Brian’s POV

Can you believe it? Can you fucking believe it?! Last night Zack had called me out for making what he claimed was a really low move, so what the fuck was he doing now? And what the hell was even with this evening? I’ve never seen Dice this drunk, wasn’t she supposed to be working? I pushed my way up to the bar. The anger was tearing me inside out, I couldn’t fucking believe it, was I repeating myself? Good. GREAT! I don’t fucking care!

„What’s up, Gates? You look like you’re about to kill someone,” My eyes met with the grinning Max at the other side of the bar.

„Just get me the usual,” I sighed and he nodded. „And make it double.”

„Girl problems?” He continued as he poured that lovely scotch in a glass full of ice.

„Not as grand as yours, obviously,” I pointed out to their lacking barmaid. Max smirked, before taking the money from me. „This is one of those nights, huh?”

Both me and Max looked over to Dice who leaned around the corner of the bar, hanging on to Matt while she jacked a bottle of Tullamore Dew, chuckling like I never seen her before. After a single second she attacked Matt with her lips and they disappeared soon after. Why the fuck is he getting some and I’m here accompanied only by the bartender and a glass of scotch? Max returned from the cash register with the change and I just shook my head – no. A smile pulled on his lips. „For Dice? Yea, man, that girl has been busting her ass around this bar for the last month. She was here helping even when it was her days off. I even think she’d sleep here if she wouldn’t be afraid to walk around barefoot.”

„So what’s with your new girl? MJ?” Maybe talking to a bartender was even advantageous, since Zack was indeed playing dirty and Max knew everything about everyone and liked to share the information with anyone who would as much as just listen to the dude talk.

„Don’t even think about her, Gates. She plays on a different league than you.” He laughed, while making a drink for a hot little brunette next to me. I smirked, propping my elbow on the counter and twirling the contents in my glass. I could fuck her in the next five minutes, that is if I wanted to. And did I? A bit, but not as much to go through all the trouble of buying her a drink, dropping an overly used Synyster Gates pick-up line just to have a quick shag in the toilets. Nah, my mind was a bit preoccupied by a different little hottie. I fixed my eyes back on Max.

„What do you mean? You’re saying she’s too good for me?” Which probably was true, but no one ever admitted that fact loudly. Every self-respecting girl was too good for me, but thank god neither mommy, nor daddy had ever thought anything about self-respect to the majority of these chicks.

„She sure is. I’m trying to get her ever since she started working here,” he explained. I started getting really uneasy. How long ago was that exactly? A month? Okay, maybe Max didn’t quite have the Syn Gates charms and what not, but I wouldn’t say he was bad looking. Yeah, sure, he was couple years older than me, but it wasn’t like the dude was fifty. I looked back over my shoulder and spotted MJ dancing with Zacky. So she just played us? That left me real fucking pissed. If you don’t want the ‘d’, then don’t act like you do.

Zack came up and ordered two Slumdogs, before turning over to me with a sly grin. „Get the mops and gloves ready, Gates, you’re scrubbing Shads’ garage tomorrow while I’ll be driving that sweet, sweet Chevy.”

„Whatever,” I said indifferently as I sipped on my scotch, hypnotizing those shelves of liquor. Slumdog? Really, Vengeance, really? The only chick I know can hold a glass of Slumdog and doesn’t spread her legs afterwards is Dice. See, it’s basically whiskey covered in vodka and topped with absinthe, if it wouldn’t be for the many syrups it would taste like ass, but the sweetness took the shitty taste away. It was a drink guys bought girls with only one thought in their minds – to get laid. One glass and the chick was out. All common sense shut off and she was ready for whatever.

I could see in the reflection of my glass that he squinted his eyes. He eyed me for a second and without another word took the drinks and returned back to MJ. Was this shit even worth it? This wasn’t a friendly competition anymore and since MJ liked to play people, I started thinking I’d better get that cute brunette to suck my dick and really clean Matt’s garage tomorrow. Zack could have her, she was too much of a trouble and I didn’t want to get at Zacky’s throat just because of some chick. Not worth it.

I should call it all off. I caught Matt being dragged to the staff room and figured this was clearly not the time. I took a deep breath, so where did that lovely brunette with the big tits went to? Oh there she is, oh and she has friends? How lovely. Her face seemed familiar, maybe I’ve fucked her before, but who knows, right? Ana, Alice... I think her name started with an ‘A’, but who the fuck cares. I needed to get this frustration out of my system and I didn’t need to know her name to have a good fucking lay. I knew I’d enjoy my fuck with MJ, but she wasn’t actual anymore. I could try out for Dice, but Shads would kill me. Speaking about killing.

Someone was really killing those shots right beside me. I heard glasses landing on the counter top one by one and was forced to check who could outdrink the whole team of Johnny’s. But of course, a person who is a part of that team. Although MJ looked really tempting in that cute little outfit- I wasn’t gonna spend anymore of my precious time on trying to get her.

Instead I moved my way to the girl with never ending curls and sexy smoky eyes. Three drinks, fifteen minutes, couple of meaningless compliments and she was sucking me off in the toilet. Now this was easy, but I didn’t feel any other satisfaction than a simple orgasm. I used to be thrilled when a chick allowed me to cum all over her tits. Yeah, that was when I was in high-school still. What the fuck is wrong with me?

With a sigh I watched as she cleaned her mouth while I pulled up my pants and left without another word. I loved women and I loved have sex, but something was missing. When I got back to the bar, I was taken aback because Dice was now attending customers. How the hell is that fucking possible, knowing she was barely standing on her feet just twenty minutes ago?

I walked up to Shads who was sitting on one of the high bar stools in front of the bar.

