A Couple of More Doses of Realism Part I
"I can't wait to see him again." Schuyler gushes inside the kitchen area of the GCAC.
"You're still hung up on this?" Madison asks stacking some plates.
"Yes. He said I was very pretty, Madison." Schuyler emphasizes. She grins. "It was truly wonderful." She starts to stack some plates as well.
"And he said to it another handsome pop star." Schuyler brags. "He's telling other people about me."
Madison gives her a look. "Well, maybe the other guy was asking about you…" She speculates. "Maybe you should find out if he's single and turn your attention to him instead of an engaged man." Madison suggests.
Schuyler makes a face thinking. "I mean Xavier is handsome, but Fen is…" She sighs. "Fen is something special." She gushes.
"Fen is engaged." Madison reminds her. "And he loves his fiancée."
"But he was talking about me to his friend…" Schuyler insists. She smiles again. "Granted, I didn't catch all of the conversation." She looks down at the plates and then back up at Madison. "I was walking by when they were talking... But I did catch him say I was very pretty…" She sighs again happily.
"I tell you Madison my heart skipped a beat when I heard that. And if I weren't working, I would have found a way to eavesdrop more on their conversation." She confesses to Madison. She then looks around the kitchen area. "But I have a job and eavesdropping doesn't pay the bills."
"And neither does fawning over an engaged man, you can't have." Madison informs her. She gives her friend a serious look. "Its nice he said you were very pretty." She tells Schuyler. "And you are. I know at times you have some doubts about yourself, but a lot of men think that."
"Aw… Madison." Schuyler smiles at her friend appreciately. "Thanks girl."
"Which is why you should go find a single guy and not fixate on a happily engaged, soon to be happily married man…" Schuyler advises her. "There are a lot of men out there who would love to date you and treat you well…"
Schuyler shakes her head. "I've tried to date other men, including single ones. And those relationships didn't end well." She remarks frowning.
"Sometimes it takes a while before you find the right guy. Like the saying goes you have to kiss a few frogs, before you find your prince." Madison comments. "If you keep trying, you will find the right guy for you." She encourages her. "But you need to take your time and make sure you respect yourself." She advises her. "No more relationships like the one with…"
"Nick Newman…" Schuyler interjects.
"So, you're finally saying his name out loud again." Madison muses. "That's growth." She jokes.
Schuyler laughs. "Maybe. You know I am going to try my best not to let him and men like him get to me... I admit I was really upset the other day, when I saw him planning on spending time with his new lady..." She confesses. She then holds up her hand. "Who I found out by the way is Devon Hamilton's other sister, Lily Ashby." She reveals to Madison. "What is it, with Devon's sisters managing to land these prime rib men?" Schuyler ask making a face.
Madison lets out a laugh. "Prime rib men?" She asks.
Schuyler nods. "Yes, these top-quality men… His sisters have landed two of them."
Madison makes a face. "Well, Fen does seem great." She remarks honestly. "But Nick well, you know for himself he has issues... and you landed him." She reminds Schuyler.
Schuyler shakes her head. "But he never took me on a date." She frowns. "Yet he was so excited to take Lily on a date when I overheard some of their conversation at Crimson Lights…. He was so happy to get down with Lily at the wedding." Schuyler says the last sentence bitterly. She sighs heavily. "I mean all those nights him and I spent together, and he never took me anywhere on a date…" She complains.
"Which means he wasn't the right man for you and maybe not exactly a prime rib man." Madison remarks firmly.
"Hmmm, maybe. But I'm still ticked he's moved on and is dating another woman. It angers me." Schuyler admits.
"I know but you have to work on letting that go..." Madison cautions her. "For your own good."
"I'm trying." Schuyler states. "But when I see him acting all happy with Lily." She rolls her eyes. "It just really irritates me." She gripes. "But Devon's sisters must have some sort of magical powers, Ana lands sexy Fen and then Lily gets Nick. And they've gotten both of these men on lockdown…"
"Lockdown…" Madison says raising her eyebrows. "You uh… have a way with words my friend." She remarks a bit amused.
