A Chef's Nightmare
Chapter 1
Meeting the Crowd
Summary: Reid, a talented young chef, moves to Oakdale to work at the Lakeview. Everyone loves his food, except Luke, who won't even try it.
Pairing: Luke/ Noah, Luke/Reid
Rated: T
A/N: I know Gwen and Will moved away, but I wanted more people in the story so, they're here. Maddie is also back.
Reid glanced around at the place he was to call his new home. To his surprise everything was neat and clean. A well-equipped kitchen was opposite of the door.
"So, this is where you'll be staying" Katie said as she walked passed and nodded to a closed door. "I'm right next door with Jacob."
Standing awkwardly in the doorway and still eying the kitchen,
"I suppose it will do. Please tell me you keep food here, other than that cream of mush for the kid."
"No, actually, I haven't been to the store in a while. I eat out a lot at Al's."
Wrinkling his nose,
"Al's? It sounds plebeian."
Ignoring the second part,
"It's a little diner in town. Everyone goes there, including us."
"What?"
"Well, it's your first day here so, I took it upon myself to invite a few friends for a get together to meet you. And I won't take no for an answer."
Knowing his choices were yellow baby food or orange baby food if he stayed, Reid sighed,
"Fine. Just stop being so enthusiastic, you're giving me a headache."
Shoving Reid out the door and locking it, Katie grinned,
"You are too easy."
Reid just glared and walked down the hallway, already regretting his decision to go, but was hungry after the flight from Dallas.
Getting out of the car in front of a tiny diner, Reid glanced inside and saw a rambunctious group that looked to be about his age. Pulling Katie aside before they walked in,
"Just how many people did you invite? I don't do small talk."
"Oh, just the normal crowd."
Seeing Reid's anxious face, she added with a smile,
"Don't worry, they're harmless."
Muttering to himself,
"Yeah, as harmless as a raw chicken being shoved down your throat."
"Just be nice, I'm sure you'll like them. Everyone knows everyone here, so sooner or later, you'd half to meet them."
Giving Reid a push, they entered Al's. The grouped continued talking until a girl with blonde hair and scrubs on, noticed that they where there.
"Hey! You must be Reid. I'm Allison."
Staring around the building, just wishing he could disappear, Reid responded in his usual cold manner,
"Hi. Shouldn't you-"
Realizing that Reid was about to dig himself into a hole in front of everyone, Katie jumped in,
"Hi Ali! Sorry, we're late. Reid just got in from Dallas and we stopped by my apartment on the way here. Did you guys order yet?
"It's no problem. And no, because Luke and Noah aren't here yet either.
"Okay, then. Well, Reid this is almost everyone. In the seat next to where Ali was sitting, is Casey. Then it goes, Will, Gwen, Maddie, Henry, and then Chris."
Getting various greetings from the group, Katie pulled Reid down to sit next to her as she sat next to Chris. The group continued its previous discussions while Reid looked at the menu in disgust.
"They call this food? An anteater trapped inside a block of ice could make more sophisticated food than this."
Getting a kick from Katie under the table, Reid drew the attention of Henry,
"Hey! Watch what you say. I own this place. What would you know about good food anyway?"
"Well, Hank was it? I happen to have been named one of the top ten young chefs in the country and am going to be working at the Lakeview."
Henry's face dropped at this,
"It's Henry and you can't possibly be working there, you're too young. Not to mention you'll get fired in a day if you don't watch your mouth. Do they have any idea what a complete ass you seem to be?"
"For your information Hank, Lucinda Walsh requested for me to work here. She only gets the best and that would happen to be me."
Smirking at the look on Henry's face, Reid turned his attention to Katie who had just kicked him under the table.
"Why can't you be nice? He's my best friend."
"How he has friends is beyond me."
Looking away from Katie's disapproving face, Reid looked back down at the menu. Just then the door to the diner burst open and two young men entered, one with spiked blonde hair and the other with brown.
Casey called out,
"Luke! Noah! I thought you guys were going to stand us up."
"Sorry, Noah and I got stuck watching Ethan and Natalie while my dad went to the store."
Luke and Noah walked forward. Luke sat next to Reid while Noah sat between Luke and Ali. Both Luke and Noah seemed oblivious to Reid sitting at the table until Luke looked to see where Katie was. Eyes widening, Luke swallowed and glanced over to Noah to see if he was watching him. He then looked back and saw Reid smirking at something Katie had just whispered to him.
"Reid?"
"Well, that would be my name." Reid said, barely glancing at him.
"Hi, I'm Luke."
Looking at Luke and seeing Luke's hand in Noah's, Reid only responded with a short 'hello' before turning back to Katie. Confused and upset that this man seemed to have a problem with him and Noah, Luke turned back and listened to Ali telling Noah and Casey about a patient who had decided to try and escape the hospital in only a hospital gown after the spots on his skin turned out to be from a marker. After a couple of minutes a waiter came over to take their orders. During this time though, Luke kept glancing at Reid.