Chapter 5: Chef-Mode

Dillon typically sat as far in the back as he could. It was an ingrained habit to avoid the bus' camera, because on the bus home Kat, Dillon, and some buddies would mess with the bus driver and the other students on the bus. What could he say? It was good entertainment on the way home. For example, one time Kat rolled her chapstick all the way up and flicked it from the back bus into the bus driver's perm. She didn't notice until the next day when she'd apparently slept on it all night.

  The vice principal went back to look at the camera footage, but because of the town's terrible mismanagement of public funds and maintenance, the camera was broken. The broken part blocked Kat, Dillon, and the others from view. Everyone knew that they'd done it, but when confronted with the video the first time, they easily talked their way out of it. The best part was they didn't manage to get the camera replaced for another three months. It was a grand time.

  Once Dillon had claimed the second to last seat on the left, he pulled out his phone and swiped it open. What should he say? He couldn't just ignore it out of nerves. Tony had mentioned he moved here from Pittsburgh. Dillon had told him about the area and all about the school. Kind of like a student chaperone. Dillon couldn't imagine how tough it could be to adapt and fit into an unknown area. He stared at the text and scratched his chin. That second one was a doozy. He seemed like a confident alpha type person with a lot of bravado, yet Tony seemed just as nervous about his acknowledgement as he was about Tony's.

  The fact he was worried that Dillon might turn him down because of his age warmed Dillon's heart a bit. It felt like Tony was just as happy about their friendship as he was and didn't want to mess it up. Yet another sentiment the both of them shared. The thought prompted Dillon to action, and he started to formulate his reply. 

  Dillon 7:18 AM: Haha no worries man we've all been new somewhere, right? I could thank you in turn. I care bout you dude your age means nothing to me. I'm game to hang with my friend anytime :D

  Tony 7:21 AM: Sweet youre a pretty cool dude. If you wanna swing by the shop im here till 4. Chef me up somethin good!

  7:22 AM: Im feelin somethin chicken!

  Dillon 7:24 AM: Yea, that sounds dope! I get off the bus around 2 since its Saturday. Haha bitch you gonna pay for it? Fine if you want chicken, go slaughter one and bring it to me de-feathered lol.

  Tony 7:33 AM: Cool i look forward to it. Hey careful what you offer! Haha ttyl.

  Dillon felt equal parts surprised, nervous, and elated. He wondered what they would do. He got off the bus at around two, and Tony would be at the shop till four he said. That gave them a good couple of hours to play with. Or would they do something after? For now, Dillon put it out of his thoughts. He had to worry about class and that stupid talk he was supposed to have with Kat. Dillon knew that once Kat fixated on something, there was zero chance she would let it go or forget. At the same time, he felt a rush of affection for Kat. She noticed and cared enough about him to fixate on him in the first place.

  The bus arrived at the tech school at almost a quarter to eight. After Kat and he had said their farewells till that afternoon, Dillon got changed and quickly went into chef-mode once he stepped into the kitchen. One of his favourite modes. The typical Saturday lesson was to simply run the restaurant and kitchen, basically by themselves. Many had thought and agreed that it was all some sadistic joke the teachers had invented. They got to watch a bunch of stressed student chefs go insane with the workload while they got to do nothing. It was really busy on Saturdays, too. The students' families came into the restaurant to see what their kids could do, which put even more pressure on them. Well, aside from Dillon, as he was in chef-mode and impervious to panic.

  It was busy enough that their six hour shift had flown by. Next thing Dillon knew, the head chef warned them all they had to wrap up their current tasks and clean up within the next fifteen minutes. Each student got a different thing to clean every week, and with seventeen students total, cleanup didn't take that long. Oftentimes, they were done with time to spare and were able to snack on the extra food. Though, Dillon had 'sampled' his ingredients the whole time and would usually be full by the end. He was a bottomless pit and he needed the extra calories to sustain chef-mode. 

  Dillon would eat anything delicious, no matter how much, and he was proud of it. Perhaps he should get a tattoo of that sentence? It was a terrible habit for a diabetic to have, but the allure of tasty things was just too strong. So he would compensate with insulin later, after he checked his blood sugar. A lot of times his blood sugar was fine if he didn't compensate, since fast-paced physical work could lower his blood sugar, too. Dangerously low if he wasn't careful. 

  On the way out of the culinary wing after they had been dismissed, Dillon followed standard protocol and shook his carpentry buddies' hands. Every day they would talk and banter while they walked out to the busses together. Who knew what kind of trouble they'd start today? If there would be any, since Kat wanted to play therapist. As Dillon and his buddies talked and started down the automotive corridor, he was brought back to the day he met Tony. 

  There were no words to describe how terrified and nervous he was, because Tony had starred in his fantasies for a while. He found him beyond hot. Tony was exactly his type, the very picture of masculine sex appeal. A man with a low, smooth voice, nice muscle but soft as well. Dillon was hypnotized by his lightly tanned skin and eyes. The thing that he was crazy about the most were his chest and belly, notably the happy trail of fine dark hair that led from his naval to right below his waist line. Dillon had only seen it a couple times when Tony had taken a moment to stretch, which caused his shirt to ride up a bit. The guy dripped masculinity constantly. Tony was one of those contractor type guys with the thin beeter tank tops and tan or black steel toe work boots. The kind of guy that catcalls to chicks as they pass by, which Tony had actually done on a couple occasions.

  Personality wise, Tony was quite cocky. Definitely an alpha male, and was the womanizer to end all womanizers. Dillon thought at least part of his bravado and confidence were defensive mechanisms, though largely they were genuine. He had shown a touch of insecurity in his texts earlier that morning. That was fine with Dillon. He wouldn't pry. Tony had to open up to him of his own accord. If he pressed him at all, it could push Tony away. Either way, that bravado and confidence still worked on the ladies, not to mention Dillon himself. He seemed to have a new girl on his arm every week.

  That observation annoyed Dillon. It made him feel something he'd never felt before. He didn't know what that emotion was. The fact that those random bitches that came and went like the seasons got to see Tony's personal sides that he never would, drove him crazy. They all got to see the most intimate parts of his personality and be so close to him in so many ways. It wasn't about the sex for Dillon. No, he felt this unknown emotion when he thought about how those whores didn't give a shit about him at all. Otherwise, surely one would have stayed. They only wanted his damn body. Dillon truly cared about him as a friend and as a person. He'd love Tony so much more, but he wouldn't want a sick freak of a teenager. Tony would be disgusted by that. He could never find out. If he did, Dillon could kiss their friendship goodbye.