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Creighton had prepared himself, strutting confidently and radiating a suave aura when out in public, especially when he got to June’s restaurant. He wanted to make sure he looked good compared to her. She hadn’t noticed his arrival due to working the lunch rush, and Creighton grinned upon seeing her struggle. Not that June needed any major help, but he got some satisfaction out of seeing her backed up with orders. Even with Johnny helping her, any attempts at cooking and preparing quickly enough weren’t enough to give them a break. Some customers had noticed Creighton’s presence, but his competitive banter with June had become second nature at this point. It was no surprise that he would show up just to try (and fail) to roast her. If anything, his attempts at undermining the new chef were comical. June finally fulfilled the last order before taking a deep breath and wiping sweat from her forehead.
“Looks like you're struggling, rookie.”
June looked up to see Creighton and cursed under her breath.
“If this is how you operate in a kitchen setting, it makes me question Gustav Leshan's decision to give you a passing grade.”
“And who is running your restaurant if you're here insulting me?”
“I've got many people to help fill in if I have elsewhere to be.”
June sighed and rolled her eyes. Even when she was sweating like a pig, Creighton still found himself blushing, especially when she put her hands on her hips. Unlike her TastyMe profile picture, June did not wear any of her ear and eyebrow piercings or her emo makeup, and her black hair, which was usually styled into a shoulder length bob with sideswept bangs, was tied back into a low ponytail.
“What do you want, Creighton?”
“Since you looked hopeless trying to get through the lunch rush, you need a professional to help you out.”
“Do you know any?” June asked sarcastically.
Creighton frowned before replying.
“Do I know any? You're looking at one!”
June blinked in confusion.
“You want to help me in MY kitchen?” She couldn't help but ask.
Creighton didn't respond, instead strutting over to Johnny's workstation and grabbing some produce.
“Allow me to demonstrate, rookie.”
“June!”
“Fine, June. This is how you dice tomatoes.”
June watched, but this was basic knowledge to her as a chef. What cook didn't know how to dice a freaking tomato?!
“I thought you were going to help me, not tell me stuff that I already know,” June told him.
“Do you want my help or not?” Creighton asked, visibly irritated.
“I don't need your help, Creighton,” June shot back. “If I wanted it, I would've asked.”
Creighton grumbled under his breath, and June swiped the uncut produce and put it away.
“Hey!”
“Creighton, you need to leave. Not only are you causing a scene, but you're wasting my resources.”
“Too poor to keep food in stock?” He couldn't help but tease.
However, he immediately regretted his words when June shot him a death glare.
“Get the hell out of my restaurant,” she snarled quietly.
Creighton blushed, but her tone told him to hush it. June walked away a minute later to clean the sweat off her face, but he remained, refusing to let June order him out the door. So he followed her to the back.
“Don't even think about it,” June told him, blocking the door so he couldn't open it.
“I can't believe it, June,” he began. “You're kicking me out of your restaurant?!”
“You sound awfully offended by this considering that you continuously claim that my restaurant is a landfill.”
“I can't be offended by somebody kicking me out?!”
“I normally don't have to resort to that, but you're being an ass.”
Creighton pressed his hands against the door, but didn't try to open it.
“Why are you really here, Creighton?”
He had no response to this. Instead, he just blushed immensely, hands still pressed on the door. If anyone were to walk in on this scenario, he would look like a fool blushing in front of a door. June finished cleaning herself up and exited the back, caught off guard by Creighton being so close to the door.
“You okay? You look sick.”
“I'm not sick.”
June raised an eyebrow, but didn't question him any further. Things went from tense to awkward. At least on Creighton’s end. His voice was soft and low as he spoke, making June blush.
“I see you don't have your piercings in,” he finally said after a moment of silence.
“It would be unprofessional and unsanitary if I did- wait, how do you know about my piercings?”
“That's not important. What's important is that you got at least one thing right. But I'm still number 1, June.”
June rolled her eyes again.
“You may have a monopoly, Creighton, but the fact that I have people eating in my restaurant, and the fact that I passed Gustav Leshan's test. It proves that I have something going for me.”
Creighton looked around the joint, and as much as he hated to admit it, June did have a point. Before anymore could be said, more customers came rushing in.
“And on that note, I'm out of here,” Creighton said before attempting to walk out.
“Oh no,” June ordered while grabbing his arm. “Since you wasted my break, you're helping me with the second rush.”
“What gives you the right to demand me to work for you?!”
“My restaurant, my rules, Creighton. You shouldn't have come here.”
He grumbled but complied, using the opportunity as an excuse to be near June. She began firing up the stoves while Creighton put himself in Johnny's usual spot. Speaking of whom, Johnny walked up to start helping June and was surprised to see Creighton.
“Creighton, what are you doing here?”
“Don't ask.”
“That reminds me, Johnny,” June said as soon as heard her assistant's voice. “Your break is extended.”
“Thank you, but why?”
“I was unable to relax due to Creighton getting on my nerves, so I'm punishing him by making him work.”
“You say that like it's a bad thing,” Creighton told her.
