manipulative

meeting him

The room was loud and dark. Drunk people danced all around me as the fluorescent lights beamed down on us. I squeezed through the crowd of people to the bathroom. The room stank of smoke and vomit but i didn't care I just needed a break from the noise and chaos of the party. I looked into the mirror at my reflection and sighed. My friend Mylea who suggested we should come to this party had disappeared and left me alone to fend for myself. Usually i love parties but something felt off.
Someone banged on the door.
I opened the door and came face to face with the most beautiful man i'd ever seen. He had slightly tanned skin and brown messy hair and loving green eyes. He had a chiselled jawline and tattoos down his neck and arms. He was only a few inches taller than me although i am 5'10" and quite tall. He looked at me and smiled then i noticed his arm wrapped around a girl. She was wobbling as if she was about to pass it and had black mascara running down her face. It was Mylea. She smiled at me and fell. Me and the mysterious man caught her before she hit the floor and picked up.
"hi" he said smiling at me
"hey" i answered awkwardly. I didn't know what to say
"i don't suppose you know this girl?" he laughed
"yeah i do. she's my roommate"
there was a silence
"i'll take her home" i said sternly. This man was the definition of perfect. He was too perfect. I have no idea what his intentions are and i don't really want to find out. Nothing in life is this good.
I wrapped my arm around Mylea and picked her up. I carried her through the party and outside where. I reached for my phone
"damn" i left my phone in the bathroom. i sat mylea down on the floor
"stay here ok? i will be right back" she looked at me and laughed and i quickly ran back inside
I grabbed my phone but as i exited i felt tow big hands grab me and soft lips kiss me. The man from before was kissing me. I pushed him off and ran away. As good looking as he was i had to help my friend, i couldn't abandon her. As i got outside i picked mylea back up and phoned a taxi which arrived a few minutes later. As we drove home i couldn't get the man out of my head. But it doesn't matter now he's gone.

* a few weeks later*

Tirelessly i restocked the shelf with cans. I kept drifting asleep but was awakened every so often by the bell of another customer walking in to the store. The bell went and a man walked in. He looked like he was in his late 30s and was rather fat with no hair. The man barged past me knocking over the cart full of cans. As i was about to shout at him the bell went again. I turned around and there he was. The man from the party. He was as handsome as the day we met a few weeks ago. His dark hair was wet and he was wearing green shorts with an unbuttoned pink shirt. I tried not to stare and quickly looked down trying to avoid eye contact but i know he saw me. He walked past me and as i looked up he smirked at me and walked off.
The beautiful moment was ruined by the sound of the previous customer shouting
"where are the goddamn cashiers"
i scurried over to the cash register "i'm sorry sir"
the man muttered something and placed a six pack of beers on the counter with a loud thump.
"i need a pack of cigarettes too" i turned around and grabbed them and scanned them.
"you know they shouldn't hire people like you" he said
"excuse me??"
"women."
i was shocked. i really had no idea what to say so i stayed quiet
"you're incompetent and blah blah blah.." the man kept talking but at this point i had to drown out his voice
"your totals $17.67" the man placed down the money "keep the change" he said and walked away.
i muttered to myself "what an asshole"
"what was that" he boomed
"huh?"
"what did you just call me"
"oh n-nothing sir"
"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME??"
"i'm so sorry mr-" the man grabbed my arm and pulled me over the counter so i was on the floor
"HEY" shouted a voice. it the man from the party. he was much taller and stronger than the customer
"don't touch her!" he shouted
the man must of panicked because he began to tremble and without saying anything ran out
there was silence
"are you okay" he asked
i looked down and cried. the man knelt down and wrapped his arms around me. i was scared but now i felt safe. I don't know how long we were there for but he didn't let go until i stopped crying.
i stood up and wiped my eyes and looked at him
"i don't know how i can thank you"
"you can give me your number" he smirked
"what?"
"i like you and i want to go on a date"
"but.. i don't even know your name!"
"Drystan"
"seriously"
"what?"
"that's your actual name?"
"yeah" he laughed "it means sorrow.. what's your name?"
"y/n"
he smirked "that's a beautiful name y/n"
eventually i gave in and i gave 'drystan' my number, it's the least i could do for helping me. after a long day it was finally 8pm and i could go home. as i was locking up my boss mr mellor shouted me
"y/n"
i ran to the office in the back of the shop "yes?"
he sighed and looked down "your a good worker you know that kid. you ain't never messed up once. you done good"
"thank you mr mellor"
"i wanna help you yeah? got all those university bills and shit it's expensive"
"yeah" i replied nervously
"i got a daughter i know this stuff ain't easy but"
"but what.."
"i have to let you go. it's not your fault! your an excellent worker y/n but we ain't making enough money to keep you employed"
i was close to tears
"i'm sorry" said mr mellor. he handed me an envelope not daring to look me in the eye
"don't bother coming in tomorrow"
i nodded and left. the bus ride home felt long and i was happy to get back to my dorm. i was about to go to sleep when i heard my phone ping
"hey"
"whos this?"
"oh yeah aha it's me drystan"
"oh hi"
"sooo you still owe me for that idiot in the shop"
"yeah i do.."
"yeah so let me take you out on a date friday night"
i agreed. i hasn't been on a good date in a while and it would be nice to get out of the house for once. me and drystan stayed up all night together texting back and forth. we had a connection, i could already tell he was different from the other boys and that he would change my life