Chapter Text
Bailee Davis let out a deep breathe. The breakfast rush was over and now she had a couple hours until the lunch crowd would start pouring in. She had been working at The Old Tyme Diner in Greenwich Village for about 5 months now and overall was very much enjoying it. The customers were nice and the tips were decent.
She was pretty new to New York and didn't have any friends or family in the area. So at night she filled her time pursuing a long time dream of hers, acting. One of the diner regulars was an off- Broadway play director and thought she would be perfect as an extra a few months ago. She couldn't resist and took him up on the offer. Shortly after doing some extra work, she was given some work that involved a few lines; it wasn't much but she was loving it. Most importantly, it was off Broadway, so it wasn't like she would be seen too much.
A couple of the girls she worked with were always asking for her to come out for drinks or go to the movies but Bailee always turned down the nice offers. To be honest living in New York on your own was expensive, so any dollar she made she needed. Plus building relationships with people was exactly what she was trying to avoid. That was the whole purpose of picking New York, 8.5 million people in the city made it very easy to blend in and be invisible.
As she stocked the coffee she caught in her sight someone she hadn't seen in a couple weeks. Blushing lightly with her back still turned she poured an iced tea and made her way over towards the corner booth by the window, the seat he always picked when it was opened. "Good morning stranger." She smiled warmly setting the drink down.
"Good morning gorgeous." He replied back with a subtle wink. He wore an American flag scarf with a red flannel shirt and jeans.
"Haven't seen you in a while." She said trying her best to ignore the gorgeous comment. He always called her something like honey, sweet heart, beautiful. However the way he did it was charming, not cocky like a lot of other guys that she waited on.
"Been away for work for a bit. Good to finally be home." He responded. "How's Cooper?" He asked referring to Bailee's King Charles Spaniel. The dog was her pride and joy and she had a picture of him clipped to the inside of her order book so he always made it a point to ask about him.
"He's in trouble, came home last night and he ate two pairs of my tennis shoes. So he's not to have any treats for the rest of the week!" She said playfully putting her hands on her hips.
He smiled at her as she talked. The fact that she called them tennis shoes was just another clue that she wasn't from around here. New York girls called them sneakers. This waitress had caught his attention three months ago but she was so mysterious. He didn't know where she was from, what brought her to New York, and besides hanging out with her dog what she did for fun. On a whim he strolled into this diner for a quick bite to eat before work and he now drove the 45 minutes a few times a week just to see her.
"What you reading this time?" She asked pointing to the book he had resting on the table top.
"All about the final days of Elvis." He answered.
She let out the cutest laugh he was sure he ever heard. "Another Elvis book? I feel like you've read like 5 already!" She teased.
"Nothing wrong with that!" He defended. "Who isn't a fan of Elvis?"
Scrunching her face she shrugged her shoulders, "I mean he's okay I guess!"
"Woah woah!" He exclaimed grabbing his heart dramatically, "You're talking about the King of Rock and Roll!"
Bailee giggled again then jokingly bowed, "My deepest apologies to the King." Once they both finished laughing, she grabbed the menu off the table that she knew he didn't even open. "Your usual?" She asked.
"Please, thanks honey." He responded then enjoyed the view of her walking away back to the counter.
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"Just in case you need to slip out soon." Bailee said as she dropped a folded up check on the table. She knew who he was and what he did for a living and sometimes he had to leave in a hurry. Even though she knew who he was, she never brought it up. It was nice to talk to him like a regular person and not a celebrity and she figured he enjoyed that she never treated him like a famous person.
As he set down some cash he lightly grabbed her hand as she reached for the payment. "When are you gonna let me take you out?" He asked.
Bailee flinched a bit at the contact. She wasn't used to friendly touches, especially from men, but his felt different. It felt gentle, it felt warm. She knew her cheeks must have been awfully rosy but she tried to play it off, "I told you, I'm not your type." She smiled.
"Yeah you've said that and that's really not fair. How do you know what my type is?" He asked.
"I can guarantee it isn't waitresses trying to make ends meet working at a tiny New York diner. I'm sure there's much more interesting women out there." She answered.