„How the fuck is she still standing?” I questioned as I stopped at the end of the counter watching her slinging those bottles and not breaking a single one. Matt was smiling like an idiot watching her.

„She stepped in so Max could have a smoke,”

„That doesn’t answer my question,” I frowned. What did it take to get that girl horizontal?

„Honestly? Don’t have a fucking clue,” he shrugged never once tearing his eyes away the fiery red-head.

„So... where’s Zack? Am I already obliged for the scrubbing?” A frown took over Matt’s features as he shifted his attention to me. What?

„I don’t know, but hell, if you want we can arrange the cleaning even right now,” He laughed, but I didn’t. I just looked at him for a moment and finished the drink I had left here earlier, placing the empty glass on the counter with a thud. As I was about to go around Matt and leave, he caught me by arm and pulled back. „Hey, what’s up? You seem off.”

„Nothing. Just tired,” he didn’t buy it.

„Spill it.”

„Look, I just need to find Zack. Have to talk to him. You’ve seen him or not?”

„He just left,” Dice piped in. So she poured the drinks, were fucking wasted, but had the time and strength to eavesdrop? Was she even human?

„Where did he go?” I asked, connecting my eyes with her pale physiognomy.

She shrugged, making a Cuba Libre after doing some impressive spins and twirls with that Bacardi bottle, „Probably home.”

I nodded, tapping the counter and pushing myself off as I went to the exit. I heard Matt shouting something about not doing anything stupid, but I wasn’t even thinking of doing the regular Syn Gates shit, I just wanted to talk to Zack and call off the bet. Bro’s over hoes. That’s how I rolled.

It was good Zack lived just a couple of blocks from where the bar was. Didn’t have to drag my ass too far and then go the opposite direction just to get home. But I needed this walk. Being sober and walking these empty streets wasn’t something I did too often. Hell, I don’t even remember when was the last time I walked somewhere, not speaking about walking from a bar all the way to Zack’s house and realizing I’m smoking my last cigarette. But I wasn’t even mad. I would’ve been if I was drunk, probably, yeah, but since I was sober... I could shake Zacky’s hand and congratulate on the success if he really got MJ in his bed. He turned out to be the better man.

My head raised up to look over the nightly sky as I took a drag. Should do this more often, had forgot the way the stars shone through the night. Yeah, who am I kidding, we all knew I didn’t give a fuck about the stars, I just wanted to get this over with so I could silence my aching ego with that Laphroaig I had back at home.

Someone ran into me, forcing the last drag of smoke out of my lunges, not letting me even enjoy it. Motherfucker! I coughed, throwing the remainders of the Marlboro away and rubbing my chest. My eyes narrowed over the sweet little blondie by my feet.

„MJ?” Surprise, surprise... and to think I was about to call off the bet... She looked out of breath and was she... crying? Did Zack do something to her? I held out my hand and helped her up. Uhmm... What was I supposed to do now? She just stood there looking at me and crying her eyes out. Did she need a hug? Actually I didn’t even know what to do with crying girls. However I pulled her against my chest, my hand running over her silky hair, carressing her head as she sobbed in my shirt. „Hey, is everything okay?”

My hand’s travaled to cup her face as I forced her to look up at me. „I’m... I’m sorry, I just—„ And with that she went back to crying in my chest. I sighed, looking around, trying to figure what to fucking do. Give me a fucking sign! Should I call a cab and get her home?

„Were you with Zacky?” I tried my best to sound empathetic and what not, but in all honesty I just wanted to know if he had fucked her. I needed to know. Call me a cold-hearted bastard, but before really doing it, think about it, wouldn’t you be a bit interested in the matter to know if this girl wasn’t crying over Vengeance, the guy you had a bet with? She nodded, her hands wrapping around my waist. „Did he hurt you?” She shook her head – no. „Want some coffee?” Slowly, almost hesitantly MJ raised her head with a deep wrinkle between her dark eyebrows.

„Co-coffee?” She stammered out. A small smile ghosted on my lips as my thumb cleaned the smudged mascara from her cheek.

„Sure, I mean what else am I gonna do with you?” I kept on smiling, looking in her bloodshot eyes. „I’ll slip a secret. Usually I just fuck the girls. Don’t look surprised, that’s the truth, but I figured I need a change in life. So what do you say about getting some coffee with me?”

„I don’t think anything’s open right now...” She was still frowning, but I could see her eyes smiling a bit.

„We could go to my place and I promise I’ll keep my hands to myself,” and I was really too tired to try something with her. I figured she needs someone with her and Dice was completely out of the question with her drunk state, Zack’s probably already done enough damage, so I was the only one left, besides Johnny who was god knows where and Jimmy who was too insane for MJ at this moment. Yet she didn’t reply. „Come on, I have a fluffy fur ball of love you could cuddle,”

„So... it’s like a date?” A... what?

„I don’t do dates,” I laughed, moving my hand around her shoulder and starting to walk down the street, „but you should know that by now. Dice had probably filled you in with the necessities, and yes, everything she’s told about me is true.”

„Actually she hasn’t said that much...” She replied. „She just said you’re not the one for commitment.”

„That’s true.” I agreed, guiding her across the street and walking by the Starbucks. Why aren’t you fucking open? I want a motherfucking coffee! And I want it now! „Was in a relationship once, but that didn’t turn out as well, so I fucked the whole thing and here I am. At 2 am bringing a stunning girl back home with no intentions of fucking her... man, I’m a wuss...” I heard her chuckle and I could admit that was the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. Was I certain I wasn’t gonna fuck her? Nah... Not tonight, otherwise she’d cry herself to oblivion. Again. Let’s take baby steps.

Notes