Alive #3
By the time we parked at the bar, I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face.
Disappointment washed through me when Dennis let go, but it wasn’t enough to dim my happiness.
I got off and ran a hand through my hair, smoothing it back to perfection.
This was the best gift manic me could’ve given.
Almost like an apology for fucking things up so often.
“Hi!” I waved as I spotted Benji leaning against his bike.
“Hey, girly.” He smiled at me, but the smile dropped when Dennis’ arm wrapped around my waist.
“Get off. We’re not doing that,” I whispered, pushing him away.
“Why not? You already turned him down for me.” Dennis laughed as I sped up to leave him behind. I would never live that moment down.
The bouncer waved us inside. I was about to go behind the bar to get away from Dennis, but Sean and Ari walked in right after him. I remembered the conversation with Uncle Tom and waved her over.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Did you know your dad knows about vampires? And he knows Dennis bound me! And that I’m a vampire. Dennis didn’t even seem surprised. I think he already knew your dad knows.”
“I’m right here.”
“Shh, we’re talking.” I reached back to ‘shh’ Dennis’ face.
“What the fuck?” Ari turned to Sean as he approached. “Sean, did you know about this? My dad knows she’s a vampire.” She thrust an arm in my direction. Dennis’ expression was impassive, but Sean looked guilty. “You knew?”
“That means you did, too,” I said, rounding on Dennis. Now it was obvious. “You guys have a lot of explaining to do.”
Dennis shrugged while Sean rubbed the back of his neck.
“Tell us what’s going on right now,” Ari demanded. Dennis looked her and she shrank back. “Please,” she added meekly.
“Stop it.” I pushed his shoulder.
“Stop what?” He was still watching Ari, who was getting more uncomfortable.
“We have to start work,” Sean said.
“Fine. But I’m not talking to you.” I grudgingly followed him into the back room, staying silent the whole way.
“How am I supposed to train you if you won’t talk to me?” he asked. I crossed my arms, sat on the couch, and glared. “Are you really giving me the silent treatment?”
I kept my glare up for a few seconds before sighing and dropping my arms. “No. But that doesn’t mean I’m not annoyed you guys are keeping shit from us.”
“Fair enough. Maybe your uncle will explain.”
“He did say he’ll explain later. And he told Dennis to come back. Which means you should come over too. He’ll wanna meet you since you’re bound to Ari.”
“I can do that.” Sean clocked in and waited for me to do the same before we headed out to the wells. “We’ll work side by side so I can oversee. You can take either of those.” He pointed to the far end. I walked to one without a word. “Are you still annoyed at me?”
“Yes,” I snapped. But then I looked at his face and my demeanor softened. “Okay, fine. I can’t stay mad at you, so whatever. Consider yourself lucky.”
“Cool.” He smiled in relief and started setting up our wells.
“Let me do it. I wanna practice.” I squished past him to take over.
He let me set things up without a single correction.
We served customers while Nate worked the other end of the bar, directly in front of Dennis and Ari.
A couple hours of helping customers passed before something caught my ear from the opposite end of the bar.
Some asshole was giving Ari a hard time.
He’d just asked why she was in here while she’s human.
He was going on about it and ranting over her responses.
“Do you hear this?” I asked Sean. “What the fuck does that guy think he’s doing?” I slammed a glass down and spun on my heel, ready to go rip this man’s dick off.
“Hold on.” Sean stopped me. “Finish making that drink and then you can go.”
“But—”
“Focus. We’re at work. Dennis is taking care of it.”
I looked past him to see that Dennis actually was taking care of it in his usual fashion: a thinly veiled threat that left the man shifting uncomfortably. They kept eye contact for several seconds before the man slid from his spot beside Ari, mumbled an apology, and walked away with drink in hand.
“Thanks, Dennis.” Ari was happy but visibly confused.
I finished the drink and handed it to my customer, who gave it to his date and paid. “Can I go now?” I asked Sean. He nodded and I eagerly went to the other end.
“Really, thank you,” Ari was still going.
“You finally like her,” I said the moment I arrived. “He finally likes you, Ari!”
“I’ve always liked her.”
Ari’s mouth dropped. “So you didn’t hate me this whole time?”
“Why would you think that?” Dennis seemed genuinely surprised.
“What do you mean, why would I think that? That’s exactly how you act!”
“This is so cute.” I clasped my hands and looked between them. “You guys are finally bonding.”
“Don’t get used to it.” Dennis placed a hand on the bar and hopped over to land beside me.
“What’re you doing? You’re supposed to be on that side.” I watched in disbelief as he grabbed a glass and two bottles of liquor.
