Saturday Night

“Ma’am, to be perfectly honest, I really don't care that you’re late for your daughter’s talent show. Maybe don’t stop at Burganiac 10 minutes before it starts?” He was talking to some rude lady that was complaining the drive thru wasn’t moving at her expected pace.

“Well that’s very rude of you. I don’t care for your attitude. Get me your manager.” The bitter old lady said.

“Oh yeah sure give me a second.” He did a spin. “Hi there. I’m the manager, how can I help you?”

“What is your name? I’m reporting you to corporate for your terrible customer service and smart ass remarks.”

“Go ahead. My name is Anthony, spelled A-N-T-H-O-N-Y. Don’t forget to mention that we are incredibly short staffed and I am only 1 of the 4 managers they have left at this store. Writing a boo-hoo note to corporate isn’t going to do anything ma’am. I’m not scared of you or them. Now get the hell out of my drive thru.” Anthony shut the window on the woman, who was shocked as day. He walked away, and she drove off mad that she lost.

“Thanks dude. That lady was yelling at me as if I killed her dog or something. What a bitch. Thank you for stepping in.” said Angel. Anthony turned to him and stuck out his hand for one of those bro handshake things.

“Anytime, bro.” They did the bro handshake thing, and Anthony continued on with running the floor. Now that may have seemed like a regular straight guy thing, but it very much was not. See, Anthony is gay, and is most definitely crushing on Angel. Angel, on the other hand, is very much straight, and very oblivious to Anthony’s feelings. Oh, I should also mention they are kinda best friends. Yep, Anthony has feelings for his straight best friend. Not something I personally recommend, but I understand.

“It really wasn't that deep. How are you gonna be mad you ordered like $30 worth of food and it wasn't ready in exactly 2 minutes? Like what the freak!” yelled Shawn, a fellow manager at Burganiac.

“I don’t know dude. People are fucking stupid. That’s all I have to say God, I can't wait for Saturday night. It’ll be a much needed break.”

“Oh yeah your party! Me too! Sav and I are so excited!” Shawn said. Sav is his girlfriend.

“I'm glad.” replied Anthony. “I’m gonna take my 10. Cover me, Shawn.” Anthony walked to the back of the store where the office is, to clock out for his 10 minute break. He doesn’t do much on his breaks besides listen to sad music that reminds him of Angel. He opens Spotify and plays something to fit his current mood, while looking at Angel, longingly, through the office cameras. Not in a creepy, stalker way. All the cameras set up around the restaurant are all on one computer screen located in the office. And he just casually glances at the presenting window, where Angel is positioned. He lets out a long, saddening sigh.

For some reason, Anthony is always relating specific music lyrics to how he feels in real life. Either about someone, especially Angel, or about something in general. Suddenly, another relevant character pops his head into the office. “Hey Annie I need change.” says Ricardo. Ricardo is another crew member at Burganiac. He’s 17, still in high school. And he calls Anthony “Annie” because he thinks it’s so hilarious.

“Bro stop calling me that.” responds Anthony.

“Why? It’s cute.”

“It’s stupid.” They walk to Ricardo’s register to get his change. “Anyways how’s school going for you, Rico?” Rico is Ricardo’s little nickname.

“School’s fine. Football is good though, we just won our last game!” Rico hollers. Anthony closes his register up.

“Damn that’s wassup. Congrats.”

“Thank you ma boy.” Anthony walks off, he’s just trying to enjoy his break without getting interrupted so much. He can sometimes be the only reliable manager though. Shawn may be a manager but he has adhd which can make it very hard for him to not be distracted, multitask, and even do a simple task without being asked about 5 times to do it. Anthony loves most of the employees and co workers. You may think he should be more professional and less friendly, but he literally does not care. He’s only 20 and everyone else is either a little older or a little younger than him. Rico is the youngest person there. Anthony doesn't need to be all bossy to make sure the restaurant and drive thru is running smoothly.

7 pm

Anthony is back in the front of the store, bagging orders trying to get that god awful long ass drive thru line moving.

“Ugh! I hate using the headset! It always hurts my ear.” complained Emily. Anthony, facing the opposite direction of her, rolls his eyes. Emily and Anthony used to be cool with each other but recently they just not have been seeing eye to eye. On anything.

“Can I do something else besides headset Anthony?” she asks in her annoying complaining voice.

“No. It’s the only thing in the entire store you're not slow at doing.” he replied.

“Whatever.” she said with attitude. She turns to Angel, who's presenting. “Oh, Angel, will you please switch with me? I absolutely cannot stand headset.” She asked that in the most sweetest, fakest way possible. I should probably mention, she’s definitly also crushing on Angel. Everyone knows, including Angel, but he doesn't acknowledge nor even like her back. She’s always saying they’ve had a little something, but they never have. She’s a pathological liar like that. Anthony and Angel make eye contact. Anthony shakes his head no to him. Angel looks at him desperately, then to Emily. “Yeah sure.” he says. Anthony throws his hands up in a “what the hell” manner. Emily gives Angel the headset. “Thank you bestie.” she giggles. Angel walks over to Anthony.

“Bro you know how slow she is.” Anthony whispers to him.

“I know, I’m sorry man I just hate presenting. Don't be mad please. I hate customers.” Angel replied. Anthony sympathized with him.

