Fifty-one

"What are you doing here, Jade?" I asked them as I approached their table.

"We came here to eat, so don't bother us and do your job if you want," Amber snapped at me.

I felt a surge of anger, but I tried to hide it. I gave them the menu of the day and then left to deal with the other customers. I heard Jade say to Amber, "You could have been more polite to her, Amber."

"Yes, but it doesn't matter, tell me what you want to eat," Amber said.

"Well, pasta will be enough for me," Jade said.

I saw Amber take Jade's hand and hold it on the table. I felt a pang of jealousy, but I tried to ignore it. I didn't expect to see them here, but I didn't want them to disturb me in my work.

I went back to work and then a group of customers all more beautiful than each other arrived and asked to have me as their waiter. They were all women, and they seemed to be interested in me.

"Good evening, ladies, if I can show you to your table," I said to them.

They took the table that was right next to Jade and Amber's. I brought the menu to the customers who were there before and asked them to choose. Then another waiter took the order from Jade and Amber.

"Wow, that waitress is really perfect. I would love to get her number. And that shirt really suits her. I wonder if she is single," one of the ladies said loudly.

Jade looked annoyed and said, "This client, frankly."

"Is there a problem, Jade?" Amber asked.

"No, nothing, don't worry," Jade said.

I came back with the menu and said to the ladies, "Here is the menu of the day. I let you choose and you can call me back when you have chosen."

"Tell me, are you on the menu too?" one of the ladies asked me flirtatiously.

I laughed and said, "No, I'm afraid not."

"What a shame then," she said.

Jade and Amber's dish arrived and there was only one plate. I wondered why they were eating from the same plate and why they were so well dressed. Don't tell me they were on a date here. I brought water to Jade and Amber and asked them, "So, tell me how you like the food."

"Waitress, we have chosen what we want, can you come?" one of the ladies called me.

"Yes, I'm coming," I said.

I went to see the ladies and asked them, "Yes, tell me you have already chosen what you want to eat."

"Yes, of course, we'll have the whole day's special," one of them said.

"Well, it's noted. The dish will be served in a few minutes now, you just have to wait," I said.

"Yes, thank you," she said.

I gave the order to the chef and after a few minutes the dishes were ready. I carried them to the ladies' table and they started eating.

"Tell me, would you mind eating with us?" one of the ladies asked me.

"I still have work to do and I don't want to disturb you," I said.

"No, don't worry, you are not bothering us at all," she said.

"It's okay, Eloise, you can eat with them. We don't have any customers, so it's okay," the other waiter said.

"Well, if you say so," I said.

"Come and sit next to me," one of the ladies said.

I went and sat next to her. She said, "Say ah."

I opened my mouth and she gave me a spoonful of her food. I tasted it and smiled politely.

Amber kissed Jade on the cheek and I noticed it right away. I felt a wave of anger, but I decided to stay where I was.

The young girl next to me asked me, "Tell me, are you single?"

I said, "I don't really want to be with anyone right now." Me and Jade are not dating but I don't want to be with someone else right now.

She said, "That's too bad, because I'm a real beast in bed. If you need me, I'll be there. And you are totaly my type."

"Thank you, but like I said, I don't want to be in a relationship," I said.

"Are you sure? But I'm still giving you my number, so you can keep it," she said.

She wrote her number on a napkin and handed it to me. I took it and put it in my pocket. I didn't know what to do with it. I wished I could be with Jade, but it seemed impossible. I felt trapped in this situation, and I didn't know how to get out of it.

I excuse myself from the young girl who was chatting with me and follow Jade to the toilet. I need to talk to her, to confront her about what I saw. How could she do this to me? How could she let Amber kiss her on the cheek like that, in front of everyone?

I catch up with her in the bathroom and lock the door behind me. She looks surprised and nervous as I glare at her.

"Can you explain to me what you and Amber are doing here together?" I demand.

She stammers, "She just invited me and I accepted. And you are having fun with the other girls there."

I shake my head in disbelief. "No, I pushed her away. And I work here, in case you didn't notice. But you seemed to be having fun with Amber. And you let her kiss you on the cheek. And you really think it didn't affect me? Well, you're wrong. You don't know how much it upset me. I make efforts for you and you don't do anything."

She reaches out to touch my arm, but I pull away. "Please don't be angry with me," she pleads.

I snort. "You don't want me to be angry, but after what you did, you think you're giving me a choice? And the way you're dressed. With me, you never wear that kind of clothes." I sigh and look away. "I'm going to go and finish my work. So for the moment, leave me alone."

I storm out of the toilet and go back to take care of the last customers and clear the empty tables. I try to ignore the pain in my chest . I don't know what to do with her. I don't know what to do with us. Woman are so complicated.