Her Forever

The Diner

Chapter 6

Sadie

Rebecca gave me the information I would need in the morning to help open up the diner. I had to be there at 5 to help the cooks get the ovens started and do a quick walk-through before breakfast started at 6. Apparently, the town’s night security comes in and is “hungry as wolves,” Rebecca said, laughing hysterically. I didn’t get that joke.

The whole town seemed off. Now, granted, I’ve never left my old town of Mayville even once, but certainly, other towns would be similar.

I grabbed my keys and hopped in the Jeep, and realized all my cold items have obviously spoiled. My poor rocky road ice cream. May you rest in peace.

I’ve only been in the cabin a few minutes earlier today and really didn’t get to look around. Quickly, I pulled out the cleaning supplies and got to work. I was too excited to wait and wasn’t sure when I would be back tomorrow.

Beautiful just couldn’t describe it; it was certainly serene. Once all the dust and a good deep clean took place, I had finally finished around midnight. My excitement covered my exhaustion well.

I had forgotten how large the windows were toward the back of the cabin. They were from the floor to the roof and even had a few skylights. It was perfect to watch nightlife and see the moon overhead.

This place was mostly furnished. Even though the cabin was wood on the outside, the inside had many white walls with a rustic natural wood for the floors. It was perfect just for me.

The cabin was settled around some trees, with the back of the house closer to the deep woods. It was so dark even the moon’s rays could not penetrate it.

I was proud of my work, but I quickly realized I would have to get up in a few scant hours to help at the diner. Crawling into my overly worn white comforter from aunt Maria’s house, inhaled its smell. I was too tired even to shower and change.

I lay back to close my eyes. The soft howls of wolves, the summer sounds of crickets and owls filled my ears as I drifted off to sleep.

***

It’s been a week since I started helping at the diner; I have never worked so hard in all my life. It was a great way to meet so many new people in town, however.

Mayor Adrien came by several times to come to check on the cooks and waitstaff. I was amazed at how tentative he was to help out Rebecca. While Rebecca was doing her internship here, the Mayor was to find additional help. I wasn’t really understanding this entire process, but who was I to question?

The people here were really nice once you got to know them. Many of them were leary of me and very stand-offish. Once they realized I was there to help and not cause problems, they opened up considerably.

They were tight-lipped in the beginning. They were just giving me their orders and nodding me off. As time went on, I upped my game to see if I could get some of these customers to crack and smile at me.

I started small with talking with their children, and they were reluctant but more open to talk with me. I would give them extra whipped cream on their pancakes or bring out hot chocolate with their parent’s permission, of course.

On days where the cooks were really flooded with orders, food didn’t come out as quickly as it should have. Children were getting restless, so I jumped at the opportunity to take some old pizza dough and give it to some kids to play with. They would use it like play dough and make me amazing little animals.

One boy named Max caught my heart, though. His family had a team of older brothers, while Max was only 5 years old and obviously smaller than most children his age.

He was crying silently to himself as his family talked amongst themselves. I kneeled down at the end of the table and asked Max what was wrong.

“I’m just too small to do anything,” he told me.

“Well,” I looked at the ground, “Did you know I’m small too? I’m smaller than every adult here!” Max looked at me in surprise. “But you know what?” I whispered, “even though I am small, I am very fast! People do not know that. How do you think I get your food out so quickly? Are you fast too, Max?”

Max thought about it and said, “I am very sneaky, hear and smell really good!” his eyes lit up.

“Oh, you are? Are you like the wolf who sneaks up on Red Riding hood?” I laughed at him. His eyes got so large you could almost see the gears turning in his head.

“Yes, I am! I can steal cookies so well! I do it all the time! Mommy doesn’t even know!” He said it a bit too loud and his mother started listening to the conversation and started chuckling to herself.

“Max, if you can sneak up on me one day and scare me, I will make you so many cookies!” I pulled out several cookies from a small bag that I carry around for children who are too hungry to wait. He smiled mischievously and screamed, “DEAL!”

I have had a lot of fun waitressing this week but needed a much deserved break. The new team of waitresses came in today, and I was to help them get familiar with the layout of the room and any new policies that Rebecca put up.

Rebecca was in much better spirits despite working so hard this week. We will both get our break, along with Lela, for the next two days.

“Hey, Sadie!” Rebecca walked up. “Lela and I thought we should celebrate! Want to come with us this weekend to Club Moon?”

“Club Moon? Like a nightclub?” I asked.

“Yeah! There is great dancing, drinking, tons of hot guys. It will be the perfect way to celebrate the worst week of work in our lives!” I got quiet for a moment and and took notice of my shoes as if they were the most interesting thing to look at. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Rebecca has can read me like an open book. She could tell when I was anxious or stressed and really took notice of my emotions. I’ve never had a friend actually pay attention to me as she did.

