Chapter 8
Is this a date?
When Eric turned down a little ally, I was surprised to see a cosy little cafe sat at the end, looking happy in the corner of the big town. It looked to be over a hundred years old, and you could see the work that must have been put in to build the small cottage looking cafe. However, from the look of the outside, you could see that it a homey kind of cafe; one that you would expect from back in the 1920’s.
Eric lead me into small cafe, leading me straight to the door that read ’kitchen’. The kitchen was very small, with old fashioned stone ovens and almost everything made from stone, with only a few new bits and pieces lying around that was new technology; but nothing younger than the 80’s.
Everyone rushed around the small kitchen, shouting for different kinds of ingredients that I had only slight hints of what meal they would be served in; only because one of the chefs that I worked with would kill me if I didn’t. However, when one of the chefs came running past, grabbing ingredients of every counter that he passed, passing them to others who where needing them, he looked at Eric and I, smiling then walking away.
I was surprised that he had just simply walked past us; if it was one of the chefs from our place, they would have shot us dead by now.
“Kiddo! What are you doing here?!” A tall man, about 6ft 3 walked over to us. He checked on the pot that was beside us that I hadn’t even noticed, and then patted Eric on the shoulder. “You know what, I don’t really care. Uniform is in the back, get your arse to work!” He laughed, moving back to the meal that he was cooking only seconds ago.
Eric laughed. “Hey Benny! Nice to see you too! Well I came here with my lovely new date, hoping to win her over with some lush food from my favourite chef in all of Durham. But you know; if he’s too busy for us, then I suppose we could always go to Subways across the street.” Eric smiled, sarcasm lacy every word he said.
I heard a few deep chuckles in the kitchen, and a girly laugh after the door opened and closed. I heard high heels walking over, then saw a gorgeous girl up to Eric, engulfing him in a hug. Her dark blonde hair swung in her ponytail, her deep blue eyes sparkling when she moved back and smiled at us.
“Hey. You must be Kyala! Eric has said so much about you!” She smiled, holding out her hand. I smiled and shook her hand; by which she pulled me close and hugged me tight. When she pulled back after a second or two, she had a huge smile on her face. “Sorry, but you looked like a good hugger, and also, Eric said that you were strong when you hugged, which is a nice change, so I had to try it out.” She laughed. “Sorry if it makes you uncomfortable, but it’s what I’m here for; hey guys.” There was a loud murmur of agreement, and she shouted.
“Anyway, ignore them. I’ll introduce myself seeming though he’s left you.” The girl nodded to where Eric had been only two seconds ago, by which I looked to find that he had left and was now cooking a meal for the customers outside. “I’m Christine.” The girl beside me said, getting my attention back. I smiled at her.
“Hey, I’m Kyala. But you already know that hey.” I smiled back, laughing slightly.
She nodded. “Yup; only because he wouldn’t shut up about the ‘fantastically sexy goddess’ that he met yesterday at the library.” She laughed, grabbing some of the food that they guys had set on the side. “Well, I have to go out and serve, and you are welcome to help, even though this is supposed to be your date, but like, yeah. Completely up to you what you do.” Christine laughed, and started to leave the kitchen, being replaced by more females that came in, said hi, and then quickly dashed back out.
After standing around for a while, bored, I decided that I would try and find something to do. I then looked at the food that was on the side, waiting to be handed out to the customers that were sat patiently outside.
“Hey, Benny?” The dude that Eric had been talking to earlier looked over at me.
“What’s up little lady?” Benny asked.
I smiled over at him. “What table is this for? It’s just; I’ll take it out for you if you want.” I explained, after he gave me a confused look.
He smiled. “That would be great. Thanks. Table 4. At the back.” He smiled over at me, before going back to his cooking.
I smiled; put the apron on that one of the other dudes gave me, and got out to work. I picked up the five plates that were sat on the side, two resting on both arms, and one on the tips of my fingers. I then walked out, without spilling any of the perfectly made meals, and walked down to the back row; but not before asking Christine which table was four when I passed her.
She had smiled and pointed to a table in the back, the one that I was heading straight towards. She told me that I shouldn’t have bothered, and that I should take too many plates, as it was ‘a risk of health and safety’, or something as stupid as that, anyway.
