Hey all, long time no see. Literally. Started this story ages ago and I don't know I just lost interest in writing it even thought I had originally been super excited about it. Well, recently I've been itching to write again and well with the talk of twitter mutuals, here we are! The long awaited chapter 2! I work full time so I'll try to update this as often as I can, I promise! I really want to continue it. Hope y'all enjoy :)
If you asked me three years ago if I thought I would be waitressing at the local Hooters in McKinley with my best friend Caroline, I'd tell you you're crazy; but here I am working yet another late night at the crappy, degrading chain restaurant just to make rent and pay for my time at Whitmore. I stand by the bar waiting on the drink order I placed for table 24 and tug down on the ridiculously short-shorts my manager calls a uniform and search the dimly lit restaurant for Care. Care senses my wandering eyes and turns around from her table of frat boys and gives me her famous 1000-kilowatt smile, one of which I know too well means she's going to ask for a favor. I roll my eyes and turn back towards the bar just in time to see Tyler setting down my tables drink order.
"You know, you could just tell her no for once, right?" Tyler pipes up while nodding his head towards the tall blonde now walking towards the bar.
"And how's that working out for you, Ty?" I crack at him, seeing his face flush red before grabbing my drink tray ready to make a beeline for my table.
Tyler's had a crush on Caroline since the day we stepped in 3 years ago to apply, which is no surprise considering how beautiful my best friend is. Caroline could have men drop to their knees for her, even if she showed no interest in them. Tyler is one of those men and I feel sorry for him, I tell Caroline she shouldn't lead him on the way she does, but she always tells me to live a little. From helping us move into our new apartment to covering for Care when she calls out hungover, Tyler's done it all with nothing in return.
"Elena!" A thin hand juts out and grabs my wrist, grabbing my attention and causing me to almost drop my tray of drinks. Caroline's perky self stands to the side of me, her hand still gripping my wrist, her eyes glistening with excitement and I groan wondering what she'll say next.
She must sense my lack of enthusiasm and drops my wrist before saying, "Oh, come on! Don't give me that look, you don't even know what I'm going to say!"
"I'm sure whatever it is isn't going to make me the money I'm losing in tips right now."
"Lena, you work way too much," Not even noticing the few steps I've progressively made towards my table who seems to be growing impatient she continues with whatever spiel she is on. "Those cute boys back there- "Care turns around and gives them a flirty wave before focusing back on me, "-invited us to a party tonight! We should go, celebrate being back on campus for a month!"
"Care, those guys look like college Freshman." I say reluctantly, uninterested in whatever Friday night Kappa Omega Delta party Chad was probably having. "Plus, I have to finish my research draft this weekend and you know I picked up Jules's shift."
Caroline opens her mouth to argue with me before I begin to walk away with my tray of drinks, my arm beginning to seriously ache from holding it up for so long. "I'm not having this conversation again Care, it's almost every other week random guys asks 'us' to parties and I tell you no." I almost think she's going to follow me to my table to try to convince me, but she storms off towards the kitchen, huffing and mumbling under her breath.
After apologizing to my table and placing their food order I sneak into the back to check my phone and relax before the nightly rush of college students and repeat pervs. Caroline quickly walks by me, pretending to not notice I'm there and I can tell she's going to be pissy for the last 2 hours of our shift. I sigh, scrolling through the numerous messages from Bonnie telling me she won't be home this weekend, Jenna asking me how my week was and even Jeremy telling me he "missed me or whatever." I smile to myself at the last one, knowing Jer sometimes goes weeks, even months, without answering me and prefers alone time; ever since our parents passed away, he tends to spend hours drawing or going on runs and can I blame him?
I think back to that faithful evening Care drunkenly pulled me into a cab and decided we wouldn't be broke college students anymore. Next thing I realized we were inside the downtown Hooters filling out job applications on a dare because my righteousness had to rear its ugly head when Caroline blurted out I wouldn't last one week there. That Elena would've still had fun, would've been the life of the party, I thought to myself before shaking the negative thoughts from my head and remembering I'm still the same Elena. If that's what you have to tell yourself to sleep at night, the voice taunts in my head and I run my hand down my face before tucking my phone into my apron, walking back out in the slowly filling restaurant.
"Elena! Table 32 needs service" My manager barked at me as I stepped foot outside of the breakroom door. I often wondered if my manager, Logan, despised me, he was always adding extra tables to my sections, having me stay later than my shift and I always noticed his demeanor change compared to when he talked to me versus Jules or Caroline. I was sure he was waiting for me to slip up, so he could fire me, but if he fired me Caroline would quit, and he definitely wouldn't want that! Caroline brings in so much business for him! "Now!"
I nod quickly and make my way to the back corner of the restaurant near the bar, yet another table not in my typical section but I make no complaints. I expect a rowdy group of frat boys ready to start their Friday night and instantly stop in my tracks when I recognize Alaric's side profile. My heart races and palms begin to sweat, and I turn on the balls of my heels, looking to go anywhere but his table. Alaric and Jenna both know I waitress but just don't know it's at a Hooters and in all 3 years working here I have never once ran into either of them and tonight was NOT the night I would expose that.
Caroline walks by me as I'm trying to hide in a darkened corner of the restaurant and I grab her arm, pulling her into the small space.
