Last update: July 13th. Well...*clears throat*...that's awkward.
I don't really have anything else to say other than life got in the way? I've been busy? Uni has been crazy and then it was summer and before I knew it, a whole new semester was starting again?
The only thing I'm certain I really, really want to say is that I'm sorry for this ridiculously long hiatus. Like, humongously sorry.
Truth is, lately, I've been cheating on Naomily with Brittana. (Wait up; awesome mental images coming my way. Just kidding you guys...Or am I?) So yeah. I've been struck by all the awesomeness that is lesbians in cheerleaders outfits. And trust me, it's kinda powerful.
But now, I'm back. Dun, dun, dun. (Me? Over dramatic?) I just felt the need to continue this story. I actually realized how much I missed writing. Plus, I kept receiving reviews from people urging me to stop being a lazy bitch or they would go all Lima Heights on me. Not their exact words. I just read between the lines.
ANYWAY. Here I am. Thanks to all of you that are still there and please, please, PWWEEEEASE, forgive me? A second chance would make my day. Hell, it would make my whole month. A hug too but eh, I won't push my luck. (I bet you really just want to slap me. Which is understandable. I earned it.)
For the new readers well, welcome m'dears!
Ok, here goes nothing. Let this story begins...again.
I wake up with a start, the sound of my Blackberry lightly vibrating on my bedside table pulling me out from another night of restless sleep. Apparently, the new meds are not doing a better job than the ones before. Great.
Sighing, I take off my silky sleep mask, carelessly throwing it aside as I get out of bed. Immediately, Karenina appears at my feet, purring loudly as she looks at me with her big brown eyes, clearly indicating me that it's time for her breakfast.
I chuckle, scooping her up into my arms and head towards the kitchen, grabbing my Blackberry on my way out.
"Jesus, someone's getting heavy..." I mumble, earning a somewhat disapproving look from Karenina.
After I've given her her food, I sit on one of the stools at the kitchen island, checking my messages as I wait for my cappuccino to be ready.
It's a beautiful day and with my ceiling to floor windows, I love how I get all the morning sun. It fills the apartment with something that's not stainless steel or cream coloured couches. Even if it's just light.
I scroll down the small screen; nothing interesting except a couple of e-mails from Richard and Freddie. Needless to say the later hasn't been particularly pleased with my decision to work for a week at The Bengal Tiger but as usual, with a little bit of carefully placed arguments and a lot of cleavage showing and hand touching, I succeeded in making my point.
What point exactly? I honestly don't know. Fuck knows why I said yes to Campbell's ridiculous proposition but for now, I might as well go with it.
I stretch my arms up in the air, yawning.
She told me she wanted me at the restaurant at nine which leaves me one hour to get ready and find a cab to get me to practically the other side of the island.
After a hot shower, I settle on a pair of skinny jeans and an old deep blue cashmere, putting my hair in a high ponytail. I have no clue on how to dress to work in a restaurant but I figure this we'll do.
I put on my leather jacket and a big grey pashmina around my neck, dropping a quick kiss to Karenina's head as I make my way out of the apartment.
"Miss Fitch?
I turn around only to come face to face with a middle-aged woman, uncertain smile floating on her lips.
I eye her, bitch face firmly in place. It's usually my default reaction to new people. "And you are?"
"I'm the new maid..." She trails off, apparently intimidated by my attitude.
"Oh yes. Well, don't break anything and we'll stay on good terms."
She nods quickly and I give her a pointed look before making my way to the elevator.
Let another day begin.
When I exit the building, the cold wind hits my face and I tighten my jacket around me, thankful I can grab a cab and won't have to walk.
Just as the previous times I've been here, The Bengal Tiger is empty when I enter and still, a delicious smell is floating around the place.
This time though, I don't even have time to take off my jacket before Naomi comes out of the kitchen, the faint sound of music briefly seeping through the opened doors.
She's sporting a black t-shirt with the same ripped jeans I've already seen her with, along with a red apron tied around her hips and her apparently eternal bangles. Her tattoos are on full display; I can discern what looks like a tree and something colourful on her biceps before I bring my eyes back to her face.
Her blond hair is loose, fringe braided and pinned to the side of her head.
"Right on time!" Naomi smiles when she sees me; her oddly disarming, bright smile. "Ready for your first day?"
I'm slightly taken aback by her casual, almost friendly tone. I was admittedly expecting a bit more nervousness seeing I'm after all here to decide whether or not she's going to keep her restaurant.
