Page 8 of Petals of Blue: Part One
Shifting my lacy top around to push my tits out more, I huff at my reflection. I don't love feeling bloated when I need to dress skimpy, but it is what it is. My blue hair is in some ratty curls tonight that fall haphazardly to the tops of my nipples, and I've forgone a necklace because my cleavage is pretty decent right now.
Leaving my room, I nudge Violet's hamper to the side of the hallway and enter the kitchen. I grab the supplies I need to just fuckinggetme to work.
"Kay," I whisper, and jump up and down in three short bursts. A mixed drink isn't on my radar anymore. Instead I take a swig of Titos, then chase it with Red Bull.
"Have a good night!" is shouted from the other side of the apartment.
I cough a little and wipe my mouth. "You too!"
As much as I long to crawl into bed, I can't. There's a planin place to change my schedule. I just have to hold on a little longer.
I can sleep when I'm dead.
Closing shifts are always easier when Mark, our bar manager, is MIA. What makes working really great is having me, Beth, and Janine behind the bar until close too.
Tonight is one of those nights. Plus, Saturdays always breeze by because the music is being run by our favorite DJ, and the crowd is drunker which means...ding, ding, ding! You guessed it! More tips.
Everyone knows you don't get too fucked up on Fridays to save yourself for Saturdays.
Snatching a twenty-dollar bill from the wet bar top before the drunk idiot realizes how much he tipped me, I grin and twist away. Janine fist bumps me, and we're right back to it.
Sometimes I feel bad for mooching off their drunkenness, but when someone only speaks to my boobs, yeah, I'll take their ridiculously large tip.Thank you. See you next time!
The girls and I give great service, so we deserve the appreciation, even if it wasn't soberly intentional. Our awesome reputation is proven when a regular Saturday college student drapes herself over the bar.
With a big smile, Dani shouts, "Hi, Blue!"
"Hi, baby!" I bounce over to her and offer her a free bottle of water. When I first met her last year, I jokingly called herbabybecause she had a baby face. She's really grown into herself this year, and I'll be sad if she moves away after graduation.
"How're you?" she slurs and chugs the water.
I grab her another water, loving how she lets me look afterher without question. "Same ole. Did you pass your psych exam?"
Her big green eyes widen, and she squeals. "YES! Thank you for all the advice!"
My mood lifts. "Fuck yeah! Good job, baby!" I didn't do much in the way of helping, just gave her some good websites to guide her studying.
"DANI!" another girl screeches, grabbing Dani by the hips and dragging her back onto the dance floor. Sweet girl that she is, Dani lets her friend drag her away with a wave goodbye.
I laugh and wiggle my fingers at her. Sometimes when I think about Dani, jealousy flares up. Freshly twenty-one, following her dreams of becoming a therapist and enjoying the college life, Dani's living the life I wish had been an option for me when I finished high school.
Heat engulfs my hand and pulls it back down to the counter. "What's a man got to do to get your attention, huh?"
That voice.
I'm too stunned to yank my hand away from his grasp, and when Beth slides in next to me, I suck in a breath. "It's your break. And good timing, huh?" she whispers, and rushes to help another man.
How ishehere?
I let my burning eyes follow the path of his muscular arm, up to his shoulder, and get stuck on his chiseled face. Dirty blond hair in disarray, sinful smirk, and tattoos poking beneath his V-neck. Felix, the boy who left me in an abusive home, stares back like he has no idea who I am.
"It was so easy to find you." My tummy sinks with his words.He was looking for me?"I'd recognize your blue hair anywhere after having it draped over my chest last night."
Fuck, so itwashim. Rage burns hot and thick in my skull, but what he says next has me disassembling my explosion.
"What's your name, doll?"
The rage that tried to consume me now wraps around me in a coat of armor. Felix is not a boy anymore. No, this is a fucking man in front of me. One who doesn't recognize the girl he broke and left to fend for herself.
