(no subject)
Title: The Restaurant. (Chapter 5)
Author: me. (rckless_abandon)
Pairing: Adam Lazzara/Frank Iero
Rating: PG 13 (for now. Will rise)
Summary: Adam’s life seems mundane and sad, from his shitty apartment to his minimum wage job waiting tables. All it takes is for a small intuitive boy to walk through those diner doors, and everything in Adam’s world changes.
Dedication:blacknovember13, because I never did finish The Potato Chronicles. And anyone who read this before and wondered what happened to it
Disclaimer:Don’t own. Didn’t happen.
Notes: I haven’t written this fic in over a year. My bad.
One/ Two./Three./Four.
I almost thought about calling out of work after that little episode. As I lay on my bed, trying to keep myself from crying or puking again (I’m still not sure which), I decide it’s probably better not to stay in the house. I don’t really think that laying around and contemplating what a shitty life I used to leave is good for the soul in any way. Not that dealing with screaming kids who throw mac and cheese is much better, but it is one small step up. I run a hand through my hair and catch my breath, bringing myself into a sitting position as I try to get motivated.
I grab the house phone next to my bed and dial the number for the diner. I need to at least tell them I’m going to be late. Susan probably wouldn’t be all that mad, I’m more afraid about the restaurant falling apart without me there. It rings twice before I hear a voice on the other end, surprisingly, it’s Frank’s.
“Thanks for calling City Side Diner. This is Frank. How may I help you?” My heart skips a beat at his voice. He’s so cute when he’s trying to be professional.
“Frank? It’s Adam. Can I talk to Susan?” I had to use almost all of my willpower to even remember my name there.
“Hey Adam.” I can almost hear him smile. “She’s actually not here right now. She had to run to the grocery store. We ran out of potatoes.”
I make a face at that. “Who runs out of potatoes?”
He laughs. “That’s what I said. Did you want me to take a message?”
I pause and think about this for a second, and not seeing the harm in it, I agree. “Yeah sure. Just tell her I’m probably going to be a few minutes late. I’m not feeling all that well.”
“Aw I’m sorry. I’ll tell her.” I practically die inside from the genuine concern that I hear. “Don’t worry. I’ll hold down the fort. Feel better.”
I smile. “See you soon.” I hear a click, knowing he’s hung up. I find it interesting that he’s one of those people who doesn’t say ‘bye’ at the end of a conversation. Oh well. Just hearing his voice made me forget about my nightmare a little bit.
I head into the bathroom and start up the shower. I have to wait a few minutes for the water to go from brown to clear, but when it does I step in the tub. I close my eyes while I shower, trying to avoid looking at myself naked. Truthfully, I hate the way I look. I hate the scars and burn marks on my body, they disgust me. It’s why I’ve never had a boyfriend.
I’ve known that I was gay as long as I can remember. It’s that whole cliché where I enjoyed holding my ‘buddy’s’ hand on the field trip a little too much in first grade. I never felt confused about it. I knew I was different but I didn’t feel bad. Some people felt one way and I felt another. It was that simple. I don’t think I was ever obvious about it growing up, but I think my mom probably knew. Though she never said anything.
We never really got to talk much.
All through middle school I kept to myself. Kids thought I was pretty strange so they all left me alone. I think they thought I was going to blow up the school. Or maybe I smelled. Either way, I never had much of an opportunity for dating.
When I came here, I had a couple of one night stands. I’m not ashamed to admit it. I’m only human. I always made sure the lights were off. And I always made sure my eyes were closed. I really didn’t enjoy it that much either. There was no connection. It was just to get off. I mean, I guess that’s the point, but I I was expecting more.
When it comes down to it, I’m scared to have a boyfriend. I’m scared that when he truly sees me, he’ll leave. I’m scared he’ll see I’m not all I’m cracked up to be. I’m scared I’ll be a disappointment. I’m scared I won’t be good enough. I’m scared to make a joke that might not be funny. I’m scared to open up and tell him what it was like when I was a kid. I’m scared to let him see me naked with the lights on.
Honestly? I’m just scared of too many things.
Maybe some of us were just meant to stay single all our lives.
That is so sad to think about.
I think about all this until my skin starts to wrinkle, and finally then I get out of the shower. I can’t say that I feel completely better, but I don’t feel like I’m going to puke anymore. That’s a good sign.
