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It was Thursday again.
Chad’s least favorite day of the week.
Thursdays were the day that this one guy with circular glasses too big for his face and his sweet grandma came in, and only the grandma ordered food each time.
At first, Chad thought they were being cheap and sharing, but after the second week he noticed the lanky geek didn’t even ask for a fork or take a single bite off his grandma’s plate.
The kid always asked for a sweet tea, and he hardly even finished that either.
They always tipped well, so that wasn’t much of an issue at least.
But it bothered Chad to no end that the lanky fucker didn’t bother to even try anything, his grandma seemingly had the means to pay for it so why wouldn’t he eat?
The geek’s name was Herman, Chad found out once from eavesdropping. What a dumb name for a dumb bitch. No taste in all directions.
Robert, the host, brought the two to their table, a corner booth as per usual, and Chad glared from a distance. Robert smiled as they sat down, flagging down their waitress Mandy.
“You look like you’re having a great day” Janelle smirked from behind Chad.
“Shouldn’t you be working on prep? We have that party of 12 coming in at 8, Janelle.” Chad crossed his arms as he ordered her around.
Janelle scoffed and went back to work, knowing not to get on Chad’s bad side on a Thursday.
Nobody connected the dots as to why Thursdays sucked for everyone at Open Flame, but they were always the worst due to Chad’s sour mood.
Chad kept glaring at the grandma-grandson duo until he noticed Herman grabbing something out of a bag, it looked like a cardboard carton… did this kid bring food into Chad’s restaurant?
Chad stormed towards their corner booth, fuming.
“Hey. No outside food.” Chad spat out, pointing at the carton that Herman was holding, the kid’s hands shaking from being told off.
“Ah- I- I mean- sorry… it’s just- it’s- it’s kinda food? But it’s also- it’s not exactly- I mean…” Herman stuttered and stammered through an attempt at an explanation.
It was his feeding tube feed. Nutritional slop that goes down his nose and throat to keep him alive. He could always have it later but he’d gotten comfortable coming here with his grandma and thought it would be fine to have, especially since they’d asked Mandy if it’d be okay and she said it would be.
“Oh dear…” Herman’s grandma started, “that lovely waitress said it’d be fine last week, it’s just Herm’s feeding tube meal, it’s not like we brought a sandwich in, just a smoothie of sorts.”
…feeding tube? Chad knew the kid had something sticking out of his nose that was medical, it’s for eating?
That’s kind of sad.
“So you can’t eat?” Chad hummed, understanding a little more now.
“Oh- oh I can but- has to be near-liquid- liquid based diet. Can’t- I- I can’t have anything I need-need to chew.” Herman smiled awkwardly.
“So why don’t you ever order a soup? Or mashed potatoes?” Chad crossed his arms, still determined to get Herman to try his award winning food.
“I mean- I don’t- you would- I don’t want to be a bother. You- you’d have to strain it and th- that’s just a huge- big hassle honest- honestly…” the poor kid stammered his explanation.
“Do you have any allergies?” Chad pushed forward.
“Oh? No- no… I mean- I can only eat-drink- eat easy things… I mostly have smooth-smoothies or strained canned soup…” Herman trailed on.
Canned soup? That’s pathetic.
“I’m going to make you something. You come in here every week for almost a year and you don’t try my food? It’s insulting-! I’ve won many awards, I can make a soft meal for a weak stomach.
“Slow stomach…” Herman corrected, like the nerd he is. “I have something called gastroparesis.”
“Isn’t paresis paralysis?” Chad tilted his head, confused, “well, whatever. Did Mandy take your order yet?”
“She hasn’t dearie… I’ll have the lobster.” Herman’s grandmother smiled, “and bring extra butter.
Wow this woman had expensive taste. What was her job that she could afford to come here weekly?
Chad went to the kitchen on a mission. He wanted to prep a savory tomato soup for Herman, knowing it’d probably be the best thing the kid has ever eaten in his entire life, so he got started on it. Starting off, he just made his usual tomato soup, lighter on the salt just in case but a little heavier on other spices to add flavor where texture wouldn’t be…
Then he just had to strain it finely, and your regular sieve just wouldn’t do.
“Janelle, where’s the cheese cloth?” Chad practically demanded of his line cook, “I’m making a soup for that kid that doesn’t eat.”
“What kid? They’re also in the bottom drawer in front of you.” Janelle honestly didn’t pay attention to the customers at all, staying in the back cutting and prepping and cooking.
