Chapter 53: Fat Fon't be Fessesary, Fohn

Amanda and I didn't get to do what we had hoped to. Her Mum had called to say she had a hairdressing appointment and obviously, she just couldn't miss that.

I'm on the way home from school when I get a call from Rosemary. I pull over on the side of the road and answer the call.

"Hello?" I say.

"Oh, thank God, Natalie!" Rosemary exclaims. "Sara and Ella are out for exams, so would you please come and waitress, I'll pay double the price! Its definitely peak hour in here."

"Sure! I don't have anything on. You don't need to double the price though, Rosie, it's fine," I say.

"Oh, you're such a bloody legend, Nat!" Rosemary says before hanging up. I laugh and pull back onto the road.

***

I turn up to Cafe Extra with a hoodie and some joggers after dropping my stuff at home. Rosemary ushers me inside and shoves my outfit at me. I quickly change and tie my hair up into a high bun.

I walk back to Rosemary quickly. My bun falls out and I reach to fasten it but Rosemary stops me. "Don't bother. Now, quickly, there are heaps of people coming in, and there's no one at the welcome stand! I think its this rain, everyone one just wants some hot chips.... honestly."

I laugh and race to the door.

"Hi, welcome to Cafe Extra! Table for three?" I ask, picking up the menus for a group of three older men. They nod and I lead them to a table. I smile at them and tell them to 'enjoy.'

I return to the stand with a bright, fake smile on my face and look up only when I reach the welcoming stand. When I do I trip over my feet and would fall over if it wasn't for the stand in front of me.

"Hi," Alex says, his hands in his pockets. I tuck the strands of hair behind my ears and gulp.

"Hi," I say, my face heating up. He's wearing a tux and tie, both black. His shoes are polished perfectly and his hair is styled messily. His blue eyes are dark as he looks at the ground. "Table for one?" I squeak, looking down at the menu.

"Two," he whispers. I snap my head up and look at him, he's still staring at the ground. My gaze travels to the tall girl next to him. Her black hair is styled up into a messy bun atop her head, a few baby curls framing her face. She's got a beauty mark on one cheek and smooth, olive skin. She's wearing a black dress that emphasizes her body really well. There was no other way to put it... She was beautiful.

I immediately look down, trying to keep the tears from flowing. I turn and scan the restaurant for a spare table. I see one and grab the menus, gesturing at the couple to follow me.

They sit down at the table and I place the menus in front of them. I hand the girl hers rather vigorously, but she doesn't notice.

"Just.. um, call me over when you're ready," I say, walking away.

Rosemary approaches me when people stop gliding into the restaurant and everyone's settled.

"Natalie! Whatever is the problem you've been looking gloomy ever since an hour ago, what's wrong?" she asks, pulling off her net-hat thing.

"Nothing," I sigh, standing up straight and pulling on my shirt. "There's nothing."

Rosemary turns around but doesn't walk away. Her head moves from one side to the other as she scans the room. When her gaze lands on Alex and his date she turns back to me with a sympathetic expression.

"He's trying to replace you," she whispers. I drop the pen I'm twirling around in my hand and lean down to get it, banging my head on the welcoming stand in the process.

"What?" I ask after I've retrieved my pen and have one hand rubbing my head.

"Only a fool who knows you two wouldn't understand that you're in love. He's in love with you, and by the look of things, you are too. Just don't be afraid to tell him, honey! You're a great girl, he's a smart, handsome guy. You're perfect and you deserve each other," she says. I place the pen on the stand and sigh.

"I'm not in love with him," I lie to her. She smiles sadly at me and pats me on the shoulder before walking away. I sigh and welcome the small group of thirteen-year-olds into the restaurant.

I look over to the table that Alex is sitting at and see both him and his date put their menus down. Alex says something that makes her laugh. I turn away, biting my lip.

I move to a table that's just been abandoned and start to clean up the plates and cups. I move into the kitchen and stack the plates next to others. I walk back out to the room and past Alex's table.

"Excuse me? Excuse me?" the girl asks. I turn around.

"Hi!" I say sweetly. "Are you ready to order?"

