Friction and Fries

CHAPTER 4: Courage in the Air

"You and Luke are hilarious," Rose said, leaning against the counter with a playful grin on her face. Her laughter danced in the air, infectious and bright. "You should have seen Donna! She was absolutely amused when you kept Luke in check. She jokingly said she'd give you a promotion just to supervise him!"

Kelsey chuckled at the thought, her cheeks warming at the memory of her banter with Luke. "I can't believe she said that," she replied, shaking her head. "But honestly, I'm not going to let him just chill while his father wants him to learn the ropes. This is serious business."

Rose nodded, her expression turning thoughtful. "You're right. It's refreshing to see someone actually holding him accountable. Most people just fawn over him because of who he is, but you're not afraid to treat him like everyone else."

"Exactly!" Kelsey said, her passion igniting. "He might be the heir to the family business, but that doesn't mean he gets a free pass. If he wants to take over one day, he needs to understand every aspect of this restaurant, from the back kitchen to the front counter. He needs to earn his place, just like the rest of us."

Rose tilted her head, considering Kelsey's words. "But don't you think it might be a little intimidating for him? I mean, he's probably used to people catering to his every whim. You challenging him might feel like a wake-up call, but it could also push him away."

Kelsey crossed her arms, a determined glint in her eye. "If anything, it's a wake-up call he needs. I'm not here to coddle him. He needs to see the reality of this job—the hard work, the sweat, the struggles. It's not all glamorous, and I want him to understand that before he steps into his father's shoes."

Rose sighed, a hint of admiration in her voice. "I get that. It's just... you might be surprised at how he reacts to you. You're challenging his views, and sometimes that can lead to unexpected connections."

Kelsey raised an eyebrow, intrigued yet skeptical. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're not just pushing him to work harder; you're showing him a side of life that he's probably never had to face," Rose explained. "You're forcing him to confront his privilege, and that can be a pretty powerful thing. He might end up respecting you for it, maybe even seeing you in a different light."

Kelsey felt a flutter of uncertainty at Rose's words. "I'm not trying to be his friend or anything. I just want him to understand the value of hard work. That's it."

"Sure, but sometimes those lessons can lead to something more," Rose said, her tone teasing yet sincere. "You might find that you're both learning from each other in ways you didn't expect."

Kelsey shook her head, dismissing the thought, but deep down, she couldn't ignore the flicker of curiosity. "I'm just focused on the job. I don't have time for any distractions, especially not with him."

"Fair enough," Rose replied, a knowing smile on her face. "Just keep doing what you're doing. You're already making an impact, and who knows where this will lead?"

*****

"I think we need more burger wrappers here in the kitchen," Donna declared, scanning the chaotic space with a critical eye. She was always on top of things, and today was no different.

"I'll go grab some from storage," Kelsey offered, already rolling up her sleeves and preparing for the mini-adventure.

"I doubt you'll be able to reach them; those boxes are stacked pretty high." Damian chimed in

Kelsey shot him a playful glare. "Just watch me! I'm taller than I look!" she shot back, though even she felt a twinge of doubt. Just as Damian was about to offer his assistance, Luke's voice rang out across the kitchen.