Aria's Choice

- Service With A Smile

After the morning I had, keeping my mind off the disturbing images that are now permanently in my head, is actually not so hard while working the diner. The lunch hour rush was a doozie and now we are heading into the dinner rush. My co-workers got a good laugh at my disastrous morning, and every so often they break out to the Girl on Fire chorus. Why I thought it was a clever idea to tell Patrick and Patty about it is beyond me. I definitely won’t be making that mistake when Bobby comes on shift.

“Table nine’s order is up!” Patrick yells from behind the counter.

That’s me. I grab a tray and load the four plates on top of it. When I get to the table, I carefully unload the tray. I almost wear the last plate of mac and cheese when the toddler tries standing up on the bench and hits the tray. Luckily, I have been waitressing for years and can handle an out-of-control tray. It doesn’t make me any less annoyed, though. I just put on a smile, and say, “It’s okay, kids will be kids,” rub their head and walk away, hoping they do not see me grimace as soon as I turn around.

I notice another table in my section has two new customers, so I quickly fill a couple of glasses with ice water and grab some menus. As I near the table, I notice the occupants are a couple of guys. The closer I get, the more I notice how good-looking they both are. Both look to be my age or a little older. The guy on my left has dark hair that is cut and styled into one of those faux hawks. He’s got a piercing in his right eyebrow, and when he turns his head towards me, I notice a ring in his left lower lip. The spider web tattoo that stretches from the top of his neck down to below his shirt’s neckline is a little creepy, but sexy at the same time. He's got dark gray eyes, and they are staring straight at me. The guy is extremely attractive in a dark and sexy sort of way but looks scary as hell.

His friend on my right looks way more approachable. I roll my eyes at his man bun, but as I get to the table, I see that it actually works for him. This guy is gorgeous! I can tell that he’s a bit taller than his friend, and where Mr. Faux Hawk is dark, Mr. Man Bun is light with his sandy blonde hair, that’s shaved from the middle of his head, all the way down; keeping the top long enough for said bun. His caramel-colored eyes light up when he sees me approach their table.

“Well, hello, beautiful!” Man Bun says as he smiles.

I’m sure I am blushing just a tad bit, “Hi. I’m Aria, and I will be your server. Can I get you guys something to drink?” I look between the two as I set down the water glasses and menus.

“Are you on the menu?” Faux Hawk surprises me with his question. I glance his way, and I think I just wet my panties. Mr. Dark and Sexy just cranked up the heat with his smile.

Smiling, I pull out my order pad, “Sorry, I…” I’m cut off by Man Bun.

“Come on, man. This is a diner. They don’t sell that kind of delicacy here.” The gorgeous guy rakes his eyes down my body.

I don’t know why, but when Mr. Sanders did that to me this morning, it made me want to vomit. Mr. Man Bun just used a cheesy line and checked me out, but all I want to do now is go take a cold shower. Weird. I already turned down one threesome today, but I don’t think I would turn one down if these two are involved.

‘Damn…down girl!’ I lecture myself.

I finally get their drink and food orders and I hurry away to the back. I toss the ticket to Patrick as I zoom past him, “I’m headed to the restroom!” I call over my shoulder.

The restroom door slams shut behind me, and I turn the lock, barricading myself in. With my back against the door, I slide down until I’m sitting on the floor. “Holy hell!” I gasp aloud. I can feel my nether regions tingle just thinking about the two guys. This has never happened before. Sitting on the floor, I pull myself together before I try standing back up. Icy water is what I need, so I walk over and turn the faucet on, splashing the cool water over my cheeks and forehead. Once I feel cooled down enough, I shut the water off and reach over, tearing the paper towels from the dispenser.

I take a deep breath as I look at my reflection in the big oval mirror over the sink, “You got this, Aria. They are only people.” I sigh, “Hot people, but still people. Maybe you should finally loose that cherry of yours, so you don’t get all hot and bothered whenever you see a hot guy.” Giggling at my own actions, I toss the damp paper towels into the garbage, take a deep breath, and head back to the front.