“Less talking, more cutting,” June ordered.
Johnny had a look of surprise on his face. He had never seen June act so authoritative before. In fact, he had no idea that she had it in her. Either way, he was impressed and amused with how whipped Creighton was.
“I guess if you don't need me, chef, I'll go wipe the tables.”
“Thanks, Johnny.”
Creighton scoffed, annoyed by how nice she was to Johnny while all he got from June was attitude. In the midst of him chopping ingredients, he observed how hospitable she was towards her customers. Some of them questioned why Creighton Styles of all people was helping her, but June didn't elaborate. It hurt his pride, which is what she had in mind. If Creighton was going to show up and give June a hard time, then she might as well make good use of him. A few customers snickered upon seeing his predicament, and he gritted his teeth. June had successfully humiliated him, but he would cook up some revenge afterward. Despite his anger, Creighton admired how June worked in the kitchen. At this point he was conflicted. He was supposed to hate her, but feelings of attraction were building up inside of him. At some point, Creighton lost focus and accidentally cut his finger.
“Ow!”
June whipped around to see what had happened, and she stopped what she was doing and drug Creighton to the back. Leonard, having witnessed the entire thing, rushed to take his granddaughter's place while Johnny resumed his role of the prep cook.
“I hope you're happy,” Creighton griped while June searched for a first aid kit. “Because of you, I now have an open wound.”
“It's not a wound, just a cut. Don't be such a baby.”
“This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't made me your slave.”
“Trust me, I only intended to hurt your pride a little bit. You cutting your finger wasn't supposed to happen.”
June walked over and washed his cut, making sure no blood got anywhere. Creighton blushed and watched her, not saying a word. He had to admit, June was as good at nursing as she was at cooking. She didn't make eye contact with him until she was done.
“Make sure you keep that clean,” she told him. “And don't operate in the kitchen unless necessary.”
“Just wait until you come to my restaurant,” he murmured while taking June's hand. “I'll make you work for me like you made me do.”
“That's an easily avoidable punishment since I never come to your establishment."
His hold on her hand tightened, making June somewhat flustered.
“Then I'll have to get my revenge another way,” he murmured again.
June blushed even deeper. What was wrong with her right now?!
“I'd like to see you try,” she replied flatly.
Creighton, for once, cracked a smile and chuckled deeply.
“Nobody gets away with humiliating Creighton Styles,” he murmured once more before putting his uninjured finger under her chin and lifting her face. “And when that happens, I'll make sure you'll never hear the end of it.”
“Creighton…”
Creighton hummed, while gazing sinisterly.
“You can't be bothered to say thank you after I treated your cut?”
June had regained her senses and leaned in closer, making Creighton blush twice as hard.
“No wonder you stomp into my restaurant and insult me. You were never taught any manners.”
“I can say the same about you, June.”
“Name an example.”
“The way you talk to me. You're always so rude.”
“It's warranted.”
Creighton intertwined his fingers with June’s, to which she clamped her jaw and frowned.
“You're impossible, Grey,” he murmured while leaning in.
“You're a pain in my ass, Styles.”
June leaned in as well and before she knew it, she was kissing Creighton. Oh how wonderful it was! But oh, how she wanted to kill this man! Creighton's non-injured hand left her chin and he wrapped his arm around her waist, his thumb caressing her back. June's palms rested on his chest, allowing Creighton to use his other hand to run his fingers through her hair. He hadn't expected this to happen, but he was glad it did. Creighton wanted to stay in this position forever. However, their kiss was cut short by a knock on the door.
“June, is everything okay in there? You've been in there for a long time.”
“Yes grandpa.”
June immediately pulled away and pretended to wash her hands, disappointing Creighton. Nevertheless, he gathered himself and exited the room with June. Perhaps it was good that she wasn't wearing her black lipstick, otherwise Creighton would never hear the end of it. He had a reputation to uphold after all.
“That must have been an awful lot of blood for you to take your time nursing it,” Leonard assumed, completely oblivious to what just happened between his granddaughter and former student.
“It was a deeper cut than I thought,” June told him. “But I was able to get it to stop. Still think he needs to visit a clinic though.”
“Please, I'll be fine.”
“Excuse me for trying to be nice.”
“That's enough, you two,” Leonard told them. “Creighton, why don't head back to your restaurant. June and I will take it from here.”
Surprisingly, he left without saying a word.
“I didn't mean for his finger to get injured, grandpa.”
“Accidents happen, June. I'm just happy you found it in your heart to treat him as fast as you could.”
June scoffed, but didn't say anything.
“Johnny and I were able to finish the remaining orders, so you can clean up in time for a dinner rush.”
June then smiled genuinely.
“What would I do without you two?”
“What would I do without you, June? The restaurant would have closed its doors had you not moved back to Tasty Hills.”
June started to feel guilty. Here she was, smooching her sworn enemy when the family business could've gone bankrupt. She made a mental note to chastise herself later. Bobby arrived not too long after, and Leonard went to chat with him for a bit, leaving June to dwell on what happened between her and Creighton. What was she thinking?!