"This is your final warning," the managers ordered, pointing to the paper. "Sign your name and date here."
Nicolas slumped over and signed with the pen, wondering how he could let himself slip so far. Nothing was more humiliating than the managers breathing down your neck in silence as you signed the document.
"You can take this home or leave it with us," they said, referring to the document.
Nicolas left the staff room, the awkwardness flowing through the air. He couldn't believe this was his final warning. What about all the fun, happy memories he'd made at Cineplex? Were they all going to be thrown away at the lack of his responsibility?
Walking with his head in shame, past theatres seven and six, Nicolas bumped into Ali.
"Hey," Ali said, noticing that Nicolas looked like something was bothering him. "I finally figured out the scent of the cologne you wondered I was wearing. It's called—"
"Sorry, man," Nicolas retorted. "I'm not really in the mood right now."
"What's up?"
"Nothing."
"You sure?"
Nicolas shrugged. "Ugh...just got my final warning."
"Same here," Ali joked. "Why don't I just grab my third document and pull it out my asshole."
Not even Nicolas could deny that was a clever one, making him crack up, despite the anxiety of indeed being on his final warning.
"We're all on our final warning," Ali reminded. "Even VIP."
It was true. The entire concession and floor team was a disaster, with people quitting and being fired in every direction you could think of. The final warning effect was in place, sending everyone into a panicked frenzy. No one was safe
"Aryo is gone," Ali confessed.
"Why they let him go?" Nicolas asked.
Ali sighed. "He breathed."
"Damn. What about Alvaro?"
"He blinked."
"Johnathan?"
"Coughed without covering his mouth."
Nicolas sighed internally. Those were big-time players. Aryo always told Nicolas how much he missed him, Alvaro was the definition of masculine femininity with his long flowing hair, and Jonathan was always in a jolly mood and fun to talk with.
"Anyway," Ali said, motioning towards the cast room. "I gotta get changed and sign in. Talk to you later."
"See ya," Nicolas replied, making his way back to the lobby. Now come to think of it, it was strangely comforting to know that everyone else was on their final warning as well.
When he reached OutTakes, Nicolas spoke with Madison, who had arrived 30 minutes late on her final warning, but didn't seem too phased. She was spreading rumours that she was quitting for vape street, but Nicolas never took her threats seriously. She planned to leave back in September, and it was now mid-March of the next year.
"Yoooo," he said as she wrapped up a chicken sandwich behind the OutTakes counter. "Guess what I got?"
"Final warning?"
