Chapter Text
It had already been the worst shift of her life, and Kate Sharma did not need any more ‘interesting’ customers. She had begun to wipe down most of her section hoping that no one would come through. It was still 3am, so drunks were still a possibility, but one could hope, right? Well, she was wrong about that. Just as she cleaned one of the booth tables, 6 frat boys from her college wedged themselves into the booth laughing arrogantly with the asshole in chief, Anthony Bridgerton smirking at her as her sat. She surprises herself as she somehow did not smack him in the face.
Anthony Bridgerton and the other brothers of Delta Psi Beta (biggest party frat at UC Berkeley) are known for the rather unsavoury antics. There aren’t any stories of drugging or rapes (at least none in the last decade and following the #MeToo movement), but the Delta boys certainly did not appear to hold any view of women being anything but means to the sexually satisfying ends. There seemed to be a party there at least weekly and racy stories of more than one of the brothers. But Bridgerton grates Kate the most, mainly because she could see he seemed more than that and for some reason, it disappointed her that he seemed happy to fuck around and maintain the cliché façade of a bad boy. At least it did not affect his intelligence. They were on the same Business with a minor in Political Science degree track. He was two years ahead graduating at the end of this year. He had come to a seminar to speak on his experience during her first week there and the professor seemed to hold him in high regard so maybe that’s why he felt disappointing. She did not know much else about him; they certainly took a lot of the attention in that seminar with Kate asking a lot of questions and not letting him charm his way out of only giving her vague response.
She had bumped into him a few times since then but nothing that stood out to her. Her days consisted of a variation of the same things, working at the diner, college and making sure her family was okay. It was cheaper to commute to college from home so she could still help out with her younger sister, Edwina, and keep everything afloat as she still lived in fear that her stepmother, Edwina’s mother, and hers in every way but blood, Mary would sink into herself like she did two years when her father, Mary’s husband had died. Kate deferred college a year and stepped in to keep the family afloat. With her father’s insurance money still on hold till Edwina turned 18 and would be shared between the three women, Kate had to make sure that until then, they could afford the basics and wouldn’t be struggling, well now, for the next two years when Edwina does turn 18.
“Sharma, I didn’t know you worked here! How have we never met on your shift”, he quipped. He was right, this was not her usual shift, but she needed the overtime, and her class tomorrow morning was cancelled as the teacher was ill. She smiled tightly, ignoring the question, and asked if they were getting their food to go. “And miss the show you are putting on in the skirt!” David Fife, vile misogyny in human form leered. He has all but cornered her trying to get in her pants, it was ridiculous! No in multiple settings, tones and languages and this fucker still wouldn’t take the hint. Kate rolled her eyes and went to grab some menus, leaving the idiots to continue to objectify her, not like she could do anything other than tell them off, but it only seemed to spur them on.
“I’m glad they are in your section, that blond one with the wide load forehead creeps me out” Marsha, her fellow student waitress complained, giving her the menus to take over.
“With the few parties I attended, I certainly agree with that analysis. Pretty sure I once kneed him at a mixer but the next day, he forgot who I was and tried to hit on me again!” Marsha laughed and turned away hoping the boys wouldn’t know they were talking about them. When she felt she couldn’t contain it any longer, she went to the back to let it out. As Kate turned to bring over the menus, the boys were getting up to leave.
“Sorry Sharma, maybe another time” Anthony said as he left $100 on the table.
“You didn’t order anything? What are you paying for, and please don’t say my time as this is not a strip club, much to your disappointment I’m guessing Fife.” Before Anthony could reply, David grabbed Kate by her arse and pulled her into him with a vile smile on his face. Anthony grabbed him by the neck, causing him to release Kate and threw him on the floor.
“I don’t believe I have to ask you to apologise David, but if I have to, I know a hospital round here that will tend to the results of me asking.”
“I’d prefer it if you all would just leave instead! NOW!” Kate trying but probably failing to sound calm, she hoped it was not obvious how she was shaking. Anthony tried to step to her, but she tried to move away, backing into the table. He simply watched her before telling the rest of them to leave and was the last one out. Turning back seemingly to say something but Kate was not having it. “Leave for fuck sake!” He seemed to be trying to convey an apology through his expression before turning around and leaving. As soon as the door closed behind him, she lurched forward locking it and flipping the sign to say close. Turning her back to them as the Anthony seemed to charge at Fife, stopped by the other guys dragging him into one of the cars.