Chad scoffed at the fact that Janelle didn’t know about the rest of the restaurant’s favorite kid, but he moved to strain the soup base before it sat for too long.
Once everything was ready, Chad himself chose to serve the dishes to the duo, hoping to see Herman’s reaction to an actual meal to taste in front of him.
Herman grabbed the spoon apprehensively, whisking it through the soup to ensure it was all liquid. It was warm.
He took a spoonful as Chad watched, and hummed after swallowing.
“…thank you. I like it.”
Chad doesn’t know why that made his face feel warm, but it did.
“Good. Let me know next time if there’s anything you want to try.” Chad whispered his words, “…as long as we’re not too busy.”
Herman nodded and took another spoonful. The taste of the soup made up for the lack of texture, not that Herman let himself taste his meals much often opting out of that and using the feeding tube instead.
His grandma smiled, “Herm, we’ve just got the sweetest staff here, maybe they can get you into eating more often, it’ll be good for your mental health to actually taste what you eat.”
…Herm? Huh. What a cute nickname.
Cute? No. Stupid. Stupid nickname. What a dumb nickname for a dumb loser who didn’t even have enough confidence to ask for soup broth.
<<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>>
Two weeks later, Herm had a new request.
“…can I have mashed potatoes? As fine as you can make them, no bacon or fancy stuff like you have on the menu.” Herm mumbled, his stutter getting better lately around the chef.
Chad had gotten used to greeting the duo every Thursday at 7:15, and would often take their order, which Mandy laughed about.
Thursdays were becoming a good day, a better day.
“I thought you could only have liquids, Hermie.” Chad questioned, an eyebrow raised, the nickname just slipping out.
“Doctor said- he said I could try more… just has to be- gotta be mushy foods still. It’s fine if you can’t-”
“Of course I can, lighten up. I’ll go make it now. What do you want, Grammy?” Chad smirked, addressing Herm’s grandma.
“The garlic steak sounds nice, well done.” Herm’s grandma smiled, “and you can call me June.”
Chad nodded and ran to the kitchen to work on the simple orders, he usually didn’t let Janelle even touch that table’s orders anymore, wanting to prep and make it all himself.
Once the food was done for both guests, Chad walked out with the trays, struggling a little bit with them as he mumbled to himself that Mandy makes it look easy.
Herm smiled at Chad, thanking him with a nod. It made something in Chad’s chest flutter, but he was electing to ignore that reaction.
Herm took a forkful, put it in his mouth, and slowly swallowed.
He didn’t throw it up, that’s a win.
June smiled, so happy to see her grandson reach this milestone within his disability, and she just wished it would get even easier for him.
Herm looked teary eyed while eating. This was a lot for him.
The real test would be the next few days to see how his body reacts but this? This moment was huge for him.
“Thank you, Chad.” Herm mumbled.
“What? Of course. It’s my job to feed everyone here. Why would you- no need to thank me.” Chad was the one to stammer now.
“You’re a really good chef.”
…and so it began.
<<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>>
It was a purée and a soup every week, while June picked whatever expensive item of her choosing for herself. It became a routine.
Until one Thursday, where June came in alone.
“Sweetheart, can you make me a couple of the tomato soups to go? The ones you make for Herm” June asked, a smile on her face.
Why was she smiling if her grandson wasn’t here?
“Where’s Herm?” Chad embarrassingly had to ask, even if he kept telling Robert he didn’t care that much about the kid despite going above and beyond for him.
“Oh, he had surgery on Friday, he just felt better to stay at home with all the drains and bandages on him.” June smiled while answering.
Surgery? And Chad didn’t know about this? What kind of surgery? Was it for his gastroparalysis or whatever it’s called?
They were backed up in the kitchen but Chad still managed to make 5 tomato soups to go, as well as June’s meal to go.
“I hope he’s okay. You’ve been taking care of him?” Chad passed the to go bag to June.
“Oh, I’m too old to help much. Herm’s always the one to take care of me, after all. We’ve got a friend of his staying over to take care of him.” June grabbed the bag, standing up to leave.
“Tell him I said hi.” Chad grumbled, totally not jealous.
At home, June walked into Herm’s room and set aside a takeout container of tomato soups for him, smiling at Courtney who was watching over Herm, checking the bandages on his chest.
“You doing better, sweetie? Chad says hi.” June walked to the door, waiting for an answer before she went to grab him a spoon.
“Who’s Chad?” Courtney asked, crossing her arms.
“He- he’s just the chef at the restaurant we go to-!” Herm blushed and held his arms out in defense.
