Chapter 4

Emery

My first week of working at Giovanni's was bearable since I already knew what to expect from the customers. I just had a few more weeks left to prove Robert Giovanni wrong about me and get that wage raise. 

Despite the somewhat ratchet customers, Robert was a crude man who voiced his thoughts without an ounce of concern on whether or not it sounded offensive. If even a hair was out of place on someone's head he would tell them to get out of his sight and fix the trainwreck they called hair. 

The other waitresses and chefs I befriended while working there hated him with good reason. He was an awful miserable man that had nothing good to say about anything or anyone. Not once did I hear him praise his staff for good work but plenty of times I heard him belittle them and their efforts. 

Turning the shower faucet off, I grabbed my towel and wrapped it around my body before moving to exit the bathroom. Today was my first day of University and I had no time for nerves because all my nerves were solely reserved for work.

As I pulled open the bathroom door I saw Jessie and Jett standing in the passageway. "Damn girl." Jessie whistled and I slammed the bathroom door shut. I could hear him and Jett laughing. 

"What are you two doing here!" Jessie and Jett came over every once in a while. They loved playing poker with Claire and Sam. 

"You can come out Em. We promise not to look," Jett said and I felt my cheeks begin to heat up.

"Liar," I heard Jessie scoff.

"What are you two morons doing here?" I heard Sam's voice. 

"If you've forgotten Samantha. We've been carpooling," Jessie said. 

"Buy a car," Sam deadpanned. 

"But then I won't get to see your beautiful face in the mornings." I could hear Sam's eyeroll.

"Claire," she banged on a door. "Get up! Or we going to be late."Em stop fooling around in there," she said knocking on the door.

"She's shy," Jessie chuckled.

"Don't be a dick. Let's just go wait downstairs," Jett said and I felt the corners of my lips curling upwards in a small smile.

"You're a pussy when you crushing bro." 

"Shut up," Jett said. "Emery we leaving. You can come out now." 

The hallway went quiet and I cracked the door open to see they were gone. I sighed and padded my way to my room, shutting my bedroom door behind me and wasting no time in pulling on a plain black t and blue jeans. 

I needed clothes suitable for running and moving quickly. I had to take the bus to work after classes. I got dressed and dried my hair with the blow dryer. 

My phone buzzed and my heartbeat picked up. Every time it did that I kept thinking it was Emmett, my brother. I picked my phone up to see it was my mother instead. "Hi mom," I answered.

"Hey, sweetheart. I just wanted to call and wish you luck on your first day. I miss you more and more each day Em." 

"Thanks, mom. I miss you too." I was happy to hear from my mom but I kept wishing I would get even a text from my older brother. 

"He still hasn't contacted you," she said reading the disappointment in my tone.

"He will come around." I tried to remain optimistic. 

"Of course he will sweetheart. He is your brother. He loves you. You know that right?" 

"I just wish he knew how to show it in other ways besides money." My brother sent us cheques every month. He somehow had it twisted in his head after my father's death that he was the man of the house. So he used to work after school and on the weekends. He would come home at two am every day and unbeknownst to him, I would sneak out of my room just to check on him. 

I remember the nights he would sit on his bed, struggling to keep his eyes open as he hunched over his textbooks to study. One night I snuck out to see him looking at a photo of our father as he cried. It broke my heart and the next day I got a job working at a diner, hoping it would allow him to take a break and just be a normal teenage boy. But he still didn't stop working and I realized, he didn't work because he wanted the money. He worked so he didn't have to come home. 

"Em sweetheart, are you crying?" My mother asked and I wiped at my cheeks. 

A frantic knock came on my bedroom door. "Mom I got to go. I'll call you later and tell you how it went." 

"Okay, sweetie. I love you." 

"Love you too." I hung up.

I moved to pull open my door and it was Claire. "Help," she said rushing into my room while holding onto her chin. 

"What happened?" I followed after her.

She stood in front of my mirror. Her eyes were wide with horror. "I got a pimple! On my chin!" She emphasized, squishing her chin and showing me the red bump.

I smiled. "Relax Clairie," I said going out of the room.

