CARMEN'S POV

Never in my life had I dreamed to be eating at this kind of place, ever! I looked up from my plate and searched for Larissa. I wonder why she has to be working at such a young age. I never feel the hardship of life before. Everything I want, my parents will provide it for me. I let my eyes wondered to her. How she would wipe her sweat from her forehead, how she would fix her apron before sending the customer orders and how she would bite her lower lips to control her anger towards annoying customer. She looks so adorable. I suddenly remembered something. I look at the time and wondered where my sisters are. They say they will meet me here. I just hope I won't get the lecture from Christina. If she saw the damage I made, damn, I would be force to clean her room for weeks.

The café double door open and everybody gasp. I heard the girls beside my table whisper something to her friend. "Is that the Larove sisters? Wow. I never thought they will show their face here." I sighed. Is it a crime for us to eat here? I look up to them and waved my hand. The girls saw what I did and they look at me. Catherine saw me and nudged Christina's side. I could hear their heels clicking on the floor. Wait, heels? I look up again and their not wearing the cheer uniform anymore. "Hey Carmen," they said in unison and kiss my cheeks. I wipe it. That earned a chuckled from Christina. I never even heard her chuckled before. I looked up to see her eyes puffy, as if she just cried. "What's wrong?" I asked her when she seated.

"Huh?" I point at her eyes. "Oh, it's nothing Carmen. I'm fine." She smiled. But it didn't reach her eyes. I instantly know it's my fault. I feel guilty. "I'm sorry. I cause that." I said without looking at them. "Carmen it's not your fault. Don't worry okay." It's Catherine. I didn't respond. I still keep my head low. I know I cause her to cry. Christina hardly cries, except that day, that dreadful day. I can feel someone arms around my shoulder. I can smell her fragrance. It's Christina. "Carmen, look at me," I look at her. "It will never be your fault if I cry okay. I just don't want you to be in pain again. We love you too much." I slowly nodded. She released her arms and gave me a smile. This time her eyes showed it too. "I'm hungry." Catherine suddenly said.

"I am too. Where's the waitress?" Christina calls for the waitress; it's none other than Larissa. "Is that you Larissa?" Larissa stopped dead in her tracks and her face shows panic. Larissa's gazed turned to Catherine who also looks as pale as ever. "Do you have something to tell me Larissa Vincent?" Christina asked her. I can see she's fidgeting. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I need to because my dad needs help to support my sick mom. My little sisters need proper education," she finished. "So you've been skipping practice because you have to work after school?" Larissa nodded. "Here?" Christina furrowed her eyebrows and look around. She slowly nodded again. “I PAY YOU TO WORK. NOT CHIT CHATTING!" a male voice shouts at her.

I can see Larissa flinched and took a deep breath. "May I take your order?" Christina looks at Catherine. "Cath, order for me." Catherine nodded. "We will have the chicken pot pie. For dessert, chocolate cake, extra moist and for drinks, two lemonade please," Larissa wrote their orders and walked away. I looked at Larissa body language until she disappears at the back. My sister's clear their throats. "What are you looking at? I thought you said you don't date cheerleaders." Catherine asked me with a smiled on her face.

"Still am. Just looking, nothing's wrong with just looking," I simply said. They both released a raspy laughed. Is it that funny? "Yeah, right. You like her baby sister?" Christina said without taking her eyes off her phone. I sighed and fix my bangs that blocking my view. "Chris, I'm not." They both scoff. "Yeah right." Larissa came with their drinks. Again, I watched her go. Damn, never knew her ass will look that hot in that skimpy waitress uniform. Again I heard my sisters laughed at me. "Yes, you totally don't have a crush on her," Catherine said. Minutes later, Larissa came with their food. This time I avoided looking at her. I really don't want them to start making fun of me. As they dig in their food, the girls beside our table took a quick glance at them. Later, they ordered the same food like my sisters. I chuckled at that.

They are trying hard to be like them. Some even throw their salad away. I looked at my sister again. They really do eat like pigs. It's a wonder how they remain to stay with a perfect figure. "I need to go to the ladies room." they both nodded and I walked to the ladies room. As I was walking back to where my sisters are, I heard a muffled scream. By hearing that, my mind automatically searched for the source. I kicked the door with my legs and find Larissa was pinned up against the wall by a guy. Without one thought I grabbed and threw him across the room as hard as I could. He fell to the floor. I picked him back up and slammed his head into the locker beside him, denting it. As he lay moaning on the floor I kicked him as hard as I could to make a direct contact with his penis.

