"That's awesome," Gabe finally speaks, "But you do realize you're going to have to actually work, right? They're not going to pay you for hitting on Leah."
"Shut up," Jack responds immediately. Gabe can practically hear him rolling his eyes through the phone.
"When do you start?" Gabe questions.
"Thursday," Jack responds after a moment.
"Wait, Thursday?" Gabe repeats, "So no bad minton?"
"Sorry, dude." Jack apologizes, though he doesn't sound very sorry at all.
"Hey, do you know if they're still hiring?"
There's another pause before Jack responds, "Yeah, they are."
"Cool, well, maybe I'll apply." Gabe answers, his smile almost audible.
"Sweet. Listen, I gotta go. My mom is taking me to buy work pants," Jack says, "Text me."
Before Gabe can reply, the line goes dead.
For the next three days, all Jack talks about is Leah (which isn't anything new) and work and working with Leah. Gabe listens attentively, nodding at all the appropriate moments. On his planet, any relationship other than one formed to produce an offspring is a waste of time. Gabe appreciates and supports Jack's crush, often offering (bad) advice, and words of encouragement. By the time his actual first day rolls around, Jack is a bundle of nerves. He parts and reparts his hair in Gabe's bedroom mirror at least 30 times before finally turning to Gabe, looking at him expectantly.
"Alright, Jack. This is it. I've been on this planet for nearly four years, and I've yet to meet a guy as charismatic, intelligent, and, not to mention, good-looking, as you." This wasn't necessarily true, but Jack was something special in Gabe's eyes. As a new kid freshman year with a weird haircut and too-short shorts and no idea about American (or human) customs, Gabe's peers were less than willing to welcome him into their inner circles. He spent a week sitting by himself at lunch, eating his cheese slices and grape juice, before Jack offered him a seat at his table. Jack defended him whenever bullies leered in his direction. Jack taught him how to behave like a normal, human teenage boy. Jack was always there, and Gabe felt that he owed him the world for that.
"Okay," Jack sucks in a deep breath as if there was confidence in oxygen. "Thanks, Gabe. I'll call you after I get out." he says, before disappearing out Gabe's bedroom door.
At 8:30, Gabe's phone rings. Jack talks and talks, mostly about Leah, while Gabe listens carefully, offering up "hmm"s and "no way"s at perfect intervals.
"This guy, Hugo, got caught taking money out of the register right before our shift was supposed to end. That's why I called a little late. Oh god, Giacomo's face was so purple, I thought he was going to explode. Leah said..."
Gabe cut him off before he could finish his story. "Did that guy get fired?" he asks.
"Uh, yeah." Jack answers with a roll of his eyes.
"So that means there's an opening?" Gabe's voice rises with hope.
"I guess." Jack tells him.
Jack continues to talk after that. Gabe tries to listen as best he can, but he's busy trying to come up with people he can put as references on his application. When Jack finally hangs up, it's 10:30 and Gabe can practically picture them together behind the counter, tossing pizzas up over their heads.
Several days later, Gabe begins training at Giacomo's. Giacomo had been impressed by his manners, his enthusiasm, and most of all, his friendship with Jack. He hired him on the spot. Gabe shows up fifteen minutes before his shift is supposed to start and hangs out in the kitchen, watching as the people on lunch shift answer phone calls and bus tables. He can do this. It won't be complicated at all.
He greets Jack eagerly when he comes in through the back ten minutes later. Jack waves back before grinning at Leah who's standing by the hostess table. Giacomo comes out of the kitchen a moment later. "Leah," he calls and the blonde girl quickly responds with a polite, "Yes?"
"Leah," Giacomo repeats, "I need you to train Gabe."
If Gabe were not so incredibly enthralled by Giacomo's exaggerated hand gestures and the way his Italian accent seemed to blend his words into one, he would have noticed Jack grimace. Luckily, he was watching his new boss so carefully that he didn't notice much else.
