Black coat

Melissa pov

Bills! Bills! Bills!

I had a lot to pay up and I barely had any cash. I need a new job. Scrolling randomly through my phone, I remembered a friend whose aunt owns a restaurant. I could ask her to put in a few good words for me. With that decision, I went to bed. I woke up the following day and I started my routine. I ran to school to avoid being late. Classes went by as usual and we were at a cafe across the campus eating.

"Please Tay. Just a few good words for me. I'm not asking you to give me the job."

"I dunno.... She's really strict and difficult to sway."

"You are aware that she only employs extremely pretty girls. No offense but you don't really fall in that class" Fay added.

I've been trying to convince Taylor to get her aunt to employ me but she simply wouldn't budge. I sighed aloud.

"I've got a lot bills to settle right now so I need this job. Please help me."

"Okay" She reluctantly agreed.

"Great. Thanks" I beamed.

The rest of the day passed by and I headed to the cafe to tender my application. I'm currently in her aunt's office. It was sizeable and neat. There was a ridiculously large placque on her table. Scribbled in bold font was "Alexa the great" probably her name or she really thought highly of herself.

"Okay..." She said snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I'll give you a test run. You'll take the next shift and I'll see if you're capable"

"Okay. Thank you ma'am"

"I haven't given you the job yet"

"I know but I'll try my best"

"I'm quite difficult to impress"

"Difficult not impossible. I'll work with that"

With that I left her office and headed to work immediately. I have to admit, being a waiter was way harder than I thought from the rude customers to perverts to flirts and so on. But the pay was nice and you also get tips so it's okay. The shift came to an end and I headed to the office. I paused and knocked lightly. I heard a light "come in". Then I headed in.

"Sit" She ordered. I sat quickly looking at her expectantly. I really hope I impressed her. She clearly her throat lightly and opened her mouth the speak.

"Melissa right?"

"Yes ma'am"

"You know this is one the top restaurants around here and on campus right?"

"Yes" I answered not getting where she's heading with this. I really hope I get the job.

"You know one of our criteria is that you must be pretty right?

"Yeah....." I answered quietly . I knew I wasn't pretty but I only hoped my hard work could cover that flaw.

"You knew that and you still applied for the job?" I stayed silent. I prayed to God to help me. She simply scoffed.

"You've got some guts girl"

My shoulders dropped. She wasn't going to pick me. I felt dismayed already.

"But you're industrious and I like that" I sat up straight.

"Really?"

"Yes. The pretty ones will work as waitresses. You'll work in the kitchen."

"I don't mind"

"Okay then. Work starts tomorrow"

I was so excited. We discussed my shifts and my pay. Then I left. I hailed a cab and headed to my apartment. The second I gotten, my friends confronted me.

"Did you get it?" Fay asked. I stared at them then the table.

"What's that for?" I asked curious about the champagne and barbeque meat on the table.

"Champagne to celebrate if you got it and meat to make you feel better if you didn't get it" Taylor answered.

"So.... did you get it?" Fay asked again.

"Well....." I started walking towards the table and I leaned to pick one from the table to give them an answer. I picked the meat and they instantly hugged.

"It's okay. We'll figure this out." Taylor said

"Yeah. It's their loss" Fay added.

I tried so hard not fall over in laughter. They both looked at me like I had grown another head.

"I got it!" I said in between my laughter.

"Why did you take the meat if you got it?" Fay asked.

"Cos I wanted meat" I laughed again.

"How dare you?!!" Taylor screamed. I dropped the bowl and ran and they chased me. I screamed but they kept chasing. We ran round the room till I got tired and stopped panting.

"Wait!" I screamed but they didn't listen. They pounced on me and playfully hit me. I laughed loud and they kept hitting me. Eventually, we all burst into laughed and fell over each other. We eventually lay down to catch our breaths.

"Never do that again" Taylor said in between breaths.

"Okay" I giggled. I'm definitely doing it again I thought.

Once we caught our breaths, we got up and went to eat. We popped the champagne and ate the meat. It was nice. After that, we headed to bed. I was really happy I had gotten a job with a good pay too but I wasn't prepared for the stress. The first week was a nightmare, I was always behind. I couldn't keep up with their demands.

" Get the cake out of the oven!"

"Where's the spice I asked for?"

"These vegetables won't cut themselves"

"I can't lay this out on this dirty table!"

"Can you be a little faster on your feet?!"

"Don't dawdle around! Get the strainer"

And the orders went on and on. I came home spent everyday. After sometime, I adjusted. I was on time and always ahead. I provided what they wanted before they even asked. I began to enjoy my job.

"Cut the vege-"

"Done!"

"Strainer!"

"Here!"

"The cake-"

"It's out of the oven. Who's cutting it?"

I was proud of my progress so far. My boss also hadn't complained.

Three months had passed and I had settled my bills. I could now relax. I kept up my job at the restaurant. Things were finally going well.