After handing the meals out for the family of five, I asked if they wanted anything else, before leaving and serving more tables.
Not long after, I ended up behind the till, as one of the newer staff members got confused with the new till system that they had installed, and not trained to use yet. However, the system that they were using was old news to me, as when I had started my first job; they had already had this system in, and had shown me how to use it twice, before I could perfectly execute a busy day of business. After fixing up the till for them, I had to stay behind it, their excuse being that ‘you are the only person here, apart from Benny, that can use the God damn machine’, according to Christine and the others.
So guess what we did for the rest of the afternoon until I had work? Work at the little authentic cafe.
“I’m sorry Ky. I didn’t for us to end up working all afternoon. I just wanted you to meet the guys, and I guess we both just ended up helping out.” Eric hung his head in shame.
I grabbed his chin, making him look up a little, from the ground to my eyes. “Hey! Don’t worry about it! If I was really that bothered by it, I wouldn’t have helped; I would have left, telling you that you could your life to yourself!” I smiled up at him. “But I didn’t, did I? So guess what means?” I paused, allowing him to answer.
“What?” He asked; hope clear in his voice and eyes.
“You’re stuck with me!” I smirked at him, pulling him down so that I could kiss him. He kissed back eagerly, taking the lead in the kiss. I smiled; happy that today had gone well.
I then pulled back, remembering that I had worked myself tonight.
“Well, that was fun whilst it lasted. But I’m really sorry; I have to go to work.” I mumbled, looking down.
Eric lifted my face up to meet his gaze. “Could you not ask for the night off? Please? I feel like crap for not actually spending the day with you, and making you works at my work instead.” Eric mumbled, looking deep into my eyes.
I smiled sadly. “I can’t, Tracey won’t let me.” I looked down again, until his grey eyes flickered with mischief, making me curious. “What?” I asked, confused.
“I have an idea.” He smiled at me. We then started to walk up to the restaurant that I worked in, and went in through the back.
“Hey Big Daddy! How’s work going?” I asked when I walked in. Dani walked past and hugged me, kissing the side of my head as he carried on walking with different kinds of ingredients in his hands.
“Fine, but why are you here?” David asked, looking at me, still chopping the carrots that he was cutting up for his special soup.
“Because it’s my shift in?” I answered; not understanding what he meant.
“Hang on, what day is it?” He asked again, going to the next ingredient for his soup; potato.
“Saturday. Why?” I asked, walking in to the kitchen, and helping Dani wash his ingredients before he took them and cut them to the sizes that he needed.
“That makes more sense. I was wondering why everyone was in, and I wasn’t getting Sunday orders in yet.” He chuckled to himself.
“Big Daddy, I think your age is finally hitting you.” I laughed, finishing washing the veg, before walking over to David, and kissing him lightly on the cheek. “But its ok, Daddy, we understand. You do have all of us to look after, after all.” I smirked, jumping out of the way before he turned around and tried to stab me with the knife in his hand.
I only just managed to move before he cut me, by which Eric reappeared from lord knows where, and came bouncing over to me. Tracey came trudging in behind him, looking like she was in a hurry.
“Kyala! Get your arse out of my- I mean- David’s kitchen, instantly! You have a date to go to, and I don’t want you here instead of with this young man.” She looked at me, excitement evident in her bright hazel eyes.
“But if that young man touches you in the wrong way, then be warned, I own multiple knifes, that are infected with blood on a daily basis!” David shouted from the huge fridge in the back. I giggled at David, but looked at Tracey confused.
“What do you mean I have a date? I didn’t agree to any of this!” I mumbled, looking down, trying to find where I had agreed to this kind of thing whilst I have been with Eric over the past two days. I couldn’t find the memory anywhere.
“Helps if you look in the right place, little sis.” Dani mumbled as he walked past me.
I gave him a confused look. He just smirked in reply, then carried on working.
Eric smirked at me. “Well, that maybe because I didn’t exactly ask you on a date. But I was hoping that you would go for a meal with me. Please?” He asked, looking as if he was going to get on his hands and knees; the image making me laugh.