"Yeah, I think so," the girl says, smiling at Alex.

"Alrighty, what would you like?" I ask, pulling out my pen and notepad.

"I would like a battered fish and chips with a side of salad, please. Thanks," she hands me her menu. "And he'll have a-"

"BLT, extra chips, a coke and some garlic bread," I finish for her. The girl blinks at me.

"Yeah, how'd you know?" she says. I look down and scribble away at my notepad, a blush tinging my cheeks. "How do you know?"

"Um... I-" I start but Alex interrupts me.

"She knows me... I'm a local," he says, staring down at his menu. The girl grins down into her lap for some reason and I look back to Alex. He continues to look down but hands his menu to me. I take it gingerly and he moves his head up.

"Thanks," he says.

"You're welcome," I say, staring into his blue eyes. He breaks eye contact and fiddles with the napkin in front of him.

I bite my lip, nodding and walking away.

***

"Hey, Nat," Meghan rushes into the store at seven.

"Hey," I reply, wiping down a table.

"Damn, it's crowded. Sorry, I'm late," she says, putting her hair into a frizzy bun. I smile and walk with her to the kitchens, dodging through the crowded tables.

"It's fine, we were alright anyway, but I think we might need some help with the meals. We've got three chefs and I think one fish and chips is going cold," I say, we quickly get to the kitchens and pick up the meals. I look at the BLT and garlic bread to the arrangement of flowers beside the counter. While Meghan's walking away and no one's watching, I pick out one of the small tulips and then pick up the meal.

I walk out behind Meghan and balance the garlic bread on one arm. Meghan beams at the girl but her smile fades when she looks at Alex and she drops the plate down in front of the girl with a clutter.

"Sorry," she mumbles and turns away, looking at me with a what the hell? Why didn't you tell me this? type of face.

I ignore her and place Alex's plate in front of him. He turns and looks at the wall. I sit the tulip under his napkin and walk away quickly.

I lean against the door frame and scan over the cafe. No one looks like they need serving and the tables are clean. I look over at Alex who's talking to the girl in front of him. His hand moves across the napkin and touches the flower. He looks down at it and freezes for a few moments before folding the napkin back over. He tilts his head up and looks behind him. I immediately look in the other direction before turning away.

Meghan corners me when I reach the kitchens. We each take a bowl of fries freshly served by the chefs.

"Are you alright?" she whispers.

"What?" I say in a normal voice, a little bit croaky. "Yeah! What would be wrong?"

Meghan eyes me suspiciously as we walk out into the main room. Alex has left his spot and I scan the room for him, but he's nowhere to be seen. I self consciously place the chips on an elderly couple's table while I stare at the girl Alex was sitting with. She's scrolling through her phone. Their meals are still in front of them, although Alex has finished his BLT.

I don't notice the elderly woman is holding the water up at me until she taps my arm.

"Oh! Sorry," I say, quickly snatching the water from her. I grab another one and pour their waters. The old lady takes a sip while I'm filling up her husband's cup. Her yellow, rotten fake teeth fall in.

"Ooo!" she says, grabbing for the teeth in her water. I wince and move forward when she continues to splash water all over the table.

"Um... here," I pick up the glass and start to walk away to tip out the water and place the teeth on the plate. The glass slips from my fingers when I see the tulip lying on the ground. It cracks and the teeth skid across the floor. I un-freeze when I hear the crack and the old man leaps out of his chair.

"EXCUSE ME!" he yells, I jump. "THOSE ARE MY WIFE'S TEETH! DO NOT GET THEM DIRTY, LITTLE MISSY!"

"Sorry!" I squeak. I quickly run off to get some napkins and maybe some long tongs and a plate, I do not want to touch those teeth. I come back and begin cleaning up the mess after I dust up the glass shards.

"Now, what are you going to do about my wife's teeth?" the man says angrily. I look up at him.

"Um... well, maybe we could wash them up and dry them to give back to your wife? It will only take a few minutes and -"

"My wife needs her teeth to express her anger towards you!" he yells. I take a step back.

