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Chapter 4

"Sun is in the sky oh why, oh why would I wanna be anywhere else? Sun is in the sky oh why, oh why would I wanna be anywhere else?~" Andy came strutting inside the restaurant, earphones plopped in his ears and singing the lyrics out loud enough to make other customers look his way.

Alice approached him first before I could get there and waited for the white bunny to stop singing.

"When you look with your eyes, everything seems nice. But if you look twice, you can see it's all lies." Andy chanted on while he pulled up his phone and pushed to stop the music and plop out the earphones, shining up in a bright, wide smile.

"Alice! So good to see you again, you're looking beautiful as ever." He said with a joyful tone, extending his arms hoping for a hug from the perky fox.

"Andy! What a delight to have you here again, and may I say you look as dashing as ever." Alice replied with just as much enthusiasm and took the bunny in to an embracing hug, squishing her massive breasts against the manly pecks of the bunny.

"Oh you know I love coming here sweetie, everybody is so nice and the food is amazing. Again Charming refuses to cook for me and I have to rely on you all to feed me, for which I am ever so grateful." Both he and Alice looked sideways at me as I approached them, and I almost wanted to detour to the back to stump them.

"Nothing I can cook is good enough for your refined tastes either way Andy, you deserve better than my sad excuses of dinner." I said and gave him a patented Charming smile.

"Oh you think so as well Charming? I always figured I was more valued than you and your... cooking. Skills. Ahem." He snuffed and wiggled his nose slightly.

"Now now fluffy buns, that's quite enough of that now." Alice stole his attention and held up her own electric notepad.

"Now how about I tempt you with our daily special? Entrecote nicely marinated in some spicy soy served with black & white sauce and grilled potatoes?" Alice knew just how to read the bunny, and quickly dotted away on her notepad when he nodded eagerly.

"Mmmhm, that sounds tasty, yeah I'll take that. You know I would love some red wine with that, but I have to get back to work after lunch so I'll just have water, no ice." Andy chattered on happily while Alice took notes while simultaneously leading him towards a table.

I was secretly happy I didn't have to deal with the hyperactive bunny right at the moment, and being in close proximity with Andy while at work there was a chance we would have to come out of the closet to my coworkers.

It's not like I wanted to hide the fact that either of us was gay, but I very much preferred it this way mostly because it was to protect the restaurants image and everybody who worked here. Everyone who worked here was the reasonable sort who didn't mind tiny things such as sexuality, but most customers did. And the customers almost always gave a review online about this place, and rumors spread quickly in this city. It would be fine if we were in the gay district of Rosewood.

Before we know it we would either have to close down because of lack of customers or because of vandalisation and harassment not just to me but to the others as well. And I've had enough of that already.

I wasn't going to lie if they asked me about it directly. I didn't like lying either, but so far I have managed to stay under the radar. Andy was onboard with it as well, he knew better than most how such affairs affects me. So I'd rather just hold my tongue and dodge the subject for as long as I could.

"Dude." A wuff spoke behind me and I spun on my heel to face Kieran once again. Why, it's almost like he's shadowing me today.

"Hm?" I inquired, perking an eyebrow.

"Wasn't that your roommate? Andy, yeah?" He asked. Try as he might to hold eye contact with me, but I could see his eyes dart over in the direction where Andy had disappeared.

"Yep, that was Andy alright. I told you there was a storm coming." I snuffed, rubbing my thumb on my nose.

*Ding* Number 9.

"Duty calls. And if you got nothing better to do than hound me right now then would you please do a round of the floor?" I huffed out as I walked past him towards table nine. Argh, now I was taking it out on the poor wolf and how I hated it when I snapped at the poor wuff. The worst part is that I wasn't in the wrong either, he really should be more attentive to doing his job. Kieran is good at what he does and really puts in an effort in his work, when he finally comes around to it.

It was expected of me to have a decree of authority at all times, being the assistant manager. It was my job to make sure everybody was working properly and didn't slack off too much, to keep things running smoothly. But it still made me feel bad in a certain way, you know?

"Hi, what would you like to order?" I painted on my happy charming smile, and did my best to live up to my smile. Looking down at the tiger and poodle pair from earlier I forced myself to smile as gentle as humanly possible.

"I'll have the tuna salad with a slice of lemon and carbonated water, and he'll have the-..." The poodle lady begun but was interrupted by her companion.

"I'll take today's special, medium rare, and a Budweiser." The tiger looked up at me and held a strong eye contact with me while he relayed his order from his own mouth. I nodded as they spoke and pushed the correct orders down on my notepad.

"So that is one tuna salad with a slice of lemon, one special medium rare, a carbonated water and a Budweiser." I repeated back at them.

