e d i t

Chapter seven

ihop
(Yn)
Five-fifty on the dot, Friday November twenty-first, twenty sixteen.

I entered ihop, giving a little wave back to Eli in the parking lot, and headed to the back to clock in, I passed shay and almost bumped into her but we both played it off, laughing. She was on her way out, I was on my way in. Chad was in the kitchen instead of ty today, and Em was hostessing since Friday nights tend to be more busy.

I clocked in and changed into my work clothes before going and seeing I had two tables, I scanned them for the familiar red hair, I didn't see it. I sighed. Callie was the other server, and for once she actually had some tables too. The two of us were hustling and bringing food and drinks and smiling our plastic smiles and goddamn I hated that job.

I was in the middle of pouring some iced tea when Em walked into the waitress prep station.

"Hey girl, what's up?" I asked, she was shifting foot to foot.

"I know you're kinda busy and it's Callie's turn to be seated but someone requested to sit in your section, are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm good! Trust me girl I've worked nights way busier than this."  She let out a sigh of relief,

"Okay, okay cool, then I'm gunna seat you,"

"Mhm," I nodded.

It had been just over three weeks, with no sign of Max, but that didn't stop me from searching for his face in the crowds of my tables, no it didn't.

I can't tell you why I so frantically wished to see him, maybe it was because he was something akin to a break from the hustling bustling restaurant around me, he took my mind off what I hated, but he made me so damn nervous, I can't explain it.

A couple days ago, I went home and watched some of his videos. I'll admit, they were funny, and he was one hellofa good editor. I remember Eli walking in and asking me why I was watching YouTube, I told him I had met max, and that he was actually very popular. I didn't make anything of Eli's disinterest.

I placed the drinks on a tray and carried it out to the group of four, seating the two rambunctious little boys. "Can I get you anything else," I asked, the parents shook their heads no, and I surveyed my section for the table Em sat. I spotted it, and walked over to it, whipping out my notepad. Without looking up, I asked the usual question.
"Hi there, can I get you something to drink to start?"

I heard his voice over the table of kids and instantly felt nerves rush over me, looking up only confirmed my theory, and in front of me was max, a whole four hours earlier than usual.

"Jesus max! Where have you been!" I asked, dropping my customer voice entirely,

"Working,"

"So I've been told!" I exclaimed. He studied me, smiling a little bit before telling me his choice beverage. I nodded, and walked towards the station to grab it for him, running into Callie on the way.

"You're red head is here?" She asked, "the riot must be starting,"

"No no, he's just somewhat a friend."

"Oh please, I see you looking for him every time someone's at the door."  I dropped my smile, and felt myself getting red, defensive, a little bit angry.

"Callie, Eli," I urged,

"Yeah, I know you're dating him and all, but can you honestly say he's all you think about?"

"Callie!" I exclaimed, in disbelief.

"(Y/N), I haven't forgotten about it," I looked down at my shoes, I hadn't forgotten either. "Go be with him."

"What?"

"Go be with him, go sit with him like you usually do, you've obviously been waiting for him,"

"I have Tables, cal."

"I'll take them, I can handle it."

"Jesus cal,"

"(Y/n). It's not like it's been hidden very well, you enjoy talking to the guy, now go talk to him, before he leaves for another three weeks."

I spun off, giving her one last look over my shoulder to see if she'd change her mind, but she didn't.
"Okay," I mumbled, more to myself than to her. "Okay." I walked back through ihop, bearing his and a drink for me. Past the family with the two boys, passed two of Callie's tables, and to the back window booth seating Max. I placed his drink down in front of him and mine in front of me, and slid into the booth across from him.

"Hey," he said,

"Yo,"

"Shouldn't you be working?"

"Shouldn't you?"

"Touché," he nodded. "Seriously though,"

"Callie is taking my other table,"

"I can see why you don't want to leave,"

"Can you?"

"The people seem very nice, Callie, Ty," he paused, "you're very nice, I know." I rolled my eyes.

"Just wait, I'm an asshole I promise."

"If it makes you feel any better, so am I"

"I know,"

"Okay, shut up." He said, half-jokingly,

"No I mean I saw some of your videos, total asshole,"

"Oh, those are a different story. The guys are always pissing me off,"

"So it seems."

"But I mean, I guess like you said, we're a family."

"How cute," I cooed, mocking him from the other day. I swallowed a sip of my drink, "but really, where have you been."

"Working,"

"Working until eleven, said Ross,"

"Yea well, I have a good work ethic."

"We close at eleven, is that a coincidence?"

"Must be," he said somewhat quietly, taking another sip of his drink.

"Max, seriously why haven't you been coming."

"I've been working, seriously."

"Look, Tim said-"

"Tim doesn't know what the fuck he's talking about," he said, raising his voice slightly,

"Look I'm sorry that we couldn't go on that date max, I am. But I have a boyfriend, and-"

"Yeah no I understand that," he corrected, "I told you I haven't been avoiding you."

"It's not that you have been, I just want to set something straight."

"Okay.."

Authors note:
Guys o m g, thank you so much for 100 reads in two days, I have so many things planned for this story. I really hope you're enjoying and if you are, do vote/comment/follow, also if you have any ideas to contribute or want to see me try to do you can always comment of pm me (: I appreciate all of your support so far, also don't forget to check out my other two short stories, one is about max and the other about Ross,

As always, goodbye lovelies :D