Once upon a time in the bustling world of fast food, there was a new manager at Panda Express named Jacqui, who was brimming with ambition and a touch of nervous excitement. One day, the boss burst in, declaring, “We have a situation! We need someone to support the mall Panda Express—no manager, no crew. It’s two hours away!” Jacqui took a deep breath, ready to rally the troops, but it seemed everyone suddenly had a “busy” schedule. Just then, from the back of the kitchen, a voice piped up. “I’ll go!” It was Asa, the charming cook known for his culinary skills and his tendency to bust out ridiculous dance moves when he thought no one was watching. With a grin, he added, “I’ll bring snacks. What could go wrong?” And so, Jacqui and Asa found themselves carpooling for two hours every day for over two weeks. The long drives turned into a delightful journey of discovery as they shared stories, dreams, and plenty of laughter, all while navigating the roads between their lives and the mall. Every day was filled with amusing antics. One afternoon, during a particularly slow shift, Asa proposed a towel whipping contest in the back of house (BOH). “Loser has to do dishes for a week!” he declared, brandishing a clean kitchen towel like a swordsman. Jacqui laughed and accepted the challenge. The two of them whipped their towels with exaggerated enthusiasm, turning the BOH into a chaotic battleground of laughter and friendly competition. As the days turned into weeks, those two-hour car rides became the highlight of their days. They bonded over epic fast-food mishaps, like the time Asa accidentally set off the fire alarm while trying to impress Jacqui with his “flaming” stir-fry technique. “I was just trying to add some flair!” he exclaimed, and Jacqui couldn’t help but admire his spirit. By the end of their time at the mall Panda, they had transformed the once-empty location into a bustling hub of energy—and somewhere along the way, they had also fallen for each other. One evening, after a particularly long shift, they were both exhausted but couldn’t stop smiling. As they packed up to leave, Asa turned to Jacqui and said, “You know, I might just have to follow you to every Panda Express in the world if it means we get to keep carpooling.” With a playful nudge, Jacqui replied, “Only if you promise to bring the snacks!” As their romance blossomed, they began dreaming bigger. One day, the opportunity arose for them to transfer to a Panda Express in St. Louis, Missouri. Excited about the new adventure and the chance to start fresh together, they both jumped at the opportunity. And so, with laughter, love, and a car full of snacks, Jacqui and Asa set off for their new lives in St. Louis, ready to create a new chapter filled with Panda Express adventures, fun kitchen competitions, and endless joy in each other’s company. Who would have thought that a little road trip could lead to such a sweet romance and a bright future together?