“I could never be mad at you dude. It’s fine. I understand.” Anthony gave him a quick little smile, and Angel smiled back. “Thanks dude.” Angel started laughing.

“What’s up?” asked Anthony.

“Nothing…” Angel started whispering again “tHaNk yOu bEsTiE.” he said in a mocking tone. They both started dying of laughter, Emily in the background having no idea what’s going on. Suddenly, in walks Ruby, the sweetest girl you’d ever meet. “Hey guysss!” she says as she walks in.

“Hey girly.” says Anthony.

“Wassup.” Angel says. He gives her a little tap on her head because it annoys her. “Oh my god stop!” she says, and hits his hand. Angel kinda has a thing for Ruby, but it’s hard figuring out if she does too. Anthony even thinks they have chemistry, which he hates to admit. But Ruby is very confusing. Ruby walks off to the back, Angel watching her walk off. Anthony looks to Angel and raises his eyebrows twice. He starts pinching Angel in the stomach, in a teasing way.

“You and Ruby huh?” he asks, teasing.

“I’m doing it tonight bro.” Angel says to Anthony.

“Doing what?” he asks.

“Ima shoot my shot.” Anthony’s heart basically dropped to the ground. He never thought Angel was gonna make a move. He had to think of an excuse fast.

“Are you sure? What if she says no? Things will be weird at work. And also Emily will start to cause drama because she’s so in love with you and shit.”

“I don't care about Emily. I really feel Ruby and I could be a cute little thing yknow.”

As much as Anthony likes Angel, he has to be supportive of his best friend of course. He just wants Angel to be happy, he deserves it especially because of what his last ex did to him. Anthony will probably be heartbroken, but as long as Angel is happy it's all he cares about.

“Okay dude. Go for it. I’m behind you 100%. Later tonight when we close the drive thru up I’ll be in the back doing manager stuff and you pop the question.”

“Hell yeah. Sounds good. I’m so excited dude.”

“Yeah… me too…” Anthony sighed, a bad sigh. He was not excited about it at all. But he was still 100% supportive. On the bright side, it’ll give him a reason to finally get over him.

1 am

The drive thru is officially closed. It’s just Anthony, Angel, and Ruby in the store. Anthony’s in the back doing his stuff, and Angel and Ruby are in the front just cleaning up.

“Hey Ruby?” Angel started.

“What’s up?” she replied.

“I was wondering if you ever wanted to hang out like outside of work one day?”

“Oh my god yes! We haven't all hung out as a group in forever! You, me, Anthony, Dani, Shawn and Rico! It’s been so long I miss it. What’d you have in mind?”

“Oh uh I actually meant just kinda like a me and you thing yknow?”

“Oh…. you mean like a…”

“Date, yeah.” Angel let out a nervous chuckle.

“Oh… Um… I’m sorry Angel you're really nice and all but I only see you as a friend…”

“Oh okay, no worries. That’s alright, I’m sorry I guess I just misread some of your signals.”

“What signals? I never sent you any signals.”

“Oh, my bad then.” They got back to cleaning, it was pretty quiet and awkward. Eventually, Angel made his way to the back and said 2 words to Anthony.

“Mission failed.” Anthony had never been so relieved, yet so disappointed at the same time. He genuinely thought Ruby could've felt the same way. Maybe he read the signals wrong also, if there even were any?

2 am

It was pretty quiet and awkward for the rest of the night. But eventually they finished and it was time to go home. “Bye guys!” said Ruby, as if nothing happened that entire night. The 3 of them walked out of the store. Ruby got into her moms car, who was picking her up. Angel and Anthony made their way to Anthony’s car. Angel can't drive because he’s epileptic, and can't drive until his medicine is proving to work. And Anthony basically volunteered to be his ride home every night. Anthony starts driving off.

“Dude oh my god so what happened?” he asked.

“I just asked if she wanted to hang out outside of work and she thought I meant all of us as a group!” said Angel.

“No way!” Anthony started laughing. “That’s hilarious!”

“Then I was like nah just us and she was like oh like a date? and I was like yeah then she said she only sees me as a friend."

“Damn that's tough dude. I’m sorry.”

“It’s whatever.”

“Are you okay?

“I’m fine, just bummed out.”

“I genuinely thought Ruby could've felt the same way though.”

“Right? Me too! I don’t understand.” They were now pulling up to Angels house. Anthony stopped the car.

“Alright thanks for the ride. As always I appreciate it.”

“Yeah of course and hey, don't feel too bad dude. I can tell you’re really bummed out. You’re a great guy and if Ruby doesn't see it, it’s her loss. There are plenty of other people out there who I’m sure would kill to have you. And I mean that too.” Angel chuckled.

“Thanks man. You always know what to say to make me feel better.” They smiled at each other. Anthony held out his hand for that straight guy handshake thing, again, and Angel proceeded, except this time with a little twist. He brought Anthony in for a quick hug.

“I’ll see you dude. Text me when you get home.” Angel hops out of the car and closes the door behind him. Anthony waits for him to go inside his house before he drives off. Anthony connects his phone to the car’s bluetooth and plays yet another sad song. Anthony’s such a simp for this man. The one person in the world he wants and can't have.