"Will that be all? Or was there anything more?" I smiled down at them.

"That's all, thank you." The tiger spoke up to my surprise, and flashed a smile my way.

"Alright, I'll bring your drinks over right away. And your food will be brought out the moment it's ready, so just sit back and relax." I collected their menus and left their table in long strides. Ugh, my break couldn't come soon enough...

---

"One Charming Deluxe, as promised." The parfait had barely left my hand before Felicia was all over it, spoon in paw.

"Yay! Yum yum yum. I love you so much right now Charming." Felicia purred loudly in great joy and delight, flicking her tail wildly. I had to back off to avoid getting my leg viciously slapped by the slim cat tail.

"Glad you like it sweetie. Always nice to know my parfaits are appreciated." I backed up and slumped down in the couch that Felicia kept in her office. Mmrm oh it felt so good to slack off if only for a moment. Mhm... Mmm... So nice.

...

...

Mhuh? Why'd it get heavier to breathe? My eyes creaked open after a slight struggle and found Felicia napping in my lap. Her small delicate frame was rolled into a ball and laid resting against my chest, breathing relaxed breaths.

I moved a hand up to rub my eyes and look at the clock on the wall. Whut, my break was already over? But it had barely started when I served the parfait...

Which I could see from where I sat, the empty serving glass was licked clean, and all the paperwork previously cluttering the desk had been filed and organized properly. There was no trace left that pointed to the snoozing kitten in my lap was a pro procrastinator when it came to office work.

Stretching my arms up in the air I moved slightly and rumbled in my chest to try and rouse the petite lady taking her afternoon nap on top of her subordinate. I got the results I wanted when she yawned and copied my motions by stretching her own short arms and slowly sitting up like a proper lady straddled on a guys lap...

"Uuuuggghh, whatisthetime innit?" The calico cat mumbled while rubbing her eyes, almost making no sense whatsoever.

"A few minutes to three, which means my break is already over. When did I fall asleep?" I shuffled slightly while Felicia yawned again, rubbed her cheek and slowly slid off my lap.

"Well your breathing evened out pretty quick after you sat down, so it didn't take you long... Hhhnng!" She said groggily and ending with a proper full stretch of her tiny body. Standing up and arms raised fully up she could maybe reach to the back of my head. If she stood as tall as she could on her tippy toes.

"Urgh, I should probably head back out there..." I groaned out and rose up on my feet, stretching to pop my spine back in its proper space.*Pop!* Ouch, that hurt! I bent down to rub my right thigh a bit, a bit on the inside and around it with a couple of pressing fingers massaging my muscles.

"How're you feeling Charming? Is everything okay? No pain or anything?" Felicia was doing a small exercise by rotating her torso from side to side, and she'd seen me rubbing my leg and now had a concerned look on her spotted muzzle.

"No, no pain. I just stretched weird, maybe pulled a nerve or a muscle. It's nothing alarming. I'd say I'm okay but between you and me." I took a few trying steps around the room before I headed for the door. "I feel like shit. But between me and the others, I'm fine. They don't need to concern themselves about my leg acting up and fuss about it for the rest of the day. That includes you Felicia." I could tell she had her mouth halfway open when I grasped the handle to the door.

"...Okay Lukas, I trust you to know best." Her eyes lingered on me a moment longer before she turned around to her desk again.

"Good, right... I'll be heading out then, thanks for the company kitten." I tried and earned a small smile from the calico cat. Walking out of her office I made a sharp turn towards the floor once again.

This day just kept getting better and better, doesn't it? I wonder what else could go horribly wrong. Maybe a fire would break out or maybe a robbery. Bah, what was I thinking? Keeping this line of thought and my mood would never improve.

Sigh.

"You alright there Charming?" Simone asked hearing me sigh, her perked ears twitched as we approached each other.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine Simone. I just uhh... had a quick nap during my break. And Felicia didn't wake me up until just now so I'm just a bit slow right now." I reassured the leopard with a smile and it seemed to convince her I was doing okay.

"Oh, okay. Well I'll be taking my break now, take care now Charming." She said and smiled at me, disappearing into the break room. I huffed and continued my way to the cash register where Alice had manned the station and was checking out a paying customer.

"That'll be $15." She sang out happily, her fluffy vixen tail swaying as the rottweiler guy handed over the appropriate amount of cash in bills and coins. Alice was quick enough to store the money and rip off the receipt.

"Here's your receipt sir." She said with a broad smile as the rottweiler accepted the piece of paper from her.

"Thank you for eating at the Lounge and we hope to see you again." She bowed as the customer turned around to walk out the restaurant.

"Holding down the fort I see, and looking radiant while doing so." I mused.

