And this is how we meet??

What’s the best tip any waitress has gotten? At a regular old timers early bird dinner special restaurant a five dollar tip is always nice. At a posh restaurant like Black Angus steak house and the cheesecake factory, tips range from ten dollars and above thanks to the 15% of gratitude added. But for Nikki Dawson the best tip she ever received was meeting her first love. Only it wasn't so pleasant in the beginning. Seventeen years old and already making more money than the minimum wage. But who would ever know that William Abernethy, a southern country boy would travel more than 2,700 miles just to eat at the restaurant his ex girlfriend works at.

Okay so this author is exaggerating a bit, he didn't exactly come to California for the food. He came for his (slut) of a girlfriend Ashley, Better known as Nikki's former best friend. Although Ashley lived more than three hours away from the little town Nikki was born and raised in, Will made the effort and the trip to eat a meal at Black Angus Steak House.

December 10th, Flight x103 from New Brunswick, North Carolina landed at Los Angeles International Airport. A cab driver picked up Will and his mom and began driving off.

"Where to?" The driver asked.

"Fres....no." His mother stammered.

"Correction: There is a restaurant in Whittier I'd like to try." Will cut in.

"Of course sir."

The drive was silent, but it didn't feel silent to Will. To him everything was a blur of nervousness. Inside he was more shaky than an autumn leaf drifting in the wind before landing on the Earth below.

Saturday December 10th, Jade and Nikki were gossiping at the front desk, while waiting for customers. That is until the bells chimed of someone walking in. The two girls looked up and saw a young man with his chestnut brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, standing behind his mom.

"OH MY!" Nikki mouthed. She excused herself from the desk and ran into the kitchen. Jade looked at her friend confused, she then turned back to her guests, pulled out some menus and showed them to their table. Once seated, Jade walked back into kitchen and found her friend walking back and forth like an animatronics duck at one of those bulls' eye games carnivals are always hosting.

"Mind telling me what’s with her?" Hal, the head chef, proposed.

"I threw a potato at her but she threw it back."

"Nikki! Nikki! NIKKI! SNAP out of it! What's wrong?" Jade exclaimed.

"That's him." Nikki stuttered.

"Who?"

"The idiot that has my heart." Nikki took a sip of water, and

placed her hand over her beating heart.

"Will?" Hal guessed. Nikki and Jade shot him a nasty look.

"Hey, don't think I don't know what goes on around here. Remember

girls, this place can't run without me, and I don't mean food

wise." Hal laughed.

"Yes, that's him." Nikki said calmly.

"Well he's one of your customers."

"WHY!" Nikki screamed.

"Cause Jose is still on break, and I had no where else to seat

them." Jade explained.

"UGH! I hate you." Nikki said.

"But I love you." She giggled. "These drinks go to them."

"Grrr.." Nikki grabbed the tray of drink and sauntered to their table.

"Sorry for the wait. I'm Nikki and I'll be your server. Are you

ready to order?"

"I'd like the broiled chicken with the baked potato." His mother

replied.

"Top sirloin." Will smiled.

"Any soups or salads?" Nikki questioned.

"Chicken tortilla." His mother responded. Will shook his head in response to Nikki's question. Nikki wrote down the order and turned away. Will watched her as she placed the ticket on the cylinder for the chef, and turned towards the Bathroom.

Inside the bathroom, tears rolled down her face as she mouthed the words "why God why did you bring him here. Especially now." She eyed her reflection, but she couldn't bare to stare at someone she doesn't know. Her lips trembled as tears flooded from her eyes. Five minutes passed and she regained self control. She wiped away the tears, washed her face and held her head up high as she walked out of the bathroom. Accidentally she bumped into someone. A male, chestnut brown hair, broad shoulders, and chiseled abs. Only one person could fit this description, Will.

"Nikki." He gasped.

"Will." She acknowledged him and tried to pass him but he wouldn't

let her.

"Hi." He whispered.

"I can't talk, I'm working."

"I came to see you." He said.

