Just the three of us...

Chapter 2 Tag

"Tag! You're such a dick!"

I burst out laughing. Sam is stood in front of me with the bowl of raspberry coulis which was in his hands now smeared over his whites. I wasn't looking where I was going as usual and had bowled through the door into the canteen at the same time as him, knocking his elbow with the heavy doors. Sam shakes his head slowly at me, which just makes it more funny. I nearly loose the grip on the platter in my hands holding the carrot cake I'd just finished icing.  

"My bad Sammy! I'll clean it up in a second." he grimaces at me and stalks back to the kitchen. Fuck he's gonna let me have it later. I saunter over to the serving counter. Stood awkwardly with a plate piled high with food is a pretty girl I'd not seen before. I lean past her, getting a waft of her perfume, slightly cinnamon, and put the cake down next to her. 

"Gotta love a guy who can bake, huh?" I wink at her, and feel kinda bad as she mumbles back a response, her cheeks burning red. I chuckle nervously and go back over to the first red mess I'd made on the floor. I watch her stumble over to the furthest table from me and start tentatively eating. She's not my usual type, curvier and less covered in ink and metal, but she has a cute face. I smile as she studiously keeps her gaze towards her plate. She's short, kinda pocket sized, and Tiny Dancer pops into my head and I start whistling it without realizing. She doesn't look at me again so I finish loitering by the doors and go back to work. 

"Who was the newbie, Tag?" Sam grabs me in a headlock and messes my hair. I pull myself out of his grip and run my fingers through my hair, shrugging. "She look cute, but needs to learn to smile. Smiler, that's what we'll call her!"

I try to laugh along with him, but I think Sam's nickname for the brunette is kinda lame. 

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"Why the fuck did I agree to work a double fucking shift?!" I kick open the fire door and stomp outside. I stick a cigarette in my mouth and light it. Behind me Mel giggles.

"Because you're  pussy who won't say no to a pretty girl. I told you that once you started fucking around at work it would come back and bite you in the ass." She takes the cigarette from between my lips and takes a deep drag. "And we need the extra money this month to cover the massive electric bill."

I accept the cigarette back between my lips and take another deep drag, the smoke kinda hurting my lungs. I look round and see Kelly, the housekeeping manager, walking and talking animatedly with the shy brunette from lunch time. 

"Look at Kelly sinking her claws into the new girl. Sam's already named her Smiler." Mel snorts.

"Sammy is a douche." she looks the new girl up and down. "She looks boring as fuck."

As if she knows we're talking about her, the new girl looks at us. I smile and then realize she probably thinks I'm just smiling at Mel. We watch in silence as she walks over to a shitty grey Fiat 500. As she starts the engine the distinctive growl of Mudvayne cuts through the silence. Mel turns to me with wide eyes.

"What the hell! Maybe she isn't so boring..."

I grin quickly and stub out the end of my cigarette on the heel of my boot. 

"Well I hate to break up this party, but I suppose I should go cook some steaks for some suited twats." 

Mel yawns and stretches, her shirt riding up exposing the intricate Celtic tattoo which winds around her torso. We've been best friends for the last five years, since I left school at sixteen. She was only eighteen, looking for a flatmate. The dyke and the dork she liked to call us. We bonded over shitty child hood stories, booze, tattoos and heavy metal music. 

"Yeah, I guess I should go serve said twats with overpriced wine so they tip me well!"