Open for Business

Marian rose as a new sun set in the sky. It wasn't just the start of a new day, but a new life. She was starting her new job today as a waitress at a near by restaurant. She would show her father that she was capable of living on her own without his help or interfereance. He would not rule her life like he had been doing since her mother had died. She had moved out and gotten her own place where she would live her own life as she wished. She went for a quick shower before getting ready for work in her short black shirt and white shirt with dark tights as was the set uniform. She looked around her barely decorated flat for her keys which she was prone to losing frequently. She tripped over one of the many unpacked cardboard boxes and cursed as she picked up her keys and walked out the door. The restaurant was a twenty minute walk from her apartment and she was going to have to hurry if she was going to make it on time. The last thing she wanted to do was be late for her first day. She picked up her pace to a slow and rather embarassing jog due to her high black heels. She tightned her grip on her bag as she ran closely past people. In a town like this a thing such as a bag or purse could not be something to ignore. It would be gone if you took your eyes from it. Her breath was heavy and she smiled in relief when the sight of the restaurant came into view with the grand sign displaying its name 'Sherwood Arrow'. She walked to the back door where the staff were to enter away from the guests. She quickly took of her jacket and checked in with her time card. Taking one of the small black aprons from the pile she tied it around her waist twice due to its large straps and walked to the main part of the restaurant.

'Ah Marian.' John smiled as he saw her run by his office.

'John.' Marian breathed as she was still trying to regain her breath.

'Come and I will introduce you to everyone.' He smiled as he lead her through one of the back corridors and into a large open kitchen.

'Everyone can I have your attention for one moment please.' John bellowed into the kitchen of busy workers who turned and at his voice and stopped what they were doing as they gathered around him.

John put his arm around Marian's shoulder's as he watched the last of the workers approach him. 'This here is Marian our new waitress be kind.' He smiled as he saw Robin and Allan's faces the two trouble makers of the kitchen. 'This is Much our head chef.' John indicated to a shorter man than the others who happened to be feasting on a carrot stick. 'This is Robin our sue Chef.' He added pointing to the man standing at the back leaning casually on one of the metal counters. He had his arms folded and as watched her. Marian looked him over he was rather handsome the nicest by far in the room. Her eyes locked with his and she took in his facial features, his large sexy grin that was on his face and his opening eyes. He blew her a kiss and she felt her cheeks redden. 'This is Allan, who watches the bar and takes care of the entertainment side of things.' Marian looked to the man he was smiling at her but nowhere near a captivating smile as the man before him. He winked to her and she smiled. 'And Will who is our kind of repairman, but if we are short on nights he covers as a waiter. And Djaq who is one of our other waitresses. She will be showing you the ropes.' John smiled.

'Hey.' Djaq smiled a lifted her hand in a wave.

'Right everyone back to work.' John bellowed but in a friendly manor.

Within seconds everyone had returned to their previous jobs of plating things or running around the kitchen for certain ingredients.

'Djaq here will keep an eye on you.' John smiled as he stood Marian in front of Djaq.

'Come with me.' Djaq smiled as she led Marian through the large Kitchen. 'See you after babe.' Djaq smiled as she kissed the tall dark haired boy who she found to be named Will on the lips and walk towards the door.

Robin was stood next to Will who was preparing a salad. He had seen Djaq come over and turned to see the new girl standing waiting uncomfortably. He smirked and looked her up and down. She was nice. Had a great figure she wasn't some size zero like most of the girls that came here. Her hair was twirled and tied in a bun with a nice hairpin decorating it. He sighed when he saw Djaq move away and the girl following her.

'Oi earth to Rob.' Allan laughed as he threw a piece of celery at him hitting him in the head.

'What?' Robin asked taking his eyes away from the door and put the damaged celery in the bin.

'Shame you have to be in here all night when I get to be out there. Don't worry i'll keep an eye on her.' Allan winked as he walked through the brown swing doors into the main restaurant area.

Marian had watched Djaq take a few orders before taking any of her own. She was to learn how to interact with the customers and be more of a new friend to them than a stranger. But how friendly could you be with a stranger? Her feet were aching. She had been serving for almost three hours and she was definatly regretting her foot choice. She knew she should have worn her pumps.

'Hey when you finish?' Djaq asked as she prepared the bill for one of the tables.

'Tweleve.' Marian sighed. She only had an hour and a half left but it had never seemed so far away.

'That's when me, Will and Robin finish.' Djaq smiled.

'How long have you all known each other?' Marian asked as she leaned on the tray she was carrying.

'Err. Well Robin and Much have known each other since they could walk, Will and Allan have been best friends for a long time to, I met Will through Allan and then we met Robin and Much about four years ago and we have been a group ever since really.' Djaq smiled.

'Seems nice to have such a close family.' Marian smiled.

'What about you?' Djaq asked.

'Oh eh, my parents died when I was young.' Marian stated uncomfortably.

'Oh I am so sorry.' Djaq smiled sadly.

'Its fine. It happened along time ago.' Marian stated before hurrying into the kitchen.

Robin was finsihing of the soup for table three, but he just couldn't concentrate. He everytime the kitchen door swung open he would stretch backwards trying to see out into the busy restaurant just for a glimpse of her. Allan the lucky sod, he could stand out there all night and gawk at her, while he was stuck here in this roasting kitchen. He crossed the kitchen to where the herbs and plants were kept. Searching for the correct one he took a leaf in his hand and walked back over to his plate. He centred the leaf perfectly in the middle of the soup. Happy with its position he took the bowl and turned to take it to the collection counter. He turned sharply and collisioned with something. He felt the bowl turn in his hand and the contents of the soup leaving its ceramic body and claiming the white object in front of him.