"NOW?? After all we've been through, a month of dating and arguing,

a year of our friendship almost going down the drain more than

enough times, and we meet up by you knowing where I'm working. That's pitiful." Nikki spat.

"Nikki!" he called out.

"Don't Nikki me. You only came here to California to shove it in my face that you're dating Ashley. And on December 10th. The day you asked me back out but then broke up with me again ten hours later." She walked back into the kitchen leaving him in a long walk of

shame back to the table.

"Did you tell her?" His mom asked.

"Oh sure, after she bitched me out and said I only came here to shove it in her face that I'm with Ashley." He sighed.

"I always taught you not to go for best friends, cause look what happened. You had a wonderful girl...." His mom began

"I know I know.." He intercepted. Nikki brought out their food and left as swiftly as possible. When they were done eating, Will left a generous tip attached to a lavender rose and a note. Nikki cleaned the table, picked up her tip and smiled silently to herself as she thought about him. She dropped the bucket of dishes in the sink, and began to read the note he had left her. Jade walked in, and knew exactly what was going through her friend's mind.

"Nikki you may be wrong about him." Hal proclaimed.

"Hal, Don't encourage her. He's treated her badly, and you know how easily moved this girl can be." Jade replied. Nikki sniffed the rose and smiled even bigger than before.

"It's people like you that I don't like." Hal responded. Jade stuck her tongue out at Hal.

More than five hours after lunch, Will arrived in Fresno to see his ho, Ashley. They were making out on her bed, Ashley tried to undress him but he kept pushing her away. She took off her top which revealed her 38DD boobs spilling out of a 38C lacy bra. Seeing her in that turned him off even more.

"Babe what's wrong?" She asked.

"Why would anything be wrong, I'm here in California with you. I'm beside you on this bed kissing you. I have everything I could ever ask for." He stated.

"I bought new lingerie for you to take off with your teeth." She winked. He looked at her with a cocked eyebrow, grabbed the beer bottle off her nightstand and took a long chug.

"Babe get up we're going somewhere." She demanded.

"Where?" He asked.

"Somewhere that will make you happy so you'll give me what I want." She rolled over on top of him and off the bed. She grabbed her suede jacket and zipped it up.

"Come on!" She exclaimed.

"Okay, whatever you say." He responded. He jumped off the bed and caught up with his girlfriend in the garage.

"Where are we going?" He asked.

"I told you. Now hop in." She winked and slipped into the Bentley seat.

"But you don't even have your license." He warned.

"I have my permit!" She exclaimed.

"That's not the same."

"Stop being a worry wart." She snapped. He got in as she started up the engine. She began backing up, that is until they put a dent into the bumper and in the stainless steel garage door. Both we're jerked forward.

"You sure you don't want me to drive?" He asked.

"I'm sure." She exhaled. She opened the garage door and backed out of the driveway. At every stop light they came too, she had to reapply some asset of her make up.

"Babe, stop putting on your make up and drive."

"Ok!" She said cheerily.

"I don't know why you put on a pound of make up anyways, you're beautiful without it."

"Because if I didn't out it on, I'd only be pretty I wouldn't be GORGEOUS." She exclaimed. "And pretty is just a generous compliment for that other girl."

Will rolled his eyes and continued stargazing out the window.

After making several minor mistakes here and there and getting lost once, they arrived at their destination.

"Babe what are we doing here?" He asked.

"I know you came to California for me, But I see it in your eyes. I know you know you have thought about her today."

He sighed and they walked in.

"Hello and welcome to Black Angus." Chelsee greeted.

"Table for two." Ashley tapped her foot impatiently.

"Right away." Chelsee smiled and grabbed two menus.

"With no wait." Ashley snapped. Chelsee smiled and led them to

their table. She rolled her eyes when she walked into the kitchen.

Nikki was picking up an order when Chelsee walked in.

"You have two new guests. Table thirteen. And the girl is definite bitch." Chelsee grumbled.

"Great just what I need." Nikki muttered.

"You and me both." Chelsee took a sip of water. Nikki served the plates to the first table, and walked over to her new table.

"Hello and welcome to Black Angus I'm Nikki and I'll be your server. What can I get you to drink."

