The Unknowns (Book 1)

The Unknowns Chapter 2

The Unknowns

Chapter 2

The diner was bustling more than ever. I kept looking for her, but she never came back. At the party she disappeared, and she didn’t show up at school on Monday. I waited a long time after each work day, just in case she returned, but she never did. It has been two weeks and I’ve managed to avoid all my friends and search for the curly blonde haired girl.

I nearly collide with a waiter carrying dirty plates, lost in my thoughts. I apologize, but I sense my boss watching me. I can’t let this girl run through my mind twenty four seven like this. I try to push her away and continue working.

As I come back from my break, I see Bret talking to a few waiters, waving his hand in the air with disgust. I saw Bret’s anger starting to build up as one of the waiters, the newest waiter, rolls his eyes at him, and shoves a plate of food toward him.

Bret was about to shove him, when I got in between them, my arms pushing against both of their chests. “What’s going on here?”

Bret shoved my hand away and stared down the new waiter. “Apparently, Len thinks my food is crap and has been taking back everything I’ve made and not even giving it to the customers to see if they want it. Everything is cooked too, ask anyone here.”

I look over at Len and see him give Bret a nasty look. I’ve never liked this guy, and now I dislike him even more. Everybody here is friends with Bret, and if you aren’t, nobody here will get along with you. I stare at Len, trying to read his mind, but it didn’t work as usual.

“If you have a problem, Len, why don’t you talk to Paul? I’m sure he’d like to hear about you wasting food.”

I grab Bret’s arm and pull him away. I lead him back into the kitchen and calm him down. If Paul saw him in his rage mode, he’d be fired on the spot. I’m the only one who has ever seen him really angry, and that was on my first day at work. He was sitting outside of the diner, kicking cardboard boxes and swearing more than I’ve ever heard someone swear before.

I cautiously started walking away, but he stopped me as I tried walking back inside the diner. He ranted for a while, saying how he wish he could get a better job than this crap hole diner, but he has no choice but to work here since he doesn’t have any other option since he’s taking care of his brother and sister.

Now, after working here for nearly a year, we both have become almost best friends, and I’m more real with him than anybody else at my school. Seeing him now, I see it coming, the rage is running through him.

“What’s wrong, Bret? You never get this worked up over something as little as this.”

Bret looked up at me, his eyes filled with sadness. “I can’t do this anymore. I was making okay money here, but now it’s not enough. I’m working here and at two different jobs, but I’m being overworked. I have to rush from this job to the next and Paul likes me to stay here overtime now so I’ll get fired at my other jobs.”

Three jobs. That’s ridiculous. I know he’s doing this for his family, but he should be doing what he wants to do, and go back to school and get a degree in culinary. His cooking could be better with the proper teaching, but he doesn’t have the money to try. Every job he works goes downhill due to it closing, or pay cuts. I’m surprised Paul is even paying us the money he does.

I hear Paul yelling at the waiters to pick up their pace, then ask where I am. I pat Bret on the back and hurry back into the dining area, calling out to Paul, letting him know I’m here. The day went on quickly, and before I knew it my day was over. I got home, and as soon as I get into the house, my mind wanders back to her.