“Careful, sweetie, you don’t want to aggravate your chest… …and he also owns the place, don’t forget, give him some more credit.” June smirked, knowing.
“Oh, cute. That high end restaurant you always go to? You should take me sometime. I know Herm can afford it.” Courtney half joked.
<<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>>
Chad was sitting in the freezer. Thinking.
Chad was just. Thinking. In the freezer.
Herm brought a girl today.
This was the worst Thursday to date.
June wasn’t even there, it was just Herm and the girl. Whatever her name was.
Was that his girlfriend?
Did Herm have a girlfriend?
Fuck, this upset Chad so much.
Why did it upset him…?
Janelle suddenly walked in, “what’s going on? I heard gossip that you’re in a bad mood.”
“I’m not-!” Chad tried to defend, “I just… I don’t like change or whatever and the kid that comes with his grandma brought a random girl instead.”
“Probably a date.” Janelle whacked Chad on the back of the head, “not your problem.”
Right. Not his problem.
…so why was he near having a meltdown in the fucking meat freezer again?
Chad huffed and walked out.
“So… what will you two lovebirds be having today?” Chad asked the corner booth, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.
“Not lovebirds, first off,” the girl spat out, “I’m Courtney, Herm’s friend. Just his friend. Heard a lot about you though-!”
“Court-” Herm’s face flushed in embarrassment.
“I’ll have whatever you think is good, I’m not used to fancy.” Courtney tossed the menu down unceremoniously.
“…do you eat steak?” Chad asked, not caring enough to make this bitch something special. At least she wasn’t dating Herm, not like he cared. Not like he should care.
“Yeah, steak’s fine. Rare.” Courtney smiled, poking at Herm, “what are you getting?”
“Uh… whatever soup is fine. Just soup.” Herm mumbled.
Chad hummed and went to cooking, ordering Janelle to make a medium rare steak.
Mandy brought out the dishes today, giving the excuse they’re a little backed up in the kitchen for Chad to come out, which was a lie. They all new their boss was jealous of Courtney and didn’t want to interact with her.
Courtney looked down at her steak with a minor frown. At least it was edible.
“I think you’re the chef’s favorite, Herm.” Courtney dug into her steak, “I mean, bitch didn’t even get my order right.”
“Don’t call him a bitch, he’s really nice.” Herm mumbled while sipping on his liquefied french onion soup, “they are busy today, it was probably an honest mistake.”
Courtney nodded and hummed, “how’s the compression shirt feel going out? Your bandages good?”
Herman blushed.
“Don’t talk about it in public, Court-! I don’t want-” Herman flushed and begged.
“You don’t want Mr. Shirt Half Open finding out? Please. Who cares?” Courtney crossed her arms, dumbfounded, “you like the chef, don’t you?”
“He- he’s nice- okay? He cooks for me specially and he says silly things and-”
“Can I get you a refill?” Mandy smirked, clearly having overheard the conversation.
Herm turned red.
“I- uh- um- I’m good- th- thank- thanks.” Herman stammered through.
<<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>>
“Just write your number on the check next time, trust me.” Mandy pushed Chad, lovingly.
“Yeah, our food can’t be that good blended for the kid to keep coming-” Robert snorted.
“I don’t blend it for him I make him something new, jackass, and why would I give him my number anyways?” Chad crossed his arms petulantly.
“You’re like a baby. We all know you two like each other.” Robert smirked and raised an eyebrow at Chad.
Oh. Like each other? But that means-
“Fine. I’ll try it out.”
<<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>>
Herm didn’t know what to text Chad at first when he got his number, opting out of words and just sending pictures of the many cats he has at home. It was going great until-
Incoming call.
“H-hello?”
“What are those needles in the background? I know you have stomach issues but I thought that was just the feeder tube and- just explain.” Chad grumbled, clearly worried.
“Oh- uh- I’m- I’m trans- transgender. It’s just- it’s testosterone-!” Herm defended, shaking, “I’m sorry- I should of told you sooner before whatever this is but-”
“Oh. Me too.” Chad confessed.
Him… too? He’s also trans?
“I’ve seen you with basically your chest out though-! It doesn’t look like you had-” Herm tilted his head, so confused.
“Peri-areolar or whatever it’s called. Scars are around my nips.” Chad let out a laugh.
Oh. Herm giggled. That was… nice.
“I just recently got my top surgery- it- it still looks bad but-”
“It always starts off bad, Hermie. It’ll heal.” Chad reassured over the phone.
“Yeah… yeah.” Herm mumbled.
“Hey. How do you feel about coming over?”