Formula Short Stories And Stuff

MA Served

It was another day another 8 hour shift and even though I just got here my feet were already killing me. I know I should have invested in some good shoes but now it was too late and my body was already pretty messed up. I clocked in, checked my section and spotted Maggie one of my closest work friends and she smiled when she saw me.
"Hey girlie squirrelie, how are you today?" She smiled wide and genuine.
"Same old same old. Tired, in pain and probably not gonna make much tonight even though I'm here until close." I sighed. I was the same thing every night. I would come in, have a couple really good tables and then go home and have to do stuff there. Even if I was already exhausted.
"You make the most money out of all of us, June."
This was true but it wasn't luck I worked my butt off and even though I was a student I worked 30 to 40 hours a week.
"Mags that's because I work so god damn much. I have to be able to afford school and living here. New York isn't cheap."
I sigh and look over my section. Checking sauces and sugar packets. Making sure that my tables are clean and presentable. Just as I'm finishing up, my manager, Carl comes over.
"Hey June, we have a group coming in today and they rented out the special room for some internet show or whatever, I'm gonna have you serve them, sound good?"
He gives me a thumbs up and all I can do is thumbs up back. Not only do I have my regular section but also this stupid party, show thing. Great.
He also never told me when they were coming so I pop in quick to check out of everything is stocked and in order.
The night starts out like normal, I'm averaging three tables at a time, usually high class couples out for a fancy date night or business people out for a post work day drink. I'm making okay money and Mags is holding her own. I've cleared my section and it's all clean and ready to be sat when Carl comes over again to tell me that the party or whatever has arrived.
I walk in and see a group of teenage boys surrounded by microphones and cameras and each dressed differently. Ones in a full blown tux, another is wearing jeans and a designer shirt, ones in a floral button up and shorts and another is wearing a white dress shirt and slacks. An odd mix of style but I guess that's teen boys for you.
"Hi guys, my name is June, I'll be helping you out today, what can I get you started for drinks, I've got 13 beers on tap and my wine list is on that white card in the middle of the table. We can also do mixed drinks and shots. We have coke products and a couple craft sodas and some lemonades."
"Wow you've got that down to a T" one of the boys with brown hair and glasses chuckles.
"All part of the glamours job I suppose." I wink back.
"I'll take a bottle of the 2017 Cab and a mai tai" the same brown hair glasses boy says, setting down the wine card.
"Classic Clem, starting off with the wine" a different boy teases.
I'm sensing an accent, I'm not sure from where though. It's cute that's for sure but I've got no time to sit and flirt.
"Oh shut up Marcus, you're probably gonna do the same except order your red chilled like a weirdo. And I'm sure you're also gonna try and order an Avo toast" Clem shoots back.
"I'll have a water and I'll try this 'Long Island iced tea' I think"
"Classic Liam. Alcohol newbie" Marcus laughs.
"I'll get a bottle of Pino Grigio I think your 2016 and I'll do a Amaretto sour aswell."
"Oh banger choice. Am Sours are my go to drink" I add while scribbling the order down on my notepad.
"So what do you suggest?" Marcus asks looking up at me with his big blue eyes.
"Oh uh, we'll like I said I love Am sours, I'm more of a white wine gal myself and we have an amazing Riesling imported, I also really love unsweetened ice tea if your not an Alc person." I shrug trying not to make too much eye contact.
"Okay then an Iced Tea and a bottle of the Riesling." He smiles up at me.
"Oh we should introduce ourselves since you introduced yourself to us. I'll start. I'm Clemmet Novalak formula 2 driver and Wine connoisseur" he states making a serious "fancy wine guy" face
"I'm James Blair, insurance broker, former karter and Charles Leclerc fanboy number 1"
"Liam Lawson, formula 2 driver aswell, Kiwi, and my hair just naturally does this with like 30 minutes of working it"
"And the best for last I see, Marcus Armstrong, formula 2 driver, founder or screaming meals instagram and this podcast of course, and Liam you aren't the only Kiwi, James and I are also Kiwi." He adds shoving Liam lightly on the arm.
"Oh well now I feel like my introduction was very restaurant formal. I'll go again. My name is June DeMarco, 2015 Honda Civic driver, American, animal cracker enthusiasts and soon to be Interior Consultant . I'll be back with your drinks in a moment. If you need me to shut up when I come back in to not disrupt the podcast flow just like motion to me or something"
I turn on my heel and walk out. I punch the drinks into the POS and quickly grab my drinks. Maggie comes over to me and lets me know they shut my section down early because we've been pretty slow and I can focus on the party and she's just gonna keep the bar area and few surrounding tables open. I nod and quietly walk back into the private room.
"... I swear you were on the podium in Monza, was that the feature race or the sprint"
The boys seem in deep conversation so I quietly set the drinks down on the table staying out of view of the cameras. Marcus looks up at me again with his gorgeous eyes and winks as a sign of a thank you. I smile back and slowly turn to leave when Clem grabs me by the wrist and I fall back onto the couch.
"And not only do we have Liam today as a guest on the old Screaming meals pod but also joining us today is our lovely server Junie! Say hi June"
"What" I look around wide eyed. Cameras rolling and the other three boys are sat smiling at me.
"You're on the pod June, say hi" James nudges me
"Uh hi" I wave and smile feeling beyond awkward.
"So June, you work in a restaurant. What is your favorite food?" Marcus asks.
"Oh, I am partial to a spaghetti carbonara and lasagna but I think I really like chips and guacamole. That's been my go to snack at the moment and I'm really enjoying myself in my guac phase."
"There you have it folks Junie has spoken. Chips and Queso is out and Chips and guac are in!" James announces.
I laugh with the other boys and remind myself I have a job to do.
"Can I get y'all anything to eat?"