"Fat fon't be fessesary, fohn!" his wife says. I sigh with relief, but the man gets even redder.

"Well? Pick them up! Now!" he screeches. I reach for the tongs and a plate and place the teeth on the plate.

"Uhm... should I go wash them or..?" I hesitate.

"Oh cours-" the man starts, still raging.

I see Meghan giggling from the kitchen doorway and I glare at her.

"It's fine dear!" the woman says, touching her husbands arm gently. "We'll fash em' fup!"

"Oh, o-" I start again.

"No! You, young woman need to go and wash those teeth up this second, without them she can't speak, she can't eat, she can't smile! Now, little girl, go wash them up. I don't care if you dropped her glass for some silly little teenage reason but just be a man a do-" he's interrupted by the screeching of the microphone. It stops finally and the man continues. "It! Put your tough lady boots on and do it! Any good man could! I guess you're just too much of a girl to do it. Women can't do anything these days, especially you, you little b-"

"Excuse me, Old man in the audience being sexist, could you either stop yelling at the gorgeous and kind waitress or leave the restaurant? Either option would be preferred," Alex says. I look up, the plate still in my hand. He glares down mildly at the man and the purpled-faced bald guy glares right back.

"Sure will!" he yells, gripping his wife's hand. She quickly drops to get her handbag and he pulls her up. With a final angry stare at me, he swipes the teeth off the plate with his bare hand. His wife gives me an apologetic glance and they walk out the door.

I look up at Alex and mouth a 'thank you' to him, the only friendly thing I've done to him for a long time. He gives me a  sad smile and walks to the other side of the stage. I walk back into the kitchen and place the plate and tongs into the foamy water with a sigh.

Meghan walks in behind me and lets out a laugh. "That was...."

"Confrontational." I finish. She nods and smiles, helping me with the wash-up.

"Alex is performing," she says. I nod and rinse a plate. "C'mon, please! Can we go watch him?"

"No," I say, stacking the plate on the rack.

"Please?" she asks.

"Nope," I say, picking up another bowl.

"Well, I'm going. See ya. You better not resist the temptation though, sis," she says.

I roll my eyes. She leaves the kitchen and I continue washing up.

The music starts and I sigh, wiping my hands on a tea towel and leaning against the bench.

"You walked into the room and now my heart has been stolen, You took me back in time to when I was unbroken," I hear Alex's voice.

"Now you're all I want, And I knew it from the very first moment, 'Cause a light came on when I heard that song and I want you to sing it again," he continues. I stare up at the roof. "I swear that every word you sing, you wrote them for me Like it was a private show, I know you never saw me, When the lights come on and I'm on my own, Will you be there to sing it again?"

I jump up onto the bench and lean my head against the wall. His voice is still clear even in the kitchen. He's probably singing it to her. Like he used to sing it to me. I close my eyes. "I swear that every word you sing, you wrote them for me Like it was a private show, I know you never saw me."

I'm still in love with him. And he's already moved on. A tear runs down my cheek and I brush it away.

"When the lights come on and I'm on my own, Will you be there to sing it again? Could I be the one you talk about in all your stories, Can I be him?" he sings. I'm pretty sure he's playing the guitar because there's some *musical intercourse* in the middle.

I sigh and jump off the bench. I continue to wash the dishes, brushing my tears away. If it was a random guy, or if I didn't have any kind of relationship with him, then maybe I'd hum or sing along while I wash. But it's not. And I don't have my headphones or my phone handy to play my own music. So I have to try so, so hard to tune it out.

"I wanna dry those tears, kiss those lips, It's all that I've been thinking about, 'Cause a light came on when I heard that song and I want you to sing it again," he sings. I close my eyes and scrub the plate in the sink.

I take another deep breath and tune him out almost entirely. When I've finished the washing up, I dry my hands, twist my hair back into a bun and return to the main room. No one's on stage. I sigh with relief.

All the waitresses, waiters, a Chef (Andre) and Rosemary are sitting at a table in the middle. They're all chatting. I walk over and pull out a chair next to Meghan. I look over at the girl to see her alone in the booth, still on her phone. Oh no, he's not there. There must be another act. WIth a friendly smile at Meghan, I stand up and don't place one foot on the ground before Alex comes back on stage. Meghan aggressively pulls me back down and I sigh. My hand travels to the beige napkin in front of me and I play with it, not staring up at him.

