Employee of the Month
Matt/Landry/Smash, Post-Who Do You Think You Are, PG13, 1384 words, Title from the Sopranos

Matt sat at the register as he continued to wipe down the counter. To any on-looker, it was as if he was in a trance, just standing there, looking off into the distance as his hand moved the wet rag back and forth and around in circles.

Smash on the other hand was blazing through his shift, replacing napkin containers, wiping off dirty tables and seats for later customers, and making sure everyone was happy and had their food quickly, that he hardly notice Matt was just standing there. But then again, he had his own problems to deal with, and didn't feel like adding anyone else's on top of the pile of drama that he's created.

"Oh yeah, this is gonna get me mad points. I'm gonna be employee of the month for sure. Looks like you got some competition there Mattie." He slapped Matt on the shoulder as he went to throw some trash out the dumpster. When he came back, Matt was still in his trance.

"Matt, you hear a word I just said to you?"

Matt shook his head a little and came back down to reality.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"Don't give me that crap."

"No really. I have no idea what you're talking about."

Smash rolled his eyes. He wondered if Matt would ever realize he doesn't fool anyone. Or if he would actually grow a set.

"I told you this would happen. Something too good to last. Those words came out of my mouth and you didn't wanna hear it. Get over it already."

Matt felt offended.

"What did you just say to me?"

"How about you do your job and maybe you'll get employee of the month. That'll cheer you up."

Matt threw his hat on the counter in disgust. Smash has some nerve saying stuff like that. He walked to the back and grabbed his coat before walking towards the front door.

"Where you going?" Smash asked him.

"I'm going home. Maybe I'll do some growing up while I'm there. Sure as hell make you happy."

Smash watched as Matt walked out and sped out of the parking lot in his car before smiling. That plaque already had his name on it. They might as well just give it to him right now.

--

Matt sat on the hood of his car in an empty field a few days later after practice and drank a beer. His fourth actually. He'd usually come up every day and drink one or two before going to work or going home but today it was different.

Landry noticed him from the side road in the distance and drove up to him.

"Matt, what are you doing?" Landry asked as he got out of the car.

"What does it look like I'm doing Landry?"

"It looks like you're getting drunk. Any reason why? Does this have to do with what's-her-name?"

"Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. Maybe I just feel like doing this for the hell of it. Kinda like Riggins. Ever think of that one before?" He threw his empty can into the distance and opened another one.

"I don't think drinking your pain away is going to do you any good."

"And how would you know?" Landry didn't immediately respond. "Yeah, you don't know. So mind your own business."

Landry turned around and walked away. There was no use in getting him to talk. Not like this. He knew Matt was upset over Carlotta leaving, but this was not what he was expecting.

"Well whenever you decide to wanna talk, I'll be in my mom's car waiting."

Landry opened the driver side door of his mother's car and sat down and waited. He watched as Matt finished his 6-pack and stumbled off the car's hood and to the driver's seat. Landry quickly got out of his mother's car and ran towards Matt's car. He'd have to run Landry over if he wanted to stop him.

"Where do you think you're going?" Landry screamed at him.

"Home, asshole. Now get out of my way."

"Nope. Not gonna happen. I'm not letting you drive. Now move over. I'll drive you home."

Matt quickly got out of the car and got in Landry's face.

"I will kick… your ass right… here." Matt stuttered and stumbled as he tried to tell Landry to get out of his way and let him go home, but when Landry grabbed a hold of his shoulder to try and calm him down, he snapped, pushing him to the ground and punching him in the face. It wasn't until he saw the blood coming out of Landry's mouth did he realize what he actually did.

"Oh… I'm… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…" Matt got up and began to panic, running his hands through his hair. He began breathing heavily, pacing back and forth and back and forth, breathing heavier and heavier until he fell to his knees.

Landry quickly got up and ran to Matt's side. He wasn't going to hold a grudge for a bloody mouth.

"Okay, okay… breathe slowly. There you go. Just relax yourself." Landry tried saying whatever he could to get him to calm down. He wasn't exactly sure if would work though.

"I didn't know it was going to be this hard," Matt told him. It didn't take a genius to figure out what he meant. It makes Landry sick that Matt gets dealt the shitty hand. The minute something good comes into his life, it's gone just like that. But him, he murders someone. Should spend the rest of his life in jail, but no. They drop the charges. He's a free man. Allowed to live his life without worry. But Matt, who's never done a bad thing in his life, has nothing. Everyday is a constant struggle. Landry shouldn't be surprised that Matt was here, trying to drink the pain away. But he does know that Matt is better than this. He isn't going to let him continue to suffer while he goes free. Not anymore.

"I can't… do this anymore," he hears Matt say.

"Yes you can Matt. I know... that you're better than this." Landry realizes this is the second time he's said that line is the past couple of weeks. Maybe this time it'll do some good. "I'm not going to let you sit here like this. Now get up. I'm taking you home."

He grabs Matt by the arm and helps him inside his car. Landry gets in the drivers seat and drives him home.

"What about your mom's car," Matt asked him as they pulled into the driveway of Matt's house.

"I'll think of some kind of excuse as to why it's stuck there. You need me to help you inside? I don't want you tripping over yourself."

Matt smiles. "No, I'll be alright. Thanks."

"That's what I'm here for."

Matt laughs as he and Landry got out of the car.

"I'm gonna go walk home. Try to get my mom's car back without having her flip on me. Things will be alright. Trust me."

Matt just nods his head and walks inside. Landry walks home and tells his mom that her car ran out of gas and Matt had to bring him home. She doesn't flip out. Landry is relieved.

--

A week later, Landry's hanging with Matt and Smash at the Alamo Freeze. Landry notices their boss walking towards them.

"Hey Matt, can I talk to you for a minute."

Matt looks at both Smash and Landry before looking up at her.

"Uh, sure."

He quickly gets up from his seat and heads to the back with his boss. He walks out a few minutes later holding a plaque in his hand and a huge smile on his face.

"Are you kidding me!?!?"

Matt shows both Landry and Smash his plaque for being Employee of the Month for October 2007.

"See look at that, things are already looking up. I told ya." Landry tells him.

"Aw man, that ain't right. That should be mine."

Matt laughs at Smash being so mad he didn't get it. Oh well, too damn bad, he says to himself.

Landry was right, things were looking up. And nothing was going to ruin it for him.