lending a hand [Rich]

[melanie emerson forbes]

Melanie Emerson Forbes looked around the diner where she worked and noticed that things had started to slow up just a little bit. She finished up serving a customer and looked at the clock. She hadn’t taken a break since she had gotten there twelve hours before hand and her feet were throbbing with pain. Slipping off her apron she asked the cook to fix her a grilled cheese plate because she was going to take lunch. She grabbed her plate and set it on the counter behind her. She clocked out for lunch and made her way to the back of the diner.

A warm breeze had always been something that brought Melanie peace. She was terribly tired after working a shift and a half, and she was happy to be able to take a lunch break. She sat behind Mel's diner, which all the visitors thought she owned, and picked at her grilled cheese and fries. She wasn't very hungry, but she needed an excuse to sit down. Mel's had a back deck that looked over onto the ocean, and Melanie loved to sit out there on breaks and stare out into the ocean. Plus she usually got into a nice conversation with someone who was eating. As odd as it sounded the deck wasn't that popular among the customers and Melanie just didn't understand why.

She picked up her sandwich and took a quick bite before taking a sip of her huge glass of Coke. She let the sun bathe her skin as she ate and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. The waves crashing up onto the small amount of shore underneath the deck sounded beautiful. She had always loved everything about the water. It was serene and just plain beautiful. “Man, this is great.” She said with a soft smile. She slid her plate forward and pulled her legs up to her chest in the chair. It was comfortable.

Outfit
Notes;; I'm a terrible starter sorry.

[richard garrett matthews]

Dice. Peel. Roast. Boil. Fry. Season.

Being a cook was very hard work. You had to handle a lot of dishes simultaneously, keep adjusting, tasting, and cooking, all the while getting more and more orders. You had to do it in a sweltering, crowded kitchen as well, and the job required concentration, coordination, and creativity. It was an unglamorous job, so different from the “reality” shows of top luxury chefs, where they take their sweet time cooking the most exquisite of foods to the most considerate of customers. Normal chefs and cooks had to struggle with all the real life problems, like a clumsy waiter dropping dishes, or a malfunctioning oven burning a perfectly good roast. Still, Rich wouldn’t have it any other way.

When lunch break came and another chef would take his spot for a while, Rich wiped his hands clean on his apron and allowed himself a contented smile. He loved what he did, despite all the hassle, and he always felt a small sort of pride that came after he put in a good shift. Anyway, it was lunchtime, and even though he was around all that good food in the kitchen, he wasn’t really that hungry.

As a cook, he preferred having other people eat what he made, rather than he eat it himself. Still, he had to eat something, otherwise, he might pass out from fatigue and hunger later on, as he needed to work overtime because he had his Christmas shopping done, which resulted in him blowing his meagre savings for small gifts to his friends in Key West. And he went a tad too far, as there wasn’t enough money left for rent and food and other necessities. Sighing tiredly, as if he was weighed down greatly by all his problems, he decided to eat and relax for a while. Thinking that he’ll have a simple meal of some chicken soup and bread, Rich grabbed himself a bowl of the dish and two slices of bread.

Then he headed out back, as the main dining area of the restaurant was a tad crowded, and he enjoyed the view, light, and space from the deck. When he entered the deck, bright and warm from the sun, he let of a relaxed exhale. This was always a perfect place to rest and get away from the chaos of the kitchen. Now, if he only found some company, he’ll be all set. Oh, there. He managed to spot a blonde girl relaxing, taking in the marvellous view of the ocean that the deck offered. He recognized her, of course; it was Melanie, a friend. Rich approached her table, hoping that she won’t mind the sudden company. “Hello Mel.” He greeted when he was by her seat. “D’you mind if I sat with you?” He asked politely, as was usual for him.

notes~ oh, it's not terrible at all. the deck was a great idea =]

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[melanie emerson forbes]

Melanie was lost in her own world, and she didn't even notice anyone else come out onto the deck. The air around her was a little moist but still not very humid, which was something that she hadn't been used to when she first moved to Florida. The Texas air was nothing but humid and muggy. She had to admit, she hated the weather in Texas, but she missed her home state dearly. The tall Pine Trees, and the rolling hills, the scenery was what had kept her there so long. Everyone could tell that she was clearly from the Deep South simply because she had a thick accent. It had thinned out a bit since she had moved to Florida, but it was still apparent.

When she heard someone talking to her she looked up to meet the face of Rich. He worked with her at the diner, and they were only two years apart in age. Rich was twenty-five, and Melanie was only twenty-three, but the two got along quite well. They got along better with each other than with some of the high school kids that worked at the diner with them. “Hey Rich.” She said with a wide smile. “I don’t mind at all.” She continued before scooting her plate out of his way. She took another French fry and chewed it slowly. There were girls that had a huge problem eating in front of a guy, but Melanie wasn’t one of those girls. She was the one that went on dates and didn’t try to order the lightest thing on the menu. She had actually turned a guy off when she ate Chicken Alfredo instead of a salad. She wasn’t upset about it though, she would rather have a guy that liked the fact that she actually ate.