"Martini. Dry." Ashley ordered.

"I'm going to have to see I.D."

Ashley pulled out her fake I.D.

"I'm sorry, we can't serve alcohol to you." Nikki said nicely.

"Bring me the damn Martini, before I have you fired." Ashley growled.

"Anything for you?" Nikki asked Will.

"Sprite." He whispered. She smiled and walked away. Ashley tapped her fingers nervously against the table. Will got so irritated with the tapping, he grabbed her hand and started massaging her knuckles.

"I like it when you do that."

"And I like it when you don't make me as nervous." He replied. She mouthed awe.

"Okay so I know we've talked about what are kids are going to be named but have you thought of anything else?" She asked. Nikki set down the drinks in front of them. Will had his eyes glued to her as she walked away and made the motion of sticking a finger down her throat and throwing up.

"Um... yeah the kids thing... I'll be right back." He stammered. Ashley sat there speechless as her boyfriend walked away.

Kitchen, but at this time it was better known as Hell, especially with the way Nikki was rushing around.

"You're sure he's here."

"Damn right I know he's here and like I told him today, he's only here to shove it in my face he's dating that f---in ho." She snapped.

"Damn girl calm down." Jose cut in.

"Jose don't screw with me right now. You have no idea what type of crap I'm going through."

"I don't know. So why don't you tell me." Jose responded. Nikki began to open her mouth but Chelsee interjected.

"Her ex boyfriend is here."

"Oh."

"And she has to serve him and his new girlfriend."

"Oh." Jose stated.

"Thank you guys for plastering my love life around the restaurant." Nikki glared at Chelsee.

"Your welcome." Hal smiled. Nikki glared at him.

"If you will excuse me I need to serve these appetizers to a table of six." She grabbed the plate of chicken tenders and breadsticks and walked out. She turned the corner and saw the love of her life kissing the girl that he claims is his world. Nikki's legs literally went paralyzed when she saw that kiss. Her knees locked, and she lost feeling in her arms, causing the tray to fall and make a huge commotion.

Will's eyes shot open as the crash happened. Nikki bent down and cleaned up the broken plates. Jose bent down and helped her as well, but nothing could stop the agonizing pain of humiliation and shame, and a deep cut from broken glass. Nikki limped into the bathroom, and Will excused himself from the table and followed her. She lifted her leg onto the counter, damped a paper towel and pressed firmly on the laceration. Will pushed the ladies room door open and strolled towards her.

"You can't be in here." Nikki murmured.

"Well I already I am." He replied. Chelsee came into the bathroom with a first aid kit. She as startled by a male's presence in the ladies restroom.

"Hi.... and I'll be going now." Chelsee stammered. Nikki laughed at her friend’s quirkiness, and turned back to Will. He started applying Neosporin to her wound. He constricted a nude cloth around her shin and tightened it.

"Thanks." She whispered and hopped down for the sink.

"Nikki wait!" He grasped onto her arm.

"What?" She asked. "I've already done a major penalty for taking

time off to take care of this injury."

"What you saw, I'm sorry for." He apologized

"It's not your fault, I dropped the plates and I got cut. It's my fault."

"But what made you drop the plates was seeing me kiss her." He defended.

"Will." She started to protest.

"Nikki..." He cut in.

"I can't talk to you." She murmured

"Nikki listen to me, you and I went through a lot to be together. But it didn't work, and a lot of pain came from that, but the pain

was accidental." He stated.

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"It means I never wanted this pain. I wanted you." He said. Nikki gulped and stepped back.

"You can't say those things to me." She said. "Not when the girl you claim to be in love with is waiting for you and her food."

"Nikki, you tore me apart when you broke up with me. It hurt so much because you were the one I wanted to be in love with. Not Shannon, Not Ashley. "

"Then why are you with her?" Nikki exclaimed

"Because she has something... something I can't describe."

"And what about me."

"You have so many things I can't describe about you. But that is what I love about you." He said. Nikki rolled her eyes and tried to pull away but he wouldn't let her.

