausting?" She smiled.

"Very." I laughed, fixing my skirt and walking over to her. "Look um...thanks for today. It means a lot."

"No problem hun. I just don't know why you got involved with that creep. No offense. You can do so much better."

I blushed. "Thanks. I can do better and...I will one day."

"Look um, this may sound weird but...I'm going out tonight to check out a band at this club and..maybe you can join me?" She smiled hopeful.

I had to meet George. But I did just make a new friend. Tiffany seemed like a sweet person and sure as hell saved my ass earlier. I would feel guilty for blowing her off. But then there's George. From the look on his face earlier he really wanted me to meet him at seven. Would he mind knowing I wasn't going out with Peter? That I actually made a friend, that's a girl? Looking back at Tiffany I nodded.

"Yeah. I'd love to join you."

"Good! I'm using my mom's car so, I can drop you off home and maybe pick you up at seven-thirty?"

"That sounds great." I smiled. She linked her arm with mine happily as we made our way out the building.

"What about your boyfriend?" I asked, walking around to the passengers side. She unlocked her door and laughed.

"I don't have one. I just said that to make Peter buzz off. I'm actually taking a break off relationships at the moment."

"Yeah I can see why. Guys are pigs nowadays."

"Exactly. Which is why I'm a lesbian." She smiled before getting into the car.
......