“Oh, well,...” I started. “I’ve never been to a club or have done any sort of dancing with a guy.”

“Don’t worry, you can dance and drink with the ladies too, if that is what you prefer. I don’t judge!” She started waving her hand around in the air.

My eyes flew open. “No, no, I mean, I’ve just never really gone out, let alone a club with dancing. I wouldn’t know what to wear or where to start!” I was blushing something fierce.

Rebecca’s eyes glowed with mischief, and a mischievous smile formed. “I forget how innocent you are. All work and no play! Then it is settled; Lela and I will come to your house on Saturday and get you ready. I am going to have so much fun… I mean… you are going to have so much fun!”

“Rebecca, maybe I shouldn’t.” I hesitated.

“I’m just experimenting with you; seriously, we will all have fun. How old are you, anyway? I’ve never got around to asking. That might be trouble for you to get in.”

“19, but my birthday is Saturday, so getting in shouldn’t be a problem.”

Rebecca’s mouth dropped, “Girl; you look like you are 16. I thought you were just exaggerating on how long you had been waitressing. Anyway, go home; the new girls have got us covered. Grab some dinner and get some rest.”

With that, I grabbed a to-go box and filled it with my favorites. Since Rebecca couldn’t get me on a payroll, they just paid me with food, which I did not mind one bit.

.......

Rebecca and Lela dragged their feet to the pack house. The smell of bacon grease, cheese, and coffee lingered on their bodies. Their souls were worn and broken from the past week.

The only way they were moving was the new ray of sunshine that brighten their week. Sadie was a gift from the heavens.

“I think I would have died this week if Sadie didn’t show up,” Rebecca grumbled. “It’s sad that no one else in this town even offered to help.”

“Working at the diner isn’t the best job, Rebecca. It is a lot of hard work and it’s indoors. You know how everyone else likes to be out and about. I’m just glad Alpha Adrien finally realized what those sick sluts were doing.”

The waitresses that worked at the diner were devious. They were hoping to get the internship management position to help increase their studies to help them gain a better rank in the pack. However, Rebecca, from a neighboring pack, was selected. Because of Rebecca’s high status in her other pack, the wolves thought it was handed to her, so making her life hard was on top of the list.

Rebecca finally caught on to what all the devious she-wolves were doing and reported it to the pack she was temporarily staying, Pineville Creek Pack. The Alpha was furious. Those she-wolves were calling in sick to make her life a living hell.

She tried to handle the situation as best as she could, but once she realized she was working three 18-hour days in a row, she was about to crack. Dearest Lela stayed by her side the entire time. She had been excellent help throughout the ordeal.

Being short-staffed at the diner was never good. The entire pack came there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The main pack house was where the upper-level wolves lived and ate, while most of the wolves here stayed in town with their own families in their own homes.

Lela bid Rebecca goodnight while she walked up the backhouse steps. She was one of the temporarily visiting wolves, so she could stay here along with her brother and a few others to protect her. Being the youngest daughter of an Alpha from a neighboring pack had its perks.

Rebecca opened the door to see the future Gamma of her home pack sitting on the couch playing a video game. He turned back as soon as she shut the door.

“How’s my little, overly ambitious, slightly stubborn, and insanely pretty friend doing?” Nathan smirked.

“Just because you are ordered to watch over me while I am here does not mean you get to try to flatter me by getting in my pants.” I snapped.

Nathan put a hand over his heart. “I would never! Besides, I think your brother would end up cutting off my testicles and make me swallow them whole if I ever looked your way.” He shivered.

“He would probably do more than just that,” I retorted.

It wasn’t a secret that Rebecca’s brother was fierce. Fierce didn’t even describe him. He was downright frightening when in an angry or in a formidable mood. His mood swings have gotten the better of him lately, and he is constantly looking for blood. Their father had frequently sent him out on killing missions just to satisfy his wolf.

Warrior wolves were strong, but Seth’s wolf was predicted to be the strongest yet. Seers have said that if he does not find his mate, the future would be devastating for his pack and the future of werewolves. Mates help balance each other’s wolves and he defiantly needed his.

Rebecca took off her shoes and sat beside Nathan on the couch and let out a long sigh. Nathan sat back and continued to play.

“Your brother is actually coming to visit and help me babysit you.”

“Okay, one,” I held up my finger, “You are not babysitting me, you are supposed to guard me, two Mom and Dad are trying to help him find his mate by sending him here, and three, shut up.” I held up two and three fingers, respectively. “So, when will he be here?”

“This weekend…”