𝐍𝐎 𝐔𝐒𝐄 - James Patrick March

6

Jazmine stood at the top of the stairs with sally, she smiled widely at the fashion show below them. They secretly blended in. "This is amazing." Jazmine smiled, looking over to sally to see her with the cigarette in her mouth, smiling softly. "This is bullshit. We couldn't be invited and we live here!" Sally said, Jazmine's smile dropped. "I mean—we can still watch the show." The girl tried to make the best of if. "This is bullshit." Sally walked away.

Jazmine rubbed her forehead, wondering why she had been feeling so stressed recently. She mindlessly watched as the models walked down and up and down the runway. She nearly groaned loud seeing as one of the models had stumbled, making intense eye contact with Elizabeth, the countess. That woman got everything and any man she wanted, it was annoying. Not to mention, Donavan was right beside her.

Jazmine cleared her throat as she walked away from the steps, moving to get a better view of the man's face. Kind of smudged liner, pretty eyes, black and a shriek of red hair in the front.

"Jazmine." She turned around to see Hazel standing there. "Yes?" She asked. "I need help with the linens." She said, in almost a whisper. Sighing deeply, Jazmine nodded. Walking away with the older woman.

☆

Jazmine wrapped her arms around herself as Donavan had rudely bumped into her. "Excuse you! You asshole!" Jazmine sighed. The man stopped before turning around, furrowing his brow. "And who are you?" He scoffed. She could tell that he thought that this hotel was his property is some kind of way. "I've been here longer than you. Trust me." Jazmine called. "Here we go, another crazy maid." He said walking away. "Heard Elizabeth left you. I can see why." Jazmine scoffed as she continued her way to the bar. "What did you just say?" Donavan asked, growing angry by the second. "I said, I can see why Elizabeth left you for that model boy. I bet he doesn't always have a stick up his ass." Jazmine had been hearing Iris talk about how her son practically hated her, ever since Jazmine heard about him she had taken a disliking in the man.

Donavan charged towards, wrapping his hand around her neck, he pushed her against the wall. Squeezing tight on her neck he began to speak. "You better watch your fucking mouth, you don't know who you're talking to." He snapped. "I do. Iris—has told me enough to know how much of a bitch you are." She spat, trying her best to sound clear as Donavan's pressure around her neck got tighter. "Fuck you. The next time I hear you say something smart I'll gladly hurt you." He let go of her neck, she gasped for air while harshly coughing. He walked away.

She stood up after a while, grabbing ahold of her neck. It was slightly sore, she knew it was gonna hurt more later. She walked over to the bar, slamming her money on the counter. "Liz, I need a drink. Your strongest one, please." She called, Liz turned around shocked. "I thought you hated alcohol?" The woman smirked. "I do. I just—need it for the pain." Jazmine had never been handled so roughly the way Donavan handled her. She could feel a slight throbbing feeling in her head from being pushed harshly onto the wall.

"Pain for what? Your heart?" Liz joked. "No because..I might have shit-talked Donovan and he might've choked me and slammed me against the wall." She said. "Sounds great to me." Liz shrugged, Jazmine glared at her. "Well, it wasn't, because it wasn't in a loving sex type of way. It was a threatening attempt of killing—maybe I'm being too dramatic, I shouldn't have said anything to him." She explained as she tried to touch her neck but she was too scared to feel pain.

"Can you see it?" She lift her head, exposing her neck. "Barely, but I think it'll be noticeable in a few hours though." She admitted. She had worked here too long to act as if she didn't know anything. She was honest.

"Are you sure you want a drink?" Liz was mixing the strongest alcohols she had, like Jazmine had said. "Yeah. I think if I get black out drunk I wouldn't feel any pain." She said. "But when you wake up you'll be in pain and have a hangover. What about pills?" Liz questioned. "No, I rather try something different, something stupid. I'm dead, what's the worst that can happen?" She asked. "Whenever someone says that something stupid happens." Liz answered and she nodded. "I'm prepared." Jazmine shrugged. Liz placed the drink onto the counter. "Drink up." Liz smiled. Jazmine held her breath as she grabbed the cup, lifting it up to her mouth. She cringed at the strong smell, even when holding her breath she could still smell it.

She drank a big gulp of the alcohol mixture, she could feel the burning sensation. She coughed loudly. "Holy shit that tastes like perfume." She cringed, Liz laughed. "You asked for the strongest." She shrugged. "I know. And I'm gonna finish it." She said, taking the cup and downing the rest.

☆

Jazmine feel onto her bed, giggling to herself as the music from her record player played softly. She still had a black one that was left in her room. She had random vinyls, she knew nothing of the songs but she enjoyed, especially now because she was drunk. She had never been drunk up until now, she loved the way she felt at the moment, she felt as if she didn't care—she was overthinking. She was happy to be where she was right now as she mumbled along to the song, even tho she didn't know the lyrics. She'd guess the lyrics that were to come next, and no matter if they were right or wrong she'd laugh.

She jumped at the banging on her door, standing up trying to keep balance. She stumbled over to the door, opening it to see Hazel. The woman looked taken aback. "Jazmine, what is that strong smell?" Ms. Evers asked the girl. "Alcohol. Liz gave me the strongest—and let me tell you....let me tell you. It's working." She slurred, laughing. "Jazmine, you can't drink in the job, dear." She said. "On the job? We're dead! We shouldn't be cleaning up after anyone here! We should—should be living life." She stammered, not being able to getting her sentences out so easily. "Sober up. I'll work for today." Hazel frowned. "That's so sweet. You should take a break. A break sounds nice." Jazmine smiled hazily. "Sweetie, what is that on your neck?" The woman noticed the bruises that formed by the hours. "Iris' son. He choked me. But I'm fine, I'm fine." Hazel gasped confused to why Donavan would even be near the girl.

"I'll see what I can do." Jazmine furrowed her eyebrows watching as Hazel walked away, peaking through the door. "What does that supposed mean!" Jazmine asked whilst stumbling out of her room.

edited: no