Alex (m 24) the waiter with no career prospects

As the rain hits the glass life goes on as it always does. Unbothered by the weather, seasons or opinions circulating it simply is. Sparing a brief moment to look outside Alex notices it is in fact raining - and unbeknownst to him it has been for little over half an hour - as he wipes down table 14. Looking back at the hostess stand he sees another family pointed to his section, but before he can greet them another table requires new drinks. Friday night is after all the busiest night of the week.

"I can't believe I'm still doing this" Alex says to Magnus, "I swear man, one of these days I'm out of here and you won't see me anymore. Two Tuna and one carpaccio for 12 here?"
As he gets a confirmation from the cook he starts walking the two main dishes and the appetizer to the 'cheapskates' at table 12, when he returns for the fries he hears Marcus say: "..and a caesar salad. Look man, I agree, you've got to get out of here. But what will you do? Do you have a plan? Or money?"
"I'm working on it."
"You've been working on it for the past six years my guy."
"Will somebody walk this food before it get's cold for the love of god." interupts a cook.

After the shift, sitting at the bar Magnus giggles.
"what?" Alex says.
"Nothing, just ironic. Both of us, such nerds. So utterly enthralled by learning new shit, yet completely unable to succeed in school and secure a future."
"Aye, irony is a cruel mistress. If you cry you suffer twice after all."
The two friends let the silence envelop them, because it's easier to say nothing than to say something true.

When he gets home, Alex looks at his messages and sees a text from Sophia "hey bro, gonna be out late tonight, cya tmrw <3"
Seeing this he decides to game a little bit before bed, though sadly Louis isn't online. Despite his gamebuddy probably being asleep he still has fun and games until way after he'd planned to go to bed.
He jumps up as suddenly the lights in his room turn on, only for him to spin around and see it's Sophia.
"Can you keep it down? I'm trying to sleep and some of us actually want to be rested when we meet mom's new boyfriend."
"Sorry Sophia, didn't realise it was this late already."
"You've a serious problem dude, I am genuinely impressed you have a girlfriend at all. Fariba deserves way better."
"Fuck you."
"Good night, love you and if you wake me with your games again I will microwave your PC."

The next morning he is woken by a loud noise and a groggy feeling in his stomach. It takes him a while to realise the noise is in fact 'never gonna give you up' by Rick astley, played from a phone, directly in his ear, held by a hand, connected to his sister.
"Rise and shine gaylor.., I mean gamelord. We got this lunch with mom and her new boyfriend."
"So? That's not until half past twelve, leave me be."
"It's currently twelve o' clock. If I'm not mistaken that is."
He goes silent, then slowly the realisation sets in. First it's not in fact 6 in the morning, second he has half an hour to get ready which leaves him with at least 20 minutes of sleep, third he needs to be at the location at 12:30 which means he needs 15 minutes of travel time, fourth that means he has only 15 minutes to get ready and jump in the car.
As panic hits in full **** all at once his sister smiles.

