ROLEPLAY HQ - working-in-heat

Andre was tired, sweaty, and just down right done with working at this fuckin' job... He was sitting out back of the building, the designated smoking area for the crew of the restaurant. Although he didn't smoke, he just needed a minute away from everyone and everything that was going on in the place. He couldn't breath in that kitchen right now. He knew he was low man on the chef's totem pole, but he couldn't help but feel like he deserved more respect than what he was getting. Sitting on the table part of a picnic table that was sitting out front, his six foot, four inch frame seemed to crumple into itself when he tried to keep his feet on the bench part, but he found his head on his knees as he looked into the employee side of the parking lot. It was only 3pm and he was already ready to quit. This job was suppose to just be a summer thing in his freshman year at the local university, but so far, this job had followed him his whole life at the university so far and he couldn't help but feel stuck with it. He was just holding out hope that he would get the 'work study' job that was promised to him last semester, but so far, no dice. But, it did lead to good things sometimes like... her. When she pulled in to the parking lot, he knew her car immediately, but as she walked toward him, he couldn't help but put on a smile, "Run while you still can."

13:32

@Loni

It was already going to be a rough day after waking up. Woke up late, couldn't find her apron, and then she just couldn't get her hair up right. She had a meal before leaving for work, you never know when you can eat next. Especially as a waitress, constantly running around. When she pulled up, she saw Andre sitting outside. That wasn't good...that could mean it's chaos in there. And her suspicions came true when she exited the car, walking up to her work with her small backpack purse over her shoulder. "Oh yeah? That bad?" Truth be told, no matter how bad things were, if Andre was working it was always a good shift. He always lifted her spirits. "At least tell me that Mike isn't here." Mike was the manager and...kind of a creepy towards waitresses. Like, not too creepy where it's reportable but...odd. @Deleted User

"Oh, not just Mike," he would say with a shake of his head, "Also, Jamie, Grant, Laurie, and Pat." He began to stand from the picnic table as he would greet her with a handshake that the two would have learned or shared over the time she was employed with the company. He leaned down and dusted his apron off, "Jamie has been kicking our ass all night, apparently there is a big party coming tonight with someone important and we have been doing buffet cooks all morning. I have only been here a couple of hours, but still they are piling foods in..." He would open the door for her and the chaos of the back of the house would begin to scream into existence. The main chef, Jamie, screaming commands, waitresses running around, and cooks frantically cooking on the grils.

Madison groaned as he listed the names. "I'm pretty sure we're the only fun ones that work here." She laughed quietly, however that smile dropped quickly once the door opened for her. Her eyes widened as she hesitantly stepped in so he could follow in behind her. Madison took a few moments to take it all in, the absolute chaos everywhere. Yelling, running, trays full, and cooks...frantically cooking. Madison turned to look at him with a pleading face. "Is it too late to leave?" @Deleted User

"I warned you to leave before we came in," he said with a smile as he would turn and let the door slam behind them, "Now you are stuck with me in this hellhole." He would smile down at her, but get lost in her eyes for just a moment, but that moment would be broken as a scream would break through the chaos, "Andre, the dumplings!" Jamie would stare at him with a icy cold stare, her eyes beating through his body, "You and Madison can flirt another time, get over here and make sure they are cooking." He frowned before looking back at her, "I guess I will see you in the passing chaos..."

She playfully groaned and then laughed, shaking her head. "Totally unfair." As they seemed to have shared a brief moment, looking into his eyes and being almost entranced by him, she heard a scream. Madison would flinch and look towards it, seeing Jamie. She sighed, Jamie always took things too far, very dramatic. She ignored the flirting comment and nodded back to him. "I shall see you in the mess. I'm sure I have many tables to attend to." And after a wave from her, she hurried out to clock in and arrive at the host stand to see where she's going to be in the restaurant today. @Deleted User

Andre would continue to work on the dumplings and other foods throughout the night, trying his best to work through the chaos that was... everything at this point. He would sigh as he would find himself behind on the orders, again... But, easily working a couple of hours into his shift before he looked up at the clock. Luckily, time was moving faster as he worked instead of dragging. As he began to work on the food, he would be joined several times by another co-worker, Jordan, he would let him know a little more about what was going on. "So, apparently, they are having some big time college football player make his decision her tonight on if he would be making the move to the NFL or staying in college, so they are throwing him a shindig," he would reveal as he flipped several burgers on the grill, "Apparently they are doing everything from chicken to burgers to homemade dumplings..." "I know," Andre would sigh, "Fucking dumplings..." He would let Jordan continue to talk, but would only half pay attention as he talked about this stupid guy. He had been an athlete on campus at one time, a baseball player actually, but his scholarship and athletic status had been taken from him when he blew out his knee... for the third time. Luckily, he made good enough grades where he didn't have to worry about paying for the college as grants and donations would keep him a float, this was money for rent, car payments, and more.

