Frank looked up at the outside of the building, then looked at the piece of paper in his hand. Yep, this was the right place. He sighed, well that Mikey guy who interviewed him had said that the outside was still in need of a face lift, and that the sign hadn't arrived yet. He hoped inside was a little better.

Opening the door, Frank stepped inside and had an instant feeling of stepping into another dimension. Everything inside was clean and shiny and new looking, and there were a half dozen people stood around looking lost. Frank stuffed the piece of paper into his pocket and walked over, maybe they were other people here for the orientation. He stepped over to a tall buff looking guy with short blonde hair, a slightly scruffy beard and a black lip ring. The guy had a clipboard in his hands, as did everyone else, and he was writing on it.

"Hey, you here for the orientation?...am I in the right place?"

The tall guy looked down at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes."

He looked back at the clipboard.

"Yes to which question?.

Frank asked with a grin. The guy looked down at him again.

"Both."

Then returned to what he was doing.

"I'm Frank by the way. Do I have to fill out one of those?"

The big man growled slightly and looked at Frank again.

"Bob...and yes."

"Where are they?..."

Bob sighed and pointed to the bar. Frank looked over and saw a small stack of clipboards. He grinned and looked back up at Bob.

"Thanks man."

Then he trotted off to grab a clipboard. Bob rolled his eyes and went back to finishing filling out his attendance sheet. After a minute, Frank reappeared by his side.

"Hey, can I borrow your pen when you've finished?"

---

"Brendon...Brendon wake up..."

Ryan shook his friend's shoulder, rolling his eyes cause yet again, Brendon forgot to set his alarm.

"Brendon, you're gonna be late."

"Huh what? Ryan, what time is it?"

"It's nearly half past ten Brendon, and you were supposed to be at your orientation at ten."

"SHIT!"

Brendon jumped up and promptly smacked his face on the coffee table.

"OW MOTHER FUCKER!"

Ryan rolled his eyes and grabbed Brendon's elbow, pulling him upright.

"Careful there, you don't want to go to work black and blue."

"Too late."

Brendon scrambled up and ran into the closet...literally.

"Fuck, where's my coat? I can't find my shoes! My fucking glasses!"

Brendon was beyond panicked. Ryan laughed.

"Hey slow down. Here..."

He held out Brendon's glasses toward him.

"Hey, you want a ride?...I know you don't like my bike, but it'd be faster than the subway."

"Yes please, fuck Mikey is gonna kill me! I'm gonna lose the job before I even get it!"

"Mikey?...that your boss?"

"Yes and I bet he turns into an asshole when people are late!"

Ryan frowned slightly.

"I can come in with you if you want...explain that my bike broke down on the way or something?.

"No no, I have to be adult about this shit. Let's just go."

"Ok. Hey, what's this Mikey like anyway?...cute?"

Ryan winked, grabbing his jacket and keys then leading the way out of the apartment.

"He's kind of...whoa!"

Brendon tripped down the stairs and caught himself with the banister. Ryan turned on the stairs to look back at him.

"Geez Bren, you having a clumsy day today or something?"

"I don't know, just be careful driving so I don't fall off the back of the fucking bike."

Brendon grabbed the spare helmet and mounted and bike slipping it on. He just hoped that this was not going to cause him a chance at his new life.

(time passes)

Ray was outside having a cigarette. He looked at his watch, it was almost eleven and Mikey was still not there. The other employees were getting ancy, especially the blonde that looked like he could bounce someone out of their own skin and Ray worried it was going to be the little guy that had been bugging the shit out of everyone, but especially the blonde. He took the last drag when a motorcycle pulled up and a guy jumped off getting his foot caught in the seat and smacked his head on the concrete. Ray winced and was glad he still had his helmet on.

"Fuck, what is wrong with me today?!"

Ryan got off his bike quickly, removing his own helmet and setting it on the seat before leaning down to help Brendon up.

"What did you say your job was going to be again...rollerskating waiter?"

"Uh...yeah."

Ray put out his cigarette and walked over to the two guys.

"Hey, you two here for orientation?"

Ryan looked up at the curly haired man and smiled.

"He is...I'm just his ride..."

He held out his hand.

"I'm Ryan."

"Hi, Ray. Well don't worry, the boss isn't even here yet."

