Chapter Text
Sydney had truly never laughed this hard in her entire life. Syd and Richie are on his couch smoking weed, talking about the most random shit, ever and she realizes this is the most fun she's had in a long time.
"You're giggly when you're stoned huh?" He asked with a big shit eating grin on his face.
She laughed. "Like 90 percent of the time."
"And the other 10?"
"Completly non-verbal."
"No." He said trying to stifle his laughter.
"Richie one time I took an edible and didn't talk for 6 hours."
"What the fuck Sydney." And he couldn't help it, the laughter came out and the giggles from Syd started all over again.
They were two blunts in and Richie was already rolling a third.
A couple hours passed by and the sun was setting. They were both sprawled out on his couch. Both tremendously stoned and still smoking. Neither of them wanted to be anywhere else. But the high had changed from goofy grins and giggles to talks about life and whatnot.
"Did you really quit Syd?"
"I stabbed you I didn't think I should stay."
"But we're good, I'm not upset. Proud if anything."
"Pardon me?" She asked all shocked sitting up on her elbows to look at him.
They were laying feet to head and it should have been more awkward but it wasn't.
"Yeah yeah don't let it get to your head."
"Too late, but please explain."
"I think that's why I didn't vibe with you at first-"
"I hadn't noticed."
"Shut up." He knocked his head against her ankle.
She laughed and he sighed all dramatically.
"Anyway. I think I had an issue with you because I was worried you would mess up the dynamic."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean Carm never worked there but he grew up there, around everyone. Everyone knows what to expect. We all have issues. You just seemed like you were all put together."
"And now?"
"Well now I have a hole in my ass cheek so I know I was way off."
"Oh my god you are never gonna let me live this down are you?"
"Not a chance in hell babe."
She knocked him in the head with the side of her foot and he held onto it.
"You can't quit."
"I know."
They were smoking their fifth blunt when Carm called Richie.
"Cousin what's up?"
"Carmy?" She mouthed. Richie nodded and reached across their laps to pass the blunt to Sydney. She relaxed against the couch and took a hit of the blunt being careful not to hack up a lung.
"Yeah ok, see you." Richie hung up the phone and took the blunt Sydney was passing back to him.
"Let's kill this and go." He said.
"Go where?"
"Gotta go to the restaurant."
"Why?" She whined. "What if people are scared I'm gonna stab them?"
"Come on." He grabbed her feet, which were sitting in his lap, and planted them on the floor before pulling them both up.
"Whoa fuck!" She screeched. He grabbed her shoulders before she could fall over and righted her.
"Ok, we're a little high."
"Yeah probably."
"Let's Uber."
They sat in the back of the Uber reeking of weed and Sydney just knows her passenger rating is gonna go down because of this. And the way she can see the driver roll his eyes every time Syd and Richie look at each other and burst into a fit of laughter.
When they finally make it to The Beef Syd has to yank Richies hand down so he doesn't flip off the Uber driver but he still yells a loud "Fuck you!" anyway. They're both laughing and hanging onto each other as they walk in the back of the restaurant but stop in their tracks when they see what looks like a murder scene. Everyone inside stops digging around on the floors and looks at the latecomers.
"Uhh, what's going on here guys?" Richie asks before looking at Sydney, who can barely contain a laugh.
"Are you guys high?" Carm asks looking up from his spot on the ground.
"Yes."
"No."
They both look at each other before breaking out into a small, very inebriated argument.
"Why would you say yes Sydney?"
"Why would you say no? We are high. We had 5 blu-"
Before she could finish he put his hand over her mouth because he's not that high.
"We need to work on your tolerance." and she mumbles "Ok." underneath his hand before biting it.
"Ow motherfucker that's the second workplace injury you've caused today."
Tina interrupted the two of them with sandwiches.
"Eat this mami it will help sober you up."
Sydney let out a big gasp before wrapping Tina in a quick hug.
"Oh my god thank you."
Tina looked over her shoulder at Richie.
"What the fuck?" she mouthed to him.
"Eat the sandwich kid."
"Oh right thank you."
Two sandwiches and 45 minutes later they are at least somewhat sober so Carmy decides it's ok to approach the pair. Sydney and Richie are sitting on one of the workstations finishing up their sodas when Carm speaks up.
"You good cousin?"
"I'm good."
"So Syd" He turns to her. "I don't think you should quit."
"She's not quitting."
"Syd?" Carm asks.
"You heard the man." She said with a small smile.
"Ok then. Let's get to work."
"That fucker was crazy."
Richie and Carmy were wiping off the wads of plastic-wrapped cash trying to figure out the whole situation.