"Where are you going?" She yelled after me. I went into the bathroom and grabbed a tube of toothpaste. 

I walked back into the room to see her still standing in front of the mirror. "Here." I handed her the toothpaste. 

"Great now my chin will be minty fresh." 

"Just apply it and wait a while. It should come off." 

She sighed and took the tube from me. She applied some to her chin and I began cleaning up my room. Jessie stuck his head into my room. "Ur Claire you got a little something," he rubbed his chin. "Is that what you girls are taking so long for. You brushing your chins?" He sounded confused. 

Claire and I looked at each other before laughing. "You cute Jessie," Claire said and moved to walk out of my room.

"Really," he said following after her. "You think I'm cute," he repeated in a deep voice.

I grabbed my bag and stuffed in my textbooks before leaving my room.  I walked downstairs to see Jett and Sam waiting by the door.

"Claire!" Sam yelled. 

"Okay I'm coming!" Claire yelled back from upstairs.

"So ladies," Jessie said coming down the stairs with Claire behind him. Her chin was clear from the toothpaste and the pimple. "Econ students are at the opposite end of the sociology department. How are we doing this?" He asked.

"I'll take Em," Jett said and I looked up at him.

"On the bike. Is she up for that?" Jessie asked looking over at me.

"Have you ever been on a bike before?" Jett asked.

I shook my head. "No." 

"Guys I don't think that's a good idea?" Claire said. She and Sam have been overbearing ever since 'that night'.

I didn't want them to continue being this way around me. I could handle myself one mistake did not set the tone for the next four years of university. "It's okay. I'll go with Jett." 

Jett smiled. "You going to love it," he said and moved to walk out the house. 

As I followed after him Sam and Claire came up from behind me. "Are you sure?" Sam asked. 

"Positive." 

Jett mounted his bike and started it. He revved the engine and turned to look at me. "Here." He held out a helmet to me. "I'll use my brothers." 

"Don't stretch it with your big head," Jessie called out to him.

Jett flipped his brother off and snatched his helmet from the bike next to his. I placed the helmet on my head and began fastening the strap. "You need some help?" He asked when I couldn't get the strap through the silver hoop. 

He reached his hands out to my face touching my hands and stopping them from moving. He secured the strap and looked up at me. "Thanks," I said and he smiled.

"Get on." I moved behind him and swung one of my legs over the bike. I knew what came next. I've watched plenty of movies to know that I had to hold onto him.

"Emery," he said and I already felt my face turning red. "You have to hold me." 

Jessie snickered and I looked up to see Sam glaring at him. I wrapped my arms around Jett's midsection."You're a genius my brother," Jessie called out.

"Would you shut up," Jett barked. 

I saw a camera flash go off and I looked to see Jessie taking a picture. "Aren't they just adorbs ladies," he said

"Seriously what is wrong with you?" Sam asked him. "Get in the car. Weirdo." 

"I like it when you all commanding Samantha."

"Can I run him over?" Sam asked as Claire laughed. 

Jett sighed. "Okay, now when on the road I need you to lean in the same direction I do. We'll go slow."

The bike began to move and I closed my eyes. I was terrified. I had never been on a bike before and here I was doing risky things again. I was trusting someone I didn't know well with my life.

As the bike built up speed the wind whipped through my hair blowing it all over my face. The sound of the engine was loud in my ears and I kept my eyes closed. Jett kept his promise of going slow and eventually after a few turns I opened my eyes. "Em you holding a little tight," he laughed. 

"I'm sorry." 

"Are you scared?" He called over the sound of the bike's engine and the wind whipping past us. 

"I'm terrified," I admitted.

He drove into the university gates and parked his bike with all the others in the lot. I immediately moved to get off. 

"Now that wasn't so bad was it?" He grinned up at me.

Before I could say anything a group of girls crowded us. "Hey Jett," they sang. 

"Morning ladies," he grinned at them. 

"Cool motorcycle. Do you think I could get a ride sometime." 

I checked the time on my phone. Classes started in five minutes. I  began walking off in the direction of my first class leaving Jett to his friends. 

"Hey wait," I heard him call after me. "What's the rush we have classes together."

