Rose Collar

Chapter 1 - Stood Up

{Wanna fuck?}

Rose blinked at her phone. What the actual fuck. Who was that forward? Also this would teach her not to give out her number to even the most unassuming strangers. As she looked at the text the typing bubble came back up. She was going to just ignore him but curiosity got the better of her. What's the worst he could follow up with, a dick pic?

{What's your room number?}

Wow even ballsier. What was up with this dude? He just thought she'd say yes?

The fact she had been hoping to bang the friends who'd stood her up for the earlier show wasn't helping. She should have just left when they texted their apologies. But she'd already gotten the tickets and was in line to get into the venue so she'd figured she might as well enjoy the evening. The main artist was an up and coming rapper she didn't know. She wasn't familiar with the night club either.

So once inside she sat alone, awkwardly, at one of the many tables that lined the outskirts of the dance floor. The starter band was decent, and while she could appreciate rapping for the word play and sheer talent, it had never been a genre she really followed. Rose was sure she wasn't giving it a fair shake. But right now she REALLY didn't like rap.

She sipped on a fruity drink contemplating how long she should stay when someone sat at the table next to hers. She didn't pay attention to the man at first but as the venue filled up, and people kept asking to take the chairs at her table to bring over to their groups, she noticed he was alone too.

"If no one else is joining you tonight, you're welcome to join me. I think that group over there is giving you the evil eye." the man was on the short side, Asian, short black hair and looked like he didn't care to dress up for anyone. She hadn't exactly dolled up for this, but basketball shorts were nowhere on her potential outfits list.

He looked over at her as she repeated the question. It was getting loud so she figured he might not have heard her the first time. He glanced over at the group and then at me before he spoke. "Ah. Sure." She couldn't be sure but she detected an accent.

He grabbed his chair, there were no more left at my table and placed it at the other side of the table to me. The teenagers who were eyeing the table made no effort to be subtle as they reserved the now vacant table.

The stranger didn't say anything for a while which was also awkward. She was an extrovert but she had expected some small talk.

"I'm getting a drink. Be right back."

He barely had time to nod before she grabbed her bag, marking her spot with her jacket, and made a bee line to the bar. She got a different fruity drink and got back to their table right as the main group walked on stage.

"So are you a big fan of Arteztrie?" She set down her drink and moved her chair next to the stranger.

"Yes." Oh great, this was going much better.

She tried to follow the first song, something about an apocalypse and how everyone didn't notice because they were already zombies. She noticed the man had the lyrics pulled up on his phone and was looking at them and not the stage.

She slipped on her drink and was becoming resigned to the silent treatment when the man asked, "What does omnipotent mean?" He pronounced the word in question slowly and unsure.

"Something that is everywhere and knows everything. Like God." The man nodded as if something made more sense.

"Do you like the group?"

She didn't turn to answer. "Not really. I was supposed to meet up with friends. They're the ones who liked the group. You normally come to this sort of thing alone?"