Patrick raises a brow at me as I walk past him, but he doesn’t say anything, and neither do I. Checking on table nine to make sure they are not needing anything, I quickly glance over at the guys. Thankfully, they seem to be in a deep conversation, so they don’t see me looking at them. It isn’t until I’m bringing their orders out to their table that my pulse starts to race once more. I put on a smile as I approach, receiving big smiles back from both men.

“Fettuccine Alfredo for you,” I place the warm plate in front of Man Bun, and then turn to Faux Hawk, “and our famous Club sandwich and house fries for you.” I manage to set both plates down without my hands shaking, “Can I get you gentlemen anything else at the moment?” I glance back and forth between the two, waiting for a response; a smile still plastered to my face.

Man Bun looks me up and down before responding, “Not at the moment.” He winks at me, making me blush before looking over at his friend. All Faux Hawk does is smirk at me, but it feels like he is trying to convey something that I’m just not understanding.

“Okay then, enjoy! I’ll check back in after a bit.” I turn and quickly take my leave.

The guys stay all through the rush hour, but never ask for anything else. I continue refilling their glasses the whole time they are here, and I keep catching them watching me at times when I am helping other customers. Now that I can breathe, I glance back over to their table and see that they are gone. ‘Great, they dined and dashed!’ I think to myself because I never brought them their ticket. I head over to the now empty table to start clearing. When I lift Man Bun’s plate, there is a folded napkin underneath it. Just thinking it is a dirty napkin, I swipe it up. Money falls back to the table, and when I look down, my eyes widen in disbelief. There are three crisp one-hundred-dollar bills staring back at me. My mouth just hangs open. I look at the napkin in my hand to make sure there isn’t anything else, not that I am being greedy, but I don’t want to throw away money if there is more. Unfolding the napkin, I see writing, so I carefully flatten out the napkin so I can read what it says.

'Thank you for the wonderful service you provided.

We look forward to you serving us in the future!'

M & J

My eyes go back and forth between the note and the money. I am completely speechless. Not quite knowing what I’m supposed to do in this situation, I head to the kitchen to talk to my boss. After grilling me about my earlier actions, Patrick finally smiles and tells me to pay their ticket off and pocket the rest as my tip. I’m so grateful to these two strangers. Their tip just made up for the tips I lost at the bar. My eyes begin to sting, but I hold in the tears. I guess there are good people out there after all.

An hour before closing time, a couple of women walk in all dressed up. I grab water and menus and head over to their table. They don’t seem drunk, but they must have been at some kind of function that serves alcohol, because I can smell the sweet scent of wine, a Moscato perhaps. Their clothing is also a little too sophisticated for a night out at a bar. Both are women are too wrapped up in their conversation to notice me standing here, but I don’t want to interrupt them, either. I’m not trying to listen in on their private conversation, but I can’t help catching a few words like, new girls, auction, great night, and lastly, rich men. My curiosity has now been aroused, but all of a sudden, they notice me standing here.

“Just fresh coffee please and keep it coming.” One of the women smiles up at me.

“Same here.” The other woman says, as she looks me up and down with interest.

“Two fresh coffees coming right up.” I smile and leave the two to continue with their conversation.

I have always prided myself in minding my own business, but for some reason, the words I heard come out of the women’s mouth really interest me. It takes a lot for me to keep away and give them their privacy. It is only when it’s fifteen minutes to closing, that I go over and start to wipe down the tables near the one that the women are occupying. Disappointment washes over me as I hear them talking about fashion. Oh well, that’s what I get for trying to be nosey.

I am wiping down the table right beside them when they decide that it’s time to leave. I glance over at them and thank them for stopping in, after I see them hold up cash and then lay it on the table. I catch the one that was looking me up and down when they first came in doing it once more, making me feel just a bit self-conscious, but then she walks over to me and holds up a business card.

“If you are ever in need of extra cash, call me.” She winks and then places the card on the table right in front of me.

“Thank you.” It’s all I can think to say to the woman as confusion sets in.

I watch them as they walk out of the diner. The same woman who gave me the card glances through the window at me once more before they both disappear from sight. Picking up the card, I examine both front and back. The only writing on it is a woman’s name and phone number. ‘Hmm, that’s weird.’ I think to myself and then shrug, sliding the card into the back pocket of my jeans.