"I know cousin."
"Sooo." Richie can feel the tension now.
"Are you and Syd cool now?"
"Yeah." He looks to her where she's mopping up the tomato sauce off the floor and talking to Ebra. "I think we are."
"Seriously Richie?" He looks back to Carmy who has a disapproving look on his face.
"What?"
"You know what."
"No, I don't so maybe you need to fucking spell it out for me."
"Don't get a fucking attitude with me Richie!"
"Maybe mind your own fucking business then!"
He shoved Carmy back, but Carmy got right back in his face.
"Guys! Guys! Chill!" Tina and Sydney came running to the pair but they were already worked up.
"This is my fucking business!" He swung but it didn't connect. Sydney tried to pull Richie back but he yanked forward and fell into Carm. The two fell onto the ground and the scuffle continued with Tina and Sydney yelling at them to knock it off.
Ebra and Marcus eventually had to be the ones to separate them.
Richie was sitting out back smoking a cigarette when Sydney came out. She went to put a bag of ice on his eye before he put his hand up to stop her.
"Shut up. Let me help."
He let her.
"What was that even about?"
He stilled for a second. I mean nothing had even happened between the two of them, Carmy was just assuming the worst of Richie as always. "Just Carmy being Carmy."
"Well can you two make up?"
"If he can stop being a bitch probably."
"Ok don't say this when you guys talk it out."
"We're not gonna talk it out."
"Yes you are come on, finish your cigarette, Tina's dealing with Carm."
"Ok, you two apologize."
Sydney was standing between the two of them with Tina being the moderator of sorts. Carm had sent the rest of the staff home.
"But he was the one who-" Carmen started already shouting
"I don't care!" Sydney interrupted. "I don't know what the argument was about and I don't care. Get over it."
Carm looked between Sydney and Richie and realized he might have jumped to conclusions because the whole argument seemed to baffle her.
"Fine."
"Fine." Richie parroted.
"Perfect now can we please go home it's after midnight we can deal with all of this tomorrow."
Carm nodded and they all made their way back to their lockers.
Richie watched Sydney switch her shoes and let her hair down from the office door. As she was headed to the back door he called out to her.
"Syd wait up."
"What's up?" She looked up at him and honestly looked dead on her feet. Today had been a whirlwind for everyone.
"How do you get home?" She closed her eyes for a second and leaned against the back door.
"I take the L."
"Lemme give you a ride."
"No don't worry about it. It's outta the way."
"It's not a problem Syd come on."
He's not even sure why he offered. But he sure as hell knew he didn't want her taking the train at midnight.
She smiled at him and nodded and they made their way to Richie's car.
"Wait why is your car here? How did you get home earlier?"
"Carm called me an Uber."
"Ah." She nodded as she relaxed against the seat.
"Your license still expired?" She asked with a small smile.
"Shut up." But he couldn't help the grin that matched hers.
"I appreciate you, by the way, helping with Carmy or whatever."
They were stopped at a red and Sydney turned to look at him from her seat.
"You're welcome. You think I fit in now?" She asked with a smile on her face.
"With the shit that went down today, absolutely." He smiled back at her.
"I am curious though."
"What's up?"
"Why The Beef."
"Well, my dad has always loved it and I thought it would be a good opportunity to work under Carmy."
Richie didn't like the pang of jealousy he felt but he did his best to ignore it.
"Food and whatever's best new chef right?"
"He's retained a star Richie."
"Do you want one?"
"A star?"
"Yeah."
"It's always been my dream."
"The Beef isn't the kind of place that gets a star."
"Well there's food trucks with stars so its not even about that. And I'm not even saying we should try for a star. Its just-."
She sighed and paused.
"What?" He asked.
"You're gonna think it's stupid."
"No I wont. Tell me."
"Its always been my dream, and my thinking is, the closer I can get to it, the better. So yeah I may never have a star but its cool that I've worked for someone whos retained one."
Richie felt like shit. Sydney just wanted to work for someone she admired and he gave her a hard time for it.
"I'm sorry, by the way."
"For what?"
"For not making it easier, for you to be here, and for my comment about the review."
"Thanks Richie."
"Here we are."
Richie pulled up against the curb of Sydneys apartment.
"Thanks for the ride. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah, see you tomorrow."
Richie smiled at her as she unbuckled her seatbelt and looked at him then down at the floorboard. Before he could ask what was wrong she reached across the center console and wrapped him in a hug. He stilled for a second. Dumbfounded, then relaxed into her. But it was over before it even began.
"Bye Richie."
He sat there confused until the door closing snapped him out of his thoughts.
What the fuck?