Chapter 1

Pulling her hair high on her head, she wrapped the scrunchie around her thick bleached blonde hair and smoothed down the long tail. With her comb and can of Rave, her bangs stood high and would hopefully last through her shift. She sighed for about the tenth time in five minutes. Her shift started soon and she wasn’t looking forward to it. It wasn’t that she minded working. She didn’t. Her momma always told her that hard work was good for the soul. She just didn’t much care for the work she was doing.

Being a waitress in this little diner in the middle of nowheresville USA was not her life long ambition. Nope, not at all. She might only be 18, but she had dreams damn it. She wanted fame. She was going to be somebody, someday. She rolled her wide brown eyes at herself in the small square mirror. Now she sounded like a damn television show. “You got big dreams, you want fame? Well fame costs and right here’s where you start paying. In sweat.”

God, she just needed to earn enough money for that bus ticket to New York. She could get work like this there she was sure. Then she could go on auditions, really make her mark. She closed her eyes, spread her arms and did a slow spin. She could see it now, her name, Billie Sue Sanders, up in neon lights on Broadway. She was going to be a star, she could feel it.

Her boss pounded on the door, tearing her from her favorite fantasy. Sighing, she slammed her locker shut. First she had to earn the money, then she could dream about the neon lights.

Turning, she smoothed down the bubble gum pink uniform and tied on the white apron. She refused to wear the stupid little hat they had given her. The dress and marshmallow shoes were bad enough. Slipping her hand in the pocket she pulled a stick of gum from her ever present pack and popped it in her mouth. She needed to do something to keep from running out back every fifteen for a smoke.

Reaching in her pocket again she stuck her pencil behind her ear and pinned her name tag over her left breast. Rolling on the pink lip gloss she smacked her lips together and headed out to punch in. It was time to go to work.

The diner wasn’t crowded yet. The lunch crowd had gone and it would be another hour before the dinner rush started. She busied herself with filling the metal napkin dispensers on the tables and making sure the salt and pepper shakers were full and the tops were tight. She was wiping down the red plastic booth seats when the bell over the door jangled.

The five men stopped inside the door, wondering if they had somehow stepped back in time. This Town, if you could even call it that, (there was only one stop light for crying out loud), was the first place they found with a garage that could fix the damn bus. It’s a good thing the diner was here. At least they could eat. Who knew where they were going to sleep that night, but at least they could get a hot meal.

With grins on their faces they watched the cute, pink, polyester-covered butt wiggle its way out of the corner booth. “Can we just sit anywhere?”

Standing, her face flaming, she straightened her skirt and turned to face the five men. “Y’all can sit right here. I’ll just get ya some menus.” She skittered away to the counter. Grabbing up the vinyl menus she turned back and got a full view of just who was in the diner. Holy Hell. What are they doing here?

Taking a deep breath she walked back over to the booth. Keep it together Billie Sue she told herself. “Here” she handed out the menus. She looked around the table. Boy, they sure were pretty. Well four of the five of them anyway. That last one, on the left, kinda gave her the willies. Her eyes wandered back to Jon. His eyes were even prettier in person. Being the lead singer she assumed he would speak for the group. “Can I get y’all something to drink?”

“What d’ya got?” Richie hadn’t even opened his menu to look. He couldn’t drag his eyes away from this little cutie.

She tapped her pad with her pencil, fighting the urge to stare. God was he cute. Those brown eyes were just so dreamy and those full lips, she could almost feel them slide over hers. Clearing her throat she rattled off the drink choices. “Pepsi, diet pepsi, tab, root beer, orange, ginger ale, lemonade, iced tea, water, apple juice, orange juice, milk.” Snapping her gum she took their drink orders. “Y’all wanna hear the specials?”

Five heads nodded.

She rattled off the two sandwiches and the one entrée. “I’ll be right back with your drinks.”

Richie watched her walk away, grunting when the elbow hit him in the stomach. “What the fuck was that for?”

Jon smirked at him. “You think you’re gonna get a piece of that?”

Richie shrugged, “why not?”

Jon looked over at the girl and back at Richie. “What is she 12, man? You could get arrested for that.”

He sipped his pepsi, “nah, she’s got to be at least 16 to be working. That’s legal.”

Jon looked over again, rubbing his hand over his chin. She was pretty enough, had a cute figure and it had been a while since he had gotten laid. “Share?”

Richie took another drink and licked the drops off his lower lip as he looked at the girl. She didn’t seem the type. He could probably charm his way into getting her naked but no way was he sharing. “Not this time.”

While Billie Sue waited for their orders she wiped down the counter and refilled coffees. She couldn’t help but to keep looking at the men in the corner booth. They must be playing a concert around here but she hadn’t heard of anything. Maybe they were just passing through to the next big City.

Her eyes wandered to Richie. He had always been her favorite. There was just something about him. He licked his lips and her body went on high alert. She scrubbed at the counter, trying to ignore her reaction. That wasn’t right at all.

When Pete rang the bell indicating her orders were up she nearly jumped out of her skin and dropped the rag. Glancing over at the table she hoped they hadn’t seen that. She blew out her breath, fluttering her bangs. They weren’t paying any attention. Thank God.

Hefting the tray she headed to their table. “Hope y’all are hungry.” She laid out their meals and tucked the tray under her arm. “Can I get y’all anything else? Ketchup for the fries, extra napkins?”

David slurped up the last of his soda. “Another root beer please?”

She smiled and winked at him. He was a cutie with all those curls. “You got it.” Snapping her gum, she looked around the table. “Anyone else?”

When no response came she sauntered off to get the soda.

The wolf whistle had her whipping around, nearly giving herself whiplash trying to see just who the hell had whistled at her like that. She rolled her eyes. Figured it would be him. Creep.

Richie waited for her to turn back around before practically lunging across the table trying to smack Alec before Jon pulled him back. “What’s wrong with you?”

Alec only grinned and shrugged. “Just admiring the scenery. Problem with that?”

Richie sat back down and picked at his burger. Normally it wasn’t. But something about this particular girl was giving him an itch. He didn’t want anyone, especially him, bothering her. “Leave her alone.”

“Why should I?” Alec didn’t really want her; he just wanted to see how far he could push Richie.

Richie just flipped him off and took a bite of his burger. Did he always have to be an ass?

Billie Sue strolled back to the table and set the soda down in front of David. She felt a hand slip up to her hip, fingers curling around to her butt. Not missing a beat she grabbed his hand and had Alec nearly on his knees. “Are y’all enjoying your meals?”

They all nodded. “Everything’s great. Thanks.”

She turned her attention to Alec. “You need this hand to play, right?”

He nodded.

“Then I suggest you keep your hands to yourself and finish your meal before I toss you out on your ear.”

Letting him go she took a deep breath. “Now if y’all need anything else, you just ask Joelle over there.” She indicated to the other waitress. “I’m going on my break. Y’all take care now.”

They watched her walk away. “Damn Alec, you okay?” Jon was impressed by the little girl’s tenacity but he also had to worry that Alec might not be able to play.

He shook his hand, “yea. Stupid little bitch.”

Richie couldn’t sit there any longer. He was this close to popping Alec in the mouth. He slid from the booth. “I’ll be back. Do not eat my food.” He followed Billie Sue down past the restrooms and out the back door.