It was annoying how often Alice had to deal with idiots at 'The Grab Bag' and today was no different.

She leaned against the counter, watching as the hostess sat a man her age at a booth by the window. Her fingers tapped against the ceramic top of the counter before she pushed herself up and straightened her apron. The last place she wanted to be was working on a Saturday afternoon when she could have been at home with Atticus and the dogs.

But that wasn't an option.

Alice's steps carried her to the table, her pen clicking at her side as she paused at his side, and forcing a cheerful smile on her face. It was too early to be faking everything she did, but there wasn't much of an option.

"Hello, welcome to the Grab Bag," she forced out the chipper phrase. "What can I get you to drink?"

The man glanced up at her, the corners of his lips turning into a grin as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the booth. Alice could already tell this one was a troublemaker with his rugged and beaten-up red coat, stained with what looked like grease.

Does he have a mullet? 

"Well, hello to you too, sweetheart," he greeted, his voice tinged with amusement. "I'll have a black coffee."

Alice had to force back a scoff as she wrote down the order, his kind was always the same, cocky and full of themselves. She shifted, her hip cocking out as she wrote down his drink.

"You know what you're having?" She asked, her voice still painfully chipper. "Or do you need a second?"

A smile crept across his face, and Alice was sure she caught his eyes roaming over her. He leaned forward, propping his elbows on the table, and smirked up at her.

"I know what I want," he replied, his voice annoyingly teasing as he met her gaze. "What's with the attitude, sweetheart? Bad day?"

For a moment, Alice paused, her customer service face slipping as she stared at this stranger. He was egging her on, there was no doubt about it. His teasing voice was the first clear sign, then there was that little shimmer in his eye as he met her gaze.

"Every day is a bad day," Alice sneered, unable to keep the sarcasm from her voice. "Thanks for asking."

The smirk only widened.

"Well, you're a ray of sunshine, aren't you?" He teased, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm, one brow quirking at her. "Just a perfect match for this lovely weather."

"Are you going to order or do a poor job of flirting with me?" Alice asked, her faux smile slipping into the frown that her face had been desperate to express.

Despite working at 'The Grab Bag' for less than a month, Alice had her fair share of customers that didn't know when to stop poking. And each time one of them poked too hard and she snapped at them? Her boss cornered her in his office and threatened her job.

It wasn't an easy system.

"Why can't I do both?" He inquired, raising an eyebrow as he let out a soft chuckle, his smirk still in place. 

"Because I have better thing to worry about than some two-bit Matthew messing up an already crappy day-" Alice snapped, unable to help herself. 

She straightened, sucking in a deep breath and smoothing her hair back with her free hand, praying no one heard her snap. Hopefully, if she was lucky, Will was too busy in the kitchen to be paying attention to the waitresses this morning.

"Oh? And what exactly is making this day so crappy for you, princess?" The guy asked, keeping his voice light, but with that mischievous sparkle in his eyes. 

Alice frowned, her lips pressing together as she cocked her hand on her hip and glared at him. He was enjoying himself, she could tell, and God, did she hate it when that happened.

"You really don't want to try that crap with me today," she offered, lowering her voice so none of the other patrons could hear her. "I don't want to do this crap today, so don't."

"And what if I want to keep trying that crap with you?" He questioned, a teasing grin on his lips

"Then you're going to feel shitty about picking on me," Alice replied, her brows knit as she stared at him.

His eyebrows raised slightly before his lips pulled into a grin, his eyes glimmering with amusement as he leaned forward. For a moment, Alice couldn't help but notice how good-looking the guy actually was, instead, forcing her scowl in place.

"Whatcha going to do, princess? Bite my head off?" He teased, his voice a playful tone.

"No-" Alice snorted, leaning back and crossing her arms over her chest. "I was going to tell you about my dying dad, a real turn-on for most guys."

A flicker of surprise crossed his face, the amusement fading before a soft scoff escaped him.

"Oh, playing the guilt card on me?" He muttered, his voice still teasing. "Low blow, princess."

"Wow, you're a sonofabitch aren't you?" Alice scoffed back her fingers tapping against her arm. 

His eyes locked on her with the most mischievous glimmer, as if he was loving every moment of her biting demeanor.

"Oh, so we're name-calling now, are we?" He taunted, his voice smooth and playful.

"Could be," Alice said with a shrug, steeling herself. "But I wouldn't want to play that game with you."

"Why's that, princess? Maybe you're afraid I'll win?" He questioned, a cocky smirk on his lips as he leaned back in the seat.

Alice liked to think of herself as cool-headed and collected, calm and quiet. But if waitressing had taught her one thing, it was that she had a stubborn streak, and this guy was pushing it.

"I'm afraid I'll lose my job if I start," Alice replied, steeling her nerves and trying to smooth over the frustration. "And I can't afford to lose it."

"Aw, trying to be professional now, are we, princess?" He teased, his voice dripping with amusement as he watched her. "What's it gonna cost to get you to explode?"

