An Updated Scene!

Hooray I'm updating! Awesome awesome! Right? Hehe...anyway I actually have a scene for you to read and enjoy! Let me know what you think! Yay!!! :)

“Matheson!” I cringed as Michael, my manager, shouted from across the restaurant. “Get in here now!”


The crowd that had gathered around Adam and Andrea quickly dispersed looks of dread on their faces. It was apparent that the manager was not in the best of moods and everyone was suffering for it. I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat and rose from my seat. I was surprised when Adam rose as well, a scowl on his face. I gave him a questioning look.

“You can’t come with me you know, my manager won’t allow it.” I stated, confused by his unpleasant demeanor.

His eyes softened slightly as he registered I was talking to him, “Just try and stop me. I’m not going to let someone harass you because of my mistake yesterday.”

“I’d prefer it if you didn’t,” I remarked panicking slightly. I didn’t need Adam making my life more complicated with Michael, “I really need to handle this on my own.”

“Jenna, Jenna, Jenna,” he tutted at me, “Do you honestly think in the time that you’ve known me that I’m just going to sit by and let you take care of things?”

“Matheson now!” Michael’s voice rang out again. I turned and noticed his furious features and dark scowl and he waiting for me to hustle.

“Coming!” I remarked and then turned back towards Adam, “please, if you care at all, just let me handle this.” I was pleading with him now.

“I think you should let Jenna do things her way Adam,” Andrea remarked quietly. Honestly I had forgotten she was still beside us, “Just wait here until she comes back. She can take care of herself I promise.”

With a sigh, Adam retook his seat next to Andrea, clearly not used to being told not to do something. I sent Andrea a deeply appreciative smile, quietly amending the negative thoughts I had about her only a few minutes prior. She truly was a good friend to me.

I hastened towards the manager’s office and Michael who was leaning against the doorframe. Without a word, he straightened and entered his office, signaling that I follow. With an inward sigh I walked in and shut the door quietly behind me.

“Well Jenna,” Michael turned to me, a glare on his face, “It seems as though you don’t seem to appreciate this job very much. Do you know how hard it was for me to find a replacement on such short notice yesterday?”

“I’m really sorry Michael,” I murmured, a blush on my cheeks, “It was an accident and my doctor wouldn’t allow me to come to work. I didn’t want to miss.”

Michael snorted at my response, “I’m sure Jenna. And yes I did receive a phone call from your attending. However, it appears to me that you were shirking your duties yesterday. Perhaps I should find someone else to replace you permanently?”

I straightening in my chair, “Now that’s not fair.” I remarked, “I am not lying and if I have to I will go and retrieve my hospital records as proof. You can’t fire me for following the doctor’s orders.”

Michael raised his eyebrow at me, “Oh testy are we? While I realize that I cannot fire you for an accident that was unable to be prevented, I can have you suspending for disrespecting your manager.”

“But-“ I stopped myself from ranting at Michael. I could see the malicious look in his eye and I knew that if I argued further I’d be getting myself into even deeper trouble. “Is there anything I can do to make up for my absence yesterday?”

“Well Jenna,” Michael began, a smirk on his face, “I believe that we’ll have to put you on a probationary period with your work schedule. You’ll need to prove that you are invested in your job. You’ll be working every evening for the next two weeks. You have forfeited your days off.” I started to protest and Michael smirked again, daring me to continue. I clamped my mouth shut, but didn’t hide my glare.

“Is there anything else?” I ground out, furious with myself for not protesting this unfair treatment. But if I wanted to keep my job I had to maintain my composure.

“As a matter of fact there is,” Michael gave me a slimy smile. I wanted to gag, “You are to help with the kitchen crew after your shift as well. You are not to clock out any sooner than 11:00. And if I find out that you are avoiding your duties, you will lose your job. Is that clear?”

“crystal,” I muttered scowling. “Can I go now?”

“You are dismissed,” he replied cheekily, “oh and Jenna make sure that your “guest” is escorted from the restaurant if he isn’t going purchase a meal.”

I nodded my head and hurried from the office, humiliation sweeping through me. I had let Michael completely run over me. I hadn’t stood up for myself at all. It was rather pathetic really. As I slammed the manager’s door behind me I looked up and across the room at Adam. He had a dark look on his face. Trying to calm my infuriated pulse, I quickly headed back towards Andrea and Adam. Andrea looked worried, Adam merely looked infuriated.

“I need to talk to you,” I muttered walking towards the pair, my eyes directed at Adam, “Now please.”

Without a word, he rose from his chair and followed me towards the entrance of the restaurant. I hastily walked outside, ignoring the biting cold. Once I was certain we were alone I turned back and gazed at Adam.

