Every Reason I Loved Her- FairyTail edition

Chapter 17: Tired...

The air bites at my face as I run to get to work on time, I glance at my watch, dang it I silently curse as I burst through the doors.

"Not late!" I throw my coat at the coat rack and grab my apron from the hook beside it. I stop for a second to clock in before I stop beside the outline.

"Where's this going?" I look at the mess of receipts pinned above the plates. "These in the right order?" I ask Dean as he swishes a pan of veggies around.

"Uh..." He glances over and gives a quick nod "Yep, clear to go." Dean flips a burger and stirs another pan.

"Alright," I grab the tray and fill it with the dishes. Lifting it over my head as one of the newer waitresses passes underneath.

"Nice of you to join us, Natsu." Lisana playfully snarks as she maneuvers around me.

"Hey, I was here on time." I call back as the door swings shut between us. I weave through the dinner crowd and the waiters and head to the back corner where a young couple is sitting. They're out on their first date, I can tell, not because the girl is dressed to the nines but because the boy is. Over dressed for a kid, kakis and a button up, his hair arranged in the way a mom does before sending her kid off.

"Alright, your food is ready." I set the plates down. "Who got the house salad and who got the chicken alfredo?"

"Salad for me." The Girl fidgets and takes her hands away from the table to make room for the plate.

"Awesome, choice." I set the plate in front of her "salad is one of my favorites."

"Pasta here." The boy tries to speak up but his voice hasn't broken yet, I stifle a laugh.

"Good man." I set his plate down. "and I got a coke and a water."

"Coke." The boy nods his head and puffs his chest out and I really hope I didn't look like this when I went on my first date.

"Water." The girl's voice is light and whispery, kind of hard to hear even if she does speak up.

"Excellent choices, anything else I can get you two?" I look at them both as I speak.

"No, thank you." The girl smiles politely.

"Thank you, sir." The boy nods at me.

"Alright, I'll be back to check on you guys in a few." I duck out and swing back to grab more plates.

The next table is a group, they're nicely dressed but not overly dressed. I can guess who's food is who's just by looking at them. It's a weird skill acquired from three years at this restaurant.

"Looking sharp, everyone." I make small talk, the girls blush and the guys sit a little straighter.

"Can I get anyone anything else?" I ask. The group exchange looks before the girls smile and shake their heads at me.

"We're good, thanks." The dark blond bobs her head.

"Excellent, I'll be back in a few to check on you guys." I fold my hands over the tray in front of me "enjoy your meal." I spin around and nearly run, Lisana over.

"Geez, Lisana ." I gasp "my bad."

"Come, Natsu." She smirks at me "move it or lose it." She throws a smile over her shoulder before disappearing behind the VIP section. Lisana always works the VIP section, guess there are some perks to being the boss's daughter.

The night is a steady stream of customers and a blur of faces I barely remember beyond that moment. I glance table thirteen, the table with the first date at it. They're laughing and she's blushing and he's tugging at his collar every so often. I watch as he excuses himself to the bathroom, she watches him disappear before she pulls her phone out. Her face is red and a smile is stretched clear across her face. I imagine she's texting her friend. Is that what Lucy looks like when she texts me? I wonder as I stride across the room toward the bathroom.