Dice’s POV

„Can I pay with two credit cards?” I heard a guy ask MJ as I was reaching for a bottle of Bacardi. I saw her hesitating with the answer. Fuck. Shit. MJ... Really? Three weeks and still nada? I sighed taking the Bacardi Oakheart from the shelve and moving up to the blonde.

„I’m not sure I--„ I cut her off by giving her a slight shove with my side as I placed the bottle under the counter. You’ll thank me later, sweetheart.

„No, you can’t fucking pay with two credit cards,” I glared at him, not even caring if he’s now calling me a bitch in his mind. I didn’t really care. Two credit cards? You have to be fucking kidding me. Go over to Sutra and try that shit out, let’s see how well that goes for you. Didn’t he see the line over here? Two credit cards my ass. Nobody had time for that!

„But how the hell then am I—„

„Does it look like a give a flying fuck about your problems, dude?” Then I noticed the glass of what I supposed to be Jimmy Walker Blue label on the rocks. How did I know that? Did I have a liquor radar or most importantly a fantastic and magical nose? No. Well, yes, but that’s not how I distinguished that’s the expensive Blue Label filling the glass. I saw the bottle Mia was putting away. That was some really expensive shit he was willing to intoxicate his little, infantile brains with. I didn’t even drink it and if I don’t drink it, neither will this sixteen-year-old.

„But I—„

„You what?” And to think about it, „Can I see your ID?”

The guy gaped at me for a slight second. Yeah, that’s right, your fucking ID. „I showed it to the bouncer.”

„I don’t care, you’ll show it again if you want to have that drink.” I pointed to the glass with a nod of my head. No, dude, you really won’t receive that drink, I’m just messin’ with you, but that’s how I am. Get used to it. His eyes widened, his mouth opened, then it closed, he turned around and left.

I turned over to Mia with a small smile on my face, „See? That’s how it’s done. Easy.” I took the glass that the guy left on the counter and raised to my lips, emptying in one. Ughh, now I remember why I don’t drink it. For fifty bucks a glass it’s way too disgusting for my taste buds. I winced. „And for further notice, my love, we do not let them pay with two credit cards.”

„I’m sorry, I—„ Apologizing? Hell, Gates left her really fucking starstruck, I can tell you that and she hadn’t even had a real conversation with him. Yet.

„What are you kidding me?” I threw my arm around her shoulders, not minding the shouts and yells everyone were giving us, eager to get their drinks. „You’re apologizing to me? Better move your ass and see if your brown eyed prince doesn’t need another scotch.”

„Dice!” Another of our regulars shouted from across the counter waving a fifty in the air.

„Do that again, and I swear I’ll stick that fifty up your ass so deep it will come out your mouth, Steve!” I pointed a finger at him, before returning to MJ. Oh so she thought I forgot I just told her to go and see if mister Gates doesn’t need a refill? Come on, I’m not that easy. I don’t have a memory of a goldfish. I pecked her cheek real quick, before slapping her ass and sending off to see how well the Avenged party was heating up at the back room. I knew those guys, didn’t particularly like them, but hey they tipped real good each time they thought I was gonna raise my fist in the air because they did something outrageously stupid. I rolled with it.

„Dice!” Steve yelled yet again.

„Hold your horses, people!” I held out my hands seeing all of the patrons going on a crazy rampage. „I know, four shots of Patron, Steve, I know. One long island for you, Luke and three Corona’s for my lovely ladies. I know, guys...” Gees, give me a fucking break. Speaking of which, I really needed a break, my lunges were yelling for my hourly dose of nicotine, my bladder was throwing a hissy fit, acting like it belonged to a pregnant cow and I swear if I wasn’t gonna get to toilet soon, I’ll be walking around with a wet ass. Not that it wasn’t already wet from my previous encounter with Johnny Christ. I’ll be damned if that guy figured how to hold his liquor, both in his glass and his system.

The shot glasses landed on the counter top and I filled them till the top with Patron. As I was about to take the cash from Steve, Mia returned. „Dice, I’m not going in there ever again,” She stated. I tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear as I snatched a couple of coins out of the cash register to give back to Steve.

„What’s wrong?” I asked looking over the change in my hand, recounting if the it was right. Seemed right. I mean math has never been my strong suit, but what the hell. Steve wouldn’t be too angry, I guess, but when I turned around he was already gone. Oh well. I shrugged shoving the change in the back pocket of my shorts. I carried on with popping three Corona’s open and sliding over to my little tamales all the way at the end of the bar, before a glass shot in the air and I cought it in my hand behind my back as I carried on making the most stiffest Long Island ice tee for Luke. In between the making, I glanced over to MJ. „Well?”

Oh now she was angry with me? Don’t you cross those arms, missy. Right after the tall glass of Long Island landed on the counter and I took the cash from Luke, I turned to look at MJ.

„You’re not talking to me? Fine. I’m going for a smoke,” I took my leather jacket from underneath the counter and swung over my shoulders, searching for my cigarettes. That’s when I noticed Jimmy pull up to the bar.

„Dicey!” He boosted himself on the counter top, eyeing me with a wicked grin on his face. Shit. That was the exact same moment when mister Gates along with Shadows and Vengeance passed him on their way to the exit. I should’ve been blind to miss the look Gates sent MJ. That sick perv. „Dicey McDice Dice!” Jimmy sing-sanged. Yeah, I heard you the first time, Jimbo.

