Work Text:
When Charlie first began working at The Crest Cafe, he didn't really think it was that big of a deal.
He was a sixteen-year-old boy who wanted some money of his own for when he went out with his friends (and Nick) so he didn't have to constantly ask his mum and dad for some cash before he went to the arcade.
But, lo and behold, everyone acted like Charlie just became the King of England when he began waiting tables.
Charlie makes 5 pounds an hour and wears a stupid black apron around his waist and he constantly has to deal with people complaining about the menu as if he, a sixteen-year-old waiter in a stupid black waist apron had any part in creating it.
Charlie's had drinks spilled on his shoes and he's slipped on pieces of food people have dropped and not bothered to clean up.
If he's being honest, he kind of hates his job.
He always goes home smelling like chips and Coca-Cola and his feet hurt from the awful non-slip shoes he has to wear (they don't even work, for God's sake, he's constantly slipping).
It's not even a very large restaurant, there's about 13 tables. The only issue is, he's the only waiter that takes the afternoon shift. And those 13 tables are always full. And that's not even including the to-go orders that people call in. So, Charlie is in charge of 13 tables and a phone, because half the time the hostess isn't at work when he is (because they only have one of those).
All of his friends have other jobs, and they all seem significantly easier than Charlie's. Nick is a grocery bagger, and he makes more money than Charlie does.
But, Charlie guesses, it's all worth it when Tori comes in with Olly and he gets to bring Oliver his Sprite and Tori's lemonade and take their orders and watch Olly get all excited in that eight-year-old way when he sees Charlie walking over to the table with a plate of chicken tenders in his hand.
It's worth it when Tao and Isaac and Elle come in and order from the dessert menu and let Charlie steal bites when he walks over to refill their glasses.
It's worth it when his dad comes in on his way home from work and orders nothing but a coffee and a bagel and leaves Charlie a tip that's worth more than the money he makes in an hour.
And it's especially worth it when Nick comes in with Nellie (the restaurant is dog friendly which, he supposes, also makes the job worth it) and stares at Charlie while he restocks napkins with that little smile on his face and grabs Charlie's hand and kisses it when Charlie walks past with a bottle of ketchup for the couple sitting in the corner.
He loves it when Nick comes in.
Nick makes silly faces at Charlie from behind the menu and laughs when Charlie drops the saltshakers and helps Charlie clear tables when he gets overwhelmed.
Nick writes notes on napkins for Charlie to find when he leaves with messages like come over when you're done, bring chips, love nick and you look really cute with that apron on :).
Charlie loves Nick so much.
One day, Nick comes in when the restaurant is so packed that there's no tables open and the phone is ringing off the hook.
Nick takes one look at the frazzled look on Charlie's face as he rushes to get drinks out to the party of nine in the back, gives him a smile and a thumbs up, and walks over to the host stand. Nick answers the phone.
"Hey, thanks for calling Crest Cafe, how can I help you?"
Charlie almost laughs out of relief.
Charlie finishes passing drinks to customers and walks back up front where he sees Nick has somehow found one of those stupid little waist aprons and put it on. He's holding a pen in his hand and he's smiling at Charlie.
"So, I wrote it all down, because I don't know how to use the computer and I figured you could put it in, and I can go restock all those empty napkin dispensers."
"Nicholas Nelson, the man that you are."
Nick laughs that lovely, beautiful laugh of his and pecks Charlie on the cheek. "Anything for you, Char."
He grabs a box of napkins from behind the host stand and walks over to the trash can where there's a napkin dispenser hanging on the wall.
Charlie laughs and shakes his head and begins inputting the order into the computer.
He sees a man at one of the tables wave him over, so he starts to walk that way. Nick has filled three napkin dispensers and is moving onto the fourth and last one. The customer tells Charlie he'd like to order dessert, so Charlie gets out his pen and his notebook and begins writing down the order. He hears Nick speaking to someone behind him but it's not until he turns around that he realizes why.
Nick is flushed and standing next to Natty Crest, who is the owner of the restaurant that Nick is technically illegally working at. Charlie rushes over and smiles sheepishly at his boss.
"Hi, Mrs. Crest," Charlie says, and looks over at Nick to see him trying not to laugh. Charlie personally doesn't find this very funny as there's a big chance he'll get fired for this, but he doesn't say anything to Nick.
"Charlie. Why is there a random boy working in my restaurant right now?"
Charlie opens his mouth to speak but Nick has beat him to it.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Crest, I don't want Charlie to get in trouble for this. I'm Nick, his boyfriend, and I came to visit him and saw how swamped the restaurant was and he was struggling to keep up with all the tables and the phone. So, I just stepped in for a bit to help. I know that's technically not allowed but I didn't know what else to do. I'm so sorry," Nick says, and his eyes are wide, and he smiles awkwardly as Mrs. Crest looks at him.
"Well, thank you, Nick, for stepping in. But you do realize there are ways to get a job that don't involve working for free, right? We have an application process."
This answer startles a laugh out of both Charlie and Nick and Mrs. Crest smiles. "While I do appreciate you trying to help, you cannot do so unless you work here. So please, put the apron back. I'll take over and help Charlie out. In the meantime, there's a stack of applications under the host stand. Go home and take one with you."
Nick does as she says, and walks back towards the host stand.
"Get back to work, Charlie. I'll get these orders out. Sorry for leaving you alone out here. Hopefully, you'll have some help soon."
Charlie remembers the order he took and rushes over to the computer to put it in just as Nick is walking away from the stand.
"I guess I have to go now," he waves the application in his hand. "I'll see you later, love. Have a good rest of your shift."
"Thank you for your help, Nick. It was short lived but appreciated all the same. I'll call you when I get out."
Nick leaves and the bell above the door rings with his opening it and Charlie gets back to doing his job.
The rest of his shift is relatively normal and he's wiping down a table that a group just left from when the phone rings. Mrs. Crest is taking an order at a table so he leaves his rag and goes to answer the phone.
"Thank you for calling Crest Cafe, this is Charlie. What can I get for you today?"
The voice on the other end of the line is very familiar and Charlie smiles when he hears it.
"I'd really appreciate it if you could tell my boyfriend that I forgot to tell him I loved him when I left earlier today. And also, that his ass looks fantastic in his work uniform."
Charlie laughs and pretends to be writing down an order as to not alert Mrs. Crest. "Ah, okay. Well he says he loves you too, and thank you. Is there anything else I can get you?"
"Yeah, come over when you get off. And bring chips. Love you, Char! Bye!"
Maybe Charlie's job isn't too bad.