“Sure, but I still can’t leave work for it! And you shouldn’t tell Tracey this kind of crap before me!” I almost shouted, but kept my voice down, because of the customers in the room next door.
Everyone in the kitchen started to laugh; a bubble of happiness enveloped the whole room. I stood, confused as to why everyone else was laughing, whilst I shouted at Eric.
“Ky,” one of the guys, called Derek, muttered as he walked past me, patting my shoulder. “Just leave. You work too much anyway; and this kid is going to be for you. You look shattered, and you haven’t had a day off in over three months.” He smiled at me, then walked off to get more ingredients. I looked after him, thinking over what he had just said. I then ended up looking around the room.
As I searched the kitchen for my answer, all I saw was people working, occasionally catching my eye, and nodding, telling me to leave. I sighed after I realised that everyone was voting me out, and nodded myself.
“Fine, you people are all evil.” I frowned, and looked down. “I’ll leave, and never come back if that’s what you all really want.” I turned to walk away, before getting caught by a pair of strong arms.
“If you think that, you are stupider than we all thought!” Dani whispered in my ear. He turned me around so that I was facing him, but pulled me close so that he was hugging me; my face buried deep in his chest. I sighed deeply, and calmed down instantly. He always did this whenever I was upset or angry; or just taking the piss like now- even though I was feeling slightly portrayed that my friends and co-workers would just tell me to leave because a guy wants me out for the night.
“Hey, stop thinking! I can hear all of those nasty thoughts! We don’t think any of that! We just want what’s best for you!” Dani pulled back, looking straight in my eyes. “Look, I have work to finish, and you have a guy to go bang; so get your ass out of here!” Dani laughed at my shocked face. He then kissed me gently on the nose, and walked off to go and finish off the meal that he was cooking for the customers outside.
I stared at his back, dumbfounded.
“She will be doing no such thing! Boy, if you touch my...” David started, however multiple voices cut him off by saying, “Our”.
“Fine,” David continued, rolling his eyes. “If you touch OUR baby girl, then I swear, you won’t be able to touch another thing ever again!” David was pointing a knife in Eric’s direction; making Eric try to hide the worried expression on his face.
I came out of my shock, and started to laugh at Eric’s face.
“Ok, first off, you’re sick, Dani Cali, I hope you realise that!” Dani looked over at me, smirked then went back to work. I laughed again, this time at Daniel.
“And second, leave the poor dude alone! I swear, the only person who had that on their minds was Dani; so nothing is going to happen!” I smiled at everyone, then shrugged. “But you know, you guys don’t really seem to care that much anyway, because you are still after to get rid of me.” I frowned, then sighed deeply.
“Oh, shut your twist, and get your ass out of here!” Derek finally shouted, laughed, then walked off into the fridge to get more ingredients.
I sighed again. “Fine. Bye guys! See you all tomorrow!” I shouted, and started to pull Eric out; until I was stopped by Tracey’s next words.
“No you won’t. You have the next week off. And don’t worry, I will find people to cover your shifts.” Tracey had a challenging smirk on her face, as if to dare me to argue.
I did just that.
“You can’t do that! I have rights! And it’s my week to be in any way! Tracey you can’t do this to me!” I shouted.
Tracey simply shrugged. “I already have.” She smiled. “Have a nice week off Ky. Go find something to do. Spend time with your family; go to the caravan; or even better, spend time with this lovely young fellow here.” She smiled again; still challenging me.
I gave in; after all, she can fire me if I go too far.
So I left. I turned around, not even looking at anyone on my way out, and stormed out to the back room where we kept all of our gear. I picked up the last few things that I needed for the week off, then went to walk out of the small miniature building; however was stopped on the way.
“Come here.” A soft voice mumbled, pulling me in close.
I could smell the men’s aftershave easily; noting that it was none other Kenneth. I buried my head deep in his chest, getting comfort from one of the guys that I countered as family from this place. Although, Kenneth was more than that; he was an actual brother to me in more than just work matters.
He was one of the only people-as well as Celsey- who would do random things with me after work, and would invite me out with their own personal friends on a weekly basis. He was the big brother that I always believed was more my Uncle, just like Celsey was always like the big sister that I never really wanted.