"Uh we haven't even looked at the menu yet June sorry." Marcus whispers.
"Oh it's fine take your time I just don't want to not be doing my job" I smile back at him.
He smiles back and my stomach turns.
"Hey you too. Stop making love eyes and June can I please get the beet salad with raspberry vinaigrette" James asks.
"Sure thing, Clem, Liam?"
"I'll have the Bruschetta please." Liam asks, setting the menu down.
"Just a Cesar salad and the cheese plate actually looks good" Clem says, placing his menu down.
I smile and turn around again going to put the order in.
Love eyes, I wasn't doing love eyes. I mean yeah Marcus is really attractive but we just smiled at each other. We just met and I'll probably never see him again after today.
I go and plug the food in and wait a moment. I turn and look over to Marcus and the gang and see that he's already looking at me. My cheeks turn pink and I smile to myself as I tray up my food and bring it to the boys.
"Alright eat up then dudes!" I set the food down on the coffee table between them and turn to leave when Clem pushes me a little and I stumble back into Marcus' lap.
"Ooof. Oh my gosh I'm so sorry Marcus" I squeal and jump out of his lap.
"Oh no. You're okay June, I didn't mind." He winks at me and I turn even more pink.
"Marcus and June sitting in a tree, K I S S I S S I P P I." James yells in a taunting way.
"You just spelled Kississippi dumbass" Clem laughs.
"It's K I S S I N G"
"Oh yeah." James looks a little embarrassed but brushes it off.
I turn to leave again when it's Liam this time to speak up.
"June we wouldn't mind if you stayed for a little. If you're not busy we want to get to know you!"
"Oh yeah sure."
I sit down in between Liam and Marcus. My thigh is touching Marcus' ever so slightly but it feels numb where our thighs meet. Pure Magic.
"Well introduce yourself Junie" Clem motions to me.
"Hi guys, like I said before I'm June DeMarco. I'm 21 years old and was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin moved to New York and I'm going to be a interior consultant if I ever finish school one day. If I ever can pay it off. I serve to pay the bills and also get my daily people time I'm before I go back to the safety of my apartment and my bed. I really love True Crime and unlikely animal friend stories and I've broken ever phone I've ever had because I have small hands and a lack of body awareness"
Clem laughs and so does Liam.
"Ah a bit of a klutz then ay" James mocks.
"Yeah well I've never been quite good at knowing where I'm going. I kinda get there and figure it out. I shrug and pour myself a glass of still water into an empty cup on the table.
"That's exactly how Marcus lives his life! Hey screaming meals fans, fun fact of the episode, Marcus' car has been locked up until he can pay off all of his parking fines" James laughs again a big hearty laugh.
"Not my fault England fines you if you're in a spot 2 minutes of the 30 minute limit" Marcus rolls his eyes.
"Mate, you once lost your car for 3 days after a crazy bender." Clem adds
"You also get so Baja Blasted you would forget your damn head if it wasn't screwed so loosely on your neck"
"Shut up Clem. I'm an adult. I have a sophisticated podcast" Marcus says, picking up his glass of Riesling with his pinky out like a fake fancy person.
"Marcus I once saw you almost cry of excitement because you were so drunk you forgot you had gummy bears in your pocket and when you found them you were so excited because you though you from the past could see the future and know that's what you wanted." James pushes.
"Drunk me is a god damn genius James and you know it." Marcus pouts.
"I'll be right back crew I have to finish cleaning some stuff up" I excuse myself and go to do some cut work and roll some silverware.
"Time passes and I get caught up in my silverware when Clem comes out into the main room to grab me to say bye to the viewers.
"Juju come say bye before we sign off" he grabs my arm and pulls me to the room.
"Alright everyone thanks for listening to this episode of Screaming Meals with special guest and new friend of the show, Liam Lawson!"
"Thanks for having me mates, cheers"
"Also a shout out to our server and new friend June!"
"Thanks for having me guys and I hope I did okay"
"You did better than okay Ju, in fact, I think Marcus here wants to thank you for the good service by taking you out sometime. Yea Marcus ?" James winks at Marcus and mouths "I set it up good for you mate"
"Bye!!!!" Marcus quickly turns the camera off and looks at me flushed a little.
"Oh Marcus, don't worry! I'm happy I did okay. I work a lot and sometimes I have off days and such but I try and do the best service I can. I hope my suggestions were good. I would also be honored if you would want to hang out sometime. Maybe with the boys, Maybe not"
"June that would make me incredibly happy. When you came in the room your beauty was radiant. You're also quick witted and you work really hard and deserve to have a treat." Marcus smiles and holds my hand softly in his.
"Why don't we meet tomorrow for lunch and a treat. I may be on a diet but I think I can swing some ice cream or Pizza for you. I heard New York has the best" Marcus smiles.
"We sure do and I would love that." I look up shyly.
"Okay lovebirds, kiss and then we have to get back Marcus, we have data to analyze for next week and send in our briefing notes before the engineers get mad." Clem whines
"And we have to get baby Liam back in bed it's far past his bed time" James reaches over and fake pinches Liam's cheeks.
"James I am not that much younger than you" Liam turns red and huffs.
I look over at Marcus and our eyes meet for a moment. I lean in to kiss his cheek and he turns at that moment so our lips meet instead. I pull back quick worried it was too much and I over stepped even though it was an accident but he just smiles and kisses me softly again for a moment.
I'm left feeling like I'm floating and look down at the receipt. He's left his number and a time to meet saying to message him for more details and I clutch the paper to my chest. A 200 dollar tab and he's left 100 dollar tip with a small note saying he will treat me for the rest of my good service tomorrow at lunch.
I smile and clear the things on the table. Giddy and giggly like nothing can burst my bubble. And truly nothing in this moment can.