“I’m making a drink. Do you not have eyes?”
“Why don’t you just work here too, since you’re always hopping and sliding over everything?”
“Why would I? This works fine. Richard knows me, he doesn’t care.”
“Emy, come back.”
“What’s up?” I turned around at Sean’s beckoning.
“This guy wants you.” He nodded toward a waiting customer. “He requested you specifically.”
“By name?” I asked. I’d never seen that man before in my life.
“By ‘the sexy one’,” Sean said. “Get used to it. You’ll probably be requested by variations of that name a lot.”
“Trust me, I’m used to it. You can’t work as a dancer without being called every name possible.” I patted his chest as I passed. “Hey, hun.” I flashed the customer a friendly smile. “What can I get you?”
“A strong island, please.”
“Sure thing,” I said, then ducked when Dennis went over the bar with a half empty drink in hand. “You almost killed me!” I shouted. He’d barely missed my head.
“At least your reflexes are getting better?” He held up the glass in a mocking cheers before walking away.
“You could’ve decapitated me, y’know,” I called after him.
“Does he do that a lot?” The man asked. “Open,” he added as I took his card.
“All the time.” I turned to the register and started a tab. It was right then that I heard a screech that somehow formed Dennis’ name—Melissa was stalking toward him. They were near the pool tables but her voice carried loud and clear.
“You killed Kiro, didn’t you?” She shoved a finger in his face. He barely acknowledged it.
“Yeah. Why do you care?”
“You can’t just go around killing people like that!”
“I do it all the time. You’re a few days late on this one.”
“He didn’t even have a fucking bind. Now he’s gone for good! I should kill you for being such an arrogant asshole.”
“Good luck with that.” Dennis laughed as she tried to shove him.
“Yeah, well I can still kick your fucking ass. You don’t hit girls, do you? You’re too kind to hit a lady?” Her tone was abrasive. Taunting. “You think you’re so much fucking better than Kiro, don’t you?” She roughly pushed his shoulder.
“I definitely am. Or should I say ‘was’?” He was smiling while she fumed.
“You’re a piece of shit, Dennis.” She pushed both shoulders this time, her voice raising.
“Okay, that’s gonna have to stop.” He caught her hand when she tried to throw a punch.
“What’re you gonna do about it, huh? Fight me, you piece of shit.” She pushed him again, rougher this time.
I could tell he was getting mad, but I knew for a fact he wouldn’t touch her. She was right; he was a better man than Kiro. I glanced at Sean.
“Go ahead,” he said.
I went around the bar and weaved through nosy onlookers to push my way between Melissa and my bind.
“Why the fuck are you here?” she demanded.
“Why do you think? He might not be willing to do anything, but I sure as hell am. Back the fuck up.” I pushed her a step back and away from Dennis.
“Or what?”
“I’ll kill you,” I said calmly. “Did you forget I’m a vampire now? Trust me when I say I will fuck you up. Don’t test me.”
“You won’t do shit. You’re too scared to go to jail. No one here knows you yet. You won’t get special treatment like I do.”
“You think I’m scared of being locked up?” I laughed at her na?vety. “I’ve been to jail multiple times. They can lock me up again for all I care, I don’t give a fuck. I’ll find you the second I’m out and beat your ass again.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Oh no?” I paused long enough for her to double down. “I’m off work in a couple hours, if you wanna wait around and see. Or you can touch him again and see right now.” I stepped aside, leaving a clear path to Dennis. She didn’t move. “The choice is yours, hun. I’m good either way.”
“Fuck this. I don’t need to deal with either of you.” She grunted and stalked off, shoving her way past patrons and out the back door.
I turned to Dennis. “There you go, all gone. If you want me to deal with her later just say the word and it’s done.” I waited for a response but none came. “Okay?” I waited a few more seconds, but still nothing. “Well, I’m gonna go back to work now.”
“Thanks,” his response finally came.
“Anytime.” I patted his chest before going back to the bar.
“I’ve missed that Emy so much,” Ari said affectionately.
“It’s what I do best.” I flipped my hair over a shoulder and went back to my customer. “Sorry about that,” I said, grabbing a glass to start his drink. “I’ll be fast, I promise.”
“No problem. I take it that’s your boyfriend?” he asked. I scrunched my nose and shook my head. “You must be bound, then.”
“Yup, that’s it.” I finished making his drink and dropped a straw in.
“Have you really been to jail?” He took a sip, watching me curiously.
“Oh, you heard that?” I asked distractedly; there was another customer trying to get my attention even though Sean and Nate were both nearby and had already offered to help him. Whatever. He could wait if he was being picky.