“How come, when I always come in this early, I always see either you or Celsey in here, almost in tears?” He asked, pulling back slightly.
I looked up, deep into his eyes. “Because you’re the best big brother that either of us could ask for; and you’re magical, and know when one of us is upset, so come to rescue us.” I smirked up at him, knowing that this would make him smile; and hopefully get him off the topic. And my plan almost worked because he smiled, however didn’t drop the matter as I had hoped.
“But that still doesn’t answer my question.” Kenneth frowned slightly, tightening his grip on my arms slightly, in a reassuring manner.
I looked down, not being able to keep looking in his deep eyes. “It’s just; everyone seems to be kicking me out! Tracey has told me that I can’t go to work for the next week or so, and I don’t know what to do!” I was almost in tears; which he didn’t help with, as Kenneth stepped forward even further, and wrapped me up in his arms again. I then started to cry; only because knowing that someone actually cared made me believe that maybe, just maybe, I had gone around this the wrong way...
“Ok, now stop with the tears! You’re a complete idiot, I hope you realise that!” Kenneth chuckled, smiling down at me.
I nodded. “But that’s not the point! It seems as though everyone is turning against me! And all for a guy that I found in the library!” I mumbled into his chest. This made him chuckle harder.
“You really think that?” He pulled back slightly, a small smile on his face. “Kyala, the only reason why you’re thinking that is because you won’t listen to anyone else, but this guy from the library! Trust me; everyone has been trying for months to get you to take just a day off work, and now Tracey is taking advantage and saying that you have to take the week off!” He pulled my chin up, as I had let it drop slightly. “Look, what have you done today?” He asked, a look that I couldn’t read was etched into his strong facial features.
“I’ve spent the day with Eric, why?” I asked, confused to the questioning.
“Yes, but what did you do?” He pressed harder for my answer.
“We spent the day helping out in a little cafe, because they were really busy, and Eric went straight to the back, and started to help out when someone shouted at him. Why?” I was still confused, until I noticed the triumphant look on his face.
“And you helped; yes?” He didn’t need my answer to know that I had, but I still gave him it.
“Well, obviously! I wasn’t just going to stand around and not do anything; was I?” I looked down again, then sighed.
“Go on. Get out of here, and spend the night with Eric. Go to the cinema, and then if you want, you can come back here and I will serve you and make sure Daniel gives you his best meal; sound good?” He smiled at me again, pulling my chin up.
I nodded. “Ok, I suppose I could use a night off.” I smiled slightly, not really wanting to spend any time off work, but seeing where everyone else was coming from.
Kenneth smirked, then nodded to the door. “Get out of here! I’ve got to get ready, so I will see you in a bit, ok?” He asked, rhetorically of course, seeming though he pushed me out the door, then locked it so that he could get changed.
I sighed, and walked to the back door to the restaurant. When I reached the door, all I could hear was the muted sounds of talking from Eric and David over the sounds of the loud kitchen.
“Don’t worry, kiddo. She’s a fighter, and will come around to the idea.” David said.
“But what if she doesn’t? What if she refuses to do anything?” Eric’s voice was high, as if he was worried or anxious about something.
“I have known Ky for God knows how long now, and I can tell you here and now, that that girl will come around to any kind of idea; unless of course it’s completely stupid, and only an idiot will come up with it.” I could hear the smirk on David’s voice. I almost laughed at how he thought he knew me so well. That was mainly the version that I let people see...
“So you think that she will be open to the idea?” Eric asked, still nervous, however you could hear the strength returning to his voice.
“If you stop being such a baby, and get your ass out there, and actually ask her for yourself, then I promise you, Kyala will probably only think for a moment about it. And even then, I doubt she will think for the moment.” David moved away from the door, making his voice harder to hear, making me have to strain to hear it.
My only question is, what are they talking about? What will I only think about for a moment if that?
“Hey guys.” Celsey’s voice randomly came out of nowhere. “What you talking about?” She asked.
“What do you think Kyala would say if I asked her to be my girlfriend?” Eric asked.
All I could hear was silence. Every other sound had stopped.
He wanted me to be his girlfriend?