Madison was essentially thrown into the trenches once she clocked on. She had four tables to take care of as a part of this grand party. And everyone was ordering...lots of food. Hopefully they tip well... She, as others would, be stopping in and out of the kitchen hurriedly. Filling up their serve trays, stealing the occasional fry if Andre made her anything. When things eased up and people were more focused on the bar, one of the other waitresses essentially told her the same story. "Oh wow, that's a big deal actually! No wonder we're busy. We all better be getting good tips." She teased, heading into the kitchen to take a brief break. Madison herself had gone to college, she wasn't really athletic, but more of a writer. That was her dream, becoming an author...but somehow that didn't seem plausible, at least not now. She'd sit down somewhere in a backroom and relax after passing by the cooks, fanning her face. Just five minutes is all she needs...

Andre would sigh as he would continue cooking, but see Madison quickly making a break for the backroom. He would slowly make his way over to the area where she was fanning her face, "Front of the house as bad as back of the house?" He would ask with a smile as he approached. After she would answer, he would grab a small paper plate that was sitting to the side of the two of them, set out for the employees when they were eating so they didn't have to worry about adding extra dishes to the mix, he would slowly begin fanning her off as he sat on the edge of the counter, "Chicken tenders and fries good this go around?"

Madison smiled weakly as he came in to check on her. "It's a madhouse...but the main courses seem to be done with. A lot of people wanna drink and snack so, I have a few minutes." She smiled as he fanned her, laughing a little bit at the gesture. "Oh my god, yes please. That sounds amazing. I've been on my feet for hours. I might actually take my break, I think I'm due..."

"Sure, I will get it set up..." He said as he looked over at her, "Hey, I have a question I wanted to ask..." This might not have been the best moment for something like this, but he wasn't going to get a bit of a better opportunity than the two of them sitting in the back of the kitchen, hiding from everyone else, "Umm, if you would like to go ou..." "Andre, Madison," a voice would call out from the side of the room, a black haired girl with darker makeup on her face would poke her head around the side of the wall, "We need you out front, someone is requesting a birthday song..."

"Fuuuuuuck...okay." She groaned and got up. "Duty calls for us." Madison laughed, hurrying out and putting on that "Happy Birthday" face. She and pretty much the entire staff made their way out to sing happy birthday. Clapping along to the beats, singing, and eventually giving the birthday person a cake and party hat. It was fun, but annoying in the same sense.

"Ugh," he would proclaim as all the cooks, besides Jamie, who seemed to be above singing happy birthday, would follow the wait staff out to the table of the birthday girl, but all Andre could think about was his missed opportunity and if another might present itself. He had no idea as they began to disperse again, he would move to the kitchen again, beginning to throw chicken tenders and fries down for Madison as they would continue to cook. He made sure the next time he saw Madison, he would pass off the food in passing, but he would not get another chance that night to speak with her until after closing. As the clock finally hit 10pm, the doors were locked after anyone left eating was ushered out and the kitchen began to shut down as cleaning began up front.

Madison briefly wondered what he had wanted before they were interrupted, but she was sure they could talk again after closing. As things finally wrapped up, now it was cleaning process. Everyone had to close up the floor, cleaning tables, dishes, floors. All hands on deck to be out by 11pm! Thankfully they had a full staff so the last person to leave was at about 11:20pm. Madison was lucky and finished up her tasks and was done at about 11pm, and she found Andre in the kitchen. "Hey! How was wrapping up the shift?"

Andre would be wiping down the last part of his side of the station before seeing Madison coming around the corner, "Hello, sunshine, and it was about as hectic and terrible as I thought it would be." He leaned over the counter with a smile, "Thank God I am off for the next two days, I need a minute to just... not be here." He playfully smile as he would finish grabbing the rag and tossing it into the bucket near the sink before they would take them to do whatever they did with them.

Madison smiled warmly to him, the nickname was cute. It made her feel, well...warm. She leaned on the counter too, so she could talk to him easier. "Ah, I just have tomorrow off sadly. Then I'm not off until Friday." Madison sighed dramatically, it was gonna be a rough week. "Got anything planned on those luxurious two days off?" Madison asked with a giggle, folding her arms and standing more upright.

"Nothing really," he said with a sigh, "I wish I had something to do, it would be a whole lot more rewarding, which is what I was gonna ask earlier..." "Well, finally off," Jordan would say as he would suddenly appear behind the corner of the store, Andre thwarted again in his question asking, "Too bad I have to be back tomorrow night."

Madison quirked an eyebrow as he mentioned what he wanted to ask. But then Jordan crashed the party, smiling widely. "Yeah, too bad. Sounds rough.."

