Chapter Text
"Linh, your tab wants a refill on their iced tea."
"What? I just refilled it."
Tam sighed, putting the white cloth he was wiping a table with away. He stood up straight. "Well, the mother asked me to refill it again, and it's your table, so-"
"Oh, can't you just do it? I'm studying for my chem test thats tomorrow." Linh was sitting in the back of the restaurant, studying because she only had one table that evening. To Tam's logic, that meant she should focus on the table and get a big tip.
Now, shouldn't he also be studying? Probably. He knew the test was going to be difficult, but chemistry didn't matter to him. He didn't care that much.
"Fine. They'll probably leave in a bit because it's always closing."
Linh whispered a lengthy "thanks'' as he walked away to get the drink carrier. Tam glanced over his shoulder, seeing empty places, and brought a tray with them. They were a family of four, with both kids looking under ten years old. Somehow, the two of them had a lot of energy despite how late it was.
Tam and Linh were only sixteen, yet both of them would be in bed by nine, no later than ten (most of the time, Tam at least, sometimes would secretly stay up watching something on YouTube or Netflix). Both of them needed their sleep, unlike other kids their age who would stay up past midnight.
Maybe it came with having parents like theirs and finally being able to live and breathe without them. Tiergan had fostered and then adopted them a few months after, later offering them a job at Sol. Diner, which he owned.
Technically, neither of them needed the job. It still felt wrong, though, as if they were overstaying their welcome at Tiergan's place so they had to make it up somehow. Plus, they wouldn't feel as bad about spending money if they made it.
Tam sighed once more, putting on his server face before turning to the last table. "Here is that refill," he said, pouring it into the mother's cup. She then smiled wearily at him as one of her kids let out a laugh that sounded like a bird screeching. Tam winced at the noise.
"Ah- thank you. Could we get the check?"
"Yeah, I'll get it right now."
Crash!
"Oh, no! I'm so sorry, I-"
Tam let out a fake laugh, trying to make it look like he didn't care about the broken glass from the kid. The father scrambled to clean up the glass, but Linh appeared and encouraged him to stop.
Linh spoke up. "It's alright, sir, just don't touch the glass, in case you cut yourself." She pulled out her cloth from her pocket. "I'll get the glass, and he'll get the check," she said, nudging her head towards Tam. He took the hint and walked off, hearing the father silently scold his kids in the background.
He watched Linh pick up the glass. Now they'd have to dispose of it, rewipe the floor in that area, plus clear the table and everything, so that meant staying an extra fifteen to thirty minutes after. Wylie could wait a bit, right? He worked as a server before; he understood. Maybe he'd come and help.
Tam wondered how much longer he would work here. At least, how much longer until someone else would come in, ask for a job, and just. Help.
"Tam! Where's the check!"
Until then, it was just Linh and him.