The Traitors

Chapter 5 - Fi

The smells of the grill and fryers instantly hit me. It was a strong enough aroma to stick to your skin and clothes; the telltale sign you worked around food. I wasn't supposed to work today, but when Ray called, I knew she expended all her other options. She was good about not bothering me on my day off, but if she was in a bind, she reluctantly called. She was in desperate need of more dependable people because I was feeling burned out, especially now.

The accident took a toll on my body, even if all that physically remained were bruises. I hadn't felt like myself and was concerned about my Trait. I hadn't felt the consistent heat which coursed through my body nor was I able to summon the flames. I never thought I'd miss it, but its absence reminded me how much I hated being cold. April was a tricky month and with the constant clouds and freezing rain, it barely felt like spring.

I tossed my car keys and phone into my locker and clocked in behind me. I could already hear the sound of our night cook and head server fighting. Patty was a petite woman but had a large attitude and Brad was a self-obsessed pothead who didn't know when to stop pestering. The two were constantly butting heads, but their bickering was the most normal thing about my day, so I welcomed it with open arms.

"I put this order in twenty minutes ago and I know you're doing everyone else's before mine just to get a rise out of me. I don't know why you think it's so funny to mess with me, but I'm telling you, I will rip your balls off if you don't do this order right now," Patty shouted shoving her guest check slip in his face.

"I'm busy back here. If you think I'm ignoring yours on purpose, you're just as egocentric as I thought you were," Brad bit back dropping fries down in the fryer behind him without taking his eyes off of her.

"It's a salad, Bradley," Patty deadpanned as he cracked a smile and cackled in her face.

"It'll be up in a minute, Patrice," Brad said, grabbing the lettuce from the reach-in below his waist.

Patty let out a loud wail, walking out of the kitchen. Brad kept a smile on his face as he prepared the salad then directed his grin toward me.

"Hey, Red," he winked.

"Hi, Brad," I sang, leaning down on the counter next to him.

"Rachel sent the boys home about a half hour ago thinking we'd slow down on food orders, but we got a rush from the hockey game attendees. Jack has been getting killed at the bar, so you'll make some great tips tonight," he smirked at me then gestured at my shirt. "I miss the low cuts." I stared down at my shirt and rolled my eyes at him. "If you got it, flaunt it, and baby, you got it!" I shook my head as I walked toward the kitchen door leading out into the bar.

"I know you only have eyes for Patty," I teased with a wink and a kiss.

"You take that back!" He shouted, chucking lettuce at me, but it never made it to his intended destination, landing on the floor instead as I left the kitchen.

I shuffled my way over to the bar, watching relief wash over Jack as he spotted me. I shot him a smile and joined him behind the bar. He wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand as he shook the cocktail shaker in his other. He lifted off the top and poured the blue-colored drink into a cocktail glass. He placed the glass in front of the blonde woman behind him and shot her his award-winning smile. 

That was how Jack made his tips. He had the straightest smile I had ever seen no doubt from years of having braces as a child. I made my tips with low cut shirts. Brad's joke from earlier wasn't for naught. My chest was still bruised from the accident so I had to be a bit more conservative until they were gone. 

Jack turned back to me and his smile, while still there, was more realistic when aimed at me.

"Thanks for coming in," I nodded with a quick raise of my lips. "You're my relief. I came in early to cover this afternoon since the new guy never showed," we collectively rolled our eyes. "I'll stay and help you through the next round. We'll get Ray to transfer checks to you then," he winked at me.