Need You

CHAPTER O3

Never did I imagine ever wearing a prison uniform. Holding my tray, I scanned the cafeteria to find a table to sit at.

In the middle of the cafeteria was a table with only five guys sitting at it. There was a lot of empty space.

Ignoring the stares, I went to the table and without interacting with anyone, sat.

Soon, two men who were already at the table moved closer to me. They sat on either sides of me and my heart started racing.

I had seen situations like this in movies before, where the new inmate was always picked on.

"Who are you?" The guy on my left asked. His voice was very deep as his features were intimidating.

I thought it wise to leave the table but as I got up, the guy on my right quickly brought me back to my seat. He pressed my knee against the bench with his big and heavy hand and kept pressing and pinching.

I could feel my bones being dented.

"Where are you going?" Guy on my left asked with a wicked grin as he began to do same with my other leg.

"Aaarrgghh!" I groaned, shutting my eyes tight.

"I would stay quiet if I were you." He whispered into my left ear.

I clenched my fists tightly as my teeth signed into my lower lip.

"What's going on here!?" I couldn't figure out where that voice came from. My eyes were shut.

"Looks like we have a new toy to play with." He laughed boisterously.

My eyes opened wide as I sat up, my breathing fast. I slowly took in my mildly dark surrounding and realised where I was. I didn't know where I was exactly but I knew I was at a roadside.

From the number of cars, moving on the road, I figured the time was close to sunrise. I would have to keep myself busy by finding Derrick or else I would be sleeping outside again.

I walked around with no destination in mind trying to spot areas that Derrick could be interested in being at.

Of course, it was early and so every bar was closed but I decided that I would check them out later.

"Hey! Excuse me!" I heard a female voice as I walked by the restaurant, Ethel's Diner.

Waving at me when I looked back, she started walking towards me. "Good morning." She said.

"I am certain that you must be very busy but please could you help me out? It won't take long." She promised.

I nodded. "Okay."

She led me to the back of the restaurant where a white truck was parked. "I need your help taking those boxes out of the truck and into the kitchen. My guys are late today."

The boxes were stacked up along the edge of the truck. I picked up two boxes and asked, "Where should I put them?"

"Anywhere in the kitchen." She sounded like she was under a lot of pressure.

I was about to ask her to open the door for me but it flung open and a guy said as he came out and I went in, "Nikki, the chef is in."

I put the boxes in a corner where I saw other boxes stacked and came out for the rest.

"You need to hurry up. We have another delivery to make!" The man in the back of the truck complained.

"If you want this to move fast, why don't you help us out?" The guy I was picking the boxes with quipped.

The addressee clearly wasn't happy with that.

Eventually, we finished with all the boxes and he drove away, unhappy.

"Thank you very much for helping us with the boxes." The lady said with a pleased look.

"It was nothing." I said.

"I don't know what's happened to my morning staff."

"Hey Nikki," The guy who also picked the boxes came to where we were. "a couple of the waiters have come but we won't be able to finish setting up and also help the chef in the kitchen."

"Don't worry. I'll be inside soon." She said and turned to me. "Thank you again."

"Um, if you need help inside, I could help." I offered.

"Oh you don't have to that. We'll manage."

"I don't have anywhere else to be. I can help." I insisted. It could be a job opportunity for me which I was I need of.

"Okay."

"My name is Harry by the way."

"I'm Nikki." She responded with a smile.

She led the way into the kitchen.

"Nikki, where's my sous chef!?" The man I presumed was the chef asked. He was in a white chef's uniform.

"He's almost here chef." Nikki said as she led me into the dining area.

A lady was sweeping while the guy who helped with the boxes cleaned the tables.

"So Harry, you can help out here. You can start by helping Leo clean the tables." She handed me a duster.

A few staff came in as we cleaned and soon after we finished, people started trooping in.

I heard Nikki complaining about the absence of the busboys and after feeling reluctant to let me do that job when I offered, she let me do the dishes.

Busboy duty wasn't bad. It was my first time but I did enjoy it. The waiters would bring back the plates and the leftovers which were still consumable, I consumed. Another way I could eat for free.

"Hey busboy!" It was the chef. "Come here."

I wiped my hands on the napkin and went to him. I need you to take this plate to the table close to the door.

"I'm not a waiter. I don't think I'm allowed to do that."

"Just put on a black apron and take it out there. I don't like my food being served cold. Hurry up." He ordered.