I give her a stiff smile in return. "Well, as ready as I can be under the current circumstances."
Naomi doesn't seem unfazed by the implied meaning of my answer and instead, she takes a slight step towards me. "You might want to take off your jacket before we start though; the kitchen tends to get unhealthily hot during lunch time rush."
I nod and start to take it off but before I know it, Naomi is behind me, gently helping me out of my jacket.
"There you go miss Fitch." I hear her say playfully as she comes back in front of me, neatly folding the jacket over her arm.
"Thanks..." I frown, certainly not used to these kinds of attentions. "Shit, wait." I mumble, retrieving my Blackberry from my coat and hastily putting it in one of my jeans' back pocket.
Naomi looks at me then, an uncertain look on her face. "I'm afraid employees are not allowed to have their cell phones or any other electronic devices with them during work hours..." She trails off, tucking a piece of blonde hair behind her ear.
"Are you fucking kidding me? I need my phone." I reply bluntly, putting a protective hand over my pocket. I must look like a wild animal protecting its baby.
It's a thing Richard, amongst many other people, including past boyfriends, have been reproaching me- how I always just have to have my Blackberry with me. At all time. And as much as I keep telling them I have to be constantly updated on the different projects I'm working on, and that really it's just legitimate, they all came to the conclusion that I was a heartless workaholic.
Nonsense.
Naomi lets out a throaty giggle, looking positively amused. "I think you'll survive Emily. I don't even have a cell phone myself and see", she gestures towards herself, "I'm still alive."
"But I've got people counting on me, clients to talk to..." I try, crossing my arms in front of my chest and giving her my best scowl.
Naomi chuckles again. "As good as I'm sure you are, I'm also fairly certain the world will manage to survive without you for the afternoon."
I sigh, quickly texting Freddie before I carefully hand her my phone. "I don't know how you can live without one though."
"When I have to talk to the people I care about, I just do it in person. It's much more satisfying this way...You should try it some time." She winks, smiling. "Now I'll just go put your jacket in the employee's room and then I'll give you the grand tour. You can go check the kitchen if you want, I won't be long."
With that, Naomi disappears behind a bright orange door and I push the kitchen's purple ones, immediately assaulted by a myriad of different smells and perfumes.
The mix of them all is rather overwhelming but enjoyable nonetheless.
I take a look around, taking in the small albeit very clean kitchen, the wooden counters, the knives and pots hanging from the low ceiling, the three huge refrigerators, one orange, one blue and one green, and all the other utensils and plates neatly stored all around the room.
The thing that almost immediately catches my attention though is a big square shaped piece of wood, placed at the end of one of the counters and pierced with many holes. Each of these holes holds a cylindrical glass container.
After taking a few steps closer to it, I notice that each container seems to be filled with a different kind of spice.
Curious, I grab one.
Cinammon- Bristol, I read in curvy handwriting on a white sticker and I smile, the distinct smell of cinnamon instantly filling my nostrils. I check another one; Pink Pepper- Casablanca.
Before I have time to dwell on what the city names might mean, a soft voice fills the quiet kitchen.
"Did you know that the olfactory memory is the one that lasts the longest?" I spin around, nearly dropping the small container before I meet Naomi's blue eyes. She's leaning against one of the counters, hair now up in a very messy ponytail, and I'm surprised I didn't even hear her come in.
"No...no, I didn't know that." I reply, carefully putting the cinnamon back into place. "I love what you did with the spices by the way."
Naomi grins, seeming pleased by the compliment. "All of them remind me of somewhere I've been to or of people I once met, even though some of them are not in my life anymore. I love to just walk in the street and catch a random smell- more than often, it brings back unexpected memories... It's oddly refreshing."
"I see what you mean."
Our gazes meet and she grins. I'm the first to break eye contact, something I usually never do, but I've never met someone with such...intensity before.
"Why Bristol though? On the cinnamon one?" I ask, genuinely intrigued. Instantly, I notice the dark shadow ghosting over Naomi's features; she bites her bottom lip, gazing towards the floor. "You don't have to tell me." I add, feeling like I somehow crossed a personal line.
She shakes her head. "Oh, no. It's fine. England, well, Bristol is actually where I'm from...as you can probably tell by the not so-subtle accent." Naomi adds, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
This doesn't exactly answer my question but I decide to not push it. For now. Instead, I nod, plastering a cocky grin on my face. "I indeed had the feeling it didn't particularly sound like a Brooklyn accent."
"Wow, you're very observant."