"Oh now? Are you flirting with me Charming? Or are do you just have a lot of two things on your mind?" She turned her head to look at me, puffing out her chest for emphasis.

"A bit of both truly. But in my defense your womanly charm is just so hard to not compliment." Or notice. Furs at the mall across the street could see her perky bust. But I didn't need to tell her that.

"What, these right here?" Alice looked down at her chest and watched them jiggle.

"These babies is what put food on the table at home Charming, and I don't hear Hank complaining either." She said, referring to her golden retriever boyfriend.

"Of course he wouldn't complain, they're about 80% the reason he loves you and the other 20% is your personality. This is a fact." I mused.

She perked an eyebrow at me as if she was saying 'Really?' to me.

"Unlike me who like you for the delightful personality of yours hon." I said with my tongue licking my lips in tasteful manner. Some friendly flirting never hurt anybody, especially when you're working with wonderful people such as Alice.

"Aw shucks Charming, you really are living up to your nickname today." She said with a giggle, blowing me a kiss.

*Ding* Number 18.

I pretended to catch the kiss and put it in my pocket with a wink.

"I'll save this for later, thanks sweetie." I said happily and strutted my way in the direction of the table in need of service.

I came upon a table with a couple of guys bumming a smoke while chatting with one another. One of them was a cougar and the other a beagle with floppy ears. Both of them was handsome and fit, the typical office workers who go to the gym together and now out to grab a bite to eat.

Probably.

"So what'll it be gentlemen?" I announced with my notepad held ready.

They looked up at me and didn't say anything for a brief moment. The cougar took a deep huff of his cigarette and puffed out a great smoke cloud in a relaxed manner.

"I'd love some roast beef and a golden lager." He said with a purr, taking another huff of his cigarette and eyed me up and down slowly.

"Certainly, Sir. And how would you like your roast beef? Do you want it rare, medium or well done?" I asked. Smiling and looking down at the cougar with inquiring eyes.

"Medium, I like it when it's pink." The cougar said with a flash of his white fangs. Now was he referring to the meat, or me? Pink-skin could be used as slang for humans, just as I refer to furries as furs.

"Of course, I'll make sure they make it extra pink for you sir." I said delighted, making the additional notes for special requested orders. "And what would you like to have, sir?" I turned my attention to the beagle guy while keeping up my smile.

"I'll take your porterhouse steak, and I like it bloody and rare." The beagle said with a lick around his chops, grinning like a predator.

"Extra bloody steak coming right up sir, and what would you like to drink?" I asked. The beagle drew a huff of smoke and nodded to his dinner companion.

"I'll have the same as him." He said and put the cigarette to his lips again and leaned back in his seat.

"Very well, will that be all for now or would you like anything else?" I asked and looked from one puffing cloud of smoke to the other.

"Nothing more, thanks." The cougar purred and gave me another look up and down.

"Excellent. I will go and get you your drinks right away, and I'll be back in a moment." I gave the pair a charming smile before I left to get their drinks.

That cougar was either sizing me up for dinner, or he was just enjoying the view. Either way I was not really worried, after all, I was bringing him his dinner in just a few minutes and I do enjoy being appreciated.

Upon reaching the counter with the beer taps I took out two glasses and filled them to the brim with sizzling, golden lager with just a perfect layer of white froth at the top. Just the way they wanted their beer. I bet. I wasn't much for beer myself, but my experience told me there was nothing a customer appreciated more than a completely filled glass with cold beer.

The glasses went up on a tray which I then hoisted up to shoulder height and balanced the two drinks exactly like a gyroscope would. I trailed my way between tables and avoiding collisions until I finally reached table number 18. And not a single drop of beer had been spilled. A gold start to Lukas aka Prince Charming.

"Here are your beers, one for you sir, and one for you." I put down one glass after the other, offering a charming smile each time. Once the tray was empty I held it close to my chest and bowed down.

"Your food will be ready momentarily, and a waiter will bring it over as soon it is done. In the meanwhile please enjoy your drink." I said.

"Thanks, we will." The cougar stubbed out his cigarette butt in the ash tray and sent a wink my way as I turned to leave.

Well that was... something. It felt good to be appreciated purely by my looks, even if it sometimes made me feel like an accessory. No matter, it was time to keep my head in the game and ride out these last few hours before my shift ended...

*Pling*

My eyes went up to the electric sign on the wall expecting a table to be ready to order, and when I saw none I realized it had been my phone making a sound.

I wasn't really supposed to have my cell phone on me while on floor duty, but firstly I had mine because I am the assistant manager, and secondly I had my phone on me in case of emergencies.

And I hoped this wasn't one of those.

I rounded the corner out of view from the floor and reached into my pocket to see a text.

From: Ian