|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 10:03 am
It had been raining on and off, in alternating strengths, throughout the day. Though it was still early afternoon, it felt as though it should have been much later in the evening. The bar, for however nice it was decorated and however much food they served on the side, it was still little more than such, was almost entirely empty.
Sans two employees, neither of which seemed particularly engaged in working as, there wasn't really much work to be done.
The chef was in the kitchen, or Zack assumed as much, as he hadn't seen him in quite some time. The last patron had left nearly twenty minutes ago, and Zack had been lost in thought staring at the door for longer than he cared to admit. He might have done something productive, if he hadn't already exhausted all of his usual chores. The trash was out, the tables were cleaned, the alcohol organized, everything was dusted…
Even his phone was of little appeal, and while he shouldn't have been playing on it to begin with, there was no one here to chastise him.
He was dressed in the usual attire—a clean cut shirt and suspenders, fresh black slacks—and a black apron that he didn't need at the moment, but it was habit to wear. Things always picked up at night—if the rain wasn't chasing everyone away.
His hair was tied back, just barely secured in a low pony tail and he rested behind the bar, elbows on the countertop. His lips were pursed and he drew invisible circles with a finger, listening to the soft drizzle of rain outside—and the slow tick of the clock across the room.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:17 pm
Food sounded good. Greasy food sounded good…greasy…spicy food sounded even better. Hot wings it was. Cambria made her way into the bar and looked around, making a face sort of like a bugged eyed fish for a moment. Sheesh. Maybe this palce wasn’t good at all…it was totally empty.
She paused, wondering if she should just head back into the rain and…you know. Find some other dive bar to get hot wings at…assuming this place even had wings…
Someone was in there though….he looked like a waiter…well. At least that was something. She made her way over to the bar and sat down on one of the stools. “Hey. Bartender. Does this joint have any hot wings…like, really, really good wings? Because I’m not really in the mood for anything that’s…”
Her eyes landed on one of the lava lamps and she watched it for a moment, before turning back to the guy and shrugging. “…Sub-par, you know?”
Oh she was so cool. Maybe she could even get some booze out of this.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 4:16 pm
Zack watched the girl as he entered, and while he wore his usual pleasant smile, an eyebrow twitched into a slightly annoyed position. "Sub-par? Oh, no no. Don't be confused by the empty bar," he insisted, assuming she must have been judging their rating based on the emptiness. "You're at a slow hour. Most civilized people don't spend their whole afternoon in a bar. This place livens up when the sun sets. I'd recommend you drop in, give it a look then. Though," he leaned back from the bar, "Unless you've got a really good fake ID, I doubt they'd let you in."
He winked and then stood up a bit straighter. "Now, I won't card you for wings, and you just so happen to be in luck. Our wings are highly praised. The only question is, how hot do you want them?"
He seemed to have a pleasant enough air about him, and despite a sweet face he didn't seem like he was the sort who would have been a pushover. He also seemed the sort whose day just got infinitely better now that a pretty girl walked in and he had someone interesting to talk to.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 6:27 pm
Cambria blinked then gave a laugh, shaking her head. “I’m only in here because of the rain. I don’t really fancy getting drenched before work. White shirt don’t really hold up that well with rain, you know.” She shrugged, her damp shirt showing quite enough as it was…she didn’t really want to think about what would have happened if she would have stayed out in the downpour that was happening right now.
“I’ll have you know, they wouldn’t card me. I’m a perfect twenty one point three years old. Honest.” She moved a bit, hoping that if she could convince this guy…she wouldn’t really have to worry about being carded…her and her nineteen years of life…being carded wouldn’t really go in her favor.
When the guy winked…well. All bets were off then. Cambria moved, resting her elbows lightly on the bar. “As hot as you have…” She squinted at his nametag for a moment. “…Zack. Impress me. And show me that this dive bar…isn’t really such a dive, okay?” Flirt. Flirt. Flirt.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 7:44 am
Zack blinked at her, as if trying to judge her, but he couldn’t make heads or tails of this girl. She had a pretty face but she seemed weird. "So be it," he shrugged, seeming almost smug. He turned and made his way towards the kitchen door, knocking twice and then opening. He called for an order of Hot wings, and there was a muffled reply. He returned promptly, resuming his position behind the counter.
"Should be a few minutes. Can I get you something to drink in the meantime, or…?" he drawled the last word, and then raised a brow. His eyes might have drifted to the white shirt she was wearing, and while he certainly got to see his fair share of skin working here, it didn't mean his imagination wasn't running wild now. It was too bad it wasn't raining any harder or he might have been able to enjoy this meeting a little more. Still, he liked what he saw, even if it was only the faintest hint of color from whatever she was wearing beneath her outer layer.
"I suppose you won't be wanting alcohol if you're getting ready to get into work," which was good, because he didn't really want to card the girl for any other reason than to know her name. "But since you're so convinced this place is going to be a dive, I'll do you a favor and get you a drink, on the house. Besides," he shrugged, still with the same smug air about him. "You'll need something once those wings come out."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 5:46 am
Cambria looked at him, watching him order the wings…he had a pretty nice butt. Even if his features were sort of girly. When he returned. The server…Zack. When he returned and just seemed so snarky with his responses about getting her a drink…and was it just her imagination…or did he just look down at her damp shirt…?