"Wait...what?"

"Yeah, he's late too."

Brendon looked at Ryan.

"Well what does that..."

A car pulled up behind Ryan's bike...a little too close.

"Fuck you Mikey! That is the last time I let you drive my car!"

The guy Brendon recognised as Gerard got out of the passenger seat and practically kissed the sidewalk.

"I don't even know how the fuck you got a license!"

"The same way you did dear brother...I cheated."

Mikey winked as he got out of the car and shut the door with his hip. He looked over at the other three men who were stood watching them.

"Hi. Well I recognise two of you, but I'm pretty sure I didn't hire you."

He smiled at Ryan. Ryan grinned back, shaking his head.

"Nah, I just gave Bren a ride..."

He turned to face Brendon.

"I gotta go, or I'll be late..."

He picked up his helmet and put it back on, with the face shield open.

"See you later Bren. Gabe's gonna pick you up later, just shoot him a text."

He flipped down the shield, then climbed back on his bike, started it up and rode away. Brendon turned back to his new boss, who was staring at him.

"Uh, that's Ryan."

Mikey nodded.

"Ok then...shall we all go in before we take root?"

"So did we get the time wrong? Cause most of us have been here since ten or before."

Brendon blushed cause this other guy Ray just ratted him out for being late. Mikey shook his head.

"Nah, you're all ok...we're the ones who are late..."

He pushed into the building and grinned when he saw everyone waiting.

"HELLO EVERYONE...SORRY WE'RE LATE..."

Everyone turned around to see the man that hired them walk in. Frank saw Mikey and waved with a big grin on his face. Bob saw the shorter man wave and rolled his eyes with a huff.

"And sorry I had to change the day, I know Saturday would've been easier for a couple of you, but most of you couldn't make it so..."

He trailed off for a moment with a sigh before continuing.

"So I hope you've all had time to fill out the forms I left..."

Mikey said as he walked over, getting nods from everyone...except Brendon, he noticed.

"And if you haven't, you can do it now cause I just gotta talk to my brother for a minute. Oh, for those of you that didn't meet him before, this is Gerard."

He indicated his brother and Frank decided that if that guy was going to be working here, then he was definitely going to enjoy this job. Gerard gave a half hearted wave and then pulled Mikey to the side.

"Jesus Mikes, you need to be more professional about this shit!"

"Chill out Gee. This is my bar and I have no intention of it being a boring place...even for the staff..."

He sighed.

"Look, I know you are only trying to look out for me, but I got this...ok?"

"Whatever, I gotta get back to the office."

Gerard grabbed his coat and left.

"Wow, is he always in a bad mood?"

Mikey turned to look at Brendon with a straight face, then grinned at him.

"Only when I drive. Come on, let's get this thing started..."

He placed his hand on the small of Brendon's back and steered him over to the others.

"Attention everyone...we've got a lot to get through."

(time passes)

Ray was impressed despite a rough beginning...Mikey knew his business. He had a lot of great idea and the proper way to execute them. He made Ray head of the kitchen and gave him two prep chefs. Ray was pretty pleased. The guy who arrived late was apparently hired as a waiter with two others. They were given roller skates, but apparently the other two were better with roller blades. After seeing them fall several times, Mikey relented and allowed it. The clumsy one though seemed to be quiet adept on them. Ray saw Mikey smile and he thought that he would like to make Mikey smile like that one day too. The jittery short guy was now their new bartender along with one other guy, and the blonde he was annoying turned out to be a bouncer. With still a few more places to fill, it seemed the main team was pretty much assembled. Ray left the room with the prep cooks to check out the kitchen and start creating a menu.

(time passes)

Brendon sat down taking off his skates. He couldn't believe he was a better skater than the other two hirees. It kind of made him happy.

"Brendon..."

Mikey said, sitting down next to him and making him jump slightly.

"Where'd you learn to skate like that?"

"Oh...I used to be in competition when I was a kid."

"Really?...that's cool. Last time me and Gee tried to skate, I fell and split my lip open and Gee broke his wrist. You're really good though. I'm impressed."

"I'm glad I could make you happy."

Brendon blushed as the other two guys hired snickered and whispered.

"Oh, you definitely do..."

Mikey smirked.

