note: a short, multi-chap story so i'll be able to finish it fast. some foul language, be warned. inspired by Gavin Degraw's Not Over You, and featuring, of course, our favorite pair with a decent, happyish ending this time
She paused in front of the mirror and studied her appearance.
White, collared top, black skirt, a spotless white apron, black pantyhose and black, mid-calve high boots. She tightened the elastic band holding her long hair in a high ponytail. All in all, a nice work uniform.
She grinned to herself.
She was hot and she knew it, now it was time to play her cards right so that she could reel in the high tippers and the handsome admirers. She skipped out the employee locker room in the direction of the kitchen.
"Hey! Ready for another day of work?" A small brunette girl dressed in nearly the same attire as herself began walking alongside of her.
"Yeah, as good as it's gonna get, right?" She replied with a slight smile.
The petite brunette grinned. "Nop! The day gets better, especially for you!"
She glanced quizzically at her coworker. "Why?"
The girl leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Mr. Sexy is back."
Her walking ceased.
"What?"
"He's back again today!" The girl's big brown eyes sparkled with happiness. "He's back, he's sitting at the same table, your table and he's still alone. Mr. Sexy's baaack!" The girl danced her way out of the kitchen toward the dining area where the tables were. She followed with shaky legs and tingling fingers.
He's back.
That made five consecutive days he had visited her restaurant, sat in one of her tables, and how her coworker so gleefully pointed out: alone.
She pushed the swinging door of the kitchen, allowing her eyes to skim the crowd, searching for that head of silky dark black-nearly-blue locks, that strong pair of shoulders hidden beneath a sleek, elegant suit, those deep, black eyes that glance at her dismissively exactly twice during each of his visits: once at the beginning, the last when she delivers his bill. His bill which is always the same six dollars with fifty-eight cents for a medium cup of black coffee no sugar, and a large slice of chocolate strawberry pie with chocolate whipped cream on top -a strange choice for someone like him- which he never ends up eating.
Her eyes fell on that familiar figure.
There he was. That beautiful man that had enchanted her from the first moment she had seen him. Just as her friend had stated, he was sitting at her table, wearing a suit that made his devilishly handsome features more pronounced and reading the menu as if he would order anything new. His lovely face was smooth and expressionless as he sat there alone, ignoring the stares of the women all around him. She heard more of her female coworkers squealing when they caught sight of him. The man was a dark angel, a gift to all womankind and some men. Anyone with eyes could see that.
"I don't see what you women see in him." The main chef, Suigetsu, a man she cared for but at the same time despised, stuck his head out of the kitchen door. His sharp teeth showed as his upper lip curled into an awful sneer. "The guy looks like a prissy mama's boy. And why the hell does he ask for a table for two when he's obviously eatin' alone?"
Another coworker, this time a blond spoke up. "It's clear he wants one of us to join him!" She placed her hands on her hips and smirked at Suigetsu. He leered back at her in a challenge.
"Now, now people. Stop contemplating bothering this man and get back to work." Their manager, Jugo appeared from the storage room. He directed his dark gaze at the group of female servers. "I don't want any of you approaching the man while on the job unless it's for business purposes only, understood?"
Everyone within a ten feet premises gulped, even she did. Their boss, Jugo, was scary when angered. That was the only unspoken rule among the workers of The Spotted Sparrow: never piss off the Boss if you value being among the living.
The servers all scrambled to their respective tables after Jugo's non-threatening threat. She carefully straightened her flawless uniform, took a deep breath and slowly made her way toward him.
She stopped at his table, standing in front of him for a few seconds before finally saying her introduction. "Hello! And welcome to-"
He raised a hand, silencing her.
He closed the menu and placed it neatly on the brown table cloth. "I'll have the usual."
She stood with her mouth still attempting to form words. His voice was amazing and he had spoken different words to her, an actual sentence, than his usual 'coffee, black and a chocolate strawberry pie'. She watched him massage his temple as his right elbow rested on the table. He appeared exhausted.
"Did you not understand my order? Or do you just enjoy standing there with your mouth hanging by it's hinges?"
He spoke again! God, she could just melt into his mouth.
Without glancing at her, he growled. His hand stopped messaging his temple and landed on top of his closed eyes. "Are you stupid? I've been coming here for five days and you don't know what I always order?"
"Ah- Yes! I'll get your order!" She quickly made her way back to the kitchen. If she wasn't so moved by interacting with such a handsome being, she would have been upset.
Her prince charming was very rude. She liked him better when he didn't speak.
"Ha, ha." She heard someone clapping when she stomped into the kitchen. "I saw it all, Big Red." Suigetsu was leaning against his counter, like always, grinning at her misfortune. "That was the most pathetic shot down I've ever seen."
"Shut the hell up, fish freak," she replied clenching her fists. "He didn't shot me down because I never asked him out."
He pushed himself off the counter and slithered over to her. "Yeah, but he made sure that your little love boat crashed and burned." He tapped his chin with his index finger then sneered at her. "Or that it burst into flames before it even sailed from the dock."
She had the urge to pummel the man but held back when Jugo passed by with a suspicious glance sent her way. Instead, she drew closer to him and shoved her finger into his face. "Listen to me, Suigetsu," she growled lowly so no one else heard, "there's a reason why he chooses to sit in my section, okay. And I'm willing to bet that it has nothing to do with your cooking." With that she turned and began walking away, but Suigetsu's voice stopped her.
"Yo, Karin, here, the prissy's order."
She turned around just in time to catch the hot pie sliding across the smooth metal surface of the table. She raised an eyebrow. "You had it ready?"
He ignored her and went back to attending some food on his grill. It appeared that he was done, but just as she was about to leave, he spoke again. "The reason why the dude comes here might not be the reason you think, Karin." He caught her red gaze. "Don't fool yourself into believing in something that can't happen."
Her expression turned hard and angry. What the fuck is that supposed to mean? "Fuck you, Suigetsu."
She gave the chef her middle finger as she kicked the kitchen door open and left frowning when a knowing grin spread across his face.
as told by: Karin
uh, yeah, this story is in karin's POV