"This is exciting!" Meghan whispers into my ear. I roll my eyes and stare down into my lap, leaving the napkin alone. I take a peek at the stage. He's not there. I exhale another slow breath out.

He walks back onstage with his guitar in one hand, a microphone in the other. I glance back down at my lap when I see him look over at his date.

"I drove by all the places we used to hang out getting wasted, I thought about our last kiss, how it felt the way you tasted," he begins. Meghan lets out a little squeal, shaking my arm. She leans over and whispers in my ear.

"If he liked her, he wouldn't be singing a break-up song from 5sos to you," she says. I bite my lip. She grins.

"And even though your friends tell me you're doing fine, Are you somewhere feeling lonely even though he's right beside you? When he says those words that hurt you, do you read the ones I wrote you?" he sings. I look up. He's staring at the ground. I feel a lump start to form in my throat.

I see Meghan grinning beside me and I roll my eyes. "He's in lurve with you!"

"Sometimes I start to wonder, was it just a lie? If what we had was real, how could you be fine? 'Cause I'm not fine at all," he sings. I look up when he strums his guitar, his eyes looking down at the strings.

His hair falls over his eyes and his jacket is off, his plain white shirt's buttons hidden by a black tie. Damn, babe.

"I remember the day you told me you were leaving, I remember the make-up running down your face, And the dreams you left behind you didn't need them, Like every single wish we ever made, I wish that I could wake up with amnesia, And forget about the stupid little things, Like the way it felt to fall asleep next to you, And the memories I never can escape, 'Cause I'm not fine at all," he sings, his voice all husky in the microphone.

I swallow, looking up at me. His eyes roam over the crowd and meet mine. Like the Coriolis effect, our eyes immediately look in two different directions when they meet.

"The pictures that you sent me they're still living in my phone, I'll admit I like to see them, I'll admit I feel alone, And all my friends keep asking why I'm not around, It hurts to know you're happy, yeah, it hurts that you've moved on, It's hard to hear your name when I haven't seen you in so long," he continues. I lean back in my chair, staring up at the ceiling.

"It's like we never happened, was it just a lie? If what we had was real, how could you be fine? 'Cause I'm not fine at all," he continues. I look over at the girl. She's on her phone.

Alex keeps singing and I look over at him he's strumming his guitar, his eyes focused on the strings again. He looks up. We make eye contact and he looks away. "I wish that I could wake up with amnesia, And forget about the stupid little things, Like the way it felt to fall asleep next to you, And the memories I never can escape."

I stare down at my lap, swallowing the lump in my throat. My eyes fill with tears but they don't spill over. Not yet.

Alex stops playing the guitar so that he can grab the microphone. The background music continues, though. We make eye contact and this time, we don't look away. "I wish that I could wake up with amnesia, And forget about the stupid little things, Like the way it felt to fall asleep next to you, And the memories I never can escape."

His voice breaks on the last word. I push my lips into my mouth. His voice gets deeper and he sings in that sort of scream-ish but hot kind of way. "And you'd never slip away, And you'd never hear me say," his voice cracks and his tears spill over. My heart completely shatters and my own tears pour down my cheeks.

"I remember the day you told me you were leaving, I remember the make-up running down your face, And the dreams you left behind you didn't need them, Like every single wish we ever made," he continues through his tears. People start to whisper. I quickly stand up, pulling my apron off me and handing it to Meghan.

"I need to go," I say quietly. She nods, taking my apron. I quickly rush out of the room, taking my jacket from the stand and sprinting out the door.

___________________________________________________________

Heyy peeps!

Sorry about the very, very, very late update! I've had exams and stuff!

Also, the school is taking our laptops away for two weeks.... So I'll probs publish another chaoter before that. Maybe I'll write a chapter on my phone... I dunno.

GO READ MY NEW BOOK. DO IT NOW.

byeeeeeeeee