"Nikki, each and every time I went out with a different girl I tried finding that same spark, that same thrill, you gave me when you walked into my life."

Nikki's heart had melted with Will's sweet words.

"Nikki, you've got a table ready to complain." Chelsee Warned.

"I've got to go." She said to Will. She slipped out of the bathroom and continued her job.

He shuffled back to the table, only to be harassed by Ashley.

"Where did you go?"

"You know me; I always help someone when they're hurt."

"No you always help her when she’s hurt." Ashley snapped.

"Whatever we're leaving."

"But we have to pay for the food."

"Who cares!" She exclaimed. She got up and strolled with grace out of the restaurant. Will scrambled to his feet, dug out his wallet and placed two twenties and a five on the table.

The next couple of days he called the restaurant, and each time he asked if Nikki was there. Each time, one of the hostesses covered for their friend; they always said she wasn't there. December 19th, the final day Will was going to be in California. Ashley kept begging him to stay, but he knew he couldn't. At the hotel, he was double checking his belongings, making sure he wasn't forgetting anything. A knock at the door.

"I'll be out in a minute."

"Oh no you won't be." Said a voice. He turned around and Ashley was standing there in a black mini skirt and a white boustier. He gulped. She swung the keys around her finger.

"I have the keys and you have an hour to kill before you have to be checked out."

"Ashley."

She pressed her lips against him and pushed him on the bed and climbed on top of him. She literally ripped off his clothes, and unbuttoned the boustier she was wearing.

"What are you doing?" He asked in-between kisses.

"Well you've been here for nine days, and you leave today. And NOT ONCE have I gotten what I wanted. And I always get what I want." She hissed. She dove in for another kiss.

The door knob twisted and turned, and his mom walked in. Will and Ashley's jaws dropped to the ground, and his mom looked away.

"Um... we... um... have to go.." She stammered. Will shot his girlfriend an 'I told you so' look. He slided out from underneath his girlfriend, grabbed his shirt, got dressed and waited for Ashley to exit the room. Will's mom turned in ALL of the keys, as her son said his goodbyes to Ashley.

"You're positively sure you can't stay."

"Ashley we've been over this. I can't. I was lucky enough my Dad let me come with my mom, and you know I was lucky enough to be here with you. Cause you know this holiday season wouldn't have been as magical as it is, if I didn't get to see you at all." He whispered in her ear. She wrapped her arms around him and tried to stop the tears flowing. He kissed her on the lips and walked to the cab.

"LAX?" The cab driver asked.

"Yes....no....WAIT!" Will exclaimed. The cab driver slammed on his breaks.

"Son, what are you doing?"

"Keep driving, but don't go to LAX. I can't leave California just yet." He proclaimed.

"Then where would you like me to take you?" The cab driver asked annoyed.

"Black Angus Steak house, In Whittier." Will announced. His mother leaned over and whispered in his ear.

"If we stop there we won't catch our flight on time."

"Then we'll catch the next one." He whispered back. After the anticipating drive, the cab driver pulled into the restaurant's parking lot. Before he could turn off the engine Will already jumped out of the car. He ran up the stairs, flung the door open and marched in like he owned the place.

"Can I help you sir?"

"I need to talk to Nikki."

"She's working. And she can't have visitors." Said the manager.

"This is important." Will proclaimed.

"Then it's going to have to wait." The manager stated. Nikki walked by and heard the commotion.

"What's going on here?" She asked.

"This guy urgently wants to talk to you. He says its important. But I told him he had to wait until you got off from work." The manager replied. Nikki marched forward and grabbed Will's arm.

"Larry give me five minutes." She stated swiftly before dragging her lover out into the second enclosed waiting room.

"Will this better be good cause my ass is about to get fired from one of the best jobs I ever held." Nikki snapped.

"I couldn't get on that plane knowing that I hurt you the first time we met."

"And what about the other times you hurt me."

"Nikki It was never my intention to hurt you." He stated.

"Well you did. And it seems like it was on purpose, because you know how much I loved you, you knew how much I cared for you. You knew I would do anything for you." She yelled.

