Teresa's POV

I walked into the Timeless Blossom Cafe, owned by Mrs. Riddley.

I'd been working here for six months, unbeknownst to my parents, who thought I'd taken up a job at an ice cream shop just down the street. They had a bad impression of the Riddley family but I thought their opinions were misguided.

The Riddleys brought a breath of fresh air with them when they moved into our neighborhood and integrated with the rest of Brodale. Yeah, Mr. and Mrs. Riddley was a bit strange, the twins were rowdy, Charlotte was even more of a goody-two-shoes than I am, and Fletcher couldn't be fully trusted despite his charming, innocent appearance, but they weren't all that bad.

The problem was Jason. He was the one who caused all the hate.

When I first met him, he seemed like one of those guys you read in romance novels. A cute, artistic loner guy who was quiet and liked to skateboard, et cetera. We became sorta friends and we started hanging out more at his parents' restaurant. I'll admit, I do think we were headed down the road that most romance novels tend to lead.

And then he stole a necklace from my best friend, Heather. It was only a rumor at first until the necklace was found in his locker. He denied everything but the evidence was clear. He was suspended for a month and when he came back, his reign of terror only continued.

It was a surprise to everyone he managed to pas 11th grade with his record. It's also a surprise that whenever Juan comes over and my dad casually asks whether or not the 'Riddley boy was still up to no good' and Juan would defend him. He would say stuff like, 'He's a troubled, kid, Dad, give him a break.'

Despite his claims, Jason hasn't tried to clear his name. He's become this bitter, spiteful boy who's nothing but a nuisance to everyone around him, including his hardworking parents who're constantly trying to keep him out of trouble.

So imagine my surprise when I find him setting up the tables for the workday ahead of us. He was dressed in a short-sleeve button-down shirt, khaki shorts, and an apron. Seeing him like this not only surprised me but also confirmed that no teenage boy ever bothered to shave their legs. It was weird how the hairy ones were always skinny; Jason was around 6'5 but looked like he probably weighed no more than 130, which was not at all normal.

He glanced up when he heard the bell above the door ring. When he saw me, he scowled and went back to organizing the chairs.

I gritted my teeth and decided to play the civilized role here. There was no reason to share the animosity. "Hello."

"Mom's in the break room," he muttered. "She wants to talk to you."

Nodding, I walked passed him towards the break room. I just so happened to glance down at his arm and saw a...was that a tattoo? Before I could get a better look at it, he moved his arm and snapped, "Something interesting about my arm?"

"You've got a tattoo," I blurted, pointing his arm.

The look he gave me made feel stupid and embarrassed. I turned around and walked faster towards the break room. When I pushed open the door, I found Mrs. Riddley drinking coffee.

She looked completely dead inside but every sip seemed to give her a bit of rejuvenating life. Seeing me, she gave me a tired smile, "What's up, Tess?"

I felt a smile coming on when she called me that. I hadn't known Mrs. Riddley for long, but she had a way of bringing her employees into the family. Well, I was her only employee as of late, but still.

"Nothin' much. I, um, saw Jason out there."

She sighed. "Oh, yes. He's trying to redeem himself after the stunt he pulled last night."

"Stunt?"

She arched an eyebrow and leaned forward, one corner of her mouth creeping upwards. "You don't know? I thought your family liked to keep tabs on everything we did. Don't tell me your parents are slacking?"

My face flushed. She didn't sound annoyed, more like she was teasing. I mean, she was right. Almost everyone in our neighborhood watched the Riddley's like a hawk, namely Jason.

"Um, no, I don't know. I never heard anything."

She waved a hand and took another sip of her coffee. "Don't worry about it. I think we might finally have a breakthrough this time, so your parents needn't worry anymore."

I slipped into the seat across the table from her, curious to hear what she had to say.

"His father and I have decided that if he can't get his act together, he'll be spending his senior year at the Academy of Military Excellence. We thought that might help him shape up a bit. And lo and behold, he's suddenly decided he wants to help us with the diner. Which reminds me..." She put her cup down and looked at me, suddenly serious. "I want you to train him."

"W-wait, what? Me? Train Jason?"

"Yes. I want you to show him the ropes around here."

"But...don't you have Fletcher?"

She waved a hand, dismissing that thought. "Fletcher helps me cook. He hardly knows a thing about waiting tables."

"And...you think Jason's gonna get the job done?"

She frowned and wagged a finger at me. "Now, look here, missy. He might be a little rough around the edges-"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"A little?"

"-but you can work with him."

"I've tried," I said, thinking back towards our junior year. "We had a lot of classes together and the teachers always had us sit next to each other. We were partners for every project and he did jack squat. It was all I could do to make sure we didn't fail!"

"Alright, fine. I'll talk to him. But Tess-" she reached over and grabbed my hands "-please. Do this for me, alright?"

"What am I gonna get out of it?"

"An easier workload because you have a competent coworker?"

"How about a raise?"

She laughed and pulled her hands away. "You'll get 5 more minutes on break."

"And how about the employee of the month award?"

Smirking, she leaned forward and said, "If you can somehow manage to train Jason well enough that I don't have to boot him off the Academy, I'll consider it."

"That's gonna be a two-way-road, Mrs. Riddley!"

"Oh? Is this task impossible for the great Teresa N. Moruga?"

"You don't get it, Mrs. Riddley. Jason and I...we're like fire and water. We don't go together."

She smiled at me. "Don't worry. I'll make sure he doesn't give too hard a time."

Jason's POV

"Jason!" Mom called, walking briskly out of the break room with Miss Perfect in tow.

I was in the middle of conducting the greatest Condiment War ever seen in history. General Mayo managed to enlist the help of the Salt Bandits while Commander Mustard had just received the news that his wife had given birth and was torn between staying on the battlefield of going back home to see his baby boy.

