Episode 9 (3.3)
October 21, 2008 11:42 PM
* * *
“If I have a criminal record, it’s going to show up on a background check, you know? There’s no way that any precinct is going to be hiring someone who got hit up with assault and serving alcohol to minors.” Allan looked miserable. “It pisses me off, cause I was doing what I was supposed to be doing.”
“You can totally say that too, man! I mean, if this goes further, it was totally not your fault that people were being served.”
“Except that I was the one serving,” Allan muttered.
Jackson countered the argument. “But someone at the door was supposed to be checking ids. That’s going to be totally their bad, it’s got no reflection on you.”
“Yeah, well that’s good and all, but that doesn’t change one thing.” Allan held up one finger.
“What?”
Allan put up another finger and then wave the two in front of Jackson’s face. “That I decked two guys while we were in a cell.”
“Hey, one obstacle at a time man. We’ll deal with the drinking mess first and then come up with a plan to get you through those other charges.”
“Cause it’s that simple?” Allan grunted, skeptically.
“Nah, it’s not bro. But better we deal with the little stresses than the whole big thing at once.” Allan couldn’t really argue with Jackson’s logic. The two fell silent for a second.
“So,” Allan finally said, “You know what step one has got to be?”
“Nah, what bro?”
“Make sure that your ass gets back into that house!”
* * *
“Order up!” Lynne tossed an order unto the table; she grabbed a tray and began to load drinks unto it. She managed to get four or five, her normal limit, and then hesitated; already plates and drinks were beginning to back up on the counter, ready to be delivered. Biting her lip, Lynne hesitantly placed two plates unto the tray and then backed up unsteadily. She turned, nearly lost the entire thing and stopped. She placed the tray down, frustration across her face, and took off the plates. Patrons in the diner waited, some growing impatient, glancing at their clocks and looking around the room for their food.
Levy emerged from the back kitchen, carrying more ready plates, his face red with sweat. “Got more for you, Lynne.”
“I haven’t even got the first out yet!” She barked back, taking up her lightened tray and rushing into the crowd. Her father watched as she nearly plowed through an elderly couple in an attempt to reach her destination.
“Busy today, Levy?” He turned to find Abigal Diore leaning against the counter, a cardboard tray, filled with ready-to-go cups, in her hand.
“Only a little more than usual.” Lynne flew by them, loaded up her tray once more, and then rushed back into the crowd. “The usual pick up?”
Abigail held up the cups with a bright smile, “You know my girls can’t work without their caffeine. It keeps us functioning throughout the day.” Lynne flew by them once more, her face now redder than before. She was gone with a fuller tray, struggling to stay balanced under the added weight. “Lynne seems to be working harder than normal.”
“She’s our only server today,” He paused, “Well, she’s our only server, period.”
“What happened to that girl, what’s her name,” Abigal motioned at her hair, “pretty black hair, nice skin tone-”
“Tori.”
“Yea, Tori, that’s it. Did she quit?”
“She-” Levy decided to lie, “Yes. She was having trouble keeping up with her classes and work.”
“That happens sometimes,” Abigail sagely replied. “Are you going to be hiring someone to replace her?” Lynne rushed between them once more, but as she attempted to pick up a new tray’s worth of food she lost her balance. Two glasses crashed to the floor. Lynne stared down at the disaster, visibly agitated.
“Yes,” Levy replied, “As soon as possible.”
* * *
Nicki sat typing on her computer, desperate to finish her paper before she went out that night. Headphones attached to her ipod blasted her favorite Detroit rapper directly into her ears, drowning out all other noise. She was in the writing zone and didn’t even notice as her phone began to dance across the desk, vibrating as she received an incoming call. As her cell prepared to freefall, Nicki finally caught a glimpse and reached out to save it. She answered without looking at the name, snapping her headphones off her ears. “Yo.”
“Uh, hey Nicki, it’s Allan.”
Despite being alone in her dorm room, Nicki sat up a little straighter. “Oh, hey Allan, how are you?”
“Eh, I’m sure you can imagine. You ok?”
“Oh, yeah, why?” Nicki stood and began to pace as they talked.
“Well, you were there when we all got arrested. Probably didn’t make your night any better.”
“Actually, I had my i.d. checked and then I was let go. I think they were a little more focused on, well you.”
“Yeah.” There was a moment of silence. Nicki mentally kicked herself and dropped down unto the bed. “So, hey, I’m here with Jackson. We need your help.”
“Yea?” She tried not to sound disapointed, “What does Jackson need help with?”
“You’re going to help us convince his parents to let him back into the fraternity.”
* * *
The doorbell rang and Alicia entered into the coffee shop. Things had calmed down slightly since the afternoon rush. Lynne was wiping up a finished table, while Levy assisted in bringing out the last of the orders. In the process, however, he was beginning to neglect a line that was starting to grow at the counter. Alicia stepped up the counter and leaned against it; she watched as Levy and Lynne desperately tried to keep up with the demands of their customers. However, as she sat there, growing agitation could be heard from those waiting.
Alicia tied up her hair and moved behind the counter. “Can I take your order?” She asked the first woman in line, who seemed somewhat taken aback by the young girl. Alicia smiled warmly and repeated her question, “May I help you with your order?” The woman stammered a response and Alicia turned and began fiddling with the machines. In seconds she had prepared the woman’s drink and given it to her. The cashier watched her for a moment, warily, but then began working once more.
