It Started at the Diner- A Devin Booker Story

It was a usual hot day in Phoenix. It's Arizona, what else is new? The sun was blazing, per usual, and it was a solid 101 degrees. And it was only 9am.

For Melanie, that meant working at the diner until she practically fell to the ground after sneaking a slushee during her break to cool herself. With this heat, slushees at the diner are always apart of a special, whether it's a $1.50 or free with an order of fries. Either way, Melanie still worked like a maniac.

Today was no different. Melanie walks into the diner, ready for her shift with beads of sweat dripping down her forehead. She greets her good friend, who is also her coworker, Maddie. Melanie walks to the back to change into her uniform, which consisted of a cotton knee-length blue dress, a white apron, white ankle socks, and white sneakers, and she fixed her ponytail. She walks back out to see that Maddie was kinda struggling with the trays of slushees in her hands, and the one she was attempting to balance on her shoulder. "Oh, here, let me help you with that, Maddie," she says, grabbing a tray.

Maddie sighs of relief as Melanie takes the tray off her shoulder. "Oh, thank you," she replies. "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes on a hot Sunday morning?" Maddie smiles in gratitude. Melanie nods at her and smiles. Maddie points at a table. "Take that to the guys at table 7 over there."

"You got it," Melanie replies. Maddie gives her the orders for the table so she gets it correct. Melanie walks to the table. "Okay, guys," she says, getting the guys' attentions. And they definitely have her attention. "I have a cherry watermelon, strawberry fizz, peach blizzard, and a lime cooler," she reads off the paper. The guys nod at her in response, completely oblivious to what she said. She looks back up. "Okay, here you go guys," she says, putting the drinks on the table, one by one. "Enjoy." She smiles at them and walks away.

She gets back to Maddie at the bar, who is shocked at how she handles herself and makes everything look so easy. "You have to teach me how to do that," she says.

Melanie looks at her friend confused. "Do what?" She asks. She starts to stack the cups up.

Maddie rolls her eyes. "Get the customer's attention. You've only been working here for almost a year, and you're like a professional."

Melanie chuckles at her comment as she stacks the last cup. "I guess I brought my southern hospitality here with me."

Maddie scoffs at her friend, jokingly. "'Southern hospitality' my ass." They start laughing. "But seriously, how do you do that?"

Melanie shrugs. "I don't know, I guess I'm just that type of person."

"I think I know why."

"Oh, really?" Maddie nods. "What is it?" Melanie raises her eyebrow at her friend.

"Have you looked in the mirror?" Maddie gestures at her body. "You are gorgeous." Maddie is the type of person to hype up a best friend, even if they look atrocious.

Melanie laughs at her words. "You're very funny, Mads, but thanks for the compliment." She walks over to an empty table to wipe it down.

Maddie follows her. "I'm serious," she says. "Every guy has hit on you ever since you started working here, and you've turned them down."

Melanie finishes up wiping the table. "And what does that have to do with getting a customer's attention?" She asks.

Maddie shrugs. "I don't know," she replies."Maybe because you're sweet, pretty, and independent. You're literally the whole package." Melanie rolls her eyes at Maddie and smiles. They walk back to the bar to enjoy the peace before the rush comes back. "Okay, all I'm saying is every guy that's hit on you, you've turned down. Why is that?"