Unlimited

TWO

Eren Hill

"I still don't fucking understand why I have to be here." I was muttering but Harley seemed to hear me anyways. 

"Look, a little respect please? That bitch Jess said she wants everyone to meet the new girl and that includes you." His voice was gruff and aggressive though that in part was due to his natural voice and the many cigars a day that he smoked. I looked to my left from the passengers seat of the car 

I thought about saying something but decided against it considering my mouth was the whole reason I was having this conversation. I hadn't meant to say it out loud. I just did, sue me.  I sighed at myself noticing how angry I was with his attitude and what he called Jess before I realized I had the same attitude moments earlier and the only difference with the Jess thing is that I kept that part to myself. She would be pissed if she found out and I really don't wanna have her up my ass going on about respect. All I wanted was to go home and draw. What can I say? I'm an artist, therefore I do art. I don't do parties.

 I hadn't really put too much effort into my appearance. I wore a black button up shirt and a leather jacket with black pants and shoes to match. She should feel lucky I decided against baggy ripped jeans and a paint stained t-shirt. As we pulled up I don't even think the car was at a full stop before I jumped out and headed to the door. I ignored Harley's aka the-guy-who-was-in-the-car-with-me's comments and lectures as I headed straight to the bar. I didn't drink all the time, just when I was stressed.... so kind of all the time. But so far I've always been able to stop if I wanted or needed to. This was not one of those times.

As expected all the drinks were fancy special occasion type drinks meaning all of them were relatively weak. I asked for something random off the top of my head. When I got it I sat down in a corner making zero attempt at socializing as people danced around me.

 I groaned when I saw Jess scurrying towards me with a girl I didn't recognize. Probably the new girl. I suppressed a laugh at the clear look of annoyance on the girl's face. I suppose I'd try and make a decent first impression. As expected Jess came up and introduced the two of us, she was indeed the new girl, and went on talking. By minute four of her talking about how excited she was for us to meet and for the girl to be a part of the company I was starting to get annoyed. I mean, I'd heard the entire story of how she came to work at this place and didn't even know this chick's name. I rolled my eyes freezing for a moment when I saw the new girl smirking at me having noticed how frustrated I was. All thoughts of Jess seemed to flee my mind as a slight panic at the thought of her thinking less of me already creeped in.  Why did I even care? I mean yeah she was hot with her gorgeous blue dress and long curly hair but there was something else that made me hate the idea of her hating me. Why couldn't a single aspect of life be easy to understand? 

Jess finally shut up saying she would leave to two of us to talk before walking away. I felt my palms grow sweaty and suddenly wished I'd stayed with Harley. Whenever I talk to someone alone I end up saying something rude or ignorant or dumb. I stayed quiet. That was ok cuz she started talking on her own as soon as Jess was out of earshot. 

"Is she always that....."

"Yes." I answered blankly. "Yes she is."

She laughed. I liked her laugh. It was soft and sweet, but most of all it was honest. It wasn't one of those laughs you do in public so you don't embarrass yourself with your real laugh, it was honest. Not many laughs are these days. Mine sure aren't. I ran my hands through my tousled blond hair. I had light brown roots but it faded into a blond as you got to the tips. And no, I do not dye my hair. She giggled looking at my chest. I was confused for a second before she gestured to my shirt with her head and said, "You buttoned it wrong." I looked down and sure enough it was uneven. I hadn't really cared when I left but if it was her seeing it then that was a different story. I started to try and fix it quickly before seeming to realize that I was unbuttoning my shirt right in front of a girl.