Gwen spent the next few minutes showing me where different sauces were and the few things I would be responsible for in the kitchen. Julian worked on completing orders and didn’t offer up any additionalconversation.
Gwen was thorough in her tour of the diner between tables. She might not have been an official trainer, but the girl knew her stuff. I mostly watched as she waited on the tables that shift. She let me practice on a few of thesmallerones.
As the evening went on, we continued to talk about non-work related things. She was easy to talk to and had one of those personalities that made you want to be her friend. The night went quickly working side by side and before I knew it, it was time to finish up. Gwen taught me how to calculate tip share for the cooks and explained it was a way of thanking them for theirhardwork.
She walked over and gave Julian a few bucks, leaving me at one of the booths with a soda. The two of them talked and smiled like they were good friends. I sat back and watched, feeling tension build. I couldn’t figure out why I was souncomfortable.
It wasn’t until Gwen came back smiling, that I realized I was jealous. I wasn’t sure why, I didn’t have a claim on him. But the fact he wouldn’t even smile at me when he was friendly withGwenhurt.
Were they dating? I hated that the question even popped into my mind. I pushed it down quickly as Gwen returned. I didn’t want these feelings to destroy my chances at making a newfriend.
“Hey, thanks for sticking around.” Gwen slid into the booth acrossfromme.
“Sure, no problem. Thanks for everythingtoday.”
“I think you’re going to be great.” Gwen said encouragingly. “I know Julian comes off strong.” She glanced back toward the kitchen. “But he really is a great guy. Don’t be afraidofhim.”
I just nodded my head in response. Julianwasa great guy, I just wasn’t so sure about this grown up versionofhim.
ChapterSix
Julian
“Take your time.”A voice shouted from just below me on the bleachers. I assumed she was the mom of one of the guys down on the mat. Parents of competitive wrestlers could be intense, to say the least. She was sitting on the edge of her seat as the two guys struggled to get a takedown. When one of the boys down below got the other guy in a hold, she cheeredloudly.
I didn’t cheer with the crowd, but I appreciated histechnique.
I loved wrestling. I had been the captain of my high school team and was mostly undefeated in my weight class. I had planned to wrestle at BSU as part of my athletic scholarship. That was before everythinghappened.
So while my wrestling days were over, I’d go watch matches whenever possible. In a town that worshipped its wrestlers, I could almost always find something to watch. The high school season hadn’t started yet, but the year round competitive teams were at the rec center that day. I sat in the very back, not wanting to be seen. I’d slip in late and leave early. It was just enough to keep megrounded.
I watched a few more matches before going out the way I came in. I wouldn’t stay for the awards part. I had work later and needed to run back by my house before going in. I pulled the hood on my sweatshirt over my head. It wasn’t cool enough to justify it, but I hoped to stayunnoticed.
I walked to my car, thankful to have gas in it. I was thinking how it was turning out to be a good day when I spotted him. “What the hell are you doing here, Marco?” I asked, not bothering to hide the annoyance in my voice. I had so little I enjoyed these days. I didn’t want him takinganythingaway.
“Oh, little brother.” He never called me Julian anymore, as if addressing me this way made him feel superior. “You didn’t think your hoodie actually was a good disguise, did you? Everybody knows you go around watching wrestling matches. It’s pathetic,really.”
“Marco, please just leave. I don’t want to do this today,” I pleadedwithhim.
“I know you’ve got some money. Just give your big brother what he wants and I’llleave.”
“I don’t have anything,Marco”
“Don’t lie, I’m sure you have something. I’d hate to have to fight you for it.” He laughed as he said it like it wasn’t a big deal we’d been coming to blows consistently these past fewweeks.
“I don’t have anything to give you.” I repeated. “Or, have you forgotten practically every penny I earn goes toward momthesedays?”
“I haven’t forgotten,” his expression became somber with the words, leaving no trace of the smile that had just been on his face. “I, for one, am not going to behelpless.”
“No, you’re just going to bully and take and make things harder on me and your ownmother.”
“It’s hard for all of us. Don’t play high and mighty.” He spat at me. I watched as his hands formed fists at his sides. He was ready to punchsomething.
Orsomeone.
I hated this part. I hated fighting my brother, and whenever he got like this, I played more of a defensive role instead of fighting back. Unfortunately, that meant I was the one who ended up covered in marks. I was the one who looked like he walked away from a brawl, while my brother stayedpristine.
“Marco,” I said as firmly as I could in a last attempt to avoid the inevitable. “Find another way to get some money, man. I can’t give youanythingelse.”
