For You [Completed]

Chapter 8: For Those Having Nightmares

"They've promised that dreams can come true, but forgot to mention that nightmares are dreams, too."

- Oscar Wilde

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Today definitely weird to say the least. My coworker Michael came to work today rather depressed. That should've been the first hint that today was going to a dark turn. He is normally the most optimistic person at Wrap House. Whenever I thought I couldn't wrap something or get an order right, he was always the one providing cheer. He would be the one saying, "It's okay, Elena. You'll get it on your next try. You're one of the best workers here, beautiful." It was pretty obvious that I've gotten used to everyone giving me nicknames. It was weird because I've never had that happen to me before. No one ever called me nicknames. To everyone, I was just Elena. Not beautiful. Not doll. Not sweetheart. And definitely not love. I usually just shrug off them calling me pet names because my mind automatically takes the names and transforms it into Elena. They probably just meant that as a friendly term anyways.

Today, he came into work and already I knew something was wrong with him. Looking back, I should've just told him to let the boss know and to go take a day off. I really don't want Michael to get sick and worse, hurt, working here when he's looking rather emotionally down. I walk up to him after fifteen minutes of surveying him from the corner of my eyes from time to time and pat him on his shoulder while I strip off my gloves and start soaping my hands.

"What's wrong, Michael? You seem kinda down today..." I trail off, focusing on his facial expression and on keeping the soap inside the sink. "Are you okay? Need anything, Michael?"

He shakes his head and replies, "No, I'm fine. It's just that my heart kinda hurt a little."

"Oh," I say, brightening up a bit. "Is it from the smoke coming out from the ovens? I'm pretty sure there's a burnt piece of gyro or bacon back there. Smoke's overwhelming our faces whenever we open that thing."

"Maybe, I'm not sure. It's a weird pounding feeling in my chest that makes me want to sit down and rest a bit."

"Should you tell Kenneth? I'm pretty sure he'll let you have the day off and you can get home and rest."

"I can't. My grandfather's the only one available to pick me up right now and I really need the money. My family's not really well off, Elena."

"Uh, okay, but remember to let me know if you feel any worse! I seriously don't want you injuring yourself. You can always rest and earn the money back another day. You won't go over your 40 hour limit, so don't stress yourself over it, okay?" I demand. "You might feel better if I go and change the oven wire so the burnt bacon or gyro can be taken out. The smoke will clear up then."

"That's for worrying about me, Elena," Michael reassures me like he deeply means it. "I don't normally have a lot of people worrying about my well-being. I've had this happen before and I went through a whole day at my high school like this in the past. It's okay."

I take the oven wire and take it into the back kitchen for Zeke to clean it.

"Hey Elena!" Zeke calls when I walk in.

"I can tell you won't be happy cleaning this up," I comment right before I show him the wire with the burnt pieces of meat all over it.

Groaning, he takes it from me and pushes it into the soapy water. Patting him on the back as an apology, I grab a new one from the back-up racks and take it back out to the front line. When I'm done, Michael is just about to place an order into the oven when I stop him.

"Here, you work the hot station, and I'll work the veggie station. I don't want you to get hurt from breathing in those smoke fumes. They'll disappear after a few more uses, but until then, I'll take charge of that oven," I command, feeling like a mommy bear in charge of all her children. "You're younger than me, so it's my duty here as one of the oldest young adults to take care of you guys. Taylor, Sean, and you are the youngest so it's my duty to help you."