Standing up quickly, I blocked her view of the table I was using and said, "Yeah?"

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

She narrowed her eyes and stared at me for a moment before shaking her head. "Doesn't matter. You're going to be under Teresa's tutelage-"

"Mom-"

"-and she's going to show you how to be a good waiter."

"Mo-"

"For now, you're acting as her shadow, watching how she takes care of the customers. I suggest you take notes on how to be a more likable person, as well, because that's something you're going to need to work on."

"M-"

"Before and after each workday, she's going to help you memorize the menu, teach you the ins-and-outs of the place, and help you with a few tricks and whatnot."

"Mom."

"Yes, sweetheart?"

Gritting my teeth, I stepped forward and said, "I can figure this out on my own. I don't need her help."

Mom gave me a sideways look. "You don't say."

"I don't."

Teresa spoke up from behind her. "Mrs. Riddley, I don't think it'll be that big of a deal-"

"Tut-tut! Don't tell me you're backing out already, Tess?"

She sighed. "I just...If he doesn't wanna do it, why waste the time?" Then she fixed me with a cold glare and, with a small smirk, said, "I'm sure he'll learn something at the Academy."

I looked at Mom, feeling somewhat betrayed. She only shrugged.

"Look, Jason, you've got a choice. You either let Tess help you and not make a fool of yourself or you keep in your stubborn ways and end up doing something, well, you."

I scoffed at that last part but she ignored me and continued.

"One of those options might get you out of hot water and the other might make you sink even deeper. Now, the diner opens in an hour and thirty minutes. Make up your mind."

With that, she spun on her heel and walked into the kitchen.

Teresa stood awkwardly by the break room door, not looking at me. I leaned against the table, where the Condiment War sat ready for me to continue.

As I turned to finish what I started, Fletcher walked into the diner carrying a box. He saw me and immediately put down the box and gave me a salute.

"Sir! I hope you have a good rest of the summer break! I'll be enjoying your room! Sir!"

I threw a ketchup bottle at him but he ducked and ran to the kitchen, cackling. Teresa snorted as she watched him.

Scowling at her, I picked up the ketchup bottle. "Something funny?"

She tensed for a second before relaxing against the wall and calmly replying, "No, not at all. Just thinking about how the future's gonna play out...I guess once you're at the Academy, Brodale will finally be nuisance-free."

I slammed the ketchup bottle on the table. "You know what, Moruga? I didn't ask for your insight on anything."

She shrugged. "Whatever. Not my fault you can't keep yourself out of trouble."

"Shove off."

Her eyes flashed and she stalked towards me, her fists clenched. "I work here, jerk-face. Although, I don't think you will be for much longer. The Academy starts on August 15th. I'm sure they'll happy to receive another lowlife scumbag like you."

"Well, I'm sorry we can't all be as perfect as you," I snapped. I felt my face getting hot as my temper rose. Hitting girls was a no-no, so I clenched the ketchup bottle, squeezing it tightly.

She was getting bolder, getting into my personal space. Shoving me gently, she said, "At least I'm not a disappointment to my parents."

I squeeze the bottle even harder, making a bit of the sauce pour out and dribble down the side. "Fuck you."

She got into my face, smirking. "You wish."

My hand flew so fast I almost couldn't stop myself. She flinched but I didn't hit her. I wanted to smash the ketchup bottle into her perfect little face so bad, but I held it there, an inch away from her cheek.

Her face pale, she took a couple of steps back and took a deep breath. Even though she looked scared half to death, she still had the nerve to say, "I guess this is why you get in trouble so much. You can't control yourself."

"Oh, shut up," I muttered, shoving past her. "No one asked you."

She was silent as I walked to the break room. I needed to calm down before I did something I was gonna regret. Being around Teresa was like walking through a field of land mines. One false step and I was gonna blow.

But then I heard her murmur something. I couldn't stop myself from turning around and saying, "What was that?"

She looked up at me and said a little louder. "I...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that...Any of that. It was rude and...I was way out of line...Please forgive me."

Are my ears working right? Was the Teresa Moruga apologizing to me? Whoever thought the day would come?

Teresa's POV

Jason cleared his throat and moved to run his fingers through his hair. He just then realized the ketchup bottle was still in his hand. Dropping it onto a nearby table, he moved to wipe his hands on his apron.

I instinctively reached out and stopped his arm. "Don't! Just...use a napkin."

He stared at my hand, holding his arm tightly. I pulled away, "S-sorry."

He grunted and turned away from me, taking a napkin from a dispenser. "Don't worry about it."

I still felt a sliver of fear from nearly having my face pounded in by a ketchup bottle. Provoking him again was not a good idea.

"Um...Jason-"

"I'm sorry, too," he interrupted. "I shouldn't have lost my cool like that...no matter how annoying you were."

He shoved his hands in his pockets and turned to face me. "Alright, look. You were right. I can't keep control all the time. And if I'm gonna keep this job and prove to my folks I don't need to be sent to that hellish academy, I'm gonna need help. So..." He cleared his throat again as his face reddened. "If you...help me...I'd...I'd appreciate it. Please."

I nodded. "Fine." Sticking out my hand, I said, "I'll do it."

He stared at my hand long enough for it to feel awkward and want to make me pull it back in. Before I could, he reached out and grabbed it. I noticed he used the arm with the tattoo, allowing me to get a better look. The intricate design started from his bicep and curled around the side of his arm until it reached his wrist, where it circled his wrist like a bracelet.

As soon as we got a shake in, he pulled his arm back and shoved the hand back in his pocket. Looking up at his face, I found him blushing. And then he noticed that I noticed. And then he blushed even more. He awkwardly covered his jaw and muttered, "Well...let's get started."