DISCLAIMER:I own nothing.
Afterschool, Fionna goes straight home to find Cake in the kitchen.
"Hey honey bee, how was your day?" Cake says with enthusiasm.
"It was great," Fionna replies while grabbing an apple off the fruit bowl, "I made a new friend and apparently I am Bubba's –I mean Mr. Gumball's—student."
"Oh yeaahhh, I knew I recognized that uniform."
"Thanks Miss Cake. Anyways, this guy, his name is Ember,I have him for Gumball's class and he's so funny like—"
"Sweetie, right now is not a good time. You see some of the staff got fired at the diner I work at and they need me to fill in today."
"Oh, okay," Fionna's smiling face turns into an upset pout. Even though she was used to adults ignoring her, she really enjoys the company of the talkative woman. Seeing Fionna upset saddens Cake a little.
"Hey come with me to the bakery you'll love it and you can tell me all about this hot Ember guy."
"I never said he was hot."
"You didn't deny it either." The girls laugh and, grabbing Cake's orange keys, they head out the door.
The diner, also known as the Candy Kingdom, is a small restaurant/venue, just a couple of blocks away from the "tree house", as Cake and the other tenants call it, that is well known for it's amazingly sweet desserts and local band music. Inside there are various small tables everywhere, with a medium stage in one corner, and booths along the glass wall. Behind the counter stood a man with dark hair, dressed in shades of black. The only color on him is the white apron he wears on top of his clothes.
"Hey baby," Cake goes in and kisses the man on the cheek, he is so focused on the strand of hair that has fallen out of place that the just nods his head in return. "Fionna this is my sweetheart, Chrome. Chrome, this is my new neighbor Fionna."
"Nice to meet you sir," Fionna says, Chrome merely nods in her direction.
"He's not a man of many words, but he is sweet with me." Cake whispers to Fionna, "So honey, what do you need help with?"
The man's voice is monotonous, but deep. "Waitressing. Afternoon rush at 6. Night O' Sphere plays at 8. Also needing a cook."
"You fired the cook?!"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I like your food." Chrome looks up at her with a smile.
"You are so complicated. Fionna do you mind helping at six? If I'm making the food I can't serve."
"Sure." Fionna is always happy to help those in need.
"But for now you can come with me to the kitchen and tell me about that hottie." Chrome looks up at Cake when he hears this, "Chill honey," she tells him, "He is her age." He goes back to playing with his hair.
Inside the kitchen, Fionna sits on a countertop and tells Cake all about her day—how Gumball was late, Ember's comment, the way he made her laugh and the specks of red in his golden eyes. She says Fionna has got a crush, but that he sounds like a fierce guy. Five thirty comes around and already a group of girls enter the dinner. Cake wraps a waitress apron around Fionna's waist.
"Don't be nervous, girly, you just go up to them, ask what they want to order, come back to the kitchen, give me the order, and repeat with other costumers, got it?"
"Okay seems simple." Fionna feels confident.
"Just wait until the rush." Soon Fionna is busy with work. The girls recognized her from school and chat with her a bit. Unfortunately that takes some time away from the other costumers and Fionna is rushing, trying to get the orders right and in time to the correct table. After a little while, she gets the hang of it, and is doing better than earlier. Smiling at the costumers, she serves the meals faster than any waitress Chrome has ever seen. Fionna is so entertain with her work that she doesn't notice a young man dressed in a red plaid shirt, dark jeans, and red converse come in and, instead of sitting, going up and talking to Chrome. Chrome nods and also points in Fionna's direction. The guy's gaze first falls on the bunny ears she is still wearing. Then he notices the beautiful, blonde, luscious hair that falls past her waist. Oh that waist! She must surely be at that womanly age of 16, he thinks. Weird how now all he wants to do is sit her down and sing her a lullaby.
"Who?" He asks Chrome.
"Fionna." The owner answers.
"Why?"
"New waitress."
"Perfect." The young man goes to the back and starts setting up on the stage, trying to avoid the bunny-girl from seeing him. He tells the other band members to not even think about her, because she will soon be his.