"Well, I better go see how everyone else is getting on. Why don't you head on into the kitchen and see if you can give Ray a hand."

He winked then stood up and walked off toward the bar. Brendon preened a bit at the praise. He felt like sticking his tongue out at the other guys, but instead he took the high road and went into the kitchen to see Ray.

"So..."

Mikey said with an eyebrow raised as he reached the bar.

"I see you've been rearranging my bar. Care to explain?"

Frank swallowed uncomfortably and shoved his hand through his short hair, a nervous habit he'd had since he was a kid.

"Well uh...the spirits were up too high and I couldn't reach. So I thought if the promo bottles were on the top shelves, then I could get to the ones we'll use regularly more easy..."

He glanced toward the other bartender, who was purposely not looking up from what he was doing at the other end of the bar. He sighed and looked back at Mikey.

"I hope that's ok?"

Mikey looked over the bar at all the bottles then looked back at Frank.

"This was your idea?"

"Yes."

Mikey looked at the other bartender.

"You didn't have anything to do with this, Lucas?"

The other man looked over with an innocent smile.

"No boss. I thought it was fine as it was...I told Frank not to change it."

Mikey hummed, then looked back at Frank.

"Good thinking Frank...no point the head bartender not being able to reach the drinks, now is there."

Frank's eyes went wide and he grinned from ear to ear, shaking his head.

"No boss, no point at all."

He saw Lucas giving him an evil stare out of the corner of his eye, but ignored it.

"Ok, well carry on. The order sheets are in the bottom draw under the register, if there's anything you think we should stock that we don't have, just mark it on a sheet and I'll show you how to order it later...ok?"

"Sure thing boss."

Frank grinned happily. Mikey nodded to him then headed off to check on his new doorman. There honestly wasn't much the guy could really do until they opened next week, but he wanted to make sure he was happy with how things were set up.

"Hey Bob, everything ok?"

Bob looked up from the rows of computer screens that he was sat in front of when Mikey walked into the little security room.

"Yes Sir, all in order except for camera 6."

"What's wrong with it?"

"Just the angle. I'll fix it..

"Ok, well I've got two security guards coming in tomorrow for their induction cause they couldn't make it today. Would you be able to be here?...I mean it would help a lot, seeing as they're going to be working under you."

Bob nodded.

"Of course Sir. What time?"

"Same time, ten. That ok?"

"Yes Sir, I'll be here."

"Cool..."

Mikey turned to leave, but stopped in the doorway and looked back.

"Oh and Bob?...you can call me Mikey."

Then he turned and left, heading to the kitchen. When he got there, he stopped just outside the door and listened to Brendon and Ray for a minute, curious as to how the two would interact with each other.

"Isn't that a little too fancy for a bar?"

"Maybe, but we want to stand out and anyone can serve burgers and fries, but this kind of cuisine will help us stand out pretty good."

"Yeah, but does it match the 80's theme?"

"Well yeah, I have been researching online and found out these things are making a comback from the 80's but with a modern flair."

Brendon looked at the list.

"Blackened meats, Bean salads, quish,..."

"It's pronounced quiche."

"Oh right that egg stuff."

Ray fought to roll his eyes. Mikey bit his lip to not laugh...good thing he hadn't hired Brendon to work in the kitchen.

"Pasta salad is a big hit with millennials and there is so much that you can do with it."

"Yeah, but how does that fit with downing a beer in a bar?"

Mikey grinned and stepped into the room.

"Well it's a good thing this is a cocktail bar then isn't it. So how're things going in here?"

Brendon backed off feeling bad that he spoke like that.

"Very well I think. I have a menu, so if I can get the ingredients I can get your approval on it and then we can start ordering bulk items for the kitchen."

Mikey nodded, digging his hand into his pocket to pull out his wallet.

"Sure. Here's the club's card, why don't you go get what you need. You can take Brendon with you if you like..."

He handed over a brand new debit card with the bar's name on it.

"When you get back you can do two of everything on your menu, then me and Gee can taste test them...he said he'd be back here at about 1 so we can get lunch."

"Sounds good to me, come on Brendon."

Ray grabbed Brendon's hand and pulled him out the door.

