everything | cake

1

calum's day was always tiring. he'd wake up at 6 am almost everyday for his 8 am class and went to school full-time, while being a part time bartender at the small pub up in between  their campus and his and luke's apartment. currently he's staring at a clock waiting for his last class of the day to let out so he can run to work and try and woo a few people into giving him bigger tips tonight. if he gets enough maybe he and luke will be able to finally go to that amusement park twenty minutes away. 

he's broken from his thoughts when he hears his professor announce that class is dismissed. calum all but shoves his notebook and pen into his backpack before it's around his shoulders and he's half way out the door. he undoes the buckles that are strapping his skateboard to his bag. luke has the car today and calum really hates dealing with unreliable public transportation, therefor he's left with no other option than his old skateboard back from his junior year of high school. he weaves his way through the unusually crowded hallway and throws his skateboard down before he hops on the second the exit is in sight. he has about thirty minutes before he has to be at the pub.

he can't risk being late again. he absolutely cannot afford to lose this job. he has to help pay all the bills that he and luke split and he'll be damned if he let's luke pick up on his slack. he kicks against the ground harder to pick up his speed. as he skates off of campus he weaves his way through the parking lot and avoids cars coming from all directions while some beep at him for coming a little too close. 

once his skateboard hits the sidewalk he speeds off even faster than before, his music blasting into his ears as he travels down the path embedded in his memory. if he tried he could get from campus to work with his eyes closed. when he reaches the intersection closest to the pub he sends a quick text to luke letting him know that he was almost at work since luke would always worry if he didn't hear from him. 

when he notices the stop signal change to a walking signal he shoves his phone back in his pocket and jets off towards the pub which is just within eyesight. once he gets under the awning he hops off the skateboard and bends down to pick it up as he enters the building with five minutes to spare. he rushes back to the bathroom and throws his bag off and changes into his shirt and apron, his black skinny jeans fitting in with the uniform. 

he throws his clothes into his bag before he runs into the break room to clock in and put his stuff down. he quickly says hello to his manager before he runs up to the bar to relieve one of the other bartenders for the night. when he realizes calum is here he quickly finishes the drink he was making and goes to clock out and pats calum on the back.

calum feels himself enter his element. if there was one thing calum loved doing it was making drinks and putting on a show. he's only been doing this for about three months, but he's in love with the art of mixology. he knows how to sweet talk customers and he arguably gets the most tips out of all of the other bartenders. he's good at this job and he knows it. 

he picks up a towel and starts to wipe down the counter before the evening rush comes in. happy hour starts soon and calum needs to be ready for the crowd along with his two fellow bartenders. he makes sure enough glasses are cleaned, the ice is filled, the liquor is restocked and that there is enough cash in the drawer for change. once he sees that everything is in order, the doorbell chimes followed by a whole cluster of people all chatting with one another.

one group of scandalously clad women in their mid-twenties waltz up to the bar and calum can't help but cringe. calum knew he was attractive, but he never liked to flaunt it around. however, when he started working during happy hour he realized one of the best ways to receive good tips was to flirt and act incredibly confident when interacting with customers. his stomach and chest tighten when he realizes what he has to do to entertain these women enough for a decent tip.