Reverse-Harem Cafe!

XIX. Just as Clueless

Ervin walks with me to work after school, well it's more like he's walking way too fast and I'm chasing after him to keep up. As expected, Ulrich isn't at the cafe again but everyone else is there. Toby greets me and looks at the attendance cards, softly shaking his head. "If this kid keeps being such a drama queen, I might have to fire him, he's used up almost all of his vacation days."

My heart drops when I realize that he's talking about Ulrich but I understand why that needs to be done. I quietly make my way to the back of the counter and begin setting up shop.

"Well he is in theatre." Jacob jokes and Ervin smacks him on the back of his head. "Oww! What did I do?" Ervin rolls his eyes.

Max pushes open the locker room door as he ties his bandana around his shoulders. He walks towards me and for some reason I don't feel comfortable about being too close to him after that little stunt he tried to pull at the resort. I was so convinced that he wouldn't actually kiss me but what if Ulrich hadn't stopped him...would he have?

Max looks awkwardly at the ground but then faces me with a sad smile, "I'm sorry Mae, this is my fault right?"

I try to return the smile, "No, it's my fault. But I'll fix it very soon, I'll have him here by Saturday, I promise."

Max spreads out his arm for a hug and I accept it, "It's seriously my fault but thanks for forgiving me." He murmurs. I'm glad there are no hard feelings between us.

"Wow you guys are going to make me cry." Ervin scoffs sarcastically.

"I want a hug too, Mae." Jacob says and pushes Max aside. I glare at Jacob and walk away. "Aww c'mon princess, you know you want this."

"Nope." I feign laughter and enter the locker room.

I close the door behind me and open my locker, take my work attire out, and begin to change.

"Oi peasant. You're quite shameless aren't you?"

I hold my apron against me before whipping around to find out who the voice belonged to. William sits on a chair at the metal table with his legs crossed and head leaning on one of his arms. Oh thank goodness I didn't take anything off yet.

"Get out!!" I yell at him and I feel my entire face turn red.

"I don't take orders from commoners." He smirks.

I march over to his chair and attempt to push him out of it but he stays put, teasing me with an arrogant smile. Ugh you asked for it! Without hesitation I jab William in his eyes.

"Ahhh owww." He yells, "What the hell?!" he closes his eyes and begins rubbing at them.

While he's trying to gain back his vision, I quickly change into my work attire without him noticing.

I reach for the door knob to get back to work, but William grabs my wrist and pulls me back. "What do you want now?" I ask him. I turn around and see him glancing off to the side, face blushing bright red.

"How can you go out there like that?" He stutters.

"What do you mean?"

"You forgot some of the buttons on your shirt." He points out, "If you keep acting to carelessly, some piece of street scum might kidnap you or something. Don't you know anything, peasant?"

I glance down at my blouse and surely enough, I had forgotten a few buttons, revealing my tank top underneath. "It's okay, I have something under my blouse."

He blushes even harder, is he embarrassed?? It's like he's never seen a tank top before. "C-come here." He stammers.

"Why should I?" I ask suspiciously and take a step back.

"Don't question me." He grabs the collar of my blouse with both his hands and tugs me closer to him and starts buttoning up my shirt. I feel myself blush as his fingers occasionally nudge against my collar bone. I shift my gaze to his face but he's staring off to the side as he finishes up.

"Thanks." I'm still a little stunned by his kind gesture. "But why are you so concerned?"

"What did I say about questioning me?" He complains. "You'd think a peasant would be a little more street smart." He sighs. I'm not sure but I think despite trying to hide it, he's actually worried about me. I smile at him but he pushes past me and leaves the locker room in a hurry while covering the red glow of his face. ...Holy crap I just realized that the prince just did some 'servant's work', is he mentally okay?
+++++++++++++++++

After a long afternoon and evening of service, we close shop and begin to clean up except, of course, Prince William who sits lazily at a table with an iced coffee.

"Hey we're going now, cya tomorrow." Jacob waves followed by Max and Ervin.

"Oh Mae, I got the tickets for the play, so don't buy them." Ervin says before closing the door behind him.

"Thanks!"
Oh yeah the play, I'm glad Toby gave us permission to go. The cafe quiets down after their departure.

"William, you shouldn't be here if you're not going to help us and just free load off of our inventory." Toby says while wiping down the counter. "Why'd you decide to hang around the cafe all of a sudden?"

William leans back in his chair and smirks, "When did you become so arrogant as to talk to me like that, old man?"

I stop watering the plants to look at them. Uh oh did Toby just start something?

Toby throws the towel to the side and leans over the counter, "I'm not even that old." he says in an annoyed tone as he tucks a strand of his ramen hair behind his ear. Then a smile spreads across his face, "Besides, you seem to be turning soft."

(a/n: eh had a weird mental image of Toby stroking William...oh gawd I'm sorry.)

William stiffens up and stops leaning in his chair. "What are you talking about?"

Toby chuckles, "Maybe because of a certain young lady."

Suddenly William stands up, his face is as red as before, "W-Whatever, I'm going." He starts walking towards the door and pulls out his cell phone, "Bevans get the limo." The bell hanging from the door jingles as he leaves.

I finish watering the plants and walk over to the counter, "What was that all about? Does William have a girlfriend or something?"

Toby stops cleaning the coffee machine and looks at me funny, "You're just as clueless as he is."

Wait..wha..."That was kind of mean."

"Sorry, I just can't believe that you haven't noticed yet. It's like you've got all the other guys under a spell."

What the heck is he talking about, "Are you drunk again??"

Suddenly Toby bursts out laughing, "Never mind, I'll finish cleaning, you should go home. Good work today."

"Okay, thanks. See you on Saturday." I say as I pick up my backpack from the locker room.

"Bring that stupid drama queen back okay?"

"Haha I'll try."

(Another shorter and filler chapter XD -AwkNaut)