We both giggle.
After a few moments of silence, Naomi clears her throat. When I look up, she seems uncertain, almost hesitant.
"Emily, I know that you didn't exactly... choose to work here...", she bites her bottom lip again, slightly furrowing her eyebrows, "but honestly...thank you for giving me a chance. I'm incredibly grateful for it."
I shift uncomfortably, never knowing how to react when other people's feelings are so blatantly on display. More than often, I just keep mine to myself and deal with them in private. I don't get the need people have to absolutely talk about them.
"...sure."
Naomi's eyes become a bit brighter, if possible, and she enthusiastically claps her hands together.
"Ready to meet the others then?"
OOOOOO
It turns out The Bengal Tiger has a grand total of five permanent employees, including Naomi.
I had already met Cook but today, I met Thomas, JJ and Lara as well.
Lara and JJ have been together for five years and have two sons, Albert and Jeremy, albeit as JJ told me several times, Albert is not his biological son. And then, he launched himself in a very detailed explanation on how biological babies are made before Lara put a comforting hand on his arm, smiling sweetly. That shut him up immediately.
As of Thomas, Naomi met him during a trip she made in France a couple of years ago and when Thomas moved to New York, Naomi welcomed him to work at the restaurant with her as her sous-chef.
At first, Naomi put me as a waitress with Lara and Cook but my obvious lack of skills for the task at hand prompted Naomi to bring me back in the kitchen with Thomas and her.
Naomi lets out a throaty laugh, handing me a towel to wipe off the remaining soup on my arms.
"That was quite a show you gave us here."
I glare at her, the same trademark one I gave the poor maid earlier this morning, grabbing the towel. "That jerk was in my way." I eye the stain on my shirt with barely contained anger. It's kind of an old shirt but still. "Fucking hell, it's fucking cashmere. Ralph Lauren, if I may add. I swear I will give this asshole a piece of my mind." I growl, ready to make my way out of the kitchen before a warm hand grab my wrist, keeping me in place.
"It's just a shirt Emily." Naomi shakes her head, still chuckling quietly to herself. "Guess I have no choice but keep you in here with me then. Shame." Amusement flickers in her eyes.
"Awesome." I reply sarcastically, before blowing on my shirt in a pathetic attempt to dry it.
Fuck it. It's not like I can't afford another one.
Naomi ignores my reply and instead, hands me a hairnet. "I'm afraid you're going to have to wear that in order to cook with me though."
I bring my gaze up, scoffing disbelievingly when I notice the net. "I'm not wearing that."
"It's not that bad."
"How come you're not wearing one?" I reply childishly, gesturing towards her ponytail.
Naomi giggles. "Ha, well, it's because I'm the chef Emily... But I'll just put one on if that is what's bothering you."
She grabs another one from an opened drawer and puts in on her head before striking a ridiculous pose, hands on her hips. Thomas looks up from the chicken he's currently preparing.
"You're looking quite posh ma chère."
"Oh, merci Thomas." Naomi replies, keeping her eyes on me as I can't help but let out a small chuckle.
"Fine, just give me that horrible thing." I huff, carefully putting the net on my hair but despite all my efforts, it catches in one of my earrings. "Fucking hell."
A faint scent of coconut invades my personal space and when I look up, I find Naomi's big blue eyes much closer than they were just a second ago. "Here, let me help you."
Naomi brings her hands up, starting to softly tug on the net. We're so close my eyes are instantly drawn to her face and I notice the look of concentration she's sporting, her tongue slightly peaking out between her parted lips.
"There you go." Naomi whispers, tucking a last strand of my hair under the net.
I self consciously touch my head. "I probably look awful..."
"You don't." Naomi replies, her cheeks tainting a light shade of pink but before I can add anything else, she turns around, clearing her throat. "Now that we're all set, let's get down to business. Emily, you'll start with the tomatoes."
I nod, watching as Naomi takes out a bag of tomatoes out of one of the fridges.
She puts it on the counter before taking one of them, squeezing it lightly whilst she smells, eyes closed, as if it was some kind of precious object instead of a simple vegetable.
"Great, those tomatoes are perfect. Come here Emily, you're going to want to smell them."
She motions for me to come closer, handing me a tomato, her face holding an expectant look.
I raise an eyebrow. "I'm not to smell a tomato."
She smiles, almost as if she was expecting my reply, her blue orbs twinkling. "Don't think about that. Just close your eyes and smell it. We tend to forget that great meals come from carefully chosen ingredients."