"I know, and you knew I would do just about anything for you even if it took my life."

"But you still found it in your black heart to hurt me the way you did."

"You knew I couldn't hurt you on purpose, but what about the pain you caused me?" He shot back.

"What pain??"

"The pain I endured when you broke up with me. The pain when you told me you were dating Jose. And the pain of never knowing if you were going to be okay each day something bad passes."

Nikki turned away so he couldn't see the little droplets of water filling her eyes.

"Nikki I told you yesterday the pain was inevitable." He replied.

"Yeah you did but that's not going to make the pain I went through or the pain you went through ANY EASIER!"

Will ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

"Nikki my god, what do I have to do to show that I want to be with you. If you want me to remaster Einstein's E=mc2 I will, if you want me to rebuild the twin towers, Titanic and resculpt Greece's Athena statue so it looks like you. I Will. I will do it just because it means I get to be with you."

"I wouldn't make you do all those things." She whispered.

"But I will, if it means I get to love you like the way I wanted to a year ago." he stepped closer to her and Nikki shook in her shoes. He wrapped his arms around her waist, picked her up like Jack picked up Rose in Titanic when she jumped back onto the ship. He kissed her long and passionately. A kiss that beautiful could make any non-believer of love believe in Love all over again.

This time, This place

Misused, Mistakes

Too long, Too late

Who was I to make you wait

Just one chance

Just one breath

Just in case there's just one left

'Cause you know,

you know, you know

[CHORUS]

That I love you

I have loved you all along

And I miss you

Been far away for far too long

I keep dreaming you'll be with me

and you'll never go

Stop breathing if

I don't see you anymore

Far away by Nickelback boomed from the speakers in the room. They broke apart breathless. She gulped a bit.

"Far away is playing."

"I know. And this song was always about you." He whispered. She smiled and kissed him once more. Inside all of Nikki's co-workers had their eyes glued to the glass watching their friend reunite with the man she never shut up about.

Will's mom walked in.

"We have to catch our flight in less than thirty minutes."

"I'm not going." He stated firmly. His mom looked at him confused.

"You can void out my ticket. I'm staying here with someone who deserves to have their Year wish fulfilled." He smiled and looked down at Nikki. She was smiling from ear to ear. His mom moved her index finger in a "come here" motion.

"Yeah?" He said quietly.

"Are you sure you're staying?" His mom asked.

"Yes I'm sure. There's no place I'd rather be than here with her." He smiled and looked at her.

"Okay I'll let you stay but sooner or later you're going to have to deal with your father." She said.

"He's least of my problems right now." he rolled his eyes. His mom began walking out, but she turned around.

"I hope you'll be happy. You made the right decision with this girl."

Nikki smiled even bigger. She wiped away a wandering tear and waved goodbye.

"I can't believe you did this for me." She said.

"I did. And I told you I would do anything for you." He smiled and kissed her once more.

"AHEM!"

Nikki looked to the desk and her boss was tapping his foot impatiently. She smiled innocently, whispered something in her new boyfriend's ear and scampered back to work. Will grabbed his bags from the trunk of the cab and began walking towards Nikki's house. Nikki's mom was surprised to see the boy that her daughter was hung up all over. After placing his luggage by Nikki's nightstand, he exited the house and walked towards the nearest florist. He picked up twelve lavender roses and walked back home. At a quarter to nine, he began walking towards the restaurant, with the bouquet of roses. A hostess grabbed a menu and guided him to one of the most romantic tables in the restaurant. Complete with dimmed lights, scented candles, and Swavorski Crystal glasses. Nikki walked over to his table.

"Well hello sir, what can I get you?" She tried saying without laughing.

"Well I know they have a special, but I don't know if that's the special I want."

"Well what kind of special would you like."

"How about a dessert special, I believe you have a dessert by the name of Nikki Dawson."

"I believe we do." She smirked. She giggled and sat on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. All the waiters glancing over began applauding, and crying for a standing ovation. Nikki couldn't help but blush, and for the very first time Will was blushing too. He knew that nothing could get better than this.