So hard in fact he threw up. Perfect! I grabbed him by the hair and sunk his face in his own vomit. I'm sure he is a virgin and now he always will be. I stood up and fix my clothes. "Thank you." I look at Larissa. She's shaking. I walked next to her, put my arms around her. "Let's get out of here. You don't need to work here anymore." I said and walked her out to meet my sisters.

***

LARISSA'S POV

She saves me. She really saves me. She kicked the daylights out of Hunter's life. I never ever seen a girl this strong before. And she's only 16. I feel all tingly when she put her arms around me. Her warmed make me feel happy. I feel safe. I walked towards her sisters and they both look up at us. They notice her expression change. But before they could ask what happen, Carmen beat them. "A guy in the room, I kick him. He tried to rape her. Call the police. He looks old enough to be send to jail." Christina sighed and asks Catherine to call the police. Carmen asks me to sit at her chair so I did. I feel a little shake up about what had happen. "LARISSA! WORK! NOW!" I heard my boss yell at me. I was about to stand up when Carmen held my shoulder. "HEY FUCKHEAD! SHE QUIT!" Carmen shouted back at him.

The twins try to hide their small smiled. I wonder why they didn't say anything about Carmen hitting a guy. After several minutes, the police came. The twins just point at the room and they quickly go inside to have a look. Seconds later Hunter was dragged out of the room into a police car. "Which one of you is the victim?" Carmen pointed to me. "Please come to the police station to make a statement." He said. "No need. You can take a statement here." Catherine boldly says.

"But Miss Larove its procedure." Catherine walk to him whispered something. "Okay then. Miss Vincent please tell me what happen." I surely did. Told him how he would disturb me during my work hours, everything. But today he has the audacity to actually tried to rape me. After the police done taking my statement, he was about to walked out but then he turned again. "It's good to see the Larove's sisters actually hanging out together. I'm glad miss," he gave them a soft smiled. They all gave him a smile back, even Carmen. "Carmen, send Larissa home okay." Carmen nodded. "And Larissa, we will visit tonight," Christina leave a $100 bill on the table and walked out. "Do you need me to accompany you?" she asked me and looks at what I'm wearing. I slowly nodded. I really don't want to deal with Charlie, my ex-boss.

"Alright, show the way." I stood up and walk to the back. Like on time, Charlie bust the door open but stop mid-way when he see Carmen beside me. Carmen raised her eyebrows. "Don't talk to her. She's quit. She won't work at this hell hole anymore." Carmen said nonchalantly.

"Yes Miss Larove." Charlie spat through gritted teeth. I took my duffle bag and walk beside Carmen. She looked at me. "Ready?" I nodded. "Let's go then." She said and took my duffle bag. "No it's fine. It's not that heavy." I said trying to take the bag again. "No." she said and put the bag on her shoulder. When we walked outside, there's a group of middle school kid surrounding her car. "Dude, it's a sport car!" this blonde boy says. The other two is touching the windshield and hood of the car.

"What kind is it? I never saw this model before. I bet the price is over a million." "This is a Bugatti Chiron and cost me 2.5 million." Carmen said, making them startled. "Whoa! A girl owns it? No way!" the blonde boy exclaimed. "Better believe it kid." Carmen said, smirking when she opens the car door for me. "I know you! You're Amanda older sister." I looked at the brown hair boy. "Yes I am." He smiled. "Dude, your friend is my hero now." I chuckled at that. Believe me kid, she's my hero too after what she did today. "Where do you live?" she asked me when I'm inside. I told her my address and she drive. All the way home, all I could think of how do I help dad now? I am jobless. I let out a heavy sigh. "What's wrong?" I heard Carmen asked me.

"I am jobless now." I sigh again. "Don't worry. Christina will help." She said eyes focus on the road. "What? No. I already cause enough trouble for you all today." I said truthfully. She stopped the car and pulled the handbrake. "We insist. We have arrived at our destination." She said. I looked around and it is my home. "Thanks." I said and walked towards my front door. "I'm home." I screamed as I enter the house. "You're home early than expected." My mom greets me from the couch. "I quit something happen at work. But it's fine. It went well." I said and kiss my mom. My mom who always so happy and has full of energy, now turn weak and frail because of her treatment. I love my mom. She's the definition of iron lady if you ask me. "Oh, the Larove's twins call. They said they will come by after dinner. Did you do something Larissa? I was surprise myself when they introduce themselves. It's a rare thing they do." Christina did mention she will come tonight.

"Maybe they want to talk about the new routine." My mom nodded. "You should go and change. You smell like gravy." We both laughed. I kiss my mom one more time and walk to my room. Today has been a very long day for me. My mind wandered to Carmen. From school, to the café, no doubt she's strong. Who are you Carmen Larove.