She looked over at Rich. “You finally get a break too?” she asked him turning in her chair to face him. She didn’t like having her back turned to people she was talking to, she felt that it was terribly rude.

[richard garrett matthews]

Setting the bowl on the table after Melanie had moved her own plate out of the way, Rich returned her warm smile. Then he sat on the chair, letting out a quiet sigh of relief as the sturdy seat took the pressure off his feet. Looks like he had been pretty tired. Sometimes, when he did things that he enjoyed too much, he would only feel the fatigue some time after finishing the activity. And then it would come continuously. He was rather lucky that he had managed to find a seat right before the tiredness set. Now he’d be able to recuperate and recover in relative comfort.

“Oh, you don’t need to do that…”He said as she turned her chair to face him. He grinned sheepishly, his statement sort of late. He really didn’t mind that she faced the seas while talking to him. After all, the gorgeous view was easier on the eyes than this messy cook. “I did.” He nodded, moving his spoon around in the bowl of soup. “Just in time too. My feet are killing me.” He tried to grin cheekily, but the slight grimace on his face confirmed this; it really looked like he was a tad overworked. And he had to, if he wanted to have a roof on his head come January first. “So how are things?” He asked, not really looking for anything specific. He just wanted to catch up with his friend.

Then he took the spoon to his mouth and sipped the still warm soup. It was pretty good, though Rich felt that he had forgotten to add a few more sprinkles of salt to the pot earlier. He was his own biggest critic when it came to cooking, and it usually frustrated him so whenever he committed a mistake. He didn’t take it too badly this time though, with the gentle sun and pretty waves lifting his mood a little. “So what are you having?” He asked casually, looking at the food on her plate. Fries and a sandwich, yes, but what was in the sandwich? He was always curious when it came to food.

[melanie emerson forbes]

Melanie did feel a little bad for Rich. He was constantly cooking something, and he was nearly always on his feet. And while she was always walking around and serving people, he was having to sweat in the kitchen. She had been in the kitchen only a few times, but after those times she had decided that she was lucky to be a waitress. There were always days when she had to deal with a rude customer or two, but she always did the best she could and helped them as much as possible.

“Well, I wanted to see my lovely friends face” she said with a wink. Of course he would argue that anyone would rather look at the ocean than look at him, but she just couldn’t help that she would feel rude by not looking at him while they held a conversation. “…Even if he is a little messy.” She continued reaching up and wiping off something that was on his cheek. He was actually quite the attractive person; he did attract a lot of attention at the diner. The ladies would try their hardest to catch a little peek at him through the plate and order holes in the wall. “I know what you mean, I’ve worked a shift and a half and boy are my dogs barkin’.” She said with a laugh. Melanie shrugged. “Eh things are going decent. I’ve just been trying to keep up in all my classes so I can get a real job.” She said with a smile. “How’ve you been?” she asked him. It had been a while since they had really talked and she had to say she missed him a bit.

She looked down at her half eaten grilled cheese and mound or fries and laughed. “A wonderfully delicious Grilled Cheese and a HUGE mound of fried potatoes.” She said picking up a french fry and eating it. “Plus this yummy coke that I just don’t need.” She said patting her flat stomach. “What’s in that bowl of yours?” she asked him knowing that it was probably equally as amazing as her food.

[richard garrett matthews]

Rich stuck out his tongue when Melanie winked at him; the action rather childish for the cook, but nobody said that Rich was a grumbling old man. No, he knew how to have his fun. Anyway, he knew the real reason why she turned to him. Manners and politeness and all those things. “Yeah right.” He snorted, though the compliment did sound nice. “The view’s better over there though.” He said, pointing out the picture perfect sight which was now behind her.

Rather unexpectedly, Melanie went ahead and cleaned his cheek, at first making him tense up. Though he smiled eventually, being cared for by a friend, an admittedly pretty one at that, was always pleasant. “Thanks. But I don’t have to look good in the kitchen.” It was the truth. Nobody did see him there, other than waiters and other cooks, and Rich never did feel the need to clean up his look whenever he was there. No, he was too busy enjoying cooking. He laughed too when she did, as they were sharing a kind of co – worker camaraderie. It was a common habit of waiters and cooks to complain during breaks. A favourite past time really.

A real job. Unlike Rich, Melanie had a pretty bright future ahead of her. University student and all that. Of course, he wished her all the successes that will come to her. “Just a little longer…” He said encouragingly, as if cheering her on. “Then you can graduate and go anywhere you like.” He smiled, as he knows how that worked out. He always went and stayed where he wanted to. “Not so good.” He admitted, thinking he can share his troubles with her. After all, she was always good for a smile and a comforting pat on the back. “Just trying to make ends meet.” He said with a smile, hoping she won’t worry too much about it. He was used to living like this, and he’s managed to do it so far.

