Chapter 13 The Cool Waitress

I paid for the cab as soon as I arrived outside of my dad's restaurant. I went to the back and used the back door to head to the kitchen where I know my dad is.

Once I entered, I quickly got a whiff of the chef's cooking. My mouth started to water but I need to find my dad first. The staff didn't really pay any attention to me as I entered since they already know who I am. I gathered my hair up and put an extra hairnet on top of my head from the counter.

Now we don't want to ruin my dad's business when the customers find a hair on their dishes, don't we?

It wasn't long until I found my dad with some of the chefs. He was guiding and instructing them what to do and how it's done."Use these tomatoes instead of those. We only want the finest ingredients for this." Ordered my dad.

I smiled and headed for my dad. When I got there, I tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and saw me. He smiled. "Hailey!" He pulled me into a hug. "You don't really go here that much so when I got your text I just can’t say no even when we are a little busy."

I looked around the kitchen, finally seeing how busy they were. I shrugged and looked back at my father. "Do you need a hand?"

My dad looked at me and smiled. "As long as you keep out of cooking duty." He chuckled and patted my head. "Can you go set up the tables and take the customer's orders?"

I nodded. "Sure."

"Thank you, Hailey. The people in the other room are having a birthday and it’s nearly taking all of our extra hands to keep them satisfied. Don't worry, as soon as we get home, I'll double your allowance."

I grinned. "Sounds good to me." Moving away from my father, I went outside to the counter. I removed the hair net from my head and tied my hair into a high ponytail. Then I grabbed a pen and paper as I headed for the other room to serve the customers. With my outfit, I definitely don't look like a waitress with a black tank top, brown leather jacket, fitting black jeans, and brown leather boots.

More or less, I look like a gangster gone broke.

I stood to the side as I waited for the customers to raised their hands to make a call. When no one seems to have their order yet, I decided to fix the table to my right. Folding the napkins, arranging the chairs, and putting some clean knives, forks, and spoons on the table.

"Waitress!" Someone called.

I quickly straightened up to look for the customer who called. My eyes landed on a group of teenagers who still had their eyes on the menu as they raised their hands. They were seated at the far side of the room. I may be far from them but my vision is as clear as a hawk. My eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets when I saw them.

I know I've seen those faces before.....at school!! They're one of the new freshmen this year!

I froze in my spot and before they could see me, I bolted and hid behind the counter. I saw one of the employees working on the cash register and I tapped her on the shoulder. "Pstt!!" I called her.

She looked at me. "Yes?"

I handed her the pen and paper. "Table number 54 wants to order. Can you take their order for me, please?" I begged.

"Um....sorry, ma'am, but I can't I’m supposed to watch over here and work at the register." She said. She looked so apologetic that it seems so wrong to force her to work at the table.

"Aren't there any other waiter or waitress available?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Afraid not, ma'am. Most of them are in the other room serving a birthday party. The others are on their break. Sorry."

I slapped a hand on my face, frustrated that I can't seem to find a way out of this. It's a freaking five-star restaurant!! How come we only have a few waiters!?!

And I can't seem to back down. I already told my dad that I would help. It would be wrong if I bailed on him. Especially not when his restaurant needs more hands.

Why did these kids even have to eat here!?

I massaged my temples as I took in a deep breath to calm myself. I guess I better just face it and put up a front.

I'm so gonna grill my dad to hire more workers around here.

With a quick nod at the girl at the cashier, I gripped the pen and paper as made my way to table number 54. My hands got a bit sweaty as I approached the group.

Stay calm, Hailey. Just remember, if anything goes wrong, threaten them not to tell anybody.

Once I was in front of table 54, my cool character suddenly kicked in place automatically and I was suddenly calm. "May I take your orders?" I asked.

The boy, a black American who I assume is a jock with his built, looked up from his menu to order. But he paused once he got a look at me. "Oh um...."

One of the girls looked at her friends before following his gaze. Another other girl did the same and now all of them were looking at me. With my cool-girl attitude, I returned their gazes before raising an eyebrow at them. "What? Are you gonna order or are we gonna have a starring contest here?"

That seemed to have snapped them out of their trance as one of the girls gave me a shy smile. "Sorry, miss Hailey. I didn't know you work here." She said. As soon as the words left her mouth, the other girl nudged her with her elbow.

"Idiot, her father owns this restaurant." She whispered.

Girl 1 gasped before she looked at me apologetically. "I'm so sorry, miss Hailey. I didn't know. Honest!!"

I waved at her. "It's okay. You are not required to know everything about me."

The boy looked me, still stunned as he asked. "Are you really, Hailey?"

"Colten!!" Both girls glared.

"That's rude!!"

"Of course she is!!'

"Sorry." Said the boy. "I was just asking."

Girl 2 looked up at me again and smiled. "So um...miss Hailey. Luna and I never got the chance to say thank you to you the other day."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "What?"

"I don't think she remembers." Whispered the boy, Colten at the girls.

Luna, girl 1, trembled a little. "Miss Hailey, I don't know if you remember us, but we were the girls you helped at the cafeteria from a group of girls when we tried to sit on your table. Kimberly and I are really grateful. Thank you very much."

I was a bit speechless. I don't really remember these girls but they do seem familiar. And I think I might have remembered a scene at the cafeteria just like the one they said. If that was real then these girls are the ones that I 'helped'.

Oh well, not gonna argue with that. As long as they won't tell anyone about me serving the table for a day.

"You’re welcome." I said and nodded at them before raising my pen and paper. I suddenly felt relieved. "Now, can I take your orders?"

The group blushed as they looked at their menu once again. "Sorry. I'll order lasagna."

"Spaghetti."

"Cheesecake."

I scribbled and wrote their orders on the paper. "May I recommend that you try our soup of the day?" I asked.

Hey, I am playing waitress here so why not get in character and intimidate them to order one? 

The group exchanged glances before looking at me and nodding.

"Sure."

"Okay."

"I'll order."

"Okay then." I finalized their orders and wrote them down. "It'll take 15 to 30 minutes." I told them before turning my back and headed towards the counter to place their orders. As I was getting farther and farther from the group, I started to relax.

I went inside the kitchen and handed the orders to one of the chefs. After that, I leaned against a wall as I thought about what happened to me earlier.

Is it me or did my cool character seems to pop out automatically when I see a schoolmate? If it is then I don't think it’s a good sign.

"Hey, tired already?" My head snapped in the direction of the voice that spoke.

"Hey, dad." I smiled at him and got up from the wall. I rolled my shoulders before facing him. "I'm fine, just taking a short break. Saw some schoolmates out there." I explained.

Since my parents already know about my issue in school, my father immediately understood. "It didn't trouble you now, did it?"

"No, dad. It's okay. I got it." I told him before he feels guilty about letting me help him. I quickly grabbed the pen and paper again before walking out of the kitchen saying, "I'm gonna go and serve more tables! Make sure that you cook something good tonight as payment!" With that, I got out once again and served. Going from table to table getting the customer's orders. Lucky for me that no one I knew or from my school went to eat here again. For the whole day, I work in the restaurant. It was exhausting but it felt good to help my dad once in a while.