Alice sucked in a breath, slipping her notepad into her apron pocket and looping her fingers into the waistband.

Don't say a word, Alice.

"My job apparently-" Alice muttered, forcing herself away from the table and toward the counter. "One coffee, coming up."

"You've got a damn mouth on you, sweetheart!" He called after her with a hint of amusement.

Alice scowled as she poured the cup of coffee, trying not to let the bubbling anger take form in her chest. No, she was calm, she was collected, even if part of her wanted to pour the steaming mug down the front of his pants. No matter what this guy said, Alice was going to be calm and collected.

She turned back, carefully rounding the counter and setting the mug in front of him, "Anything to eat?"

He let out a soft chuckle, glancing at the coffee and then at her, a cocky grin on his lips.

"You." He blurted out, his eyes flickering up to hers, his grin growing more mischievous.

Oh, I'm losing my job today.

Alice reached out, snagging his mug and tipping it across the table. The coffee spilled across the table top and under the plastic menus towards the edge of the table. His brow raised as he quickly stood up, letting out a hiss as the coffee trailed over the legs of his slacks. 

"Holy hell, you little-" his voice caught in his throat as if catching himself from snapping.

"ALICE-" 

Alice froze, her anger momentarily frozen as she glanced over her shoulder and saw Will standing in the kitchen window, a scowl on his face. She turned, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring back at her boss.

"It was an accident-" she said, but it sounded like a lie, even to her ears.

"My office. Now."

Will's order was clear, with no room to argue. His expression made it clear the topic was not up for discussion. Alice growled under her breath, reaching into her apron and tossing a handful of napkins on the table. She shot a glare at the man, her gaze steely as she slowly started forward.

"Your fault-" She hissed, storming into the kitchen.

After pushing past the door to Will's office, Alice slumped in one of the chairs across from his desk, crossing one leg over the other and leaning back. If she was going to get fired she might as well be comfortable. Will slammed the office door behind him, glaring as he circled his desk and took a seat.

"Care to explain that little show out there?" He questioned his voice calm but pissed off at the same time.

"Sonofabitch wouldn't stop pushing," Alice replied, her fingers tapping against her arm.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that's an excuse to dump a hot cup of coffee on his lap?" Will countered, clearly not buying her reasoning. "I have half a mind to fire you right now. Did you know that?"

Alice pursed her lips, lowering her gaze from Will's and staring at her apron.

"I know," she said honestly, the anger fading from her voice.

"You can't keep this kind of attitude up, Alice," Will said, his voice softer than it was before. "I gave you a job when no one else would, but you're making me regret that decision."

"You gave me the job because you like Atticus," Alice replied, lifting her gaze again. "We both know if he wasn't sick, I wouldn't be working here."

"You're right," he admitted. "I did give you the job because of Atticus, but I still gave you a job. You're lucky you're a good waitress and good with people, or I would've fired you by now."

Alice paused, her eyes narrowing, "So... I'm not fired?"

"You're not getting fired... Yet," Will confirmed a hint of annoyance in his voice. "But you're walking on a thin line. Fix your attitude problem and stop snapping at the customers. You're a good waitress and a nice girl when you don't act like a pissed-off teenager."

Will paused slightly, his expression becoming softer. "And... I know you have a rough situation outside this job."

Alice nodded, the tension in her shoulders loosening as she relaxed her arms. A rough situation was one way to say it, money issues and Atticus' treatment prices made it hard for Alice to take care of everything.

"Thanks, Will," Alice muttered, shifting forward in her seat. "I'll go clean it up."

"Go clean it up, get your head back in the game. You're still on thin ice," Will said, his voice warning. "And don't make me come back and yell at you again." 

"Got it-"

Alice pushed herself up, smoothing her apron over herself before pushing out of the office. For a moment, she paused, her hand braced on the swinging door leading back out to the diner. 

Pure fucking luck.

That's what it was.

Alice pushed out, tuning to the coffee maker and pouring another mug of the steaming brew. The man she'd snapped at was still sitting at the table. His once grey pants now had a dark stain where she'd spilled the coffee, however, he seemed unbothered by it. His smirk remained in place as he watched her as if he was waiting for her.

Fighting back the frustration, Alice moved back to the table, gingerly setting the mug on the table.

"On the house," Alice muttered, forcing an air of nonchalance into her voice. "Now don't come back."

"Oh, you're kicking me out? Damn, you don't like me that much?" He teased, taking a slow sip of the coffee before setting it down, a smirk on his lips. "Is it that or you don't want to admit you like me?"

"I don't like you," Alice confirmed, her tone cool. "I don't like you, your attitude, or anything about you."

"You're being harsh, princess," he drawled, his cocky smirk on his face. "Sure you're not playing hard to get?"

"I don't play that game," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest. "Now get out of here, whatever your name is."

"You don't even want to know what my name is, sweetheart?" He questioned, not budging. "Just call me Stan"

"Alice," she replied, her tone cool. "Now get out and don't come back."