Chapter Text
JACK POV:
I woke up to a blaring alarm from my roomate, Race.
“Anthony Higgins, turn that fucking alarm off or so help me God I will throw your phone out the window!” Race grumbled and rolled over in his bed. I rolled my eyes and grabbed his phone from the nightstand.
“Wait, Jack, please!” Race screams in a hoarse voice. “I’ll do anything!” I smiled mischievously and thought for a minute.
“Will you do my dirty laundry?” Race’s eyes widened at the question.
“Jack, why are you like this? Don’t use Voltron against me!” He whines. I laughed at him as he stumbled out of his bed and weakly grabbed at his phone in my hand.
“Seriously, Jack, I have class today. Give me my phone!” With a yell, he snatched the phone out of my hand. I finally got a good look at Race. He had slept in his clothes and his hair was an absolute mess. Race glared at me and shoved his phone in his back pocket.
“Just let me go to class.” I grinned and he walked out of our dorm room on his way to dance class.
I stand up from my bed and think about the day ahead of me. No classes today; whoop dee doo. That means homework, calling mom, and work.
Work!
I pulled on a plain black shirt and a pair of jeans. I grabbed my apron off the hook and sprinted out the door. I jumped the stair railing and got off of campus at a jog. Before I left school completely, I stopped by Race’s studio. He looked up from the barre and grinned at me. I started making faces at him through the window. I was in the middle of sticking my tongue out at Race when we heard a shout from the back of the studio.
“Jack Kelly!” The instructor yelled. My eyes widened and I tore off campus.
“Mornin’, gents!” I shouted as I sauntered through the break room door. My coworkers rolled their eyes and smiled at me.
“What about the ladies?” Romeo yells back. “And those in between and not at all?”
“How very deep o’ you, Romeo!” Elmer shouts.
“Mornin’, Jack!” Crutchie shouted back at me. He stood up, grabbed his crutch, and hobbled over to me. “How’s Sprace?”
“They’s good,” I reply. “Their anniversary is tomorrow.” Crutchie nods in approval.
“Do you know what they’s doin?”
“Race is skipping school, but I have no clue what Spot’s doin’. Probably the same.”
“Swayt.” Our conversation collapsed into a comfortable silence, drinking in the quiet moment before our manager caught us all lounging around in the break room.
I looked around the room at all my coworkers. Katherine; an aspiring journalist working her way through school like the rest of us. Romeo; dreaming of becoming a fashion designer but minoring in dance. Elmer was just there. He’s older than all of us and already had a career and a boyfriend. (Y’all know who that is).
Crutchie’s been my best friend since the beginning. We went through the foster care system together, were in the same schools, applied to college together, and got accepted into the same school. It’s kind of a dream come true, spending my entire life with my best friend.
“Ready for new day of work?” Crutchie asked with his signature smile.
“Nope,” I said with the same large smile. He just laughed as Kath unlocked and opened the door to the restaurant.
“Get off your asses and go to work!” We do the diner cheer and walk out of the break room.
The day was moving quite well; I was only yelled at by two old people today, that's a new record.
“Hey, Jack!” Kath yelled across the kitchen. I looked over at her walking towards me.
“Yea?” I shouted back, just as loud.
“There’s a couple of orders at table seventeen. Get them there.” I saluted and smirked as she stormed away. Crutchie hands me two plates from the kitchen while laughing.
“Don’t be so loud, we’ll lose customers.”
“We already lose customers.”
“True.” I balanced the plates on my hands and stumbled my way to the back of the diner. I reached table seventeen to see Spot and some other dude in the booth. It almost looks romantic.
“Wow Spot, Am I interrupting somethin’’?” I ask. “I sure hope you’re not cheating on your boyfriend the day before your anniversary. Especially with dis hottie.” Spot’s mouth drops open. The mystery cutie turned bright red.
“Jack! Stop flirting with my bandmate.” He said while I put the plates of food down in front of them.
“So this is the famous bandmate we keep hearin’ all about,” I say with a laugh. “Jack Kelly, at your service.”
“JACK!” Kath screams. I wink at the mystery cutie and quickly walk away from the table. When I get back to the kitchen, Kath is glaring at me with her hands on her hips. I’m in trouble.
“This is, what, the fifth time this week you flirted with a customer?” She accused. I smiled and shrugged my shoulders.
“I can’t help it,” I said. “He’s cute, she’s cute, but Spot’s bandmate is really somethin’.” Kath rolled her eyes.
“Just make sure you’re being productive.” Kath said, giving me a death stare. I just smiled at her and walked away to wait on my next table.
I went and grabbed the drinks for the party of four at table fourteen. I put them all on the black try and walked towards the table. I wonder what Spot’s bandmate’s name is; he’s cute. I wonder if Spot’ll give me is number. I really hope he does, who wouldn't want that guy's number. I like how mysterious he is.
While I was thinking, I didn’t realize where I was going and walk straight into someone. All four drinks were spilled all over my only work apron. The person I ran into was apologizing profusely. I look up to see none other than the mystery cutie.