"Hey! What th-"
"Care, I need help-"
"Oh, so now you want to talk. That's funny because when I wanted to talk earlier about having fun and going out with my best friend she completely blew me off"
"Care, I don't have the time for this" I plead with her, trying to get her to look me in the eyes. "Ric is here and I can't wait on his table and-"
"Ric's here? Where?!" Caroline practically shouts over the music and dozen flat screens dawning all the walls. I lightly smack her arm, but she doesn't even notice as her eyes search the patrons for the familiar face. "Oh! I see him! Let's go over and say hi!" She begins to drag me by the forearm, but I unlatch her grip from me, fuming.
"This isn't funny Care!" The mischief gleams in her eyes and I'm reminded of how petty Caroline can get when she doesn't get her way. "Look," I sigh, exasperated. "I'm sorry I cut you off earlier and that I don't want to go out but please, take my table or ask Jules to, please!"
I almost think Caroline might throw the white flag in for a second before she turns on her heels, her blonde curls floating graciously behind her.
"Tell Ric and whoever that cute guy he's with I said hi." And with that she's lost in the crowd of customers and I'm left alone in the corner debating on serving Ric's table or just leaving for the night and really give Logan a reason to fire me.
After what feels like forever deciding, I make my way to Alaric's table before I can talk myself out of it. With two menus clutched tightly in my hand I go through the possible scenarios in my head, the one where I just don't make eye contact, trying to hide behind a menu sounds like the winner but is unrealistic. Within steps of their table, I begin to make out pieces of their conversation and realize who the "cute guy" Caroline was talking about.
"I don't know why you picked here of all places for our Friday night drink, Damon."
"Well, you see bud, they have a very and I mean very pretty wait staff here and if you haven't noticed I am a- ". Damon clears his throat for emphasis, allowing Ric to roll his eyes at his drinking buddy across the booth from him. "man, with needs."
"You could just try going on a date with Andie you know, Jenna said she's a really nice girl. Works at the news station and- "
"I'll stop you right there Ric. If I wanted to be in a relationship I would still be engaged to Katherine and we all know how that turned out."
Before Alaric is given the chance to make a cheap joke about Damon's experiences in relationships I interrupt their conversation, letting them know I'll be serving their table.
"Welcome to Hooters, my name is Elena, I'll be your server for the evening." I mumble over my name, hoping both men won't look up from the menus I just placed down in front of them and realize who is serving them. "Can I start you both off with something to drink? Our seasonal flavored beers and malts have just been stocked for the Fall." I draw circles on my notepad, distracting myself from looking at the table, not wanting to look at either Alaric out of fear of being scolded despite being 23, or Professor Salvatore simply because he's too beautiful to not get lost in his ocean blue eyes.
I'm startled from my drawing when I hear a throat clear and look up to see piercing blue eyes meeting my brown ones. I'm suddenly very aware of what I'm wearing as a uniform, a very deep v white t-shirt with the hooters logo on the front and extremely orange short-shorts with white sneakers. Damon's eyes wander down my body and seem to widen slightly when they reach the cleavage of my shirt—this is far from what Professor Salvatore sees me wearing to class regularly and I'm feeling flushed all over as his eyes quickly work their way down the rest of me, taking in my long legs before meeting my eyes again, this time with a hint of amusement dancing behind his blue orbs.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Miss Gilbert."
It takes me a moment to realize I was holding my breath as its hitched in the back of my throat. Alaric's eyes jump up from the menu and are now burning into my profile, I can tell he's waiting for me to say something, anything but I physically can't.
"Elena…" Ric's voice is deep, his tone serious.
I feel like a deer caught in headlights. I don't know what to do, what to say. Just say something you fool! Don't just stand here! I yell at myself in my mind, trying to remember the slight courage I had when walking towards their table.
"Hi Ric," I squeak. "Professor Salvatore" I nod, slightly bitter that he brought Ric's attention to me. Sure, it was probably bound to happen but maybe I could've had more time, at least maybe until their entrees were brought over. Damon's small smirk says he's enjoying all of this.
Damon's always been one to enjoy conflict and confrontation, even if it doesn't involve him. During his lectures he'll purposely pose questions that will lead to student quarrels just because he loves to ruffle ones' feathers. I always found it funny with him simply because I was never on the receiving end of it, but now I just want to smack that grin right off his perfect symmetrical face! I huff in his general direction, earning a soft chuckle from him, turning back towards Ric who now looks like he might combust at any moment.
"Elena, please…please tell me this isn't the waitressing job you've told your Aunt and I about for the last 3 years?"
After Caroline's little hissy-fit about those barely legal boys and now Ric being ready to drag me off back to my childhood home in Mystic Falls I'm suddenly feeling drained of any energy to put up a fight and slide into the booth next to Ric. I slowly nod my head, hoping if I didn't verbally confirm it, it wouldn't be true.
Alaric runs a hand down his face, sighing loudly to himself. "Jenna's going to love this one," he mumbles.
"Pfft, I know, right"
"Well, I think we need some shots! What do you say Ric! Gilbert, get us the best bourbon you have at this shitty bar." Damon pipes in and I snort at his demand.
"Best bourbon?! You won't get anything worth more than a $40 bottle here…" I shake my head but don't move from my seat. He couldn't possibly want top grade bourbon at Hooters.
"Well what're you waiting for, bring the whole bottle!"
Let me know what you think in the comments! Next chapter will continue from this scene! Thanks :)