The girl shifted a little in her seat, resting her arms on the bar counter to better cover herself…or maybe just to forever block anything Zack could see. “Just a Diet Coke, please. You’re right, I don’t want to go drinking before my wonderful waitressing shift. You know how cranky people can get if you have a drunk giving them their cheap-a** hamburgers.” She rolled her eyes, looking around the bar for a moment.
“So…who decorated in here? What’s with all the lava lamps? Is your owner a stoner or something?” It seemed like a good conversation starter. Lava lamps were normally a pretty interesting thing to talk about…and if they weren’t interesting to talk about, they were sure interesting to look at.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 7:24 am
"Diet Coke? No problem," he said; he moved quickly, obviously in his comfort zone. He planted the beverage in front of her and readjusted so that he was resting on his elbows on the counter. His eyes drifted to the lava lamps. "You don’t like them?" he prompted. "They give the place a little extra comfort. Cozy, like at home. Better than those neon signs you find it most bars, right?" he asked, shrugging.
There were no neon signs here; the furniture was obviously well taken care of, the place was clean—someone worked hard to make sure this place looked good. They just also seemed to have a fondness for lava lamps. "They set the mood, I guess. Gentle, easy going. You know? No reason to make trouble."
He looked at them for only a moment longer, but his real attention was on the girl. "So, you have the benefit of knowing my name and, while I'm sure we'd both survive if I addressed you as 'Pretty Girl whose got some bad luck in the rain,' it might save a little time if I just knew what to call you. So," he flashed a smile that seemed innocent enough. "What's a guy have to do to get your name, beautiful?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 9:24 am
Cambria took the drink, sticking the straw in the side of her mouth, and downing a quarter of the soda in a matter of seconds. She nodded once she surfaced and shrugged. “I mean, they’re cozy, sure. I’m not saying this place isn’t cozy…It’s just different. A good kind of different though.”
She raised a brow when he asked for her name, and a rather wicked little smile spread across her face. “Oh, you want to know my name, hm? Well.” She glanaced around the empty bar. “I have a question for you…do you need any extra help here? I think…this would be a much better job than the one I have now, and I bet I could be a pretty swell bar tender if you teach me all about the art of mixing drinks. Plus. If you have an application, you’ll get my name and my phone number all in one swoop. What do you say, Zack?”
Her job wasn’t getting her anywhere…she needed a new, fresh thing to do. And this seemed like it was new and fresh. And not as stinky. She hated how her hair and clothes always ended up smelling like cheap french fries and badly made burgers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 9:55 am
Zack seemed surprised, and his expression showed it. "Ballsy, aren't you? After my job. I'd get less tips if there was a girl like you around, stealing all my regulars. But," he sighed. "I suppose if you want to fill out an application I can pass it along to the boss."
It was worth it for her name and number, right? And he could always accidentally lose the paper if he wasn't careful…
He moved from where he stood to a cabinet under the bar, somewhere below what seemed to be the register. He rifled through papers for a second and then pulled out a form. "If you've got a resume, come back and drop it off, I'll be more than happy to turn both of them over. Of course, I'm pretty sure if you dropped of a photograph and attached that, you'd be all the more likely to get the job."
Maybe getting drinks from a pretty girl could loosen customer's wallets. Once they were drunk, who cared where they were getting their drinks from, just as long as the alcohol kept flowing. Besides, if she didn't know the first thing about making drinks, then he didn't have to worry about competition for a long time; she could always take food and basic beer orders.
"Just make sure the form is accurate," he said, setting it down before her. He pulled a pen from a pocket and slid that next to the paper. "Which means, don't fudge the age."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:52 am
“Oh? And here I thought you were the boss of this place. You seem comfortable enough to be.” She looked down at the application and began writing her name, and age…and even though she was sorely tempted to put her fake age, he did have a point. It would be completely illegal to work here under false pretenses. She looked up. “You think if I added a photo I’d have a better chance of being hired? You serious about that? What is this, a strip club? If that’s the kind of place that your boss wants to have, well. Maybe I don’t want to work here after all.”
Cambria gave him a look and took another long drink of her soda. “Then again. Maybe I do. I’ll be in tomorrow with the resume and the photo. Should it be a headshot or a full body…or maybe just something that shows off my…uh.”
She smirked, and finally just laughed. “My assets that you seem to keep sneaking glances at.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 8:30 pm
Zack might have laughed when she thought he was the boss of the place; maybe one day, but for now he was content to be a bartender. Low hassle, great pay, hours that worked for him. He had everything working pretty well for him. Maybe he'd have laughed at her stripper comment.