I sighed, handing MJ my cigarette, making her eye me with a frown. „Go for a smoke,” I gave her a wink, knowing exactly who and what was awaiting for her outside.

„I don’t smoke, Dice,” Nevertheless she took the cigarette.

„You do now,” I grinned, „Now go.” I pushed her out of the bar, before returning to the now pouting Jimmy.

„Why are you ignoring me?”

„What do you want?”

„We had a bit of an accident back there,” he whispered, more than shouted, but hell, that was Jimmy’s whisper when he was drunk. He pointed to their party place. My fingers brushed through my hair simply imagining what kind of ‘accident’ was he talking about. I looked over the bar, Max was nowhere to be found, but everyone was happy, everyone had a drink so I figured I could bail for a bit. I gestured for Frank to be on a look-out over the bar while I’m gone.

As soon as I was out of the bar, Jimmy placed his big hands on my shoulders, guiding me towards the room that I believed now looked like after hurricane Catrina had hit it. „I swear, if Johnny threw up again, I’ll make him lick that shit up.”

„Nah, it’s way cooler,” I looked back at the Eifel tower hovering over me who was practically radiating sunshine from his excitement. Once he opened the door for me, I stopped in my tracks and not even his shoving could get me past the doorstep. I could only blink as I looked around the room. „WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?!”

„Isn’t it cool?” Stop grining for god sake! What the hell were they doing here? This looked like the set of The Big Bang Theory gone deadly wrong. It took a moment for me to take in the whole scene. Johnny was passed out on the couch, covered in puke and spilling the Long Island he had clutched in his hand. The floor was all sticky and covered in coke and was that vomit floating happily around the place? Jesus fucking Christ. It was almost too hard to hold in that tuna sandwitch I had had a couple of hours ago. My hands slid in my hair. How am I gonna explain this to Johnny?

„What the hell...” I muttered silently. Knowing Jimmy, I was very strong about the fact that he was trying to create Coke fountains by throwing mentos in them. Why did they always had to trash the place, why? But the question was – why little Christ was covered in Coke and puke? Did he really try to take in that Coke fountain? Fucking hell. „And what do you want me to do about it? Take off my clothes and swim in the substance?”

„Hey,” He pouted, „I thought you’d apreciate my art.”

Art? This was art? I sighed as I turned around and closed the door behind us. „Listen, from now on you’ll be sitting where I can see you. At all times. Is that clear?”

„But Dicey—„

„Shut it. Booth in front of the bar. Got it?”

He nodded frantically. „Yes, mam.”

„Don’t cause anymore trouble. At least not until my shift is over.” And I was the one to close the fucking bar tonight. Perfect!

„I can’t promise that.” He smirked as we went back to the crowded room, my bladder getting louder and louder, screaming whatever obscenities he could come up with. I glared at him, before disappearing in the toilet. And I can tell you one thing – that was the best piss I had had in ages. I felt like a newborn pony. All happy and wonderful and just ready to have some good night, that was until I got back to the bar. Max was back, but so was another person. MJ’s ex – what’s his face. I was really bad with names, so for the majority of the time I’d called him simply a douche. ‘Cause that’s what he was.

Before getting back behind the bar I took a deep breath, getting ready for the worst. He greeted me with a cheeky smile. „Hi, Dice, is MJ around by any chance?”

„No. I don’t think she is,” I lied, boosting my hands on the counter. This guy... He could thank god I was sober or otherwise we’d have to call the morgue. The fucking nerve to show up here after all he’d done.

„Come on,” He continued with the same smirk I wanted to wipe off his face with my allmighty fist. I had a great right hook, by the way. „Where are you hiding her?”

Right behind your back, but that’s none of your goddamn business. Mia just had the best fucking timing. Note the sarcasm. I flipped my hair to the side like a basic bimbo, which was the code for MJ to scram. If she wouldn’t get it, she’d be the smartest dumbest little blonde I’ve ever met throughout my entire life, ‘cause she fucking invented it! „She’s not working tonight.”

„Dice, I know you. And I know when you’re lying,” Even tho he was smiling I saw that dark glimpse of insanity in his eyes.

„Look, just step aside, I have customers to attend,”

„Tell me where is she,” He demanded. The smile disappeared in a heartbeat. Oh dude, you really don’t want to mess with me...

„Get the fuck out of my face,” I hissed seeing him lean over the counter. He was a big guy, one punch and I’d be out, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t try and kill him.

„You can’t hide her forever,” Was that a threath?

„I told you to leave!” I hadn’t even noticed how I got with one knee on the counter top, but I was holding a pitcher in the air, ready to smash his face with it. With the corner of my eye I saw Frank, our amazing 6’5 bouncer, pushing his away through the crowd to get to us.

„Hit me,” he dared. By then I was clenching my teeth and trying very hard to control myself. I noticed the dumbfounded Max just few feet from me and the confused faces of our regulars, I knew I had taken it too far, but how else was I supposed to tell him he’s not welcomed here if he didn’t speak the fucking language?

„Dice, calm down!” Frank shouted managing his way to us. The hell I am! To be completely honest, our amazing bouncer wasn’t here to break up the fights between the customers or check ID’s, those were some side tasks he just did. Actually Frank was here to keep me away from ripping someone’s throat.

Notes