A/N: Thanks for reading, and if anything doesn't make sense, or you didn't like something, or you just wanna say hi…review!! I love making new friends here. And if you read this, write "Flamingos and Spatulas define awesomeness!" in your review…hahah, I just want to see how many people bother to read Author Notes. Anyways...enjoy!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Pshh, if I did, SasuSaku would of happened AGES ago.--JayleeJade (JayleeJ)
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The Tart Tomato
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Name: Haruno Sakura.
Date: I think it's the First of September.
Age: 17.
Sex: Like there's a boy named Sakura.
Place of Residence: 57 Blaze Ln, Konoha, Fire Village.
Preferred Hours: Anything is fine with me, but I can't work during school of course.
Preferred Salary: 100,000 grand. But since I don't see that happening any time soon, 8.50 an hour works.
Strong Points?: Determined. Hard working. And polite I guess.
Weak points?: I do tend to crack under pressure.
Place of Previous Employment: Uh…I babysat once?
Sign here:
Haruno Sakura.
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Employer: Hired/Release
Hired.
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"Ok. Opening night is predicted to be a huge success, so everyone, for the sake of everything humane, don't screw up. This is what we've been training for folks." said the manager, staring down all the nervous teenagers in the kitchen. Most of them 17, give or take a few years, about all of them first time workers. He rolled his eyes in annoyance at their adolescent fidgeting. Time to grow up kids; this was the real world now. Once no one said anything he continued.
"Alright, listen up for assignments." He unclipped the papers from the clipboard and cleared his throat.
"Tenten…….Tables!"
"Sai…….Kitchen!"
"Haruno…….Tables!"
"Hyuuga…….Kitchen!"
"Yagami…….Register!"
"Yamanaka...Clean up!"
"Echizen…….Seater!"
…and so on…
"Our doors open in 30 minutes, so be prepared." said the manager, writing furiously on his clipboard. He continued without looking up. "Waiters and waitresses, change into proper attire. The ones in the kitchen should start sterilizing and pre-heating the ovens. And someone broom around this place..." He paused. About thirteen people left the group and started bustling around to get ready. The manager looked intently at the ones who remained.
"Yamanaka, wipe down the tables one last time, and Yagami, go switch the register on, since it takes a while to load properly. Echizen, was it? Yeah, make sure you know the seating placements." They all nodded and left.
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"We look like were asking for it." said a girl with buns in her hair. Sakura straightened her tie in the bathroom mirror.
"Ha. I know. Ridiculous right?" She turned to face the girl. "I'm Sakura by the way." They both were wearing midnight blue skirts, complete with a vest, tie, bow, a white shirt and knee high socks. Some would say it was cute while others would call it boarder-line raunchy. Either way, no matter what her job required her to wear, a job was a job, and the revenue that came with it was enough compensation. The girl with buns smiled at her.
"I'm Tenten. Nice to meet you!" Tenten stuck out her hand and Sakura shook it, smiling politely. "It'd suck not to have someone to talk to during work. Mainly since the--". The bathroom door opened and four more people walked in. Tenten's eyes narrowed. The girl in front with the heaviest makeup of all, glared, if not with more intensity, right back. Sakura fidgeted uncomfortably. What ever history these ladies had together wasn't pretty and she sure as hell didn't want to be apart of it. She leaned over to Tenten's ear.
"Do you know them or something?" whispered Sakura, confused. Tenten tore her eyes from the girl.
"Tell you later. Lets go." Sakura's new bun-haired friend took her by the hand and steered her out the restroom.
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"Ugh. Ami makes me sick." spat Tenten, walking briskly, finally letting go of Sakura. The pink-haired employee had to do a half-jog just to keep up with her.
"Who? That girl back there?"
"Mhmm, her. " confirmed Tentenm crossing her arms. "Ami. She goes to Konoha High with me; she's head cheerleader, prom queen, wronged all of my friends and is an overall bitch. You can't possibly tell me you haven't seen her around school before...Actually..." Tenten frowned at Sakura. "Do you even go to Konoha High? I think I would of noticed someone there with pink hair." Sakura smiled.
"I've been home-schooled. But this year my parents are letting me go to public! Make some new frien--"
"STAFF! YOU HAVE THIRTY SECONDS UNTIL OPENING! I REPEAT, THIRTY SECONDS TIL OPENING!!" yelled the manager through a megaphone. Sakura had a mild heart attack and sighed. Was the megaphone really necessary?
"Better get prepared." stated Sakura, straightening a wrinkle in her skirt. Tenten sighed heavily.
"Let's just get this night over with…"
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It was ten minutes until midnight, and customers were still steady flowing in. At the Midnight Pastry, once the clock strikes twelve, the lights shut off, and glow lights from underneath tables, on the floor and around the walls turn on for the last hour of opening.
Sakura found herself excited for the 12:00 mark. It would make the cafe that much cooler, almost like a calm nightclub. But there probably wouldn't be time to enjoy it, at midnight is when the Midnight Pastry would be the busiest of all. Sakura gently placed an order of biscotti's on table nine, sighing at the though of even more people coming in. She saw a girl with familiar looking buns by the drink foutain and rushed to catch up with her.
"Tenten!"
Tenten turned around and smiled. "Hey!" She stopped filling up beverage orders to talk to her properly.
"How's your night been so far Sakura?" Sakura smiled as well.
