In an attempt to save her family's diner, amber makes a deal with the devils of her childhood.
Chapter 1
"Another round of coffee, hon?" Amber's voice was a warm invitation amidst the clatter of silverware and the murmur of hungry patrons. She balanced the tray with practiced ease, her eyes scanning the crowded booths of the diner. The neon sign outside, flickering in the rain, cast a soft glow through the windows, painting the chrome counters and red leather seats with an otherworldly light.
The rain outside had transformed Greenwood into a soggy wonderland. The cobblestone streets shimmered with puddles, and the trees lining the sidewalks stretched their glistening leaves towards the heavens as if in supplication. The scent of wet earth and the distant rumble of thunder were the backdrop to the pattern of conversations and clinking dishes that filled the diner. It was a sanctuary from the dreary world, a place where the town's residents gathered to share stories, laughter, and hot meals.
Amber had worked at the diner for half her life. It had been her grandpa's place, and she had inherited it after he passed. The walls were adorned with vintage posters and photographs, a testament to the decades of life that had been lived within these four walls. The floor had seen countless feet, the scuff marks and peeling linoleum telling tales of a thousand dance steps and hasty exits. The jukebox in the corner, though updated with the latest hits, had been the same model for nearly fifty years. It played a mix of tunes, the classics of her youth blending with the modern rhythms that made the young ones bob their heads.
But the diner had seen better days. The economy had taken a nosedive, and the once-thriving business had dwindled to a trickle. The rent had skyrocketed, and the repairs were never-ending. With a heavy heart, Amber had made the difficult decision to sell. The new owners had promised to keep the spirit of the place alive, but she couldn't help but feel a pang of loss every time she stepped through the doors. Now she was just another employee, her legacy a memory in a town that was slowly forgetting.
Despite the weight on her shoulders, Amber's smile never faltered. The diner was her sanctuary, a place where she could leave her troubles behind and serve up comfort food with a side of cheer. She knew the regulars by name and knew exactly how they liked their eggs. The smell of frying bacon and sizzling burgers was more comforting than any incense could ever be, and the laughter that filled the place was music to her ears. Her home, the small trailer on the outskirts of town, was more of a storage space for her life than a place to live. It was cold, cramped, and lonely, a stark contrast to the warm embrace of the diner.
Amber had wide hips and large, heavy breasts. Growing into them had been a trial and a source of insecurity, but she had learned to navigate the tight spaces between the tables with surprising grace in her 36 years of life. The apron she wore had been her grandma's, stitched with love and patched with memories. It billowed around her like a sail, catching the eyes of the patrons who watched her weave through the aisles. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail that swished against her neck with every movement. She had always been a bit of a tomboy, playing football with the boys, wrestling in the mud, and swimming in the pond. People here knew her and appreciated her.
As she approached the new table, a group of men her age began to laugh at the sight of her. Their eyes were drawn to her voluptuous figure, the tightness of her uniform straining the buttons on her dress, the way her cheeks flushed pink from the exertion of carrying the heavy tray. She knew what they were thinking, the same old jokes that had been told a hundred times before. But Amber saw something different in these men. They looked familiar.
"Hello, piggy," said one of the men, the one who looked to be the ringleader. Amber's heart dropped and her blood ran cold.
"Jarod?" She asked, memories rushing back. "Allen, Tommy, TJ...whatre y'all doing back in town?"
The men looked at each other, their leering smirks turning into grins. "Oh, you remember us, do ya?" said Jarod, the ringleader, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"It's our ten-year high school reunion," chimed in Allen, openly looking Amber up and down, as if she were an item on the desert menu. "We're just passing through for the weekend, thought we'd stop by and see if the ol' town had changed."
Amber's heart sank. These were the same boys who had bullied her mercilessly in school, the ones who had dubbed her "Piggy" because of her weight. They had never missed an opportunity to make her feel fat and insignificant, their cruel taunts echoing through the hallways and leaving her in tears more often than she cared to remember. Their final prank in senior year had almost destroyed her, and at the same time it had changed her in ways no one knew or could understand.