Always (Previously known as, "Perfection")

Chapter 1

#TRIGGER WARNING#(Only warning you get)

LAURALINE

"For as long as I can remember, music has always helped me cope with what I'm feeling. It helped me remember the time spent with my mother; we would randomly dance while she was trying to cook. It also helped keep me calm when I lost her after the crash. And it helps me now by dulling the pain after another beating by my father..."

7:15 pm

Time for work. I say to myself as I reach to grab my tight black v neck work shirt and a pair of denim distressed shorts. I put some makeup on, toss my hair into a high pony, grab my server book, my phone, headphones, put on "Lil Bit by Nelly Ft. Florida Georgia Line," and leave to go to work. "I wonder where he's at?" Jogging by my best friend's house, I see he isn't waiting for me. We usually walk or jog to work together.

"Hey, Maurice! Looking good. We got a full house tonight."

"Hey, there's my favorite employee, No arguments tonight, Lauraline. Understood?" says the only man who has been a somewhat father figure in her life.

"Heard. Where's JB? He should've been here by now." asking curiously.

"He is gonna be a bit late, called and said don't worry, he won't be too long," he starts walking to the back to do paperwork.

"Well, alrighty then. Let's get it."

Working at the bar was ok. Some nights proved to be more difficult than others. Tonight was gonna be one of those nights.

Hunter and Dylan used to go to school with me. They would always shove me into lockers, knock my books down, and of course, the occasional trip in the classroom or hallway. They both lost out on a football scholarship because they were always drinking or on some other drugs. They are here most nights, drunk. Tonight, however, they are definitely on something else. And I am not prepared.

A loud angry-sounding Hunter yells at me from across the bar to get him another two shots of Crown.

"HEY SEXY, AND BRING ANOTHER BUD LIGHT FOR MY FRIEND!"

I grab the beer and shots and head towards their table. Hunter eyes me up and down as I am walking back with their drinks. And it made my stomach turn. Hunter grabs me by my waist and pulls me to his lap.

"If you looked like this in school, I would have fucked you real good," he says, trying to kiss my neck and keeping his grip tightened on my hips.

"Let go of me, Hunter! You're drunk," struggling to get out of his sweaty arms.

"And you're a little bitch that likes to tease me with these sexy outfits. Don;t act like you don't want it."

"Get your fucking hands off her Hunter, or I'll kick your fucking ass and you will be banned from coming back." He says, pushing his black hair out of his face.

"What took you so long to get here, JB?" I say, breaking free of Hunter to run to my best friend, throwing my arms around his neck.

"Same shit as always, LB." he says hugging me back, and then turns to head to the bar.