Chapter 2
Chapter Two
ARIEL
As we enter the bar, there are bikers everywhere.
Eyes immediately turn to us, with the questioning look of who we are and what we're doing in this space.
There's nothing that says we can't be in here, but the vibe I'm getting doesn't feel like a good one.
Maybe I'm just overanalyzing, and that isn't the case at all.
It looks like Noah doesn't care anyway, because he heads straight to the bar, leaving me behind.
What type of man just leaves their girl in a bar surrounded by other men?
Oh, wait, he does. I can tell this pisses off some guys who are in the bar because I’m left all vulnerable and by myself.
Noah doesn’t even bother to look back and make sure I’m actually in here or not.
Instead, he’s already ordering shots from the bartender, who happily serves him. I guess they have to make tips somehow.
I slowly make my way over to the bar, so I don't get yelled at for taking too long.
“What can I get for you, girly?” The red-haired bartender says, in a cheery voice.
“Umm… can I do a vodka cranberry, please?" I say, glancing over to Noah to ensure what I’m ordering is fine.
He doesn’t protest, so the bartender goes ahead and whips up my drink with some bottom-shelf liquor.
I know I’m in for a real headache tomorrow if I drink too many of these.
I want to make small talk with the bartender, but I know Noah won't allow that to happen. He's so protective of who I talk to because he thinks I’m going to share some information that will make him look bad. If it were up to me, his name would never leave my mouth. He’s so self-centered that all he ever thinks about is what will happen if his name comes off the wrong person’s lips.
I don't get it, though, because when I met him, he didn't seem like this type of guy. He was loving, caring, and the sweetest person I could have ever known. This changed the longer I was with him, though. A couple of months went by before his true colors began to show. It started with the small controlling behaviors of telling me what I can and can’t do. Then it started to move into physical motions. I’ll never forget the one night, he just got so angry that I thought I wouldn’t make it through the night.
I decide to cook Noah some dinner tonight after the long day of work he’s had. It’s not often that I’ve surprised him with one of his favorite meals, so why not do it now? I find all the ingredients in the kitchen and whip up some food because I know he’ll be home any moment now.
"Hey, baby, it smells great in here," he says, entering the kitchen.
“I’m making your favorite. Steak and eggs, just the way you like them.”
I finish up his steak and make sure it’s the right temperature for him before placing his complete meal on a plate.
“Thank you for being so perfect and getting me just what I like.”
The praise he gives me is something that makes me feel so wanted sometimes.
If I can make a simple meal and he gets so happy, I wonder what will happen if I tell him I want to work again.
It’s been pretty boring being in the house all by myself.
I miss being able to go and interact with children in the daycare setting.
Noah has instilled in me several times that he’ll take care of me and I won’t need to go back to work.
The last time I brought it up, he didn’t entertain it.
Maybe with him being in a positive mood, I can begin to approach the subject again slightly and see what he thinks.
“Your food is ready if you’d like to come eat with me,” I say, putting his plate in his usual spot.
“Perfect. How was your day today?”
“Well. I actually wanted to talk to you about something that I’ve been thinking about all day.”
His face fills with concern about what I might bring up.
“I was thinking, maybe I can go back to work. I've been sitting in this house for months now, and I feel like I'm losing my purpose in life. I'm not able to do the things I enjoy doing, and I just don't feel as happy as I used to."
I can instantly see a switch in his face and demeanor with the words I just said.
"What the fuck do you mean you aren't happy?
I have given you everything you could possibly ever want over the past couple of months, but all of a sudden, you aren't happy.
You've got to be fucking kidding me. You're such an ungrateful little bitch, that never deserved to be in my life in the first place,” he says, as he rises from his chair.
I didn’t mean for him to get so mad. I just wanted to tell him how I’m feeling and my need to do more.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't saying it in the sense of you doing anything wrong. I just need to feel something again and find the purpose that I felt like I had when I was working with the children in the past."
In that moment, I knew I fucked up. His mood changes completely as he picks up his plate and throws it at me, causing glass to shatter all across my body.
I start to panic at what he’s done to me and all the glass everywhere.
I don’t know what I did to deserve this.
I can see blood dripping down my skin from the shards that fill my skin.
I guess he doesn’t care about me as much as he claims if he can hurt me that way.
“Ariel, I’m going to go play pool. Be on your best behavior,” Noah says, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Have fun, I’ll be here,” I say in return.
I don't know why he cares about telling me what he's going to do all of a sudden. The best behavior part wasn't needed, and I can tell the bartender is thinking the same thing.