Chapter 1 #2
I reach for the scotch; our eyes still locked, as if I’ve entered some sort of unofficial staring contest. Placing the drink between us temporarily ceases whatever moment we just had.
He watches me as he places the glass on his full lips.
He sips the golden liquid, tightening muscles creating dimples on his cheeks, before it finally works its way down his throat.
I’m enamored by his Adam's apple as it bobs on a swallow. God… Oh shit, am I drooling?
“It’s cute,” he states, shaking me from my trance, then pushing the fifty closer to me.
“The drink?” I inquired, confused how a beverage could be cute.
“The bangs,” he states plainly.
Heat washes over me, starting at my neck and working downward toward my core. Am I having trouble accepting a compliment or is it because a breath-taking stranger is giving it?
He drains the rest of the amber colored liquid.
Stands and turns to leave, without so much as a goodbye.
He’s gone just as quickly as he came. Joined by the two guys from earlier, who most likely threw the impossible patron out of the bar.
One of the men who flanked his side seemed content to be there.
Chewing on a toothpick, as his gaze seems to catch on any pretty face that happens by.
While the other guy looks disinterested.
He was bigger in size than his accomplice, and I swear, I catch his steely eyes lingering on me right before they leave.
The sea of people seems to part as the three dapper men make their way out of my line of sight. It's been a while since someone of the opposite sex complimented me. I find myself biting the inside of my mouth, just to fight back a ridiculous girlish smile.
After multiple months at The Black Sheep, I’ve learned to rotate regularly to keep the bar tops free of too many unaccompanied drinks.
I collect and stack glasses high in my arms to carry to the back for washing, when I notice something small and white behind the tower of cups.
I set down my fragile collection, only to find an abandoned earbud on the bar top.
I swear, I have the same kind, but I know mine are safe at home on their charger.
At the bar, I exclusively wore my hearing aids; they’re lighter and do a better job at filtering out background noise.
Now, if I wanted to listen to music, I could use my hearing aids, but my earbuds had a better range.
Plus, they do an overall better job of deterring unwelcome conversations from strangers.
I place the item just under the counter, where misplaced wallets and keys get stored.
The rest of the night is pretty uneventful, aside from a pack of inebriated women with matching shirts reading: bachelorette party crew.
They are retracing their steps, going from bar to bar, trying to find the maid of honor’s cell phone.
When I return it, they are so grateful, they gift me a pair of beaded, penis necklaces.
It still didn’t top my interaction with Mr. Neat.
After closing, I count out my tips before reporting to my manager Cassie.
Tipping out allows staff like Connor, our barback, to be included.
Since he helps ensure the staff on the floor have clean glasses, no spills, and are well stocked all night.
I inquire with everyone working, if anyone is missing an earbud.
“Nope,” Brittany said.
“I don’t bring music to work,” Jada retorts.
Well… If it didn’t belong to any of my coworkers and no one came back to collect it, I’ll just take it home.
I figure it could come in use if I ever lose one of mine.
They appear to be the same generation that I just received from my parents last year.
Charge it, pair it, done. Easy. Dropping the lonely earpiece into my bag, I pull on my sweater, before saluting my coworkers, and make my way out onto the vacant streets, in the early morning hours.
My apartment is dark. I instinctively drop my bag on the narrow entryway table, pull off my boots, and remove my hearing aids.
They fit well enough but wearing them for too long is always uncomfortable.
I have a charging station near the front door as well as in my bedroom.
I nestle the aids within the one near the door, feeling instant relief with them off.
A red glow illuminates the room just enough for easy navigation farther into the living space. Gently, I tap my fingernail against the glass of a tank to say hello to Thelma. Two furry legs stretch out from her hide, while her stabby, bug munchers move up and down in a form of greeting.
My eyelids feel heavier within my home, knowing my bed is within reach. I force my sleep deprived body toward the bathroom, where I halfheartedly brush my teeth before bed. The house is still, as I reemerge to retrieve my phone from my bag off the modest console. I’m so tired.
As I pull the phone out, the solo earbud rolls onto the entryway rug.
I bend down to pick up the white device, inspect it, then wipe it off on my shirt.
It looks brand new. Like it’s never been used prior.
The long antenna part has a tiny “R” on its side.
I inserted the white bud into my right ear.
Nothing. I don’t know what I expect to hear.
Would anything be able to play on it? I wouldn’t know until I paired it with my phone. It’s probably dead, too.
I shuffle my way into my bedroom, enjoying the motionless city outside during sleepy hours.
I pull closed the window covering and drop to my bed.
Not having the energy to undress, I lie there for a moment, staring at the ceiling.
My blinks become longer as I recall the shade of green of Mr. Neat’s eyes.
Somewhere between visions of his dimpled smile and my dark purple walled room, I drift to sleep.
I startle awake, feeling as if I forgot something. The ever-present, earsplitting ring welcomes me to the waking world as I sit up, still in yesterday’s clothes. I find my phone somewhere on the bed and open the calendar to see what is on today’s agenda.
I always have some kind of job, or an errand to attend to.
Keep busy. You won’t have time to think of much else.
Fortunately, I woke up with enough time to bathe and feed myself before my other job.
Light pours through the cracks of the curtains.
I must have passed out last night. It’s not the first time I’ve forgotten to set my alarm.
One time, I slept four hours into my morning shift at Bravo Pharmacy.
When I finally arrived, they canned me on the spot.
My hands run up and over my face, where I find the earbud still securely in place from last night.
Pulling out my nightstand drawer, I feel around until I find the charger case for my earbuds.
Removing my own set, I rummage through the drawer again to find a marker.
Mystery tech in hand, I use my teeth to uncap a purple Sharpie and draw a small star on the foreign earbud.
Now, I can tell the difference between mine and this one.
Dropping the bud in my charger, I feel sudden vibrations within the apartment. Like someone is running.
I quickly take off, out of my room, and into the main living area of the apartment.
There, I find a silver haired young woman, in nothing more than an oversized Metallica shirt.
She waves a tea towel close to an opened window, silently mouthing “sorry,” while attempting to waft smoke from the kitchen to outside.
The source appears to be an undeserving, frozen waffle in the toaster. Why am I not surprised…
While the smoke drifts out the window, I try to help by unplugging the appliance and shaking its contents into the sink.
Running water over the circular briquette, I ensure it’s no longer a fire hazard.
Once the cooking chaos subsides, I fetch my fully charged hearing aids from their charger.
I hear my roommate shut the window. We convene in the kitchen, where we both stare at the soggy, charred toaster pastry.
Andrea is shorter than me, but still, she attempts to throw a toned arm over my shoulder before speaking. “Benny’s? My treat.”
I look down at her perfect skin. A cute bob frames her face. “Sure…”
Her nose wrinkles. “You smell like a bar.”
I take the opportunity to wrap myself around her.
“Ewww!” She effortlessly pushes me off.
“Payback for making our home smell like your gym bag was lit on fire.”
She scoffs, grabs a spray from under the kitchen counter, and proceeds to spray the air in front of us.
“Great, now it smells like smoky lemons in a gym bag,” I retort.
She grabs one of my arms and lifts it just high enough to spray the deodorizer under my armpit. “There! Now we can go have breakfast at Benny’s.”