"Yes, lockdown. That's the way our boss's sisters have these men. Fen is marrying one and Nick is acting like he's smitten with the other one, Lily." Schuyler states.
"I mean you should have seen him getting all excited about how he would get down with her at their date, which…" Schuyler pauses for a moment and a thought hits her. "Would be at Fen's wedding. He was talking about taking Lily to Fen and his fiancée's wedding…."
"And…." Madison says giving her a curious look.
"And uh... that's interesting." Schuyler says. "That's all." She looks towards the back of the kitchen. "It looks like some of the orders are ready."
"Yeah, we should go get them..." Madison remarks. A thoughtful look comes across her face. "Yeah...look Schuyler like I said you really need to try and let your anger about Nick go. And while I know you are attracted to Fen, you have to be realistic about your chances with him." She looks at her friend "So if you see him today... try not to get overexcited or have unrealistic expectations. He's still engaged and is going to marry a woman he loves." Madison reminds her.
"So look and don't touch... right?" Schuyler replies frowning.
"That's all you can do." Madison tells her. Schuyler shakes her head and the two women go and get some of the orders that were ready for guests. After they do that, they go around and take the orders of other guests who had arrived. They both see Nick sitting at a table and look at each other.
"Do you want me to go take care of his order?" Madison asks looking at Schuyler.
Schuyler shakes her head. "No. I will take it."
Madison makes a face. "Are you sure?" She asks.
"I am. Like you said I need to get over Nick. And one way to do that is showing that he no longer has an effect on me. I can take his order." Schuyler nods her head. "I am going to treat him like he's just another customer."
"Okay..." Madison says a bit uncertain.
Schuyler heads over to Nick's table. He's looking down at his phone and then looks up when he sees her. His eyes widen when he sees her.
"Long time no see." Schulyer says greeting him. She purses her lips. "Well, actually I did see you the other day at Crimson Lights." She informs him. "I don't know if you saw me or not, you look like you were having a good time with your new lady.." She frowns. "I didn't know you had already moved on so quickly."
Nick makes a face and shakes his head. "I was just chatting with a friend." He tells her.
Madison nods. "Un-huh." She says unconvinced. "It sounded like you were planning a special date..." She replies. "Which is kind of funny, because you never took me on a date." She states scournfully.
Nick sighs. "Like I said she is my friend, and we are going to a family event of hers..." He rests his hand on the table and looks up at Schuyler. "I don't know why you care so much since you broke things off with me and told me to leave you alone." He frowns. "I've tried to honor your wishes... that is what you wanted right?"
They look into each other's eyes for a moment. Schuyler frowns again. "Yes, that is what I wanted."
"Okay, then.." Nick says. "Because I thought maybe you were coming over here to take my order, not confront me about moving on."
Schuyler sighs and rolls her eyes. She then takes out a pen and notepad. "What would you like?" She asks. Nick places his order and she writes it down.
Schuyler then raises her eyebrow. "Are you dining alone, today?" She probes.
"For now." Nick says shortly.
"'l'll go put your order in and be back in a bit." Schuyler walks away briskly from his table, a bit annoyed by their exchange. She gives the order to the chef and meets up with Madison in the kitchen.
"Everything go okay?" Madison inquires.
Schuyler shrugs. "My exchange with Nick was a bit testy... but eh..." Schuyler's voice trails off and she frowns.
"Well, I didn't hear any dishes being flung, so that's a good sign." Madison jokes.
"No, I didn't throw anything." Schuyler confirms. "Though seeing him sitting there, did trigger feelings like the anger I had when we broke up..." She admits to Madison.
"But you held it together and managed to take his order, which is good." Madison tells her. "Eventually you will learn to let go of that anger you have about your failed relationship with him. It will get better." She promises Schuyler.