…But then she let on the fact that she'd noticed his glances—and he didn't want to blow it. A slow grin spread across his face and he shrugged. "I wouldn’t have eyed you if you hadn't brought attention to the shirt. You'll have to get used to a lot of oggling if you sign up for a job here. Great environment, but a drunk's a drunk and they've got no censor after a certain point. You're a beautiful girl though, so I'm sorry. Though, I hope you're not too much younger than you said. I'd like to take you out some time." He winked, for good measure, and then took the pen to scribble something on a napkin.
"Now, I don't go giving out my number that often, so," he shrugged. "…Even if you don't come back with that resume, give me a call some time. I mean, you'll have to once you get a taste of these wings. You'll be craving more before you even know it."
There was movement from the kitchen door and he blinked. "Oh—and speaking of them."
He left the counter for just a moment, opened the kitchen door, and almost immediately returned with a platter of steaming wings. They were beautiful, and the aroma filled the room. Zack seemed eager to present them to Cambria and set them in front of her, promptly providing her some extra napkins, careful to keep his off to the side.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:56 pm
“Hey. I suppose oggling will be better than that dumbass bow tie I have to wear at my job now. Besides. It might be nice to have some people ogle, better than having small children throwing French fries at me, or slipping and falling into a puddle of nasty old milkshake and ketchup. Nothing can be worse than that, honestly.”
Besides. She was totally oggle worthy. She really was. And sometimes…it was nice to remember that…even if it was going to just be drunken yuckos who were telling her just how oggle worthy she was.
The girl paused for a moment and smiled slyly. “Ah. Now we’re exchanging numbers, hm? I like that idea. Very much so.” She slid the napkin with his number on it into her pocket as he went to get the wings…which smelled amazing and almost made her eyes begin to water.
“This is it, I think. These totally smell like the wings of my dreams.” Cambria picked up one of the wings and tore into it, like a ravenous beast. Oh they were spicy. Very, wonderfully spicy. “Zack. These are fantastic. Would you possibly consider sharing them with me? There are a bit too many here for me to finish all by myself…”
It was an invitation. There was no rule saying that you couldn’t sort of have a lunch date with someone you just met. After all. They had sort of exchanged phone numbers. They were practically official. Sort of.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 6:29 pm
Zack was, perhaps not in the most gentlemanly manner, imagining her falling in a puddle of milkshake and ketchup; it was difficult to hide the laugh that threatened to rise from his throat, and he had to duck his head to hide the smile. "I told you," he said, and shamelessly reached over to nab one of the wings. It wasn’t like he couldn't just go get his own if he'd really wanted to—but she'd invited him to share and it would have been just rude to refuse.
Even though he worked here and got a free meal out of every shift, he still breathed a sigh of happiness when he bit into it. "There's a whole other menu, too," he said, speaking around the food in his mouth. "I mean, aside from the one we keep out. The chef, cook, whatever you want to call him. He's got no professional culinary training, but you wouldn't know it. I don't know where he gets his recipes from. The one we've got cooking today? He's supposed to be training under the guy we pay the big bucks too. But that guy has a bad habit of calling out sick so," he shrugged and cleaned the meat off the bone effortlessly, reaching for a napkin to wipe his face.
"But by all means, I'd much rather hear about you than talk about him. How about," he shifted positions, "you text me when you're free, and I'll take you out to dinner sometime?"
Was it too forward? She was already sharing food with him. That sort of thing usually didn't happen until a long time into a relationship—right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 5:22 pm
Cambria’s eyes gleamed with delight, both at the wings and the offer for dinner that night. Oh she was not going to turn down a free dinner from an attractive guy, not at all. Especially if she was considering this a lunch date, that was for sure a for real dinner date, and there was no way in hell she was turning that down.
“Sounds good then. I’ll shoot you a text and you can buy me a nice dinner and we can talk about me and not your fantastic cook. Give him my regards, won’t you? These might be the best wings I’ve ever had.”
And it didn’t take her long to eat the rest of them either. She might have been playing coy when she asked Zack to help out…but she wasn’t a girl who had trouble putting away a plate of wings…and she was almost sad to see the plate was empty…but…
It was almost time for her shift. Ruefully, she stood up and drew out some money. “I guess I should be going…I’ll see you for dinner though, Zack. I’m off at eleven. So be ready. I’ll text you then.”
She paid for the wings and gave a little wave. It had stopped raining at the very least, so she wouldn’t get soaked when she walked the rest of the way to work. She didn’t want to go showing off for other guys now she had a date later on in the night.
Could this day get any better? She really didn’t think so.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 2:53 pm
Zack would be ready. He was always ready. His eyes lingered on Cambria, from the time she stood, to until she disappeared from view. He was not really a modest man, and enjoyed the simple things. Like the curve of a girl's backside as she sauntered out of sight. A smirk lingered on his face, not malicious, but satisfied.
He almost didn't mind if it stayed slow for the rest of the day; it just gave him more time to trace her figure in his mind. At least it was something exciting to think about.
But then, if he was going to take her out for dinner, it might have been nice to have some extra cash to splurge. He was certainly one to show off for the ladies, and he was going to make the best damn impression he could. He had to top these wings, after all; he didn't want her running off with the cook just because he made a damn fine plate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
