Glancing up from the menus and tray of ice water, Noni glanced around the table as she started lightening her load. "Good afternoon. I'm Noni and I'll be your waitress."
   She froze as she watched Mathew and Chad sitting there with their blonde friend from last night. Grabbing at the menus and glasses she just set down.
   Pasting on a smile, her laugh brittle, she asked; "So what will you three have today?"
   She had hoped they didn't notice her false emotions, but knew the stranger caught on and instantly went to his menu.
   Chad though, was blissfully ignorant of them. "Non, this is Taylor. We're playing at his place tonight."
   Gritting her teeth, Noni kept that fake smile on her face and nodded to Taylor in acknowledgement. "After my class of course."
   Mathew nodded instantly, "of course, that's the only reason why we accepted the gig."
   "Yeah, yeah." Chad interrupted, "You got anything new written?"
   Noni's lips thinned distinctly and nodded. "Yes."
   Chad's eyes brightened greedily, "Well, let's see it then, girl!"
   Shaking her head, Noni glanced around to make sure her boss wasn't witnessing her talking on the job. "It's in my head, dingbat. So you have to wait until tonight."
   Tossing his own notebook onto the table, Chad smiled appreciatively at Taylor and then bummed a pen off Matt. They all looked at her expectantly.
   When she made no move to pick it up, Chad uncapped the pen for her. "We're waiting." He unnecessarily announced.
   Gritting her teeth, Noni shook her head and didn't even bother to pick up the utensils. "No. Now if you're not ready to order, I'll come back in a few minutes."
   When no one moved to announce their decision, she started to walk away only to stop when Chad gripped onto her wrist tightly. "Write it down, Non."
   Twisting free of his grasp she moved on. Trying like hell to blink back the tears and not publicly cry and embarrass herself.
   Quickly maneuvering between the tables and diners, Noni proceeded to do her job, and waited nearly ten minutes before she went back to her band mates table.
   She re-pasted the smile. "Ready now?"
   "Why won't you give us the music so we can practice until you're done tonight?" Chad asked dryly as he handed her his menu. "I'll take my usual."
   Noni nodded and refused to answer him as she looked to Matt. "Same for you too?" She questioned with her false cheerfulness that she reserved for the tougher customers.
   Matt nodded, and as she moved her gaze to Taylor she nearly stopped breathing.
   His eyes bore intensely into hers before answering; "Just the deep fried basket, with ranch dressing please."
   Moving away from them, she went to shout the order to Cookie, who smiled indulgently at her and waved her spatula, signaling she understood.
   Sighing, Noni leaned back against the partition and tried to calm her racing heart. She wondered how much longer her secret would be safe from the rest of the world.