I head into my room and find my uniform, sighing as I put it on. At least
I can look forward to Frank. I grab my keys and my coat and head down to the car. On the drive to work I feel peaceful, and I just pray that tonight goes okay.
Susan’s there when I get inside. She puts her hands on her hips in a mock-anger motion and tries not to smile. “Who do you think you are stud, coming in two hours late?”
I sigh and give her a small smile as I go to punch in. “Rough morning.”
She looks at me knowingly from behind her bifocals. “Nightmares again?” Whenever I get upset, Susan always knows why without me telling her. When I asked her how she could do this, she said it’s a mother’s instinct. I’ll have to trust her on that. I’ve never told her what happened to me back home, but somehow she knows it was bad and causes me nightmares from time to time.
I nod a bit and shrug. “I’ll be alright. I’ll get back into the swing of things.”
She places a hand on my shoulder. “I know you will. Just let me know if you need anything.” With that she starts to walk away, and I think to myself that she’s the only person who’s ever really felt like family to me besides my mom.
She yells over her shoulder, “Section 4!” and I sigh and roll my eyes. Yeah, she’s just like that relative that you love but they always get under your skin somehow.
Just then Frank comes up, and I worry for a second that maybe he’s heard what Susan and I were talking about. Not that I think Frank’s a bad guy (quite the opposite actually), but I don’t really want him to know I was having debilitating nightmares. “Hey.” He says. “Are you okay?”
I smile a little, feeling fake. “Yeah I’m fine.”
He looks worried. “Okay. If you’re sure, but you know, if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here.”
“Thanks. That means a lot.” And it did. I could feel myself blushing and my body growing warm.
He smiled. “Don’t mention it.”
I started to walk off to my station and heard Frank call my name. “Hey Adam!” He said. “Do you want to go get something to eat after work?”
For a second I thought my heart might have stopped. My knees felt week and I could swear the world stopped turning. I was only reminded that I had to speak by Frank’s awaiting expression. “Y-yeah. That’d be great.”
He smiled and walked away, leaving me to stare dumbly after him.
*****************************************************************
So it’s been a while. I’m ready to write again though, and I really liked this story when I started it. I am determined to finish it. Next installment should be soon. Thanks for reading.
Author: me. (rckless_abandon)
Pairing: Adam Lazzara/Frank Iero
Rating: PG 13 (for now. Will rise)
Summary: Adam’s life seems mundane and sad, from his shitty apartment to his minimum wage job waiting tables. All it takes is for a small intuitive boy to walk through those diner doors, and everything in Adam’s world changes.
Dedication:blacknovember13, because I never did finish The Potato Chronicles. And anyone who read this before and wondered what happened to it
Disclaimer:Don’t own. Didn’t happen.
Notes: I haven’t written this fic in over a year. My bad.
One/ Two./Three./Four.
I almost thought about calling out of work after that little episode. As I lay on my bed, trying to keep myself from crying or puking again (I’m still not sure which), I decide it’s probably better not to stay in the house. I don’t really think that laying around and contemplating what a shitty life I used to leave is good for the soul in any way. Not that dealing with screaming kids who throw mac and cheese is much better, but it is one small step up. I run a hand through my hair and catch my breath, bringing myself into a sitting position as I try to get motivated.
I grab the house phone next to my bed and dial the number for the diner. I need to at least tell them I’m going to be late. Susan probably wouldn’t be all that mad, I’m more afraid about the restaurant falling apart without me there. It rings twice before I hear a voice on the other end, surprisingly, it’s Frank’s.
“Thanks for calling City Side Diner. This is Frank. How may I help you?” My heart skips a beat at his voice. He’s so cute when he’s trying to be professional.
“Frank? It’s Adam. Can I talk to Susan?” I had to use almost all of my willpower to even remember my name there.
“Hey Adam.” I can almost hear him smile. “She’s actually not here right now. She had to run to the grocery store. We ran out of potatoes.”
I make a face at that. “Who runs out of potatoes?”
He laughs. “That’s what I said. Did you want me to take a message?”
I pause and think about this for a second, and not seeing the harm in it, I agree. “Yeah sure. Just tell her I’m probably going to be a few minutes late. I’m not feeling all that well.”
“Aw I’m sorry. I’ll tell her.” I practically die inside from the genuine concern that I hear. “Don’t worry. I’ll hold down the fort. Feel better.”
