My Chemical One-shot

Every Cloud has its Silver Eyeliner (Part 2)

     After an incredibly long, boring day at work, I had to pick up an equally long and boring shift at the bar. Manny, the owner of Beerhub, has been looking at me funnily all night. He keeps trying to cut my shifts and give them to the other waitresses. I know he wants me gone for the boneheaded, albeit prettier, girls to bring in more cash. And I take massive issue with that. I give the bartender, Jacqueline, an order for six Coronas. 

"Hey, do you think Manny is going to try and fire me tonight?" I leaned over the bar while glancing at him. Manny was leaned against a dark paneled wall, temporarily distracted by the arrival of an old friend. Jacqueline shrugged at me and grabbed the alcohol.

"I don't know, I didn't think Manny would ever fire you. You're totally cool, it's unfair! Maybe if I tell him you're my friend, he'll reconsider" Jacqueline playfully remarked. She is just one of those people who can make a smart aleck comment at anything and you just love her for it. 

"Well, if you're willing to go on strike for me..."

Jacqueline laughed a little too loud at my remark and caught the attention of Manny, whose friend had already left. He began his march over to the bar. I took the tray of beers and hurried over to the table to avoid any confrontation, casting Jacqueline an apologetic glance. Manny had the eyes of someone ready to complain about anything and everything in his sight. And she'd be facing the brunt of it. 

"Hey, what was the hold up for a few beers? It's not like you had to do anything but grab them out of the fridge."

I turned around to look at the annoyed customer. Beerhub attracted almost solely this type of patron. Generally impatient, loud, and surly. I would have loved to tell him off about how his "wait" was no longer than a couple minutes, Manny was staring at me fixatedly, watching to see how I'd handle the situation. I calmly smiled and apologized, doing my best not to make any smart comebacks.

"Gosh, you don't need to apologize, just stop gabbing with your friend back there. Agh, women," he creaked out, looking at his equally old and creepy friends for some form of agreement. They were all smirking, taking in the supposed entertainment of giving a server a hard time. "They just don't know when to shut their pretty little mouths and start working."

My face got red with anger as I gripped the tray so tightly that my knuckles were white. I desperately looked back at Manny, pleading for permission to bash the customer's skull in. Manny conveniently had his back towards me, but I could see him shaking his head. The men continued to jeer at me. 

"Well, gentleman, I'd say you should let the lady go on this one, alright?" A familiar voice echoed behind me.

I turned around to see a flash of red. Gerard? He winked at me, his hazel eyes almost paralyzing me. Oh right, I forgot- he's dazzlingly hot. But how the hell did he get here? Almost immediately answering my question, Ethan popped out from behind him. The men at the table grumbled and waved us off, sparing me from using anymore energy to keep my anger down and saving the aggressor's skull from losing its shape. I quickly pulled Gerard and Ethan over to a table to avoid pissing Manny off any further.." 

"What are you doing here, Ethan?" I whispered, glancing around. I carefully ignored confronting Gerard, whose face and voice reminded me of that awkward altercation we shared earlier in the day. It made me uncomfortable to even think about it. Ethan didn't seem to pick up on it, because he talked as if Gerard's presence was that of an old friend. 

"We came to see what your workplace is like, obviously. I couldn't help but feel bad when we were talking this morning. I just wanted to help, you know, see if there was anything that I could do."

     I chuckled at his good-natured reply. "Well, you could get me plastic surgery so I'd get more tips." Ethan feigned shock and clutched at his heart. Before he could come back with a reply about how 'gorgeous' I am, I suggested he just order drinks. Manny could care less if I got any tips. He just wanted more business for himself. Ethan obliged and ordered a round for Gerard and himself. I smirked to myself. Manny would not have good reason to come and confront me today when I just brought in new customers. 

     Ethan had really low tolerance for alcohol, it seemed. After 2 bottles, he was already displaying the traits of a completely blasted high schooler. Gerard looked relatively level-headed as he listened to Ethan's slurred monologue about how he was going to make it big in L.A. and how the producers were 'sleeping' on his talent. I came over with a bill, staring bemusedly at Ethan, never seeing my usually chipper friend in this state. 

"This guy is in a desperate need of an Uber and a better role," Gerard said, trying to crack a joke. 

"He really just needs someone to listen to him. Life as a movie extra is lonely."

"L.A. is lonely. Even with all the glamour, galas, and, uh, plastic surgery." Gerard smirked up at me. I scowled in return, fueling Gerard's teasing.

"See, that's your problem. You get mad and angry so quickly. I think your customers pick up on that cynic attitude of yours, and they don't like it."

I crossed my arms, imploring, or rather, daring,  him to find another fault in my personality with the sharpest glare I could muster. Instead of continuing his harassment, Gerard dialed back on his tone.

"You don't need plastic surgery to smile every once in a while. Sometimes, that makes all the difference. And I wouldn't say yours is too bad."

Gerard helped Ethan out of his chair and left Beerhub, leaving me to try and make sense of the sudden switch from insult to compliment. I really hope that temp is gone by tomorrow. 

A/N:Holy shit, I've been gone for forever. I've been really hesitant to come back and write because of just how long I've taken a break. But, I found that I really wanted to write again. And I think that's just what I'm going to do: write when I feel like it. I guess if anyone still reads this I would be happy, but I'm coming back to wattpad with the idea of doing things for myself instead of stressing about the amount of readers I may or may not have. Thank you guys~ animebabe15