A/N: This is going to be a short story but I hope you all enjoy it. I do not own anything.

Chapter 1:

"Hey Bella, order up." I heard Sam call from the kitchen.

It was just another boring day here at the restaurant. Nothing excited ever seemed to happen during the day. I have worked here for about a year now and it's just the same thing every day. Same customers, same orders, and same specials. I guess I really shouldn't complain, it's a job that I enjoy enough and it's a solid paycheck. I guess I just was hoping for something to mix up the day a little. I have lived in this town for a year now and all I do is work and go home. I don't have friends to hang out with, just acquaintances that I see every once in a while. Like my neighbor Sue who I see most days when I am getting home from work, but I don't think I would call her a friend.

Friends should be someone you hang out with, not just see in passing. I've never really minded not having a ton of friends to hang out with all the time. Growing up I only ever had a few close friends and that was it. See, my father died a year ago and I just couldn't take living in the same house and the same small town with all the memories of what I once had. So I sold my childhood home, took his life insurance money, and pension from his work and put it all in the bank. I picked a town at random and up and moved to Bothell, which is a small town outside of Seattle. Even though I have a lot of money in the bank I just don't feel the need to spend it on a big house for just me, and I have no idea what I would do all day long so I got a job. I had gone to college for two years, but after everything with my Dad I just didn't want to go any more.

Sure I was lonely…very lonely in fact. I did wish I had someone to talk to, someone to share some sort of life experience with, but it just wasn't happening. Every time I would try to start a friendship with someone it seemed like they were always a little to busy to have a new friend and things just fizzled out.

I had just grabbed the plate of food that was ready for a guy at the end of the counter when in walked one of the most gorgeous guys I have probably ever seen. He was tall with brownish reddish hair and bright green eyes. He sat in one of the tables off to the side and started to go through the menu. I grabbed water and took it over to him.

"Hi, I'm Bella. I'll be your server today. Would you like something to drink?" I asked with my best smile plastered to my face. I don't think there has ever been someone who has come in here to eat looking this good before.

"Listen, I don't have a lot of time so if you could just get me a cheeseburger with fries that'd be great. I don't need anything but water. Thanks."

Then he proceeded to pull out his phone and started typing on the screen. I have never been dismissed so quickly before and was a bit shocked by it. I quickly too his order over to Sam and let him know the guy was in a bit of a rush so he could start working on it right away.

When I was done talking with Sam I noticed he had already drank half his water so I decided I'd walk by fill it up and check on my other customers. As I filled up his water-glass he looked up at me.

"Your food should be up in just a minute." I told him as I was setting the glass back on the table.

"I would surely hope so. You would think for a place this dead the service would be fast." He said before going back to his phone.

Again it took me a moment before I could think clearly enough to walk away. What's his deal? What does he expect the food to be ready and waiting for him to come in and order it? We are a restaurant after all, not a fast food place. I quickly checked on the other customers before heading back to the kitchen. Thankfully when I got back to the kitchen his order was ready. I got myself ready with a nice smile and took Mr. Grouch his order.

"Here you go, sir. Would you like anything else at this time?" I asked with my sweet smile plastered on my face.

"You could not hover over me while I am trying to eat." He said with a harsh tone to his voice. This time I was a little more ready and was able to just walk away. I went back to the counter get the bill ready for Mr. Grouch so he could be on his merry way as soon as he was done. Once I had his bill ready I waited a few minutes before going back over to him to deliver the bill.

"I hope you have enjoyed your meal sir. Would you like any thing else, maybe some pie?"

"Yeah, I don't think so. I think I have spent enough time here, where is my check?"

"Here you go sir." I placed his bill on the table and walked back to the counter. I watched him throw down a twenty before heading for the door. I had a feeling I'd never see him again. People like him don't usually come in here. We tend to cater to more of an older crowd.

The rest of my day went pretty normally. No new customers, just the same regulars that come in every day. I had asked Sam about 6 months after I had started working here, how this place was able to stay open. He just said the Owner was a very wealthy man who didn't need this place to make a profit, he just enjoyed being able to say he was the owner of a restaurant.

We had our few regulars that came in each day. Occasionally we would have someone new walk in, but they never seemed to come back for more than maybe a few times. Sam was the only cook we had and there was myself and another waitress named Emily who worked in the evenings and on the weekends. Sam basically took over the role of manager, he kept the books, reorder any supplies, and wrote out the pay checks each week, but he wasn't the owner. I've never actually meet the owner before. I couldn't even tell you his name. It didn't bother me any though, I loved working with Sam and Emily.

The next day I was rather surprised when Mr. Grouch actually walked through the door again. I thought for sure there was no way he was going to be back. He seemed to be frowning when he sat at the same table he was at yesterday.

"Hello again, my name is Bella. Would you like anything to drink other than water today?"

"No." He said without even looking up from the menu. Even though I should not have been surprised by the harsh tone, I was.

"Ok, would you like a few more minute or do you know what you would like to order?"

"BLT on sourdough with fries on the side, think you can handle that alright?"

"Of course, I'll put your order in now."

"I would think you would, what else would you be doing." He said under his breath as I walked away.

I gave Sam the order and let him know it was the same Mr. Grouch from yesterday. When I told him yesterday before I left about the new customer we had, he thought it was hilarious that I had named him Mr. Grouch. He told me he would make sure his order was up quickly and I walked out to the counter to wait. Once his food was ready I took it over to him and again he quickly dismissed me. I guess if nothing else he is very predictable.

I felt a bit sad for him. No one should be so angry all the time; at least not to the point where they take their anger out on complete strangers. At least I am just assuming that's why he is so short with me and he says those little comments makes under his breath. Maybe he is just mad when he eats. Who knows? Like the day before he didn't want anything else and paid with a twenty. Good thing I didn't rely on tips. If I did, I would be pretty pissed at the measly tip he keeps leaving me.

This routine of his has been going on now for a little over a week. Every day he comes in, sits at the same table. Orders lunch, makes rude little comments, pays with a twenty and then is on his way. I had asked Emily on Monday if he had shown up this weekend but he hadn't. I just figured he must have a new job in the area and he is just a new regular at this point. At least that's what I thought until Thursday came around.

A/N: Please review.