Chapter 1 Scrambled Regret and Shattered Stars

CHAPTER 1.

"Do you have a hearing problem, sweetheart? I said my bloody eggs are cold and your attitude is way worse."

Aria snapped back to attention, her eyes were heavy as she stared down at the half-eaten plate of scrambled regret. The man that was grinning at her from booth three wore a watch that probably cost more than her entire year's rent, and his tan was so orange that it looked imported from a discount sunbed. His girlfriend was chewing her gum noisily like it owed her money, her excessively long nails tapping against the tabletop as she scrolled through her phone without looking up.

"I'm very sorry sir," Aria said, forcing herself to smile even though her cheekbones were hurting with the effort. "We're short-staffed tonight... I'll quickly replace the order."

The man laughed, a low, sarcastic laugh with a hint of trouble underneath. "Short-staffed? What are you running, a soup kitchen? This place looks like a truck stop and smells like failure."

The girlfriend giggled, then spoke without looking up. "You should hire waitresses who don't look like they're five minutes away from passing out."

Aria's smile faded quickly.

She had been on her feet since six a.m, just like every other day... making sure she was ready for her three jobs. A nursing assistant by day, dog walker by mid-afternoon, and waitress by night. Her eyes were heavy, and her bones were aching but it was always people like this... people with credit cards that were probably not even theirs, and plastic smiles that never quite reached their hearts... who demanded your soul and then tipped you like a slave.

She took a deep breath, swallowed the rage that was already beginning to brew inside her, and then proceeded to reply as calmly as possible. "Would you like a fresh order, or would you prefer to keep complaining until your fake lashes fall off?"

The girlfriend finally looked up with wide eyes. "Excuse me?"

"You're excused," Aria said sweetly, and casually brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "And as for the eggs, sir, I hear a cold dish is perfect for revenge. You two might be familiar."

The man stood there for a while fuming, then barked out. "Where's your manager? I want to speak to him now."

Aria didn't even react. "He's right behind you."

Like he had been expecting the summon all along, Gus strolled towards the customer... dragging his sixty years old, pot bellied body along with great effort. His kind eyes first caught Aria's own, then he took a very good look at the couple.

"She's insubordinate!" The man spat out rudely as soon as he set his eyes on Gus.

"She's very rude," the girlfriend added acidly. "Probably on drugs or something."

Aria's grinned. "Only caffeine actually, not that you would recognize a natural stimulant when you see one."

Gus raised a hand. "Alright. That's enough."

The couple smiled victoriously.

"She'll be cautioned," Gus said firmly. "But let me be clear... this isn't the Ritz. And I don't let people, whether rich or not, speak to my staff like they're chewing gum on the side of the road. You don't like the food? Don't pay. But don't think money lets you be cruel to working people."

The man looked like he had swallowed his tongue and his face went red instantly. "This is utterly outrageous."

"Yeah," Gus muttered, turning away. "So is your cologne."

The bell above the door jingled as the couple stormed out of the diner in annoyance. Aria turned to Gus with shame written all over her tired face. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

He waved her off. "You didn't do anything wrong Aria, they were bullying you and I don't tolerate that."

She let out a sigh of relief. "I'm just tired, Gus."

He stepped closer, and then took a very good look at her like a concerned uncle. "You definitely look tired. Go home and get some rest Aria, I'll see you tomorrow."

Her head jerked up instantly. "No, I need this shift Gus, my rent's due in three days..."

"And I'm still paying you for tonight," he said firmly. "What I'm not doing is watching you collapse in front of the coffee machine ok?"

Her eyes watered a bit. "You really don't have to do that."

"I know. That's why it means something." He smiled gently. "Go get some sleep. You're tougher than they are, don't let 'em chip away at you."

Aria stood there for a second, trying hard to hold back the tears of gratitude. She nodded, grabbed her coat, and walked out into the night.

The night was very cold, and her breath formed mists in front of her as she walked the stretch of highway toward the crappy apartment she called home. She should have taken the bus, but she had been determined to save the little change on her, but now she was wishing she did... her head ached, and every stop felt like torture.

Her thoughts were raging across many things... rent and bills were constantly on the horizon, threatening to overwhelm her. The world always wanted more than you had, and if you couldn't give it on time, it finds a way to take it anyway.

Headlights flared behind her and she stepped aside instinctively, but the hum of the engine was strange and wrong... then it all happened once.

Tires screeched against asphalt, accompanied by smoke and the smell of burning rubber. The impact hit her like a storm. One second she was upright, and the next, the world was turned sideways. Her scream was cut off by her collision with the windshield and the sudden wet kiss of blood blooming across her forehead.

The sky above her seemed to be full of angry stars as she hit the ground hard... she couldn't move, and all the air were torn from her lungs.

She saw a shadow step out of the car and walk towards her, then...

She blacked out.

......................................................