First Impressions

Miles ran over to the restaurant right after school, meeting the girl from yesterday at the back door.

"Um, hey," He greeted her, which she returned with a "hi."

They both reached for the door, Miles' hand resting over Mori's. They both pulled apart, then Miles opened the door, ushering Mori inside.

Mori ran to the break room. Miles following at a slower pace, only to find a door marked "Girls" click shut.

Inside the break room was a large table with several chairs around it. There was a cork board on one side of the wall that held the schedule, and a generic calendar had been posted. There were two rooms marked by each gender.

Miles retreated to the boys' changing room to see a row of lockers. And a person napping in the corner, pillowed by plastic sheets. Miles yelped as he jumped back in surprise. The person opened an eye that searched around the tight enclosure until it found Miles. The person yawned before sitting up.

"You're the new guy from yesterday." The person stood up. Miles realized the person was the waiter from yesterday who had welcomed him to the restaurant.

"I'm Oliver Agate." The man extended a hand, but there was paint on it. He rubbed it on his pant leg then extended his hand towards Miles again. The wiping had not helped removing the dried paint.

"Miles Sonata." Miles accepted the handshake.

"Other than the first two and this one," he said pointing to the last locker, "the rest of the lockers are free, so help yourself."

Miles nodded, stowing his backpack away in a locker.

"I'll get out of your way," the man offered as he hurried out of the changing room. Miles began to strip. As he pulled off his shirt, the door opened again. A panicked Oliver quickly shut it and dove for the plastic sheets.

Before Miles could even register what was going on, a small girl swung the door open. Miles could have mistaken her for a grade-schooler if not for the chef’s attire. Miles immediately grabbed the closest thing he could find to cover his chest.

"Oliver, you can't sleep all day," the girl scolded, charging past Miles and pulling Oliver by the arm.

"But I was up all night fixing the painting. Let me sleep a little longer."

"A little longer and you would have missed the whole day. Now get up!" She pulled at Oliver's leg, succeeding in getting him off the plastic sheets. The girl dragged him out of the room as if she had never seen Miles while Oliver begged for help.

Miles waited, not daring to move in case someone else should pop in. He jumped when he heard someone knocking.

"Miles, are you in there," asked a new, sweet voice.

"Yeah, give me a minute," he answered, changing out of his school uniform into his work uniform. He tucked in his shirt, noticing his pants were a little too big around the waist. He would have to remember to bring a belt next time.

Miles opened the door to find a new person standing there. Her wavy hair made her look like a princess, along with her cheerful smile. She grabbed his right hand to examine it, the smile turning into a frown.

"Oh dear, it looks like you aren't the one either."

"The one what?'

The girl looked up as if awakening from a stupor, "Oh, sorry, I'm Anita Chouteau, the floor chief here at Tormino's."

She let go of his hand and bowed.

"Please take care of me," he requested and returned the bow.

They both stood. Anita went back to smiling, looking at him up and down.

"Oh my, it looks like Cyrus has picked out a size too big. Let me see if Oliver has a belt you can borrow."

Anita led Miles away from the break room to the dining area where Oliver and the shy girl were serving customers.

"Oliver!"

Anita waved Oliver over, almost like a princess’ wave.

Oliver walked over to the two, to ask, "What's up?"

"Cyrus gave Miles a pants size too big. Do you have a belt he can borrow?" She asked with pleading eyes.

"I might have one, let me check."

"Splendid!" Anita and Miles followed Oliver back to the break room. He stepped on the table and pulled down a piece of the ceiling, then crawled inside the hole. Miles looked up to where Oliver had disappeared and then over the floor chief.

"Oh, Oliver lives here since he can't afford rent elsewhere. Isn't that kind of Cyrus?"

Miles nodded once before looking back up at the ceiling as Oliver returned.

"Here, ya go. Let me know if you need any other clothes. I usually keep the spares up there."

Miles accepted the belt, looping it through and securing it to his appropriate size.

"Alright, follow me," ordered Anita, leading the group out of the break room. She stopped at another door next to the kitchen entrance, while Oliver continued to the front. She opened the door to reveal boxes, bags, and cans of dry and preserved food.

"This is the storage area. I don't know if Cyrus told you, but the door handle doesn't work on the inside." She moved the inside knob, which only jiggled. "So, use this to keep it open," Anita pointed to an over-sized coffee tin.

Miles nodded as Anita led him past the kitchen and to the bar.

"This is where you will start working, as it is easier to keep track of patrons this way. Oh, perfect timing."

She floated over to where a new customer had entered - an older man with a newspaper under his arm.

"Table for one, sir," she asked him, taking a menu.

"Yes, the bar please."

Anita nodded as the man moved towards the bar, taking a seat and setting down his newspaper. Before he could open it, Anita was on the other side of the bar, taking his hand into hers.

"Oh dear, you're not it either," she sighed before returning the man’s hand. She then handed over the menu.

"Um, Anita?" asked Miles as she moved away from the customer.

"Yes?"

"What did you mean when you said, 'You're not it either'?"

"Oh, he's not my soulmate, see?"

Anita held up her right hand to reveal a scar jagged across her palm.

"My soulmate will have the same mark, so I work hard at this restaurant to hopeful find him."

Miles nodded, their first encounter making sense.

"Oh, and the other server is Ramona Mori, who you caught yesterday."

Miles looked over at Ramona, who was trying to talk to a customer who looked exasperated. Miles immediately turned red, remembering their first meeting.

"Did you check her for soulmate marks before you left yesterday?"

"No, I'm just good at catching things. I spooked Ramona yesterday with my introduction, so it will probably be a onetime thing."

"I wouldn't count on that. Ramona is known for her clumsiness."

As if on cue, Ramona pitched forward as she entered the bar area. Miles was quick to catch her before she hit the ground. Both teens turned red as Miles helped her back up.

"Are you sure you two aren't soulmates," Anita asked, looking at the teenagers. Ramona put her order in at the window, running away so she wouldn't have to answer the question.

"I highly doubt it," assured Miles, no less red.