“I’m supposed to ask you to leave,” I remarked stoically, “The manager doesn’t want you in here if you aren’t an employee or a paying customer.”

“How could you let him talk to you like that?” Adam retorted, anger laced throughout his words. My eyes flashed dangerously at his comment.

“What did you hear? And more importantly how did you hear it? I told you to stay and let me handle things.” I ground out. Adam’s demeanor didn’t change.

“It doesn’t matter how I heard what I heard,” he retorted scowling at me, “How could you let him treat you that way! It was ridiculous. You should have stood up for yourself. You’re capable of that.”

“And risk losing my job?” I remarked incredulously, “I can’t afford to do that. If I don’t have my job I don’t have a way to pay for my apartment.”

“Jenna I could help you,” he had softened his voice, “You shouldn’t have to work as much as you do. And you shouldn’t be subjected to that kind of ridicule.”

“And what would you know?” I remarked heatedly, my anger flaring, “You seem to have the world handed to you and you think you can stand here and tell what I do and do not deserve. I’m not going to accept your charity either. I don’t need it or want it. I can take care of myself. You’re just some stranger I had the misfortune of meeting and now you think you can give me advice about my life? You are utterly absurd.”

“I’m quite aware of the fact that you can take care of yourself,” he remarked quietly, giving me a pitying glare, “But it’s a pretty lonely world when all you have to rely on is yourself. Your abrasiveness and callous remarks can only get you so far in life. I’ll see you after work Jenna. I’ll give you a lift home.”

He quickly turned on his heel and walked away from the restaurant before I could utter a word in protest. I gaped after him as the wind whipped at my face angrily. My own emotions were now in turmoil. I was furious because of my manager and because Adam was trying to tell me how to live my life, but at the same time I was hurt. A deep throbbing was building in my chest. Adam’s words rang in my head ‘it’s a lonely world’. Was I really lonely?

A nasty gust of wind made my shiver and hasten my way back inside. I had a shift to attend to. Readjusting my hair I walked towards the kitchen to get started with the prep work for tonight’s dinner rush. The dining room was nearly empty, except for a few of the bus boys who were setting up the silverware and glasses.

Pushing my way into the kitchen I caught the gaze of Andrea. She gave me a half hearted smile, but didn’t try to approach me. Obviously Adam wasn’t the only person privy to the conversation between Michael and myself. However, I simply couldn’t bring myself to be angry with Andrea. Adam’s voice still rang in my head and I had a hard time concentrating on one specific emotion.

“Hey Jenna can you help me with the vegetables?” Rachael’s voice snapped me back to attention. I silently nodded my head and headed towards the work station she was at.

Picking up a knife and a bell pepper I began to work on the vegetable, not speaking or making eye contact with Rachael. And for the moment she worked silently beside me. But I could feel her gaze on me every few seconds trying to gauge my expressions. After a moment she sighed and set her knife down.

“Tell me what’s bothering you Jenna,” Rachael pleaded quietly with me, “You are far more sullen than usual.”

“I’m fine,” I remarked quietly, refusing to look at her.

“Hardly,” She remarked, picking up her knife again, “You can’t let what Michael says get to you. You just need to ignore him. He’s a jerk anyway.”

I slammed my knife down, “Is everyone privy to my private conversations? I know that he’s a jerk. He’s always been a jerk, but there isn’t anything I can do about it. It’s either suck it up and take it or lose my job. I can’t afford that. So I have to bend over backwards to be please the imbecile.”

Rachael laughed lightly at my remark, “Believe me dear I understand how you feel about Michael, but just know that I’d never let him get away with firing you. He’d be a fool indeed to try and pull that card against you.”

A smile tugged at my lips, “Thanks,” I murmured. I went back to slicing bell peppers.

“Besides,” Rachael continued nonchalantly, “I’m sure that fellow you brought in wouldn’t allow for you to be disrespected either.”

I stopped in mid- chop a blush covering my cheeks. I turned to Rachael, “Adam and I aren’t really all that well acquainted. We aren’t technically even friends. Besides, he said that I was abrasive and callous! That hardly qualifies as a friendly comment don’t you think?”

Rachael laughed again, “Oh I heard the story of how you two met. But let me just say something to you Jenna. Even though you haven’t known each other long this Adam seems like he genuinely cares about your well being,” I started to protest, but she raised her hand to silence me, “Whether it be merely as a friend or whether he has deeper motives, it’s clear to me that he’s not one to take your happiness lightly.” She laughed again, “And besides, if anyone can take you on when you throw your “abrasive” comments at them, they deserve to be taken seriously.”

With a smile in my direction she quickly resumed her chopping duties, effectively ending the conversation.