Order up (For andrewgrey only)
 

In the early evening, the sky was already dark and the stars were starting to appear. Even the half moon was out. Most would stay in their homes for the days. Yet there were those who would want to take their families or loved ones out for a good time. There was a place to go in the crowded city to go. It was one of the hottest places to go. The name was Rhythm. It was a trendy restaurant that opened three years ago. At first it was place that got business from ear to ear, but now it was always busy. Some people book for a table days ahead due to the fact that they get full easily.

One of the workers, Kobi Clark. Age 19. Was a waiter and has been working at Rhythm for about two months. He had a slim body and stood at 6'3". Wearing the restaurant uniform. Back pants, black shirt and a white apron. His wavy carrot red hair was tied up in the back. At first he was a bit clumsy and messed up with the orders, but now things are lighten up for him, well for most part. He was going down some stairs. since it had two floors. He slipped and dropped some dishes onto the ground. He was a little stunned, but then got to work on cleaning the mess. "Aw, man. I'm so screwed."

As Kobi rushed to clean the mess, he heard the doors at the top of the stairs leading to the dining area opening. A waiter had started to come down the steps, and he knew if he were caught messing up again, he would get another earful from his boss. He had the choice of either going back to the kitchen without cleaning up, asking for another plate of the same thing, then dealing with the mess after serving, or cleaning up and being seen by his co-worker just around the corner.

He looks up and sees another worker of the restaurant. He knew that he was a little clumsy as well. He smiled and waved to him. "Hey, another busy night huh?' he asked in a friendly manner. "I swear they need to pay us more." he joked and chuckled a little. Not paying attention to what he was going. He cut himself on a piece of glass. "Ouch!" he hissed in pain ans starts sucking on the index finger to get rid of the blood.

His co-worker laughed softly and knelt beside him, putting down his tray stacked with used dishes beside him. "You need to be more careful. You're lucky it was only me coming down here." He told him, wrapping a napkin around Kobi's finger. "I can order another serving of whatever you dropped if you don't want to be yelled at?" He suggested. Tim Johnson was like that, always going out of his way to help others. He was an inch or so shorter than Kobi, a bit more built, and always calm. His short dark brown hair was usually perfectly kept, but today he had a small cowlick in the back.

He had already started to pick up the broken glass and wasted food for Kobi.

Kobi blushed a little when he wrapped his cut with a napkin. He always liked Tim, but lately he was starting to feel more for him. He couldn't understand why though. "It's okay. I can handle this." he said with a smile on his face. "But you are right. I am glad it was you and not the boss. He had my head for sure." he said and laughed. Then he pulls a band-aid from his pocket. After working here, he learned to always carry some. Wrapping it around his finger. Then goes back to picking up the broken pieces.

Tim kept his smile, and when they had finished cleaning up the mess, Tim told him to wait there and went into the kitchen. He could hear him ordering the meal Kobi had ruined. When the food was done and neatly plated, Tim came back and switched trays with Kobi, "Don't trip this time, okay? And apologize to the customer for the wait." He advised, taking off his apron. "My shift is done now, so be extra careful."

He smiled when he came back with the food that he messed up the first time. "Thank you so much." he said with a smile. He listen to him telling him that he should say sorry for his mistake. He nodded his head. "Yes, sir" he said in a friendly voice. When he told him that his shift was over. He went up to him. "Hey wait a sec." he said. "If you are not busy tomorrow. I'll by you a meal. As a way to thank you." he said happily.

Tim smiled more, folding his apron and hanging it on his arm, "Yes... I'd like that, thank you." He turned to walk downstairs to exit, and when he had the door open, he looked back up, "Oh, I get off of work at five tomorrow, so I'll pick you up then. Is that a good time?"

He nodded his head. "Yeah. That's a good time." he said. "Oh, I better get going now. Bye." he said happily and goes to the table who order the food. Telling them what happen and that he was deeply sorry for it.

The family at the table was sweet about it and still tipped him when they were done. At around ten, Kobi's shift ends. When he was putting his work apron away, he sees his boss headed straight for him.

Kobi couldn't wait to get home to his small apartment on the other side of the city. When he took off his apron. He sees his boss, He tensed up a little. Never a good sign if he was walking up. But he still puts on a smile and waves to him. "Evening boss. I just heading off now." he said in a friendly manner.

His boss, Ezekiel Dann, stops in front of him and crosses his arms "I heard you messed up today. One of the chefs told me that Tim was covering up for you again." Ezekiel was always intimidating, even when he was trying to be friendly. Of course, right now he wasn't the least bit friendly, which made him even more terrifying. He ran his fingers through his dirty blond hair, "I told you before, you can't rely on Tim forever."

I Know. I am really, really sorry sir." he said and lowered his head to his boss. His boss always scared him. But he could understand why. With this places always packed. It tends to get a little stress around here and he was the owner. If this business were to sink, he would loose a lot of money. "I won't screw up again. I promise you." he told him.

Ezekiel sighed a little, "Just try not to mess up too much." He ran his fingers through his hair again, "Oh, and you know you're off tomorrow right? I just don't want you to forget. You've been working too much lately." He turns to leave. "Oh, and I was serious about you not being able to rely on Tim for forever. He's being transferred the day after tomorrow. "

Kobi smiled when Ezekiel said that he's working to hard. "I don't mind the work sir." he said with a smile, but that soon vanished. He tensed up to hear the news that he was leaving the restaurant the day after tomorrow. "What? Why?" he asked. With a sad look on his face. Was Tim really going to leave Rhythm? "What do you mean he's getting transferred?"

