Chapter 16

It's two in the morning and I'm crying like a baby in the back store of the Subway.

It's not because I'm sad or anything.

It's because I'm cutting the godforsaken red onions.

I will stab in the throat any motherfucker that asks for red onions from now on. I want it off the fucking menu.

This is unnatural. I have legit tears streaming down my face. I've never shed that many tears.

I go hide in the fridge, to try to cut myself from the toxic fumes, but now I'm just cold and crying.

Frank made me do it because apparently, I needed to practice.

I'm pretty sure it's just because he wants to see me suffer.

He's actually at the front, cleaning the displays, far from the onions.

He should be suffering right beside me. For all he knows I'm very bad with the chopper and I'll put my fingers at the wrong place and hurt myself. He should be there beside me to supervise and suffer too.

I object to being the only one in pain.

And it's awful because it's so late right now.

I don't, for the life of me understand why we need to be opened until four in the morning.

Well, okay, I get it. It's for the weirdos that stay up all night and want a midnight snack.

The problem is, were not like, super close to bars or specific hot spots for night outings, so yeah...

I guess the owner just want to see his employees suffer.

Finally, I'm done with the onions. And now I have to strain the banana peppers and I kinda taste the spicy while I put them through a strainer and I kinda cough in my elbow and what the fuck kinda menu is this?

I was fine with making the sandwiches. I actually like it. It speaks to my slight obsession with having everything in order. I enjoying placing the meat just right, and putting the vegetables in their correct position without making an almost soup like some other people do.

My sandwiches are perfect. And I'm quick, so no one is complaining. It surprised people apparently.

Anytime I hear a ding, I'm like a spooked deer. I jump into action right away.

So, I might have a few issues, and this job speaks to them.

I have no chill essentially.

"Don't forget to put your initials on the stickers that goes on the bins. It's important for us to know if there's a problem," Frank suddenly tells me, a black bin with banana peppers in it in his hand.

I guess I forgot to put NM on this one.

I smile and say, "I will, sorry," but in my head I am once again imagining violence.

This job is really making me realize that I have a lot of rage.

I should find a way to let some of that rage out, before I start kicking the first person I see.

And Frank looks like a prime contestant at being kicked.

Suddenly he laughs.

"What?" I ask, frowning.

"You're good at saying sorry without actually meaning it. The rage behind those eyes," he says and laughs again. "Sorry, I don't mean to be picky, it's just procedure, don't take it to heart. We're also the middle of the night. Everything somehow feels more dramatic."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to look at you with rage," I apologize feeling my cheeks heating up.

"Oh, no, don't apologize," he says, shaking his hands. "Honestly, you were hiding it well."

"Apparently not well enough," I mumble, making him laugh again.

He's got a good laugh.

"So, how do you like things so far?" he asks me, sitting on the counter beside me.

"We're not supposed to sit on counters," I automatically say. I've been told this by the manager during my training.

"It's the blind spot and we're done pretty much everything we need to do," he explains but suddenly gets up. "Wait, this isn't right," he says and goes to the front, and then comes back with broken cookies. "Ah, much better now," he says and take an M&Ms cookie. He offers me one. I take an M&M one too.

"Alright... things are good, I guess. I hate onions," I say while eating my cookie.

I'm pretty sure we're supposed to throw out these cookies, but he's the assistant manager, and I'm totally against wasted food, so this feels right to me.

"We all hate onions. Do you wear contact lenses?"

"No."

"That's one of the only things that helps. That or like, buy swimming goggles."

I frown, and finish eating my cookie. "Honestly? If I have to do this again, I'll definitely buy the goggles. They work?"

"If you put them right, yeah."

Frank probably sees me eying the cookies again, because he sort of pushes them in my direction, and makes a little motion with his head for me to take more. I take a double chocolate this time.

"How long have you been working here anyway?" I ask him, while he takes another cookie too.

"About three years now. I'm studying part time at Ryerson in Computer Science. I've switched programs like three times."

"Computer Science's the one?" I tease him.

He snorts, looking up, with a smile. "I hope so. What about you?"

"I was living in Cameroon and I moved back here a few months ago. I was too late to register for university, so I'm planning on starting in January," I explain.

"Do you know what you want to do?" he asks me, his legs swigging as he sits on the counter.

"I'm really not sure honestly. I don't think I'm quite ready to do the whole adulting thing just yet."

"You're not the only one, don't worry," Frank tells me with a smile.

This feels weird.

We keep chatting like this, waiting for clients to show up.

The conversation flows like we've always been friends.

It's not completely abnormal, because I'm usually good at being friendly with people. I get along with anyone.

I just didn't think I'd ever like having a conversation with Frank.

He's a bit of an asshole sometimes.

But maybe I'm just judging him too quickly.

Finally, it's closing time, and Frank let's me leave first.

I walk out of the Subway and it's dark and chilly.

My hands smell like banana peppers and pickles and my face like onion tears.

I've had better days.

__________

Hello my little Pretzels!

Sorry, no comment thread for this one. Eve's been too busy! XD

So. Frank. What are we thinking? XD

Story time. I worked at a Subway for like four years. It was opened 24/7. I used to work night shifts sometimes. It was a special form of torture. I actually missed my last Master's class because I overslept because I had worked till 5AM. Paaaaaaaaaain. 

Anyway! I'm leaving for Toronto in like 7 hours. I'll take a bunch of pictures of all the places mentioned in this story and share them on instagram. Prepared to be annoyed! XD

Alrighty. I should go sleep now if I want to not be tired while driving. (it's about an 8 hours drive. 8D)

Byyyyyyyye! See you all on the weekend! <3