"Busy. But worth it though, I got some nice tips. How 'bout you?" Tenten beamed.
"The best! This old lady left a fifty dollar bill as tip instead of a five! " Sakura punched her shoulder teasingly.
"You serious? I never get lucky like that!" she said with mock jealously. Tenten smirked.
"Ha. I'm sure you'll get your chance--Ooooh! Long-haired hottie, nine o'clock!"
"What! Where?" cried Sakura. By the time she found him, Tenten was already seating his table.
Talk about fast moving.
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"Haruno. I've just seated someone at table seven. He looks pissed, so try not to get on his nerves." reported Echizen. Sakura raised her eyebrows.
"Thanks for the warning Ryoma-kun." He just shrugged and opened another Ponta soda can. Sakura put her hair in a ponytail and made her way over there.
……
……
Oh My God.
…..
…..
Oh My God.
She just stood there, staring at him. His raven black hair fell perfectly in every angle around his face, and the moonlight positioned on his profile beautifully. The gentleman frowned. Ugh. Women and their annoying antics, ogling all the time like that. Why couldn't they go on with life without gawking at him like psychos?
"Can you just take my order?" he said exasperatedly, but with a cold snap. Sakura blushed. The glass grandfather clock began to chime, and everyone started cheering.
"What's going on?" he asked, clearly puzzled. Sakura blushed deepened as soon as he looked at her. He rolled his eyes.
"At 12 midnight, the--" Everything went dark for a second, and another moment later, objects in the café illuminated with different colored lights. The customers 'ooohed' and 'ahhhed'.
"…lights go off. Anyways, hi, I'm Sakura and I'll be your server this evening. ...What can I start you off with?" He looked at her again and she felt her heart jump. She opened her little notebook and clicked her pen about nine times, distracted. Sakura took a deep breath, trying to get herself together. This wasn't the time to get all fan-girly over one (incredibly) hot guy.
"Water with lemon will suffice." he said, monotone. Sakura wrote it down quickly and scurried off, thinking the sooner her got the order the more pleased he'd be. She walked up to the waiter booth.
"Hey! I need one water with lemon…kinda important!" she added. The people behind the counter gave her an inquiring look. Why would water be urgent? Nevertheless, she got the fancy glass on small plate, riddled with designs almost immediately. She walked back over to table seven.
"Here you go!" she said cheerfully, placing the glass on the table. The teen mumbled a 'thanks' and Sakura tried to give one of her most warming smiles. What was up with this guy? He acted like a pole was shoved somewhere really unpleasant. Nevertheless, his emo-attitude didn't deter her joyful exterior.
"Umm. Do you know what you'd like to order?" The raven haired customer closed his menu.
"Do you have anything with...tomatoes?" Sakura raised an eyebrow. This was a pastry cafe, not a soup eatery.
"Err…not that I know of--"
"Then…check please." Sakura eyes widened.
"Matte! Don't leave yet! I'm sure we can find something…I'll be back in a few minutes. Stay here." He gave her a 'this-better-be-worth-my time' look and huffed. She shrugged it off, and walked right though the large kitchen double-doors. The head chef approached her instantly.
"What're 'zu doing n' here? Get back tu 'ze tables!" he yelled. Sakura gave him an apologetic look. Sorry, but pleasing a hot guy came before pissing off an ugly chef any day.
"I know. I'm really sorry about this. I swear I'll be quick!" She ran off towards the enormous refrigerator in the kitchen without waiting for a retort from the cook.
…Apples…no.
…Play-doh…no. Wait, why is Play-doh in here? Who cares, never mind.
…Pineapples…no.
…Eggs…no.
…Plums….no! Sakura shut the door, irritated.
"Errrmm, would you happen to have any…tomatoes lying around?" The kitchen staff gave her a look that plainly questioned her sanity. But one of the chef's pupil-less eyes brightened. (is that possible? 0.0)
"I-i do!" She took two red tomatoes from her deep pockets. 'I p-picked s-some up b-before opening. Their s-skin makes f-for beautiful p-plate decoration. Here!" She tossed them to Sakura. Sakura grinned as she caught them smoothly.
"Thank you so much! I really appreciate it." Sakura rushed to the nearest counter with knives and cut them up. She sprinkled sugar and cinnamon, and a tiny bit of honey over the pieces. She put them on a plate from the dish drying rack and decorated it with little shreds of tomato skin, and basil. Sakura stood back to admire her work, deciding it care up to par.
"This will be good enough…hopefully…" She walked out without giving any explanation, and strolled straight back over to table seven. Sakura placed the plate down. Her customer gave her a quick look and started to eat his custom-made meal. Sakura stood there, waiting for feedback.
"Do you... need something?" he asked, irked at her presence. He got his food, so why the hell was she still here?
"Oh…umm, well do you like it? I made it especially." Sakura blushed, but ignored it. He picked up his fork and took another bite.
"It's fine." Sakura let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. He took another bite and his eyes widened.
"Is there something wrong?"she asked, alarmed. He glared at her and pulled a long, tickle-me-pink, strand of hair out of his mouth.
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A/N:Yay! And I think I'll end it right there! Anyways, I'll update as fast as I can!
Oh and…who knows who Echizen is? And I included someone else, (not sai or ami) from a different anime as well. Can you find him?
Clue: Don't tell him your name!
And Thanks For Reading!
--JayleeJ