I'm about to protest again but Naomi shakes her head. "Trust me."
I sigh, reluctantly doing as I'm told.
"Do you smell it?" Naomi asks after a moment and I nod, rather surprised.
The smell is light, sweet. Warm.
"I do, actually... It's incredibly...fresh. As if I'm walking in a... garden..." I whisper, forgetting for a second my initial resistance.
When I open my eyes again, I feel a blush creeping up my neck at how incredibly lame this probably sounded.
Jesus, what was that?
Instead of laughing at me, Naomi simply takes back the tomato, our fingers slightly brushing. "I told you the smell was gorgeous."
She winks. Behind her, I can see Thomas stifling a knowing smile.
OOOOOO
"See you tomorrow Blondie!" Cook shouts as he gets out of the restaurant at the end of the day, "and you too Red! It's fucking ace working with you!"
Naomi giggles as we both watch him leave. "He'll never change..."
"Is he always this...exuberant?" I ask, putting on my jacket as Naomi does the same.
"That's an interesting choice of words."We botch chuckle, Naomi eyeing me with an amused look. "But yes, he's always like this. After a while, you'll find that's actually what makes his charm."
"I seriously doubt that..."
"Just give him a chance and you'll see."
I avidly check my phone that Naomi just gave me back before putting it back in my pocket. "I seem to be giving a lot of that lately." I reply without really thinking, only noticing after a few seconds the extremely embarrassed look now plastered on Naomi's face.
"I know and once more...I...Thank you for that..." She stutters out, instantly making me feel guilty.
"Stop thanking me Naomi. I've had a great time today." I try to give her a sincere smile, hoping to let her know I'm actually, and very surprisingly, telling the truth.
She instantly lightens up. "I'm glad you did."
Naomi gestures for me to come out of the restaurant, opening the door for me before she follows, locking it behind us.
Just like this morning, the night air is chilly and I shiver, looking around me to find a taxi but to no avail- the street is completely empty.
Damn it.
I look at Naomi who's blowing in her hands, her blonde hair even messier because of the wind. She's sporting a worn out kaki coat with a black hoodie under it and I wonder how much she actually earns with The Bengal Tiger.
"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then." I give her a brief nod before turning on my heels, deciding on avoiding the awkward exchange of goodbyes that would have inevitably followed.
I've only made a few paces before I hear Naomi's voice behind me.
"Where are you going Emily?"
I turn back around to face her. "I need to find a taxi so..." I trail off, vaguely pointing towards the end of the street.
Naomi furrows her brows, concern clear on her face. "You can't walk in this neighbourhood alone at night. It's not safe. Let me walk you to a busier street."
I shake my head. "No, no, I'm fine. You really don't have to."
She smiles, pushing a strand of hair out of her face. "But I want to."
I finally give in and even though I'd never admit it in a million years, I feel a bit safer with Naomi walking silently by my side, her huge bag hanging loosely on her shoulder.
I chance a look in her direction; the tip of her nose is pink and small puffs of white breath are coming out of her mouth. She's actually very pretty I notice absentmindedly before bringing my gaze back in front of me.
When I finally get hold of a taxi, it stops in front of us and once more, Naomi opens the door for me.
"My duty here is done." She readjusts her bag on her shoulder, beaming. "Be safe Emily."
I grin back. "Thank you Naomi. You too."
She shuts the door, gesturing to the driver that we're ready to go but just as he's about to start, I roll down my window and this time, it's my turn to call out for Naomi.
She turns around, looking surprised. "Yes?"
"How are you going back home? Do you want us to share the ride?"
She shakes her head, showing me a little card as she starts to walk backwards. "I've got my subway pass. Cheaper."
"Ok well...be safe..." I trail off, watching as Naomi flashes me one last smile before turning around and starting to walk down the street.
I roll up the window, indicating to the driver I'm now ready to go, wondering for a brief moment where that sudden concern for Naomi's safety came from.
Quickly dismissing those thoughts with a shrug, I pick up my Blackberry, starting to scroll through the messages I got during the day.
Well, well, well. I'm getting back into it so clearly not the best chapter. Once again, so, so sorry about that.
Maybe you could...I don't know, lets' say... review? *hopeful eyes* If not, I'm just glad some people are still reading this. And I'm glad to be back- I really missed you, you silly bitches! This calls for a collective hug. Or just me creeping up on you to hug you by surprise. I'm sneaky like that.
A big bucket of love to all of you! Half-filled with Halloween candies! Nom nom.
