Frank locks the door to his apartment, sighing as he does so. He mopes to the refrigerator and grabs a soda can. Feeling the stress leave him with every gulp of the sugary drink. He flips on the television, mindlessly watching until he felt his eyes starting to doze off.

---

A phone rings endlessly and Frank woke up from his slumber, panicking. Without a doubt, he answers the call.
Jamia's voice shouts through the phone, "Are you gonna get your ass here?"
Frank shuffles around the room as he tries to find his shoes, "Yea, yeah..."
"This is the last time I'll stand up for you. He's threatening to fire me too." She complains.
Frank replies, begging for forgiveness, "I know, I'm sorry. I love you so much, please don't hate me."
"Oh please, I couldn't. Anyways, be here in ten. Bye." She ends the call without any tension from before.
In less than a minute, Frank was out the door.

---

Frank's hair was still a bird's nest and his shoes were untied, but he arrived five minutes earlier than what Jamia requested and that was all that mattered to him. He fixed himself up a little bit before grabbing a note pad and apron. He thought to himself, 'Get it together, Frank,' before heading off to his table section.
"Hello, what can I get you started off with?...Water?" Frank politely suggests. He looks down at the man, waiting for a reply.
"Can I have a Pepsi?" The man asks.
"Oh, I'm very sorry sir, but we only have Coke products here." Frank explains.
"I'll just have the water then." He murmured. Frank hates to disappoint, but there wasn't much he could do in this situation.
"I'll have that here in a minute." Frank smiled, thinking that was the least that he could've done to help the old man.
Frank rose up and strides over to another table. At the table a mother of three holds a crying baby on her shoulder, looking full of regret.
"Hello, I'm Frank and I'll be your waiter tonight. Is there anything I can get you started off with?" He says with a full grin ear to ear.
"I'll like to speak with your manager." She complains.
"I'll get him right away." Frank turns around, rolling his eyes and thinking, 'Another one of these bitchy ass soccer moms. They always fucking yell in my face like it's my damn problem that they have saggy tits and their husbands are cheating on them! Maybe if your hair didn't look like an scene kid's mom cut it, your husband would fuck you.'
He enters the busy kitchen, almost spilling someone's food.
"Iero! stop being a little shit!" One of the chefs yells at him.
Quickly after apologizing, he heads over to Hen, the manager.
"Table eleven would like to speak with you." He paused, waiting for a reaction; but when there wasn't one he continued.
"I tried my best to calm them down, but she just wasn't having it." Frank lied.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll deal with them...Probably just give them a free dessert coupon." Hen groans, trying to find the coupon drawer.
"Hey Hen...thanks. I've been having a rough day, so sorry about being late. It won't happen again."
"Better not happen once you're 18. So help me god, I'll kick your ass out of here if you're even a minute late." Hen warns me.
"I know, I know. I'm just a kid." Frank mimicked, filling the glass with water.
As Frank walks over to the man's table he notices a picture of a woman across from him. The man traces his fingers along the picture, sorrow filled his face.
Putting the water down, Frank asked the man, "If you don't mind me asking, but who is that beautiful lady?"
The man looked up, out of his trance, and replied, "Lanore was my wife. She passed away only a year ago...I like to bring her wherever I go."
"I'm very sorry for your loss, is there anything she would like to drink?"
"Oh no, don't be ridiculo-," Frank interrupts, "No, no. My pleasure."
A tear slips down his cheek as he smiles, "She would like a lemonade."
"I'll have that here in just a little bit." Frank walks off, trying hard not to cry himself.

---

Frank and Jamia are left to lock up the restaurant; everyone had already left while they were cleaning up.
"What was up with you today?" She asks.
"Oh...I accidentally took a nap when I got home from school." Frank sighs.
"No, I mean, why were you so sad today?" Jamia insists.
"Nothing, probably just the stress." He lies, looking away.
"Okay, whatever. Well, I have to get back to my dorm. Drive safe." Jamia leans in for a hug.
Frank gives in to the hug, whispering, "You too."
They both wave goodbye to each other as they walk to their own cars.
On Frank's way home, he blasts some Misfits, and head-bangs along with it.

Notes

I'm not going to lie to you and say I was too busy to write, because honestly I was just too lazy to update, but today I finally felt inspired to write. Hope you enjoy!
(this is the updated version)

- XOXO fqomb