“Nice.” He looked at the food again and grabbed a fry suddenly after she ate one. He ate it, before realizing that it was rude. Oh, manners again. “Sorry. Can I have one?” He asked, though he was a bit too late again. Smiling as she pet he flat tummy, he said, “Nah.” He waved a hand, thinking that the soft drink won’t have too much of an effect her physique. “You’re too pretty to get a belly.” He chuckled, taking a bite off his bread. “Just some chicken soup from the kitchen.” He said simply, keeping quiet about the lack of salt. She didn’t need to know about that mistake.

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[melanie emerson forbes]

Melanie laughed when he stuck his tongue out. She herself still acted like a child at time, so she wasn't going to challenge his childish actions. She loved people that still had fun, Mel herself loved to be wild. She still liked going to amusement parks and riding the biggest rollercoaster until she got sick. Everything about that was fun to her. "Are you saying this because you don't want to see my face?" she asked playing like she was hurt. "I know I’m ugly but gosh you could just ask me to look away." she said ending her statement with a giggle. She was kidding of course she knew Rich would never ask her to look away from him.

She felt him tense and she couldn’t help but laugh a little bit. “Of course you don’t, but I’m forced to make myself presentable.” She said rolling her eyes. “I think we should have pajama day.” She said with a laugh. “All the employee’s wear pajamas and customers that come in wearing them get a discount” she continued. “But of course our lovely boss probably wouldn’t let it happen.” She said again rolling her eyes. When Rich laughed at her statement she felt herself smile. She just loved the way they could sit outside and complain a bit together.

University life was something that Mel was ready to forget about. She was ready to leave all the pointless parties that only caused her to act a fool, and all the nights of staying up until four in the morning studying. Finding a job was going to be a little easier than usual because her counselor had a job already lined up for her. In six months she would be graduating and going straight to work at the hospital. Her job would be two in one since she was already a licensed RN and she was going to be an Ultrasound Technician when she graduated. It was a pretty high paying career and she was excited. “Yeah I know, but I’m going to miss this job.” She said with a soft sigh. “I’m going to miss the people here for sure.” She said with a small wink. Mel listened to him speak and frowned a bit. “I don’t like hearing that.” She said looking him in the eye.

Mel laughed and nodded. “You don’t have to ask. Have as many as you like. I’m not even that hungry.” She said with a smile. Oh how she loved the chicken soup that came from the diner. She took some home quite often and she would curl up with it and a movie. It was the perfect ending to a rough day. “Hmm. I think that I might have to grab some to take home. I love the chicken soup that you make.” Mel told him with a smile.

[richard garrett matthews]

Oh, Mel was so fun; she could always bring out the more playful side of Rich. Trying not to smile as she put of a hurt act, Rich decided to keep going with it. Squinting his eyes at her in a cruel glare, he haughtily said, “That’s right. I don’t want to see you face.” Hmm, playing proud and haughty people was difficult for him, seeing as he was almost the opposite. So he decided to be more gently with the next line. “No you’re not. In fact, you’re too pretty that you’re distracting me from my food.” He said this with a straight face, meaning there was a bit of truth in it, but after a moment, he laughed, unable to keep the amusement inside.

“Oh, that’s such a difficult task.” There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice; he thought that it was easy for Mel to look… presentable. Heck, she was gorgeous, and anyone who wasn’t able to appreciate that was either blind, or had awful taste. “Really Mel, you don’t have to do anything to look ‘presentable’.” He said with the air quotes when he mentioned the word ‘presentable’. He smiled and left it at that though. He laughed with her when she suggested the pyjama day. “That would be so funny. It would be hell in the kitchen though.” He shrugged, imagining trying to cook in sleepwear. Well, he hadn’t done it before. “I’d love to see you in pyjamas too!” He whistled innocently, and then took a sip of his soup. “But yeah.” He nodded sombrely when the idea was shot down. “Maybe I’ll have a chat with her.” Rich was in the boss’ good books. He was a good cook, easy on the eyes, and loyal to the diner. So maybe he’ll have some luck in persuading the boss, a woman getting on in age, about the idea. “Use the charms a bit.” He laughed, knowing that won’t work at all. No, he’ll probably just mention it in passing and if the boss had any interest, explain further.

Rich smiled gently when Mel said that she was going to miss the job, miss everyone around. “Well, I’m not used to people leaving me.” Strange. He wasn’t used to others leaving him, as he usually left them instead. He didn’t like the feeling, not one bit. Still, he tried to be happy for her, which wasn’t too difficult, once he imagined her in the hospital, making tons of cash and being successful. “But hey, what can you do? Karma’s a bitch.” Of course, there was probably no relation between his constant abandoning of others and Mel’s current impending departure for greener pastures, but ah well. Thinking like that was good for a laugh anyway.

“Thanks.” He took another fry, and promised himself that it’ll be the last one. “Well I could just cook for you.” He offered after his mouth was clear. He shrugged, he enjoyed cooking, and it wasn’t like he had anything to do after his long, long shift ended.

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