Marsha rushed out having heard Kate’s voice. Kate had started to shake herself out of it and moved past Marsha to get into the food storage. The waitresses always came in here to kill time- whether punishing a ridiculous patron or for the non-break breaks. It was not like this was the first time Kate had been groped, leered at or whatever some douche thought was a great way to ‘flirt’. But it was the first since her assault last month. She hated the images flashing through her head and goosebump this living nightmare was making her have. She just wanted to scream but she had to get control of herself. She can’t breakdown now, she still had to clean up and get home. She shook it off the best she could and went back to the floor. Her manager seemed to not be on his usual warpath, but she noted the sign was turned back to say they were open. She rolled her eyes and Marsha agreed to swap with Kate and let her man the counters. She brought over the $100 which Kate rolled her eyes at and stuffed it into her apron.
After shift, their cashier Earl walked her to the car and ensured she was okay to get home. She blasted her music and just focused on her drive home. It was late and her family was asleep, she had a shower and crawled into bed. She didn’t know when she started crying but when she started, she didn’t stop and before she knew it, it was morning, and she hadn’t slept. She checked her phone for the time and saw that she had a notification on Instagram.
Message from @AntEBridgerton to @KatieGSharma: Hey, I’m sorry about tonight. Hope you are okay…
Kate rolled her eyes and pulled the blanket over her head, hoping to fall asleep. It didn’t take long, but she definitely didn’t get to sleep long as Edwina bolted in. “Didi! Please, please, please! I’m so late! I need a lift!”
“Ask mum Edwina, I got in like 3 hours ago and haven’t slept!”
“She said to ask you, she left already for her shift in the hospital! Please Didi!”
Kate groaned loudly and got out of bed. She put her hair in a messy bun and threw a hoodie over her pyjamas. She had no intention to leave the car and hoped Edwina would make this an easy drop off. She soundlessly got into the car, exhausted as Edwina continued to put her makeup and chatter away about something or the other. Honestly, Kate had neither the energy nor the care to listen at the moment. Edwina jarred Kate’s attention saying that she needed to come in and speak to her teacher. So, this was the reason she wanted Kate and not mum to drop her off. And she saw Kate get into the car in her pyjamas and said nothing. “No Edwina, I can meet them after school but not now. I told you I haven’t slept, and you see I’m in my PJs. Did you really think I’d say yes?!”
“Please Didi, Mr. Bagwell is being a hardass about this History project. He said he wanted to see mum this morning, please!”
Kate growled. She was not in the mood for this crap, and Edwina has been pulling this kind of stuff more and more. The bereavement counsellor said it was not uncommon for a personality change but this was getting out of hand. In the last year, Edwina had started missing curfews, hanging around this vapid group of friends and dating the worst kind of guys she could think of. Their mum was so checked out the first year they lost their father, and in this past year, she still was basically absent from their life but at least she started going back to work and helping with the bills. So, every time Edwina acted up, got in trouble, or had some issue pop up, Kate was the one that handled it. While juggling school and work; before she started at UC Berkeley, she worked at least two jobs and filled up with odd jobs but still was there for Edwina. She dropped other jobs settling for the diner as it was the most convenient for their lives. She knows that grief and trauma affects everyone differently but at this point, it seemed she was the only one in her family not allowed to fall apart or act out. She had to maintain control, of herself, her emotions, her life, THEIR LIVES… and it would never stop. Edwina and mum’s confidence that she would never say no, that she would just do what they need, what they wanted… she resented them, but she was not allowed to show it. So, like everything else, she pushed through. Rolling her eyes, she parked the car and came out of the car. Glad that she was not wearing pyjamas short. Though her yummy sushi pyjama trousers were certainly not in fashion.
She could hear the snickers from some of the arrogant makeup covered pimple face dicks and brats. She deals with all manner of less desirable people at her job. She had a job to do, figure out what Edwina needs and provide it, that’s all she was, that’s all she knew. Mr. Bagwell wanted to meet in the principal’s office. This was more serious than she let on, and the fact that she was not looking Kate in the eye right now told her everything she needed to know about the situation. She was ready for the worst-case scenario and started mentally thinking of the process to change schools. Edwina was on scholarship to Severine Academy, and they had been more than understanding to Edwina’s behaviour which fortunately was primarily a problem at home than school. Regardless, nothing good ever came from being called to the principal’s office, especially first thing in the morning- when she is sleep deprived, overworked and generally in the worst mood possible. So why on Earth, did she walk in and see Anthony Bridgerton sat with one of his sisters- Eloise?!