Schuyler sighs. "Right. Eventually."
The two women talk some more and take out orders that were ready for guests. While they are doing that Lily enters the restaurant. Nick notices her and smiles. She smiles back and goes over to talk to him.
"Hey Nick, how are you?" She greets him.
"Good Lily. I'm just about to have some breakfast." Nick informs her. "How are you doing?"
"Fine." Lily adjust her purse strap and looks at him. "I was just going to order some take out before I head into work." She tells him.
"No time to sit down and eat?" He inquires curiously. "I know that you said that things have been really busy at Hamilton-Winters lately." He smiles. "And that you've been helping hold down the fort."
Lily nods. "And things are still busy...Devon is still out of town helping his wife with her family situation and things are still hectic at Hamilton-Winters..."
Nick gives her an understanding look. "I get it, sometimes it gets like that.." He comments.
"Yeah and Ana's wedding will be happening soon and more of the family will be coming into town, and we'll be getting together and doing stuff." Lily sighs and then smiles. "We have a lot of stuff going on regarding that as well, we plan to make it a very special event for her..."
Nick takes a sip of water. "Yeah, Summer has been telling me more about that. She has really been putting a lot of time into planning this wedding."
"And Ana definitely appreciates her help." Lily expresses to him gratefully. "She loves having Summer's support and help during this process."
"Summer is happy to do it." Nick says giving her another smile. They talk for a little more, and then Lily looks at her watch. "I guess I should be going." She remarks.
"Are you sure you don't want to sit down and have breakfast with me?" Nick asks. "I would love the company."
"I'd love to, but..."
"I ordered the eggs benedict dish...it's really good." Nick grins.
Lily smiles. "I've actually never tried that dish before."
"Really?" Nick asks. "You should try it." He suggests. "My order is coming out shortly. You could even taste a bite of it, to see if you like it."
Lily laughs. "If I were sitting down with you, I might take you up on that offer. But I really should be getting out of here." They smile at each other and Schuyler finally shows up with Nick's plate. She frowns when she sees him and Lily together.
"Your order is ready." She says and places the plate of food down in front of Nick.
"This looks great." Nick says. He looks up at Lily and smiles. "Are you sure you don't want to taste just a bite?" He asks. "And my offer for you to join me for breakfast still stands."
Madison puts her hands together and looks at Lily. She tries her best not to cringe at her and Nick's closeness. "Will, you uh... be joining him, for breakfast?" She asks.
Lily shakes her head. "I'd love to, but I really do have to get up out of here. I'll just place my order at the bar."
Nick shrugs and smiles. "Your loss."
"But..." Lily reaches out and puts her hand on his shoulder. "We can have breakfast again another time."
"I'm going to take you up on that." Nick remarks. Schuyler frowns deeply as she continues to watch them interact.
Nick looks away from Lily for a moment and looks at Schuyler. "Is everything okay?" He asks noticing how hard she was looking at him.
"Um...Yes." Schuyler says trying to mask her feelings. "I just wanted to make sure the food was prepared to your liking." She covers.
Nick picks up his fork and knife and takes a bite of the food. "Ummmm…" He says as he's tasting it. "It's very good. Thank you Schuyler."
She nods. "Of course. Uh... Let me know if you need anything else." She turns to walk away, glancing back at Nick and Lily one last time.
"Okay, I'm going now, but I will see you later." Lily says.
"Definitely. And we're still on for the wedding right?" Nick asks. Schuyler hears that part and frowns.
"Of course." Lily confirms. She then bids him good-bye and goes up to the bar to place her order.
Schuyler goes and takes another person's order and goes back into the kitchen. She was upset at seeing how close Nick and Lily seemed but tried to shake it off. She knew she would be better off taking Madison's advice and trying to get over her anger regarding Nick, though she was continuining to find that a very tough thing to do. She takes a deep breath and continues to work during her shift.