(time passes)

Gerard walked into the bar after one of the worst days he ever had. In fact he wasn't even returning to the office...cause it was under water. Well that was an exaggeration. The sprinkler system had gone haywire and wouldn't shut off. Then one of the faucets broke in the bathroom and the handle for turning the water off was so rusted that it broke off when they tried to turn it. Between water from below and water from above it was a losing battle. Since it was Thursday and tomorrow was a bank holiday anyway, they just closed the office. Gerard was soaked from the shoulders up and the knees down. Needless to say he was not having a good day at all.

Frank looked up from the order sheet he was working on. His eyes widened as he saw his boss' brother trudge in with his shoes squelching and his hair hanging in soggy strings around his pale face.

"Woah..."

He grabbed a clean towel from behind the bar and held it out.

"What happened?...you look like someone tried to drown you. Can I get you a drink of anything?"

"Something to make me forget this day exists."

Gerard took the towel and flopped onto one of the bar stools. He covered his head with it and put it down on the bar sighing.

"What..."

Frank started as he set to mixing the man a drink of his own design.

"You mean someone did try to drown you?"

Gerard looked up when he heard the glass hitting the bar in front of him. He was greeting with a bright red glass. He raised his eyebrow and sniffed.

"Cherries?"

Frank grinned and nodded.

"Yep. It's my own recipe, Hot Cherry Pie Cocktail...go on, try it."

http://www.hgtv.com/design/make-and-celebrate/entertaining/hot-cherry-pie

Gerard picked up the glass and took a sip.

"Oh wow! It's good and fuck it packs a punch on the first sip. Hmmm, if it's pie...maybe you should put whip cream on it too."

Frank nodded with a serious look on his face.

"You're right...everything's better with whipped cream...don't you think?.

He smirked.

"Oh...uh yeah."

Gerard avoided Frank's gaze and took a big gulp coughing afterwards.

"Jesus, what the fuck is in this?"

Frank chuckled.

"Two and 1/2 ounces of cherry juice, one ounce of amaretto and one and 1/2 ounces of vanilla vodka. It should have whipped cream and crumbled pie crust on top, but I'll have to order stuff like that in if I want to put this on the menu. Do you think it would sell?"

"Fuck yeah it would!"

Gerard could see a whole adult dessert menu.

"Think you could do apple and chocolate too? What about a lemon or a key lime?"

Frank laughed loudly, a huge grin spread on his face.

"Slow down, slow down. Yes, I can do all that. I actually have a whole collection I worked up for my family's Christmas party last year...I just need to get the ingredients."

"This could really make the bar a hit with the instagram crowd..."

Gerard looked at Frank with renewed interest.

"Frankie, you really were a hidden gem for Mikey to find."

Frank blushed a bit at the nickname and giggled slightly.

"You really think so?...a gem?"

"Oh yeah, a diamond in the rough for sure..."

Gerard grinned at him and then finished his cocktail.

"After we try Ray's recipies, you have to make one of these great dessert cocktails for Mikey. He is going to love it!"

Frank smiled and nodded.

"Yeah I will. Hey, Ray might even have some whipped cream back there so I can do you one of the drinks properly today...so you don't have to wait til next time."

"That's sounds like an excellent idea."

Gerard reached into the empty cup and pulled out one of the cherries.

"Would you like one?"

"Would I like your cherry?...oh yes, definitely..."

Frank smirked, but then sighed and shook his head.

"But alas, I'm allergic...sorry."

Just then, Mikey stuck his head out of the kitchen.

"Hey Gee, I didn't know you were back. Come try all this food Ray just made...and tell me why you're dripping all over my floor."

Gerard almost lost his balance on the stool when Mikey yelled out the door. He looked at Frank trying to figure out what the shorter man meant by what he said.

"Right Mikes, coming."

He quickly righted himself and hurried out of the room into the kitchen. Frank chuckled as he grabbed another towel and moved around the bar to clean up the puddle under Gerard's stool. That guy was adorable and by the confused look he'd given him, slightly clueless too. This is going to be fun, he thought as he went back to his order form...lots and lots of fun.

Notes

Hi there chipmunks, how's you?

So most of our cast of characters are here, and they seem to be getting on ok, don't they. I'm particularly happy with little flirty Frankie, I think I'm going to have fun writing him.

Anyway, until next time...PLEASE COMMENT, and peace out babies!
<3