Cooper

"You're Late, Dean" middle manager Haley bitches as soon as I walk in "Bite me, Haley"


I clock in and grab my apron "Dean this is your third time late this week, I'm gonna start docking

your pay"

I scoff "I'm a waiter at a shitty diner Haley dock as much as you want." Standing in the back as I grab a pad and pen I see a random with an apron on the floor "who's that?" I turn to Haley


"That's Cooper, I hired him this morning. I split your tables with him too" she turns to me smiling "Wait what? Haley that's bullshit I barely make any tips and you gave my tables away?!"

"Maybe if you showed up on time once in a while I wouldn't have to hire him, now get out there or


go home."

Pissed I stomp out "orders for booth two!" The cook calls out as I walk by the window Grabbing the plates "hey I got those" he says as I turn

"Funny, then why am I holding them?" I walk past him taking the food to its booth. I go to the booth of customers waiting to order "Hey Dean"

"Hey Sil, baby Erica" it's my regulars Silvia and her two-year-old daughter Erica "usual?"

"Yeah, can you do me a favor and dump this, rinse it, and refill it? Erica dropped it on our way in" she hands me her sippy cup

"Sure" I walk away heading to the window "club sandwich with fries and small mac and cheese for booth 6" then I walk to the back dumping the milk out of the cup

"I'm Cooper" the new guy stops next to me "we haven't had a chance to meet yet"

"Dean" I rinse the cup and walk away. After taking the cup back to the table I go to another table eating "hi can I get you guys anything else? More coffee or water?"

"More coffee please?"

"Coming right up" I walk away going for the pot but Cooper grabs it as I'm reaching my hand out "hey I need that"

"There's another one right there" he walks away, did he have to grab the one I was grabbing? Time passes "club and mac booth 6!" Heading to the window I stop in my tracks when I see Cooper

grab my plates bringing them to Silvia and Erica

scolding him I walk to Haley "hey your new guy keeps stealing from me" "What's he stealing?"

"He's bringing my customers their food"

"That's his job, Dean" she chuckles "you're getting the tips at the end of the day so what's the problem?"

"It's the principle of it"

"Dean stop trying to find a reason to not like him ok, if you get to know him you'll see he's a nice guy"

"Nice guy or not tell him to stop stepping on my toes" I leave her office. "What can I get for you today?" I walk up to a table

"Just like that? No greetings cutie?" Ugh not this old bag "Hi Muriel, what can I get for you?"

"Are you on the menu?" She grins and I internally sigh, we have to be nice to that.

"Give me a second" I fake a smile walking away, going to Cooper in the back "see the lady at table 4?"

"Yeah" he peeks

"She just requested you, she's a sweet old lady you'll love her" "Oh ok thanks" he walks out

"My pleasure" I grin.

Quitting time finally, I'm walking to clock out and I see Cooper waiting there "thanks for sticking me with that old lady today, she was fun"

"You're welcome" I smile and he walks away leaving. "What's your problem Dean it was his first day" "Was I supposed to hold his hand?"

"No, but you didn't have to be an ass, both his parents just passed ok? And he's been having a rough

couple of weeks. He really needs this job so please get along with him!"

And the winner for the most fucked up person of the day goes to Dean Thurston for being a grade A dick.

—

Next day I head in for my day shift "who's the new guy?" Cece asks as I clock in "I take a day off and there's a new guy?"

I nod "Cooper"

"He's cute don't you think?" She looks at him smiling as he talks to people on the floor "Also straight"

"How do you know?"

"They always are Cece" I put on my apron and get to work.

I try to avoid him and not let it suck up my day but watching him get my tips really pisses me off, and most of all watching Cece and Haley fond over him and laugh at his jokes ugh. "Straight people" I sigh walking to the back.

"God that Cooper's something huh?" Cece walks in laughing "Yeah, he's something..."

"Did you know he grew up in California? Like how cool is that?! For him to move here of all places from such an awesome place, and he rides motorcycles. He's so perfect-"

"Is he?!" I bark annoyed at her blabbing "his parents are dead did you no that? So guess he's not so perfect huh? He's as fucked up as the rest of us!" That came out louder than I intended, but nothing's worst than seeing Cooper's face after the words come out of my mouth. He walks back to the floor

"Nice going Dean..." she follows him.

Walking to Haley's office "mind if I go on break early?" "The alley awaits" she doesn't even look at me.

Walking out the back door to the alley I take out a cigarette and light it, I somehow always seem to

shit on other people, I know it's not fair but things annoy me easily. "Cancer kills" Cooper says standing by the door as I take a drag.

"Everything kills" I reply.

Walking closer he stands next to me and sticks out his hand, I look at him confused "give me one you owe me at least that." Taking the pack out of my pocket I hand it to him and the lighter, he takes one and hands it back. He stands next to me as we smoke together, "you know I once saw this documentary of this guy getting cancer from smoking, and his tongue grew hair." I look at him and he makes a gross face "I mean imagine that, a hairy fucking tongue."