Pulling up into the parking lot, Lotus walks into work. Before he'd left, Rurik practically forced him to wrap his arm, and take a bottle of pain killers with him. "Hey Lotus- holy crap! You look like shit!" Bethany called from the counter, receiving a dirty look from a customer. She quickly apologized for her language, before opening the counter for her friend. "Thanks, I feel like it. Haha, anyways, Barb here?" He asked, Bethany replied that she hadn't seen her walk in yet. Lotus nodded, before settling up the counter.
"What happened, get drunk finally?" Bethany asked with a laugh, Lotus sighed, "No... Hey umm, could I take you up on that offer from yesterday? I have a friend who can stay at my place, but not until next week..." He asks, Bethany's smile dropped, before she stepped closer, "Yeah, man, of course, what happened?" Her hushed tone is drenched in concern, Lotus leans away from the counter, "A lot, actually... I just need somewhere else to be for now..." Bethany nods, "Yeah, I'll let Kayla know." Lotus thanks his friend before continuing work.
The shift definitely helped a lot! He felt a lot less stressed. That was until Barbra came and the two walked into the back room. They both sit down, and Barbara sighs, "Lotus, I'm sure you know why we're having this conversation." She says, Lotus nods, "Good. Listen kid, I like you. You work really hard and you and Bethany are my best employees, but I'm starting to worry about your health." "I know, I'm sorry, I just really need the extra money, and you usually need people to cover the in between shifts-" "Yes, Yes, I'm aware. But dear, you can't work your best if you're not feeling your best. I mean, no offense, but you haven't been looking all too good." "... I'm sorry- It's just- I've been trying to stay on top of my health, and I know working more isn't helping but I really need to work extra hours-" Barbara sighs, "Lotus, if you keep working these extra hours, I'm going to have to put my foot down. I don't want to do that. I don't like seeing working yourself sick. I've been letting you take these last minute breaks because you need them. In the past three years, you've hardly used your PTO, in fact, you've only used it three times in the last four months. Lotus, dear, you need to find a better alternative to getting that extra money. Bethany told me you used to play and sell music, what happened to that?" Lotus looked away for a moment, nervously picking at his fingers, "... I umm. I had to stop to make time to work... Here..."
"See? This is what I'm talking about. Lotus, in my years of owning this place, never, ever, have I had to tell an employee to stop working so hard. I'm going to have to put you on a suspension if you don't start taking care of yourself. You understand this right?" Barbara concludes. Lotus looks at her nervously, "Yes, ma'am" Barbara looks at her employee with a solemn expression. "Listen, starting tonight, no more working extra hours. I'll do some math and see if I can just give you a raise." "You really don't have too" he instinctively replied, she lets out a huff before smiling, "Again, you and Bethany are my hardest working employees, and I've already given Beth a raise, I think I can manage to give you one. Or maybe a promotion... We'll figure it out, in the meantime, what are we going to avoid?" "Working extra hours" Lotus says, receiving a nod in response, "Good. Now you can go back to work, I'll be in here working on some paperwork if you kids need me." Lotus nodded, saying his thank yous, and returning back to work.
Bethany quickly walked up to him, "Well, what'd she say?" She asks, Lotus walks to the counter, waiting for the next customer, "She just told me that I need to stop working extra hours or else she'll suspend me. Though, I might get promoted" he says the last part with an awkward laugh, "Man, that's pretty rad! You definitely deserve it!" Lotus laughed shyly, "Uh, I wouldn't say I do... I feel like Ezekiel is more of the manager type... Definitely not me" "Dude, shut up. The way you handled that lady after she threw her coffee at you? That, that was some leader skills. I would have been over the counter top in seconds." Bethany said, Lotus chuckled, "I mean, you almost did just that" Bethany laughed "Yeah. Luckily I didn't have too. Or else it would have been me being fired." "Or maybe not, I remember hearing that Barb was pretty mad when she got the call." "Well yeah, she likes us" the two continue their work, making light conversation here and there.
YOU ARE READING
Tales Of Icarus
FanfictionPerhaps he knew this would happen, after all luck had never been in his favor, but still, deciding right then in there to risk everything, for what? His friend that may never love him back?