I didn't slow down. I kept walking. "Look I appreciate the ride and stuff but we don't have to pretend to be friends just because we came together." 

"Woah." His eyes widened. "We don't have to pretend. We can be friends." He grinned.

"Boys like you aren't friends with girls like me." 

"I'm sorry are you an expert on boys like me," he smirked. "What kind of boy am I anyway?" 

"The bad kind," I said and he laughed.

"Because I have a motorcycle?" 

"And a leather jacket," I pointed out. 

He removed his leather jacket and grinned at me. "Now I just have a motorcycle."

"Changing your clothes doesn't change you." 

"You don't even know me Em but I would like the chance to get to know you."

"Why?" I asked 

"Because I'm a sucker for awkward girls with brown eyes." I rolled my eyes and continued walking. "Wait," he chased after me. "Gosh, you walk fast." 

"Yes, Jett?" 

"Friends. That's all I'm asking for," he said and I sighed as I looked up at him. Being friends with him wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

"Fine." 

He clasped his hands together, looking pleased with my response. "So what class do we have first?"

"Sociology 101." 

"Yikes I can already feel the sleepiness," he groaned.

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After my last lecture, I was tired. I swung my backpack over my shoulder and walked out of the university doors with Jett. He had an oddly relaxed look on his face while he began talking about a motorcycle event he wanted to go to this Friday.

"So what do you think?" He asked catching me off guard. 

I zoned out."What do I think about what?" 

"Would you like to come with me if I get the tickets?"

I looked at my phone and realized I was getting late. "Um, we'll see but for now I'm late. Thank you so much for the ride. I'll see you tomorrow," I told him and he looked at me confused.

"Where are you rushing off to?" he called after me.

"Work remember," I replied, hurriedly. 

"I can drive you," he offered and I shook my head as I continued my walk to the bus stop, which was just off the campus grounds. If I wasn't going to rely on Claire and Sam to take me to work I most certainly wasn't going to rely on Jett. I needed to do this by myself.

Finally, after eight minutes I was off-campus grounds and standing by the bus stop. I waited twenty minutes keeping an eye on the time. I was going to be late if the bus didn't come soon.

Just as I was about to give up hope, the bus came into view and stopped next to me. I boarded it and took the first seat I saw.

I put my earphones on and waited for my stop to get off, still keeping my eyes on time. Giovanni was a grouch he wouldn't be so kind if I was a minute late and now I was twelve minutes late.

The bus finally stopped and I broke out into a sprint. The wind was brushing my face harshly and blowing my hair in every direction but I continued to run until Giovanni's came into view. 

Sprinting through the gates I smoothed out my clothes. When the doors parted I steadied my breath and walked inside. The sound of cutlery, chattering, and violin music immediately filled my ears and Robert's boiling face blocked my sight.

"You late," he growled in anger.

"Sorry sir," I said and he huffed. 

"Nevermind that. It's going to be a madhouse tonight. We are fully booked and I need you to meet Brenda in the kitchen," he said and then paused for a second while his eyes raked over my outfit. "And change into your damn uniform. This is no godforsaken hippy bar!" He declared and stormed off.

"Yes sir." 

I rushed to the worker's change rooms and went straight to my locker. The change rooms were decent. There were separate rooms for both males and females. The walls were painted purple, there were five showers, a row of lockers against one wall, cubicles for privacy, and a long brown bench. 

The change rooms were always kept clean. I went up to my long silver locker and opened it, taking out my uniform. Then I went into one of the cubicles and stripped out of my casual clothes. I was rushing because angry Robert equals even more miserable workers.

After I was done I did my hair and put it into a high bun leaving my fringe out. I wasn't a fan of my uniform. A white formal shirt and black skirt I had to wear with stockings. The shirt was a bit too tight and I spoke to Robert but I was certain he ignored me when I spoke.

I just wish I could've had pants instead of a skirt. I always hated stockings. When I was done getting ready I rushed out of the room and went straight into the kitchen to meet Brenda. From the corner of my eye, I could see the head chef bark orders to all the chefs. Something was on fire while another chef used a blow torch on something else. I found Brenda right in the back of the kitchen with a tray of drinks ready. 