"The place is getting so cramped and in demand that I have decided to build another Rhythm a few cities over. I've promoted Tim to be the manager of that restaurant, and it'll be up and running the day after tomorrow. He won't be working here anymore." Ezekiel looks proud of himself, and he opens the door to exit, "I'll be seeing you later then. "

When his boss left. He pressed his back against the locker and slide onto the ground. Why was this upsetting him so much? He didn't understand. Sure it means that the business was doing well, but to never see Tim again. He felt a sharp pain in his chest. Kobi gathered his things and quickly left the place. "He leaving...and he didn't even tell me?! I thought we were friends." he said looking upset and angry.

He knows where Tim lives, he can drop by and ask him about it. But does he really want to see him right now? Would Tim be awake? Tim's condo is only ten minutes away by taxi, and from there he could walk home, it'd only take five minutes more.

Kobi wanted to get to the bottom of it so he did goes to Tim's place. When he reached the door. He at first didn't knock. For he feared that he was asleep. But he really wanted to know. So he starts knocking on the door gently. But as time went on, he knocks harder.

When he's almost banging on the door, Tim finally opens up, clad only in grey sweatpants. He looked groggy and tired, but smiled when he saw it was Kobi. "Afternoon.... Is something wrong? It's... Almost eleven..."

He looks at Tim with a sad look on his face. "I heard what's happening. Why didn't you told me that you were going to leave?" he asked sounding upset. "I mean...aren't we friends?"

Tim frowns a little and sighs "I was going to, but whenever I started talking to you, I completely forgot about it.... Please don't be mad?"

He looked down for a moment and then looks right back up smiling. "Well I'm a little tick that you didn't tell me, but things happen. But hey, you are moving up. Manager for the new place. That's so cool." he said trying his best to sound happy for him. But his heart wouldn't stop hurting. "Sorry to have bother you so late at night. I'll see you to tomorrow." he said with a smile and starts making his leave.

He smiles a little, "Yes, thank you... It's okay." He taps the door a little, then says "Uh... Kobi? Do you... want something to drink?"

He stopped when offered a drink. He took a moment to think. "Well...I am a little thirsty. Sure." he said with a smile. "Thanks."

He smiles a little and lets him in, "What do you want? Coffee? Beer?" He leads him to the kitchen and gets a couple of cups.

"I'll take coffee." he told him. Sitting down on the couch and looks at the ceiling. "You got a nice place here. Wouldn't you miss this?" he asked.

He smiles and nods, starting the coffee machine, "I already found somewhere in the other city, though. I've moved all the important things down there, even my bed. Everything in here, I'm selling." When the coffee is done, he pours them both some and adds sugar and creamer, then brings it to him, giving him the cup as if he were still working.

He takes the cup. "Thanks." He said. So all that's left...is going somewhere else. He stares down at the dark liquid in his glass with a sad expression on his face.

Tim notices and frowns a little, " This place is pretty nice, maybe you should move in here. It's bigger than your apartment." He smiles a little. Tim has only been over at Kobi's house once.

He lightly chuckled. "Please. I could barely pay for my place now. There's no way I could more in here." he said with a smile and laughed. But the main reason as to why he wouldn't move in here was because it would remind him to much of Tim. "But I am happy for you man. It means that Ezekiel really trusts you and you'll get a bigger pay." he said happily. Taking a sip of the coffee.

He nods a little "So I can pay for you to live here!" He smiles a little and takes a sip of his coffee, and when he lowers the cup, he isn't smiling. "You'll still say no, though, huh?" He sighs a little, "I think I'll miss you the most."

"You be right. It wouldn't be right if I stay here while you pay. I am an adult and I should pay to live on my own." he told him with a smile. Taking another sip of the coffee. Then he tensed up when he said that he would miss him the most. For a second there. He could of sworn he felt his heart stop beating. Then he lightly chuckled. "It's not like we won;t see each other again...right?" he asked. "You will come on by and visit right. You know the others at work. You have my cell number and can call me anytime." he told him with a small smile on his face.

He smiles "Yeah, I guess you're right. I just won't be able to see you every day...." He sighs a little, "It's getting late... do you need a ride home?"

He shook his head no and gulped down the remaining of his coffee. "I'm good. I'll just walk home. It can't be that far right?" he asked. Then there was a loud crackle. For all of a sudden, it was starting to pour outside. "Oh, it's raining. Well I better get going." he said. "I need to beat the rain or I'll get a cold." he said in a joking way and heads to the door.

He frowns and stops him "W-wait! Stay for the night, it'll be better! Then you won't have to worry, and we'll be able to hang out more right?" He smiles weakly, and Kobi can tell he really wants him to stay.

His face was cherry red and felt like his heart was going to jump out. He smiled and nods his head. "Sure. Thank you for taking me in." he said with a smile on his face.

he smiles and says "I'll get you a blanket and a pillow. Um... I only have a mattress to sleep on... I'll set it up for you, okay?"

"That's okay. Just a pillow and blanket would be fine. I don't mind sleeping on the floor." he told him.

"No way, you're sleeping on the mattress." He chuckles out, setting up the bed for him. "Now go lay down. I'll sleep out here."