The Beauty & The Beast

Chapter Four- Wow Can I Please Have Your Hand Forever?

Chapter Four

When I was a kid, I used to picture myself as the owner of a sophisticated yet comfy restaurant. I would take out my plastic kitchen and plastic cutlery and place it nicely on a table where several plastic dishes would be served. Since my mom and dad were the customers, I always received such good critics. I felt like a professional who could handle everything perfectly, I felt like I was in control.

That is not how I feel now.

"THE BEANS ARE ON FIRE. I REPEAT, ON FIRE." The high screeching of Cecily, one of the waitresses, vibrated within the whole kitchen causing half of the staff to clinch in agony.

I let my eyelids fall together in an attempt to cool myself down. Things are just not going the way they should. Dad left this morning to Chicago for my step- sister's graduation, so he decided to leave me in charge of the restaurant. At first, I thought it was a big opportunity for me to show my dad how responsible I am and how I was born to do this; I thought he meant I would watch over the employees to make sure everything was going all right. Of course I forgot that 'take my place' means literally taking my dad's place as in chef/ supervisor and two minutes ago, waitress. Carol had just call to announce she is going to labor and won't be able to make it today which meant that I had to take her place. To add a bit of pressure, the place was full.

Not to mention the fact that last night's accident had been playing over and over again in my mind. I knew this time I was in trouble, very serious trouble and I couldn't help but wonder what would my parents do this time. I highly doubt that they will trust me again. Last year, I had gotten myself into a diet that I found on the internet which was basically counting the calories I ate. I narrowed the amount of calories that I had to consume daily abusing myself with constant starvation. Because I had been depriving myself too much, one day I freaked out and ate more than what a normal hungry person would swallow, this habit went on and on until my parents noticed and my mom being a doctor who constantly deals with such cases instantly knew that I was suffering from an eating disorder known as BED( Binge Eating Disorder) which is basically stuffing yourself after an over deprivation but the difference with Bulimia is that I didn't throw up or excessively worked out afterwards. I promised my parents that I would start healthy eating habits without the need of a therapist because I admitted my mistake and I was truly sorry about the harm I had done to my body. They gave me their trust but now I don't think I earned more than a good amount of scolding.

"I knew we shouldn't have trusted her." I heard Luke comment. When I laid my gaze over him, he was peacefully scrambling eggs.

It took me a lot of self control to utter the next statement without screaming, "Luke, those were your beans."

He continued to add salt and without looking at me he replied calmly, "Bella, sweetie. I told you to watch over them, remember?"

My grip on the edge of the stove tightened forcefully. "Ah, sorry but I was busy giving everyone instructions while FRYING THE STEAKS!!" My voice already getting louder.

He rolled his eyes at me. I can't believe it, he actually rolled his eyes! How dare he? All he has been doing is cooking and cooking. As simple as that, I have been cooking and supervising and taking orders AND serving. "Such a drama queen." He huffed.

I was astounded. "Drama, drama-" I gave him a disbelieving look unable to asses his insult, "me? You better-" I was cut short by one of the chefs, Mark, who simply pulled me backwards in another direction. "Bells, don't listen to him okay? Remember that he could have a hole swallowing everything and everyone around him and he wouldn't notice. He is just like your dad, so be patient."

I nodded. "I know and I'm sorry. It's just that -" I never got to finish the sentence because Cecily appeared by the doors barely peering inside. "Bella, table four is asking for their desert."