I approached her station while she was wiping down the counter and she looked up. Brenda was a tall half Jewish and half Asian woman. She had long black hair she put in a high bun and soft facial features. She was the restaurant's mixologist and she was very welcoming to me on my first day. "Hey, Robert said I should meet you for the drinks," I said as I approached and she looked up at me.

"Yeah, it's crazy in here tonight. Can you take this up to the lounge for me," she said handing me the tray. "Table thirty-six." 

On my first day of work, I learned that the upper floors of the building were designed like a lounge for rich businessmen and women to smoke cigars and enjoy live music. 

I picked up the tray of Champagne flutes and walked slowly and cautiously out of the kitchen since everyone around me was rushing. I got into the elevator and pressed the number two which would take me to the second floor.

"Hold the door," Seth another one of the waiter's yelled and I put my hand between the lift doors causing them to part again. 

Seth was a student as well. He was studying microbiology and the chefs would often shoo him out of the kitchen because his favorite topic was bacteria. 

Seth walked into the elevator while pushing a cart that had foods covered with giant silver domes on it. "Thank you," he sighed in relief while straightening his black bow tie. He looked exhausted. 

"Hey, you doing okay?" I asked and he smiled sleepily.

"Nothing one of Brenda's homemade energy drinks can't fix," he said enthusiastically.

The elevator went up and with a ding, the lift doors parted and Seth rushed out with the cart. I walked over to table thirty-six that had an L-shaped couch around it. The couch was occupied by a large group of men and women. They barely looked up at me when I approached so I left their complimentary drinks on the table and left to go back down to the main restaurant.

Robert had told me that I should never bother them when they are deep in conversation. If they needed anything they would ask or press a button that was under their table causing a bell to go off at the front desk so a server would go to them.

"Emery get your head out of the clouds. We have customers," Robert roared as soon as I exited the elevator. "Follow me. You need to seat some customers."

I followed him back to the front desk and two men entered the building. One man was dressed in a powder blue button-down shirt and brown pants. His hair was neatly combed back and he was cleanly shaven. The other man was wearing a black button-down shirt and black dress pants. His hair was up in a bun and he had a beard covering his prominent jawline.

Robert began asking the man in the powder blue shirt if he had a reservation and my eyes fell to the man dressed in black. 

I couldn't help but stare at him. He certainly didn't look like all the other customers. He was rugged. He caught me staring at him and his face began to contort. At first, he smirked, then from smirking his eyebrows furrowed and he looked down at the ground, and then when he looked up again his eyes were narrowed into slits and his mouth was etched into a scowl. I immediately tore my eyes away from him and looked down at the ground.

I didn't mean to offend him but he was hard not to look at. He was tall and muscular. His shirt was tight highlighting his biceps and he had a tattoo on the side of his neck I couldn't see clearly due to his high collar.

"Emery show these gentlemen to their table," Robert's voice brought me out of my thoughts and I looked up to see him give me that fake smile he gives all the staff members whenever customers are around.

"Right this way," I said and the guy that looked like witchcraft at midnight fished his phone out of his pants pocket.

I walked them to a table for two next to one of the black tinted windows. They took their seats and the guy in the powder blue shirt looked up at me with a warm smile on his face while the younger-looking gentleman continued to stare down at his phone with his jaw clenched.

I probably offended him. I wanted to apologize but at the same time, I didn't want to make things weird. What if he wasn't even offended by the way I looked at him and he was just angry about something else. I certainly didn't want to have an awkward moment with a customer. Shaking away my ridiculous thoughts I decided I should just introduce myself and take their order.

"Hi, my name is Emery and I'll be your server today." The guy dressed in full black suddenly looked up at me from his phone with a raised eyebrow.

The way he looked at me seemed personal. Never had a stranger seem so mad at me before as if I'd wronged them. He was intimidating and I felt like getting as far away from him as possible, his mere presence was giving me anxiety for some reason. 

His eyes locked onto mine and my breathing slowed as green consumed me. Why did he seem so familiar yet foreign. I shook my head. "Drinks?" I asked and he looked back down at his menu.