Half an hour later he sits in the lunchcafé with his sister as they order two cappuccino's.
"Where the hell is mom?" He asks, irritation badly masked.
"I can imagine she didn't want to arrive first if she's introducing someone, besides not everyone had to game until 7 in the morning." She says.
"Six" He mumbles, though he knows it's a weak retort. An aura of baggy eyes and pale skin seems to envelop him as he tries to keep his head upright with his hands.
"Kids, I'd like you to meet my new partner, Nina." He hears an all too familiar voice say from behind him, as he turns around he sees a tall woman with a short curly bob, a kind and lean face, red lipstick, wearing a green dress and a nervous tick as she tries to supress a flick of the wrist at her side. He gets up and appears to be roughly her height as he extends his hand forwards and says: "Alex, nice to meet you Nina."
"It is good to finally put a face to a name, your mom talks about little else than you two," Nina says in an unwavering yet not unpleasant voice, with hints of a French accent.
"Please sit, we already ordered coffee so the waitress should be here any minute," Sophia says, offering the two seats opposite Alex and her to their mom and new partner.
After having taken their seats the waitress returns with two cappuccino's and asks what the two newcomers would like to drink, after which she explains the specials and is on her way to make an additional two cappuccino's.
"It could be me, but I was under the impression we'd be meeting your new boyfriend mom. This although not unpleasant is quite the surprise." Having barely said this Alex feels a kick against his shin and a warning look from his sister.
"I did technically only say 'partner' but I guess it's not an unexpected response," His mom says carefully, "although I do hope you'll forgive my subterfuge. I didn't know how to tell you two over the phone or anything so I figured I might as well tell you when you met her."
"I mean the writing was on the wall Alex," his sister says casually.
"You knew this?" Alex says suprised.
"I mean we knew mom was bi and.."
"I didn't know mom was bi, why doesn't anyone ever tell me these kinds of things." Alex begins indignified.
"Honey what exactly do you think those girls on my old college pictures were?" His mom says softly.
"I mean, I guess, but like that wasn't obvious," Alex says as he looks at three women who are struggling to contain their laughter, "okay maybe I'm a bit oblivious to these things."
"A bit? Alex you do realise Valerie was only at our house that day because she was trying to get with me right?" His sister says no longer capable of maintaining a straight face as something approximating a grin forces it's way on her face.
Alex starts to blush at the mention of what he thought was the well hidden secret of his first kiss as he says: "No fucking way Sophia, you wish."
Unexpectedly his sister did not refute his response, instead she took out her phone and after a minute or two said: "I got it! I knew I made a picture of her letter confessing her love to me. recognise those little hearts on the 'i' bro? That little flourish?"
In that moment Alex realised two things, one his sister had more game than he and two Nina didn't seem nearly as uncomfortable as she was at the start of this conversation. Thus he simply said: "Damn, you got me. So Nina, what is it you do for a living?"
"Oh nice change of subject, after admitting.., oh wait you didn't admit you were wrong yet." His sister said, ramping up the sibling rivalry.
"You are such a bitch sometimes you know that?" Alex retorts.
"I am actually a model, or I used to be rather, back in France. now I just kind of live life with the money I managed to save and invest. More the result of a few lucky breaks then any real business tenacity." Nina replies, ignoring the sibling rivalry. "And before you ask, no I do not have any children, nor do I plan to replace your mom.., or dad I guess, as some kind of 'step-mother' or something." Alex noticed her accent seemed particularly strong, and french, in those last few words.
"Clear, concise and reasonable boundaries. I like her already, well done mom." Sophia says, a hint of respect in her voice.

Lunch continues like this for another hour or so before they go their seperate ways. Nina and their mom back to their car, Sophia back to her shared apartment and Alex across the street to his girlfriend's apartment.

Before he can knock on the door it opens, in the opening is an all too familiar face looking up at him.
"Good afternoon, had fun at lunch?" Jasmine says as she let's him in.
"I Guess, but the strangest thing happened."
"What did?"
"Well my mom walked in with.., a woman."
"Figures"
"What do you mean 'figures?'"
"I mean your mom gives off major bi-vibes, most of your family does in fact."
"Okay does anyone actually not know my mom's gay."
"Apparently you, but no worries, bisexual girls are just as nice as regular girls."
"I mean yeah, obviously.., wait do you mean anything by that in particular?"
"Wouldn't know what you were talking about."
"Alright then, keep your secrets."
"Nerd." She says affectionately.
"Did you know my sister's gay too?"
"Oh my god, she is? She is way too pretty to actually bat for our team."
"Does anyone not wish to fuck my big sister," he starts, then looks at Jasmine's face contorting into a held back retort practically screaming the word 'you' as he quickly adds, "I walked right into that one."
"You're making progress, dear. You no longer need me to say it to hear it, all beginnings are rough."
"It really shouldn't, not with proper lubrication."
"And I walked right into that one, it's honestly impressive how you can make anything an inuendo even when it's very farfetched." She says, fighting to keep a smile off her face.
"You love me for it."
"I love you despite it, or maybe even because it means that if this is your worst trait you might be the most sufferable man alive."
"Thanks?"
"Your welcome," she says with a smile on her face, "now tell me everything."

He moves his lips to answer as suddenly in front of him is no longer his girlfriend, nor her apartment, nor does he smell her perfume or see the sun through her windows cluttered with plants. Around him is a lot of space, in fact he might not be inside anymore. This theory is confirmed by the shallow waves he spots as the sea/ocean meets the sand he is standing on.

"Welcome back dear viewers and welcome dear contestants to another season of Harem Hotel!"