Invisible String (Ransom Drysdale)

LA

2 years later
"Last round" Evie shouts ringing the bell alongside.
This job was meant to be temporary but somehow two years later here she still is, does she need the job not really but it does help her feel normal.
"Whisky sweetheart" a guy approaches the bar.
"On the rocks?" she asks.
"Neat" he slumps over the bar.
"$8 dollars please" she goes to hand the drink to him. Handing her a $20 "Keep the change if you fancy coming home with me" she laughs to herself and slams down the change in front of him.
"Nah I'm good"
Thirty minutes later and she's kicking drunk people out the bar, so she can clean up and head home.
"Dude you gotta go" she says to the drunk guy who previously tried to hit on her.
"But I want you" she says grabbing her wrists.

"Yeah like I said I'm good" she says trying to free herself but his grip is too tight.
"Come on hot stuff" he goes to kiss her but she kicks him in the balls and he falls over.
"Bitch" he rolls around on the floor.
"All good here?" Joe the security guard finally comes over.
"Get him out of her" She looks down at the guy.
"Come on" Joe picks the guy up and hauls him up and throws him out.
"God I can't wait for my bed" she groans as she wipes the bar down.
"You all good for the night?" Joe asks checking to make sure everyone is gone.
"Yeah I'm good, what's night for Andy to call in sick" she rolls her eyes.
"You did good though kid managing on your own" Joe smiles at her.
"See you tomorrow" she says as Joe heads out.
Finishing cleaning up she locks up and head home.

"You're late" she hears Luke's voice as she enters her apartment.
"Andy decided to call in sick so I was on my own" she replies heading into the kitchen.
Feeling Luke come up behind her and wrap his arms around her waist.
"Why do you smell like mens aftershave" he asks anger in his voice.
"I work at a bar I probably smell of mixture of things, I will go shower" she shakes it off moving out his arms to walk away.

"You've never smelt like this before, have you been with someone else" he grabs her by the wrist hard.
"Of course not some guy tried to hit on me but I kicked him in the balls" she replies trying to get out of his grip.
"You been a slut, fucking some random guy at the bar haven't you" he is now in her face.
"Don't be ridiculous" she snorts.
"You're mine" he slaps her across the face hard.
"Your high and being crazy" she says finally breaking free of his grip "I'm gonna shower" she runs to bathroom locking the door tears slipping out.

Looking in the mirror she studies the red mark on her cheek that's already forming.
After showering she heads back out and finds Luke passed out on the couch, taking the roll up from the coffee table heads outside to the little balcony.
This is not how she pictured her life here in LA when she decided to up and move 2 years ago, but she's making do with the best she's got. Lighting up and takes a drag and let's it wash over her feeling the stress leave her body as the high slowly begins to kick in. Grabbing her notebook from her bedside table she starts to write as inspiration hit hers, spending the next couple of hours lost in her own world before eventually succumbing to sleep.

She wakes the next day rolls over to grab her phone and sees it's already midday. Strolling into the bathroom to splash water on her face she notices a slight bruise forming from where Luke had slapped her. Rolling her eyes she heads to the kitchen to grab food and coffee, Luke would already be at work unsure if there paths will cross before she heads for her shift at the bar.

As she getting ready for her shift, covering her bruise up she hears the front door go.
"Babe?" She hears Lucas shout through the apartment before she seems him appearing in her vanity mirror with flowers in hand.
"I'm sorry for last night babe" he says walking up to kiss her "I brought you these as a sorry, I promise I won't ever do that again" he now hands her the flowers.

"It's fine. Thank you, they are beautiful" she gives him a quick peck and heads to put them in a vase.
"Me and couple of mates are heading to the bar tonight you good with that?" He begins kissing her neck as his hand goes to slide inside her jeans.
"Yeah of course, but I have to go otherwise I'm gonna be late" she slides from his grip to put her shoes on.
"Alright see you in a bit babe" he says slapping her ass as she walk out.