I smile. “See you soon.” I hear a click, knowing he’s hung up. I find it interesting that he’s one of those people who doesn’t say ‘bye’ at the end of a conversation. Oh well. Just hearing his voice made me forget about my nightmare a little bit.
I head into the bathroom and start up the shower. I have to wait a few minutes for the water to go from brown to clear, but when it does I step in the tub. I close my eyes while I shower, trying to avoid looking at myself naked. Truthfully, I hate the way I look. I hate the scars and burn marks on my body, they disgust me. It’s why I’ve never had a boyfriend.
I’ve known that I was gay as long as I can remember. It’s that whole cliché where I enjoyed holding my ‘buddy’s’ hand on the field trip a little too much in first grade. I never felt confused about it. I knew I was different but I didn’t feel bad. Some people felt one way and I felt another. It was that simple. I don’t think I was ever obvious about it growing up, but I think my mom probably knew. Though she never said anything.
We never really got to talk much.
All through middle school I kept to myself. Kids thought I was pretty strange so they all left me alone. I think they thought I was going to blow up the school. Or maybe I smelled. Either way, I never had much of an opportunity for dating.
When I came here, I had a couple of one night stands. I’m not ashamed to admit it. I’m only human. I always made sure the lights were off. And I always made sure my eyes were closed. I really didn’t enjoy it that much either. There was no connection. It was just to get off. I mean, I guess that’s the point, but I I was expecting more.
When it comes down to it, I’m scared to have a boyfriend. I’m scared that when he truly sees me, he’ll leave. I’m scared he’ll see I’m not all I’m cracked up to be. I’m scared I’ll be a disappointment. I’m scared I won’t be good enough. I’m scared to make a joke that might not be funny. I’m scared to open up and tell him what it was like when I was a kid. I’m scared to let him see me naked with the lights on.
Honestly? I’m just scared of too many things.
Maybe some of us were just meant to stay single all our lives.
That is so sad to think about.
I think about all this until my skin starts to wrinkle, and finally then I get out of the shower. I can’t say that I feel completely better, but I don’t feel like I’m going to puke anymore. That’s a good sign.
I head into my room and find my uniform, sighing as I put it on. At least
I can look forward to Frank. I grab my keys and my coat and head down to the car. On the drive to work I feel peaceful, and I just pray that tonight goes okay.
Susan’s there when I get inside. She puts her hands on her hips in a mock-anger motion and tries not to smile. “Who do you think you are stud, coming in two hours late?”
I sigh and give her a small smile as I go to punch in. “Rough morning.”
She looks at me knowingly from behind her bifocals. “Nightmares again?” Whenever I get upset, Susan always knows why without me telling her. When I asked her how she could do this, she said it’s a mother’s instinct. I’ll have to trust her on that. I’ve never told her what happened to me back home, but somehow she knows it was bad and causes me nightmares from time to time.
I nod a bit and shrug. “I’ll be alright. I’ll get back into the swing of things.”
She places a hand on my shoulder. “I know you will. Just let me know if you need anything.” With that she starts to walk away, and I think to myself that she’s the only person who’s ever really felt like family to me besides my mom.
She yells over her shoulder, “Section 4!” and I sigh and roll my eyes. Yeah, she’s just like that relative that you love but they always get under your skin somehow.
Just then Frank comes up, and I worry for a second that maybe he’s heard what Susan and I were talking about. Not that I think Frank’s a bad guy (quite the opposite actually), but I don’t really want him to know I was having debilitating nightmares. “Hey.” He says. “Are you okay?”
I smile a little, feeling fake. “Yeah I’m fine.”
He looks worried. “Okay. If you’re sure, but you know, if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here.”
“Thanks. That means a lot.” And it did. I could feel myself blushing and my body growing warm.
He smiled. “Don’t mention it.”
I started to walk off to my station and heard Frank call my name. “Hey Adam!” He said. “Do you want to go get something to eat after work?”
For a second I thought my heart might have stopped. My knees felt week and I could swear the world stopped turning. I was only reminded that I had to speak by Frank’s awaiting expression. “Y-yeah. That’d be great.”
He smiled and walked away, leaving me to stare dumbly after him.
*****************************************************************
So it’s been a while. I’m ready to write again though, and I really liked this story when I started it. I am determined to finish it. Next installment should be soon. Thanks for reading.