Café Q

Chapter Thirteen

Another slow day at Café Q, we all did our job and waited for customers. Friday's aren't our intense days, we usually take it easy then. The twins were the only people gone today. We all thought it was just going to be a regular day, but it wasn't. Winnie took people to their seats and gave them silverware. Clifton and I took everyone's order.

I looked at the screen to see if anyone was buzzing us. Table three kept buzzing repeatedly. Clifton and Winnie were busy helping someone else. I had to help them, hopefully, it's not a rude customer. A girl with black hair was sitting there tapping on the small button. She was just looking down at the menu and didn't make eye contact when I approached. "How can I be a service?" I asked, politely.

The girl looked up at me with her drowsy red eyes. Where have I seen those eyes before? It frightened me as she stared at me, it was like her eyes bore right through me. "Have you seen Toru Harato?" The girl's voice sounded dead. She quickly turned towards her blue backpack and pulled out a package. "I went to his apartment but he wasn't there, I asked the neighbors and they told me where he worked" the girl started opening up the package.

The glass dolphin poured out of the package and onto the table. "You're Toru's little sister," I said. The girl nod frantically. "Is he here? I need to see him" the girl said. I looked around and grabbed Winnie's arm. "Get Toru," I told her. She nods and went to the back, I looked back at the girl who was holding the dolphin. Why was she here?

Winnie came back with Toru right behind her. He walked up and instantly knew who the girl was. "Teresa?" He got a long look at her. Checking each detail to confirm that she was really his sister. I even had a hard time believing that his sister came here. "How did you get here?" He sounded shocked. "I took mom's... well, dad's money and got on two buses to get here" Teresa explained to him. She yawned and heartedly smiled at him.

"I didn't eat or sleep for five days. But it was worth it" she leaned forward to hug him but passed out in his arms. Winnie gasped, "Bring her to the back, she needs desperate help." Toru picked her up and I grabbed her backpack, we both went straight to the employee lounge. Toru didn't know where to put her. I went to find Mrs. Cheryl in her office.

"Zach, what's the matter?" She asked as she looked away from her papers. "Toru's sister passed out, we need help," I told her all that happened. She got up and walked into the employee lounge where Toru stood. "Zach get a pillow and blanket," Mrs. Cheryl said in a calm voice. I nod and walked down to the basement where they all sat in a box. The blankets were neatly folded, while the pillows were everywhere. I got on of each and started heading back up.

Mrs. Cheryl set up a small bed for Teresa to lay in. Then she explained to us what was going to happen. "I'll close the booth and get Pike to take care of you. The rest of you have to get back to work" she said. "I am not leaving her alone with him" Toru growled. "I'll check up on them" Mrs. Cheryl reassured him. "Alright," Toru gave in and headed back into the kitchen. I went back to the dining room.

I continued working my shifts but couldn't help but think about Toru's sister. She stole money and put her life in danger just to see him again. Something must have happened at home. "I'm going to take my break," I told Winnie as I walked to the back. My lunch was in the fridge of the employee lounge. I walked in to see that Teresa was awake.

Teresa was eating from a container. Wait for a second, that's my lunch! Did Pike just give her my lunch? It was leftover enchiladas from where I ordered Mexican food. It also had my chicken Spanish rice in there too. What am I supposed to eat now?

Pike was sitting across from her, reading his book. He set it down to look at me. "I hope you don't mind, Caspian didn't want to use his ingredients and I don't want to use my lunch," he told me.
"Actually I do min-
"Do you want a drink?" Pike turned back to Teresa, ignoring me. "Yeah," Teresa said while nodding too. Pike got up and opened the fridge and got out a bottle of water. Wait, that's my lemon flavored water!

"It's lemon flavored," Pike said as he handed it to Teresa. She thanked it and took a sip from it. "I was going to drink that!" I shouted.
"What's going on here?" I turned around and Nobuo walked in with Toru behind him. "Pike stole my water," I complained. "That's fine, I was going to steal it later on. But I heard that Tori's sister is here, I have to meet her" Nobuo perked up when he saw the girl. He ran towards her and it looked like he was jumping up and down.

"Actually I need to speak to my brother," Teresa said as she looked at him. She looked ashamed to see him. Nobuo, Pike, and I left the room so that they could talk. The three of us stood outside of the employee lounge. A few minutes later, the door opened and Teresa walked out carrying her backpack. "I'm sorry about wasting your time, I'll be leaving" she looked really upset but kept moving.

Nobuo quickly ran into the room to see Toru, me and Pike followed behind him. "What just happened?" Nobuo asked him.
"She wanted me to go back home," Toru said plainly.
"Why?" I asked him.
"Our mother died, and father is going to take care of us. She didn't want to be alone with him" Toru explained everything to us like it never mattered to him.
"Then why are you letting her stay with him," Nobuo asked.
"I don't want her to live in the streets," Toru said.
"What about at your house?" Pike joined in.
"No, he will find us and I could get sued" Toru sighed.
"Does it matter? You don't know how your father changed to be, he could hurt your sister" Pike told him.
"Why do you even care about her?" Toru growled at him.
"We all care for her, she risked her life to see you and you ignored her request" I joined in.
"How do I find her?" Toru gave in.
"She's probably taking the next bus stop to go home," Nobuo said. We all ran to the back door and passed Mrs. Cheryl's Office.

"Where are you going?" Mrs. Cheryl asked us as she peeked her head out towards us. "We're going to get Pike's sister," Pike said and with that, we all ran out of the building. Toru led the way and we all followed close behind him. The closest bus stop is about one-fourth of a mile away. I hope that we could catch her before the bus arrives.

We were just in time, Teresa was still waiting at the bus stop. "Teresa!" Nobuo yelled out to her. She quickly turned her head to look at us. By that time we have arrived at where she was at. "Is there something you forgot to tell me?" Teresa asked. "Yeah, how do you feel about living with me?" Toru asked her.
"What? Are you serious?" Teresa asked.
"Yeah, you can live with me as long as you like," Toru told her.
"That's great! Thank you" Teresa ran up and hugged her brother. Toru wasn't used to being hugged but he gently hugged her back.

"I get off around four, so you'll have to stay in the café," Toru told her.
"Okay," Teresa smiled.

When we got back, Mrs. Cheryl wanted everyone to get back to work even Teresa and Pike. They ended up being waiter/waitress and helped out around the dining room. Winnie was super helpful towards Teresa while no one really helped Pike. Caspian was teasing Pike about his uniform. Teresa worked really hard and did her best to help out everyone. Toru was also keeping a close eye on her just in case something happens. I am glad that Teresa was able to stay.