“Alicia, what are you doing?” Levy had come up from behind her. Alicia moved around him, continuing to help customers.
“You looked backed up, so I thought I should lend a hand.” Alicia smiled as she handed a finished cappuchino to a customer.
Levy watched her work with growing admiration, a smile slowly creeping across his face. “How many drinks do you know how to make?”
“Huh?” Alicia glanced at him, “Oh, you mean here? Well almost all of them. I did grow up here, Mr. Hathway. I picked up things while sitting here at the counter all those times you watched me after school.”
The line had dwindled to nothing and Lynne returned to the counter with an order. She saw Alicia working and looked quizzically at her father.
“Lynne, I think we may have found ourselves a new server.”
* * *
Keira opened the front door to find Shane standing there, bouqet in hand. “Shane?”
“Hey, I wanted to apologize for the other day,” Shane stuck out the flowers, “When I was a grouch at school.”
“Shane, you didn’t have to!” Keira threw her arms around him and pulled him into a hug. She took the flowers into the house, waving for Shane to follow her in. He did, slowly closing the door behind him.
“Yeah, I kinda did. I was a jerk and you didn’t deserve it.”
“Shane, I wasn’t even mad at you. I mean, you got in a fight with your sister and you were upset about it. How could I hold that against you?” Keira was pulling down a vase and filling it with water as she spoke. Shane leaned against the wall and watched her every move. Keira dropped in the flowers and placed the vase in the middle of the table. “It’s beautiful,” She smiled brightly.
“I thought you would enjoy them.”
“That’s because you know me so well,” Keira leaned in and kissed Shane. For a moment they stayed there, lips locked, before she finally broke away. Keira stepped back, looking a little flushed, “So what do you wan--”
She was cut off as Shane pulled her into another kiss.
* * *
“I was just trying to find my mother and saw that you needed help. I really wasn’t looking for a job.” Alicia protested meekly. Lynne and Levy stood before her, eagerness written across their faces.
“But you wouldn’t be upset if you got one?” Lynne asked.
“Well, no, I guess not. I mean, this would probably have better hours than most places.”
“Yes, yes it would!” Levy agreed, almost immediately.
“We would work around your school schedule, Alicia, I promise.” Lynne offered.
Alicia seemed to be warming to the idea when footsteps could be heard coming down from the flat above. Carleen and Jillian entered into the shop from the backdoor. Jillian showed surprise to see her daughter standing there. “Alicia, is everything alright?”
“Yea, ma. I just stopped by to find you and then ended up staying to help.” Alicia motioned to Levy and Lynne, “They want to hire me.” She smiled wryly.
Jillian seemed somewhat taken aback, “Are you sure you could handle a job with your school schedule?”
Carleen broke in, “Jillian, she’s eighteen, I think it’s time that she began earning her own way.” Jillian didn’t seem to find Carleen’s warmth to the idea odd. Levy raised an eyebrow, but Carleen ignored everything about her husband. “Besides, who would you rather have her employed with? A store at the mall?”
“It works well enough for you,” Jillian countered.
“Stella’s is not a place for your daughter, believe me.”
“Mom, honestly, I know most of the drinks here already, so it’s not like I am being trained or anything. Besides, you’re always complaining that I have to take responsibility. Well, here I am! Ready to be little miss responsible and stuff!” Alicia’s own resistance had faded in face of her mother’s.
Jillian looked at the four and then threw up her hands, “Well, I guess I am being outvoted. But I don’t want this job affecting your school work.”
“You have my word that it won’t, Ms. McCauley,” Lynne replied. She turned to Alicia, “Let’s go get your paperwork filled out so we can get you started proper.” The two disappeared into the backdoor. Levy moved over to say hello to Carleen; he bent in for a kiss, but she turned and offered him a cheek.
“Morning,” he offered, weakly. Carleen nodded a response, not meeting either his or her best friend’s questioning eyes. They stood there in awkward silence for a moment; it was broken when Carleen noticed the clock.
“Jill, it was lovely talking, but I should be going. I have my shift in an hour.” Carleen leaned over and hugged Jillian, than disappeared back up the steps. Jillian watched her leave, stunned by the strangeness that had descended over them. She readied herself to question Levy, but he’d busied himself with busing the tables.
“Now what was that about?” She asked to nobody in particular.
* * *
Shane held Keira tightly to his body, their lips sealed together. She responded, meeting his passion, then slowly began to try and pull away. He attempted to keep her close, but she grew more resistant and finally pushed him away. “Shane, stop!”
Shane threw up his hands in frustration. “What, WHAT? It’s just a kiss, Keira!”
“You know that wasn’t just a kiss,” She retreated to the other side of the counter, glaring at him. “I told you before we started dating how I felt about my commitment”
“Keira, what am I supposed to do? Be happy with hugs?”
“You said that you were ok with me wanting to wait. I was upfront from the beginning, Shane!” She looked nearly in tears.
“I’m sorry if I’m a teenager, then! Some of us have human needs, you know! We can’t all be perfect all the time and ready to wait!” Shane turned and stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him.
Posted at 10/21/2008 by beck | Comments? (1)