“Sharmas”, he said acknowledging them. Kate rolled her eyes, while Edwina seems to throw a ridiculously inappropriate grin at him. Kate sat back with her head to the wall and was tempted to close her eyes and fall asleep right there. She felt like each blink she did was the shortest, insatiable sleep. “Edwina Sharma, Eloise Bridgerton…”, Dr Fiona Kenworthy called. Kate begrudgingly stood up with the group (of course she lied, this was probably more than some stupid history project), going in and sitting across the desk, not caring where anyone else would be. Mr. Bagwell stood with his arms folded, and Dr. Kenworthy took his seat. It seems both Edwina and Eloise took the other two seats and Anthony stood behind them listening to Bagwell drone on about some outburst or the other Eloise had in class while Edwina egged her on. From what she took in, and that was not much, she agreed with the girls, not the means to which they made their point but certainly their point. Bagwell seems to have taken offence to the language and what just acting like a sensitive prick, and honestly, this could have been a fucking email!
“Miss Sharma, I do not appreciate you rolling your eyes at this.” Kenworthy reprimanded
“I am not rolling my eyes!” Edwina retorted looking at Kate.
“I didn’t realise I rolled my eyes, continue.” Kate said dryly not even bothering to be polite.
“Miss Sharma, this is serious!” Bagwell cried. Kate promised any and all gods to spare her from killing this man right here.
“Dr. Kenworthy, Mr. Bagwell. I know it is serious, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t. I’m listening but I have barely had an hour sleep and honestly, cannot bring myself to put on any false politeness. So please, tell me what you need from me, or your punitive suggestions so we may all get on to more productive ventures…” Kate was not sure what caused her to snap. She had never spoken like this to any authority, especially Edwina’s school. She knew how fickle these private school were, and they could easily cut Edwina’s scholarship and then she would be left with less than she deserved. Or maybe right now Edwina was getting more than she deserved, but she knew her sweet, smart, kind, passionate sister was somewhere buried underneath all this crassness. Kate sat up and tried to rub the sleep out of her face as she looked Kenworthy in the eye, hoping against everything, one of them would get to the fucking point.
“Miss Sharma has a point. Eloise and Edwina made a scene in class, used crass language, but they were arguing a point which you encourage in your class Mr. Bagwell. I don’t see why this could not have been resolved by you or punished by you in your class unless we are missing something?”, Anthony asked. He was just as tired and inpatient as Kate, but it was not obvious he had barely slept. Staring at the message he sent after leaving the diner wondering if he should have unsent it. She never replied, which he understood now, seems her shift continued after he left and felt like even more of a dick being upset with her for ignoring him…
“Apologies Mr. Bridgerton, we discussed this and believe two weeks detention would be best. Both girls will stay after school, working on their assignments which both are known to be behind on a lot.” Dr Kenworthy said, “This will not go on their permanent record but felt that it was important that their families understood that these… outbursts are becoming more frequent and less tolerable.”
Kate resisted the urge to roll her eyes again. This could have been an email but now she has to play grateful charity case for these arrogant wannabe one-percenters. “Thank you for your patience and understanding, two weeks detention sounds fair and will give Edwina time to catch up on work. I’ll speak with her when she returns home about how to appropriately have an academic argument without crass language. If that is all, will the girls be returning to class now?”
“Well… yes, Edwina and Eloise you can return to class.” Dr. Kenworthy replied. Edwina tried to hug Kate, either as a thank you or goodbye but Kate was not receptive. She watched the girls head off and started to head back to the carpark. “Wait Kate!” Anthony called out. “Let me drive you, El and I came in a car. John can follow behind.”
“Forget it Bridgerton, I’m fine.” Ironically, she stumbled showing that she really was not fine. Anthony caught her at the waist and tried to steady her. “Kate please.” She was exhausted and it was probably not the best idea to drive so she handed him the keys and pulled away from him. They got to her car, and she got into the passenger seat, reclined her chair, put her seatbelt on and got comfortable. “Erm… Kate, I have no idea where you live…”