"I know, but it is the life of a assistant chef," he smiled widely as he looked over at Madison, "But, who knows, maybe once I get off on Friday, I will be able to head out for the evening. Maybe could use some company, you doing anything Friday?" He looked at her in what Andre felt was almost goofy way, he couldn't believe he had stole his thunder like that. He was going to... I guess it didn't matter now, because he really couldn't do iit.

Madison hummed in thought...she didn't really wanna go out with the way he phrased that... "Uhh, I have plans at home. Thanks though." She politely declined him, rubbing the back of her neck. Awkward..

Jordan seems almost crushed in the response, but seemed to try and save face, "Ha, its alright, I have a party planned anyway, I will just do it instead, I am heading out..." Without much more of a response, Jordan heads to his car, an older Toyota Camry, and begins to pull out of the parking lot with pace. Andre looks over to her after Jordan is out of distance, "Well, that was super duper awkward..."

"Hey, have fun then!" She would call after him, laughing awkwardly. "So awkward. I just felt uncomfortable with the way he phrased it, you know? It was just...weird." She then looked up to him and smiled warmly. "Oh yeah, I think you wanted to ask me something before, what's up? And no, pineapple does not belong on pizza." She teased, leaning against the wall.

"You beat me to the question..." he said with a stone face that turned to a gentle grin, "Na, I would go ask..." The thought of her reaction to Jordan asking her out would slowly creep into his mind and he definitely did not want the embarrassment of that as well, "Well, uh," he was quickly thinking, "When is your next classes start?" Great question, Andre said mentally as he internally rolled his eyes, but with summer ending and fall classes beginning in the university, it would be a logical quesitons.

"Oh! I start up the second week of September." She grinned up to him, shrugging it off. "What about you? Maybe we'll have some classes together. I actually.." Madison would take out her phone and pull up her schedule. "Here, see if we have anything together." Starting at 10am, she had English, then Math at 12pm, then creative writing at 3pm and Astrology at 5pm. Every other day. Then on other days, she had English and math again at the same times, then English studies at 2:30pm, and journalism at 6pm.

"Oh, creative writing and journalism," he said with a smile, "We have those together with Professor McDonagh." He would smile at her with a sudden drop in thought, he wanted so badly to ask her the question, but he couldn't and now, would he have the chance. He didn't wanna ruin the friendship that he had been building with her over the year or so she has been working with her. "Well, guess I better get to the house," he said with a smile, "That night in bed is not going to do itself..." Dumb... so dumb...

Madison smiled to him, unlocking her car from where she stood. "Yeah, hey I'll see you around then?" With that she waved to him and walked towards her car. That opportunity was gone for today, but maybe another time.

Andre almost immediately passed out as soon as he got home, finding the comfort of the sheets too inviting and welcoming to do anything else. His little studio apartment was just big enough for him to have a kitchen, little living area, and a bed room that was in another room with connecting bathroom. Once the sun hit his eyes, he almost growled at it like a vampire would but he slowly roused himself from the bed, sitting on the side of it, his feet touching the cold floor and sending a shiver up his spine. He couldn't help but feel awkward right now, he couldn't explain it. Looking at the clock, it was around noon, he picked up his phone. Seeing that he had no notifications or anything like that, which was typical, but suddenly a spark, a jolt. Something inside of him told him he needed to message Madison, "Good morning..." the message would read, "Hope you made it home okay, I crashed as soon as I got home..."

@Loni

Madison has gotten a decent night's sleep, waking up around 11am. She woke up a bit groggy, like she didn't get the deep sleep she needed to feel rested. Maybe going to bed early will fix that tonight.. As she finished up her daily routine of scrolling through stuff in her phone, she got a text message from Andre! Madison was a little surprised, but she responded happily. "Morning! And I did, thank you! I essentially did the same, I fell asleep watching a true crime documentary LOL" @Deleted User

He would smile as he got the message back immediately afterward, "True crime?" he messaged back with a little winky emoji, "Should I be worried about you committing some great giant crime?" He would send the message off as he would begin to move towards his dresser and begin to get dressed. Black track pants and a grey t-shirt.

@Loni

"Yeah! True crime. But no no, I'm not deviously planning anything. Yet

" She snickered at her own joking message, yawning as she got up and stretched. @Deleted User

As he would walk into the kitchen and look through the fridge, finding nothing worth eating before his phone would go off again, he smiled at her text, something that was becoming all too accustomed for him now when it came to her, "Well, if you aren't 'deviously' planning anything, why don't we hang out before work?"

@Loni

Madison couldn't resist smiling at the text message. Hanging out before work? Did he have something devious planned himself? "Yeah, sure! I'll be ready in a half hour, where did you wanna hang out?" She would text back, before heading downstairs to see about getting something to eat. @Deleted User

"Maybe we can go get something fast to eat," he would text back almost immediately, "I have something that I did want to ask, but seems like an in person type of question..." He sighed as he looked down at the phone, why was this so difficult? He thought.

05:20

@Loni