'Og my God!' Marian shrieked as the hot soup burned her through her white vest.

'Aww shit hang on.' Robin hissed as he grabbed a towel and began to wipe her chest of its newly met contents. He couldn't help but smirk as his hand grazed her breasts.

'Thanks but I think you got most of it.' Marian sighed as she looked to her stained shirt.

'Sorry about that I didn't see you.' Robin smiled. 'It was accident.'

'But I'm sure you enjoyed it.' Marian teased before she put her cardigan back on to hide the stain, filled her tray and walked back out into the busy restaurant.

'Robin. You have another soup to do. Now get your thoughts from her and back to your job.'

'Yes Much.' Robin rolled his eyes and began to prepare another soup.

Marian sighed happily as her shift ended. Her feet felt like bricks and her back was killing her. Not to mention the slightly red chest she was going to have due to soup fiasco. She walked into the kitchen and untied her apron throwing it lightly down on the empty counter. The restaurant was quiter now so most of the staff got to go home.

'Hey Marian. Me and Will are going for a drink you wanna come?' Djaq asked as Marian walked into the back room where you checked out and left your apron.

'Nah I think i'm just gonna head home. Thanks though.' Marian smiled.

'See you tomorrow then.' Djaq smiled as she took Will's hand and walked out the staff door with him.

'Where do you live?'

Marian jumped at the voice from behind her.

'Sorry I didn't mean to startle you.' Robin chuckled.

She turned to see him leaning on the wall next to the door. She must have walked right past him.

'You seem to be making me jump a lot tonight.' Marian smiled as she took her time card and checked out.

'Again sorry.' He laughed as he pushed himself from the wall.

He walked over to the shelf where they named time cards sat. He reached his arm purposely over Marian taking his own and checking out himself.

Marian gasped when she saw his hard bicep level with her hand. She could smell his Calvin Klein as his body silloheted her own.

'So where do you live?'

'Err Knighton Terraces.' Marian stated as she turned to face him.

He leaned his arms against the wall as her body stood looking at him in the middle. 'That's near where I live. I'll walk you.' He stated pushing himself from the wall and walking to the door.

'No its fine honestly.' Marian stated.

'Marian it is dangerous for you to be walking at night here. You could get hurt. Besides it will let me say sorry.' Robin insisted.

'What? Sorry for spilling all your contents on me?' Marian asked raising her eyebrows.

It was only when she saw his large smirk she had realised what she had said. A deep blush took to her cheeks and she quickly walked by him. 'Come on then.' She said with her hand low so he would not see her embarassment.

Robin chuckled and followed her down the dark dirty street. He jogged a little so he would be along side her.

'So how long have you lived here?' He asked making conversation.

'Err a week.' Marian answered laughing.

'Wow. Where did you live before?'

'I moved around a lot. So theres not really a place I could say was home.'

'You here for a while?' Robin asked his heart racing for the answer.

'Hoping to.' Marian smiled.'Ah.' Marian hissed looking at her foot.

'What's wrong?' Robin asked looking at her feet.

'My feet are killing me. Never wearing heels again.' She smiled.

'Ahh rookie mistake.' Robin stated.

'Where heels often do ya?' She asked raising her eyebrows to which he just laughed.

'How long have you lived here?' She asked returning to their earlier topic.

'Since I was fifteen.' Robin smiled. 'Me and Much moved here with my mom.'

'You live with her still?' Marian asked.

'No she died of cancer when I was seventeen.'

'Oh I am so sorry.' Marian stopped and looked at Robin.

'No its fine. It was along time ago.' He smiled and started walking again. 'What about your parents?' He asked as Marian caught up with him.

'Their dead.' She said blankly.

'Oh sorry.'

'Its fine. It happened along time ago.' She smirked using his excuse.

He looked to her and chuckled seeing what she was doing.

'Well this is me.' She sighed as she came to the door to enter the block of flats.

'Do you want me to walk you to your door?' Robin asked hoping she would.

'Nah it should be fine...Ah.' She moaned as she began to walk to the door. 'Argh, these stupid shoes.' she hissed stamping her foot on the ground in frustration.

Robin chucked as he walked up to her. 'Come here.'

'What?...Oh my God.' She shrieked as he lifted her bridal style. Everyone turned and looked at her and she blushed.

'Get the door and i'll carry you up.' Robin insisted.

Marian did not object as she pressed her electric key to the device hearing it beep she opened the door. Robin walked in as Marian held the door difficultly for him.

'Where?'

'Second floor.' Marian smiled.

Robin began ascending the steps slowly gripping her tighter so not to drop her. He was met by a corridor of doors. 'Which one?'

'Seventeen.' Marian smiled as she watched his face. He was so handsome. She could stay in these arms all day. She was definatly wearing heels tomorrow if this was the outcome of the pain.

'Here you go.' Robin smiled setting her down gently, but holding her until she got her balance. 'Well I guess I'll see you tomorrow.' He smiled not sure what to do.

'Yeah. Thanks for that. You didn't have to. I hope I haven't hurt your back.' Marian smiled.

Robin chuckled. 'Your light as a feather...See you tomorrow.' He winked and turned to walked away.

Marian put her key in the door and unlocked it as she watched him walk back down the corridor.

'Oh and by the way...nice bra.' Robin turned and shouted back indicating to her chest.

Marian looked down and realised that the soup had make her top turn see through exposing her bright pink lacy bra. She gasp and pulled her cardy around her tightly and ran into her apartment.