It had been a long day, the restaurant packed and busy.
Servers were running through the kitchen, the whole place a chaotic mess. Their reservations were full for the night, and guests were getting more unpleasant by the minute, seated or not.
The waitress was behind the building, sitting with her eyes closed, trying to relax a little in her short break. There were a few other waiters standing around, taking a quick smoke, or sitting on their phone. The door noisily slammed open, and another woman joined.
Her best friend sighed dramatically, and sank into the space on the bench she made as she scooted over. "Neliel, I've just about had it with people. I'm ready to move far away where I'll never have to see anyone again."
Neliel laughed, leaning back against the cool brick wall. "Ha, bull. You wouldn't last five minutes away from civilization."
"I know right, not my extroverted ass." She pulled her ginger hair out of its ponytail, and ran a hand through it. "I don't know though, my frustration might just power me through it. And I wouldn't even be alone, Nnoitora would come with me."
"Whether he liked it or not, right?" She laughed.
"So this is where you all ran off to." A tall man poked his head through the back door.
Rangiku smiled, waving at her boyfriend, "Speak of the devil!"
"Huh? Nel, my section's just gotten a lot fuller, and I can't cover yours without killing myself. Even though I think I'd like to anyways."
"You speak for all of us there, buddy pal." One of the other waitresses laughed, crushing her cigarette on the sidewalk. "Let's get back to work."
"You go ahead. I've still got 3 minutes, and I intend to enjoy every second." Rangiku sat back against the brick, and let out a deep breath in the crisp evening air.
Neliel smacked her leg "Hurry up then." She got to her feet, following the rest of them back inside.
The floor was a roaring mess of conversation, which made for good background static as Neliel wove her way between tables and people. A hostess had just led a small group her last empty table, and she was quick behind them.
"Good evening." She smiled pleasantly, "My name is Neliel, I'll be your server for tonight. Tonight's special is the clam chowder soup, which comes with our signature salad, and your choice of up to two sides. May I start you gentlemen off with some drinks?"
"Hello Neliel!" The man's whole face lit up in a friendly smile, and Neliel was reminded of a big puppy, "Busy night, huh? I'm relieved we actually got a table." He talked like they'd known each other for years. "I'd like some coffee, just black, if you please."
The second man nodded, glancing over the menu before looking up at her with a polite smile. "I'll take water. Ice, no lemon."
She nodded, pulling her pencil from behind her ear to scribble their orders before turning to the third man. A man with the brightest blue eyes she had ever seen. "And for you, sir?"
"Water. No ice." He barely glanced at her, his voice cold and disinterested.
"Of course." She kept her smile in place but mentally rolled her eyes. Pretty eyes or not, big and brooding wasn't a good look. "I'll be right back with those, and to take food orders if you're ready."
"Hey, that guy's kind of cute isn't he?" Rangiku slid in beside her as she filled some cups.
"Who?"
"The blue haired one at your front table." She absentmindedly stared back out through the doors. "Saw him on my way back. Nice eyes."
Neliel smiled a little. "I guess, but he seems like a prick. All angry and quiet. You know, moody."
"Yeah," she sighed. "I'm not really surprised. He looks like that type."
"Who does?" They both turned at Nnoitora's voice.
"The blue haired guy." Rangiku pointed, "Out front."
He smirked as he dumped out a cup, "Crazy eyes? You're not wrong."
"You know him?"
He shrugged, "I mean, no, I just heard them all talking when I was uh, helping one of the hosts with something."
Neliel grabbed her third cup, "What did the hosts need help with?"
He just shrugged again, "A lot of shit happens when it's this busy. "
"Yeah it does, so I don't know why we're all standing around like this." She gathered up the drinks, and slid back out to the floor.
Their conversation ceased as she put the drinks on the table before setting them in front of each man's plate. "Here are your drinks gentlemen. Are you ready to order, or should I give you some more time?"
The friendly man gave her a wide smile, "I think we're all ready. You want to start, Grimmjow?" He turned to the blue haired man.
Grimmjow, huh? She smiled to herself. It fit.
He looked up at her, their eyes meeting. "I'll try the special." He really did have pretty eyes.
She pulled herself away and nodded, writing it down, "And for your sides?"
"Just a roll." He turned away too.
"That'll be all?"
He nodded without saying anything else. She half expected him to start scowling. But she just mentally shook her head and turned to the next man.
"I'd like to try your original steak. With umm, broccoli and mashed potatoes." He grinned as he took Grimmjow's menu and stacked them.
"Of course," She wrote it down. "And for you, sir?"
"I'll take the signature spaghetti." He smiled again, a tight, muddy smile. It made him hard to read, she didn't like it. At least Mr. Broody was clearly a grump, and Mr. Puppy was so friendly.
But she still smiled graciously, and bowed away.
She could be as judgy as she liked, as long as she kept it all to herself.
At least to herself and the rest of the restaurant staff.
"It's really gross, it's like when men smile at you on the train. When they try to hide what they're thinking." She groaned, pulling her coat on as they all got ready to leave.
One of the waitress rolled her eyes, "Ugh. I feel you. There was a grandpa earlier who kept hitting on me. With his whole family there too! It was the worst, 'cause what are you supposed to do? You can't like tell them to fuck off, so you just gotta—" She made a horribly uncomfortable face, complete with an obvious forced smile.
"I know right!" A waiter shook his head, tucking a scarf into his coat. "Smile and wave, boys."
"Why are you complaining? You like men!" One of the hostesses yelled from across the room.
"'Liking men' does not mean I like men triple my age hitting on me!" He yelled right back. "That is never comfortable!"
The entire room burst out laughing, all yelling from various places in the building.
"Alright, alright, clear out." The chaos subsided as the manager swept through, shooing them all towards the door. "If you all want to talk, do it in the parking lot, or go somewhere else. I've been here since 10am, and I'm going to go home and get a good night's sleep, regardless of what you young people get up to. Out you go so I can lock up."
They all called goodbyes at her as they left, and within minutes, the place was quiet.