Ella was mildly stressed. For one, she was bored. A bored Lopez wasn't usually a good thing. And for another, she needed a job. Like, soon. Throwing a Thanksgiving dinner for her friends (and their friends) had been awesome, but costly. That money they started her out with wasn't going to last forever.
But even if she could sweet talk the police force here into hiring her (she wouldn't be a 'cop', per se, forensics were different, they'd totally be okay with it...right?), she didn't feel comfortable working around people who were clearly not comfortable with her. She'd dealt with enough discrimination as a Mexican-American woman, she didn't need any more of it here.
So she did what anyone worried about money would do - she took herself out to eat! She hadn't really expected it to be busy, but the offer of a seat was tempting. Besides, new friend maybe? Maybe! "Hi, thanks!" She pulled up a seat in front of the pretty brunette. "Oh dios mio, what are you having, that smells amazing."