"That's where you're wrong, Bailee. You might be the most interesting person I've ever met." He said staring into her bright blue eyes.
Things were getting a little too personal for her comfort. "Thanks for stopping in. I'll see you soon?" She asked kindly.
He sighed in defeat, "One of these days, you'll go out with me." He called after her.
Back in the kitchen Lucy, one of the other waitresses, blocked Bailee from getting by. "I can't understand what is wrong with you." She laughed. "Guy like that is here all the time to see you and has asked you out at least a dozen times and you keep saying no. Do you know who that is?!" She asked.
Bailee laughed at Lucy's comment. "Yeah I know who he is. But I'm not looking to date anyone."
"Who said anything about dating?! Just go out and then fuck his brains out!" Lucy said.
"Jesus Lucy!" Bailee shouted laughing hysterically. "I'm not like that. Now drop the subject please. I'm going downstairs to get more ketchups."
Lucy looked over and saw him gathering up his book, keys, and hat and with Bailee downstairs decided to go over there. "Hey!" She called out to him before he got to the door. "Cherry Lane Theatre." She said.
"I'm sorry?" He asked confused.
"Bailee. She's in a play tonight at the Cherry Lane Theatre." Lucy explained.
"She's an actress?" He asked pretty surprised. Bailee seemed so shy and timid, he couldn't imagine her up on stage performing.
"It's only a small part but she's really good. The director keeps offering her bigger roles but she won't take them. But if you're interested in seeing her outside of here I'd start there." She said smiling. Clearly he had a thing for Bailee, it was kinda obvious.
"Thanks." He smiled graciously then opened the door to leave.
"By the way..." Lucy added quickly, "Love your show."
"Thanks." He said with a friendly wink.
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Later that night Sal followed close on Brian's heels walking along Commerce Street. "I don't understand why you're dragging me to a play neither of us have ever heard of." Sal complained thinking of about 10 different things he would rather be doing tonight. Then it suddenly dawned on him, "Wait a minute..." he said stopping in his tracks. "This is about a girl. It has to be." Sal sighed. Brian Quinn did not have the best track record when it came to women. "Out with it, who is she?"
"Just a girl from this diner I go to sometimes." He then smiled thinking of beautiful Bailee. "She's really smart and sweet and funny and god is she gorgeous."
"And won't give you the time of day." Sal said with a smile and laugh. "So now you're stalking her play."
"Will you just come on!" Brian shouted heading into the theatre. Sal Vulcano was a little more willing to go now out of pure curiosity.
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The play was actually really good. Both men were enjoying themselves a lot. About halfway through, Brian spotted her. She was playing the friend of the lead character. "That's her." Brian whispered to Sal.
"She's cute." Sal said back.
"She's more than cute man, she's fucking beautiful." Brian said in a harsh whisper.
On top of that and even though she didn't have that many lines, as Lucy had said, she was very good.
Shortly before the play ended, Brian motioned for Sal to get up and they quietly slipped out before the end. Sal followed as Brian made his way to a nearby store and watched as he purchased a bouquet of flowers and asked the clerk for a piece of paper. "Got a pen?" He asked Sal.
Sal handed one over and watched him scribble something down. Quickly they walked back and Brian handed off the flowers and note to one of the ushers whispering something to him. "Alright let's head out." He said to Sal.
"Wait all that and we aren't staying?" Sal asked confused.
"Nope, lets go." Brian ordered.
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"Bailee!" Jonathan, the usher, called out. "These were left for you."
Bailee's heart dropped in fear. Who knew she was here and would be sending flowers? For a split second she thought the worst. With shaky hands she took the flowers and opened the note.
You were incredible. Can't believe you didn't tell me you were in a play. Since you won't give me your number figured I'd give you mine.
-Brian
(202) 430-1067
Bailee was speechless. Brian was here tonight. She couldn't believe it.
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Bailee has a choice to make. Does she...
1) Call when she gets home.
2)Ignore the note and wait until she sees him at the diner next.
Each choice leads to a different path!
Typically voting will be for 48 hours but to give people enough time to catch on we will keep it going until noon on Sunday (Eastern Time). We publish on two different sites so keep that in mind!