The Deucalion Restaurant

🥨Chapter 12🥨

Just as Morrigan had expected, the last few days of school went agonisingly slowly. Lam and Arch were the next people to guess Jack's name, and Cadence quickly told them that they had found out his last name, which only resulted in more teasing.

Typical, Morrigan thought as she doodled a crow on the back of her exam paper.

It was the last exam of the year, and as soon as the bell rang, school would be officially over until the next year. Morrigan supposed she should be double-checking her answers for her science exam, but she really couldn't be bothered; her thoughts were elsewhere, anyway.

She was starting work in three days. Three days. Saturday, Sunday, Monday. And Morrigan couldn't wait!

It had also occurred to her that she most likely wouldn't be the only new worker starting at the Deucalion Restaurant. In fact, it was likely that she'd be one of many, though Morrigan had to say that for a restaurant that had been running for a good few years, they were quite short on staff. It was like they were a family and didn't want just anyone joining – they had to be able to stand the rest of them.

It made Morrigan feel special.

The supervising teacher collected the exam papers and told them to wait for the bell, which rang only moments after. Wishing them all a good holiday and merry Christmas, the teacher dismissed them, shaking her head as they all seemed to bolt for the door.

"WE'RE FREEEEE!" Morrigan heard someone shout. She rolled her eyes and made her way through the bustling halls to her locker.

She was about halfway through retrieving her school stuff when she heard a familiar voice addressing her from behind. "We're out, we're finally out, Mog! Can you believe it?"

Morrigan smiled despite herself, "Yes, Hawthorne. I can believe it. You're acting like we just broke out of prison." She turned around to meet her best friend's eyes, giving him a pointed look.

"Sometimes it feels like we're in one," he replied with a shrug.

"Have you ever been in a prison before, Hawthorne?"

"..no. But I-"

"He'll probably end up there someday," Cadence walked up to them, bag on her back, coat on, and an unusual, genuine smile on her lips.

"I wouldn't be surprised to find you in one either, Cady."

Cadence crossed her arms, challenging the messy-haired boy. "What makes you think I'll get caught?"

"..I was joking, but now... now I'm scared that you should already be locked up."

Cadence rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Swift. I'm bored and hungry; let's get out of here – smells like a bunch of hormonal teenagers."

"Uhm... we are a bunch of hormonal teenagers-"

"Yes, yes – I know."

~

"Ohm- these are so good!" Hawthorne said, eyes wide as he took another bite of pastry from the shop down the road from the school.

"I told you they were," Cadence said, her tone the only indication of her slight annoyance as she was too busy devouring a pastry of her own. "I've actually applied there for work during the holidays."

"Really?" Morrigan found herself saying before she could really process it, looking over at her friend.

Cadence looked back at her, confusion and a hint of insecurity evident on her face. "Yeah... is it that hard, is it?"