'Are you the new guy? Right, grab an apron and I'll show you how we run things around here.'

Warren Peace stood in the doorway of the Paper Lantern staring at the girl who just abrasively greeted him, if you could call it a greeting.

'Are you coming or not? Other people did want this job you know!' Oh Lord this guy is slow, I knew we should have picked the redhead. Still, if he's awful there's plenty others willing to work.

Mutely, Warren did as she demanded and followed her into the kitchen. The girl was pretty, there was no doubt there. Between 5'7" and 5'8" she just reached Warren's shoulders, her blonde hair was tied up in a messy bun and she had piercing green eyes.

' – and then you stick the plates under the warmer. Any questions?' She gave him a withering look; this guy seemed to have about as many brain cells as a fish and the personality to match; though his attire suggested otherwise.

Oh crap, wasn't listening. 'Uh, yeah, pretty sure I got it all. So, when do I start?'

'Restaurant opens in five minutes so I'd say in about ten. You can ditch your stuff in here,' she opened a door leading to a small room with a battered sofa and table in it, 'and here,' she handed him an elastic from around her wrist, 'you'll have to tie your hair back.'

Warren stared at the band in her hand, 'It's purple,' he stated.

'Health and safety I'm afraid, if you don't like it, hand over your apron.'

'Fine,' he muttered. He needed the money more than he liked to admit. He and his Mom had gone through a bad patch recently so any money he could get was indispensable. Dishwashing certainly wasn't a glamorous job but waiting on people really wasn't his style.

'Ok so I'll see you at the end of the shift.' And with that the girl had breezed out of the door, pulling her hair free as she did so. He caught the beginning of what sounded like a very rehearsed welcome speech and then sat on the counter, waiting for the first dishes to come his way.

The next few hours passed in a blur of water, soap and shouts from angry Chinese men as Warren got in their way. He didn't see the blonde girl much, only a passing glimpse as she called up new orders.

'Ok, new guy, not bad for a first night. You'll need to step it up a bit tomorrow night, big family thing, happens once a month so be on your toes. There's like 500 of them so that's a lot of plates, got it? Right, so I'll see you tomorrow, don't be late.'

She was about to swing out of the door when she turned back, 'What's your name again?'

'Warren.' He wasn't going to give a last name if he could help it, you never knew if people would associate it with Baron Battle or not.

'Any last name? No? Ok.' As the door swung back and forth after her she called back, 'I'm Crystal and I'll see you tomorrow Mr. Peace!'

A/N: I know it's short chapter but read the next one please! This was just a setting up chapter.