Stalker Celebrity

Tequila Sunrise

The scent of wet asphalt and the old wooden interior mingled in the air of the dark bar. The rain outside intensified, it as as if the sound of small fingers were tapping on the windowpanes.

Brayden's voice, tinged with confusion asked,

 "Wait is he saying you choked two people to death?"

The room feels tense, like a string drawn taut.

"I've never killed anyone, I swear." Violet's voice trembled with frustration,

"We can talk about Violet when he's gone." Case uttered. His words felt like an ice cold promise. 

Nick couldn't stop giggling. She looked away, shadows from the flickering neon sign outside casting eerie patterns on everyone's face.

"He's just taunting me over an ex boyfriend of mine getting into an accident." Violet began. Brayden turned his head and looked sympathetic. Case leaned against the bar his eyes softening, but his body looking more and more guarded.

"In college a stupid school paper spread rumors I talked him into it based on stories he wrote for class and the fact that..." Violet shook her head. She had told this story before and had people not care before.

"I had a confrontation with my parents... I had a pre-existing reputation. I'm from a small town word gets around." she added, looking down.

She didn't really know about the kink or if he was depressed. They had drifted apart before their break up. Violet's life had been consumed by other things.

She could taste the sweet waxy black lipstick in her mouth her heart felt like it couldn't beat any faster and when her chest started to burn she started to wonder for a brief second if she was actually having a heart attack.

She felt like if she really loved Kole things wouldn't have turned out the way they had.

But maybe her reaction to the smell of cigarette's said something she didn't understand.

"So, Flex's sudden interest in you... was it because you and Case got together?" Nick murmured. He tilted his head, a scheming look in his eyes as they flitted upwards.

In the echoing silence, cogs began to whirl in Violet's mind. 

She realized the gaps in Nick's knowledge. He might not have been told about Finite Rope by Xiang. Unless he's pretending not to know. 

"Since when do you do PI work?" Case asked irritation obvious,

"I don't I just know people who do because I use to get stalked by my ex-boyfriend." he said it sardonically shooting a pointed look at Case. It felt like a challenge. 

"Case, before this spirals any further," Nick began, his voice calm and deliberate, 

"You really need to reach out to Siena."

Case's face contorted. "I don't need to talk to any of you people again." he growled, voice strained.

Nick pressed on, "I just think she might have some perspective that could—"

"That could what?!" Case interjected, voice rising with every word. "You think she could make things all better!?"

"Siena lost a few hundred thousand followers in a day, she's running a little island of misfits Halloween party literally down the street from Flex's." Nick said.

"I'm not going to your Halloween party." Case spat.

"Well see I got invited to Flex's party which came as a great surprise to me and looking at the guest list so far I think he's gearing up to play Clue."

"Or rake up more gossip to control people with." Violet mumbled.

"That too." Nick admitted with a smile and a light laugh.

Brayden, sensing the escalation stood up, trying to act as a buffer between his brother and Nick. "Nick, maybe it's best if you leave for now."

Nick reached into his bag and slammed a tight wad of money on the table. Brayden  picked it up and began to count.

Case groaned rubbing his face as he watched Nick carefully pack away his laptop. Then he made his way to the door.

Nick smirked, glancing at Violet one last time, "Remember, secrets have a way of coming out." 

"Oh and Case might want to stay away from the internet for a few days you and Siena seem to be breaking some records in this PR scandal." Nick adjusted the strap on his backpack.

"Maybe next time don't betray the internets most precious favorite boy!" Nick said sarcastically with a chuckle.

"Dick." Case said as the door slammed shut.

The neon sign outside the bar flickered, and for a moment, the shadows in the room danced eerily. Case's gaze remained fixed on the floor, a mix of anger and helplessness apparent in the slump of his shoulders.

Then he hopped up as easy as flipping a switch.

Hoping to divert attention and ease the tension, Case pivoted to Violet without facing Brayden, his voice tinged with a strained joviality,  "Can I make you a drink? Play bartender for a bit?"

Violet, taken aback by the sudden change in topic, but sensing his motive she nodded. Something about his tone seemed reminiscent of when he was livestreaming and had to mask his actual emotions.

She offered a supportive smile, 

"Why not? Surprise me." she said dryly.

Case stepped behind the bar counter and rolled up his sleeves. There was a glint of vulnerability in his eyes that made them look like low burning fires. They were betraying the façade he was trying to maintain.

As Brayden cautiously approached his little brother the weight of the money in his hand seemed like more trouble than its actual actual value. "Look," he said, voice barely above a whisper, 

"Here's half."

Case, in the midst of selecting a bottle, glanced over his shoulder, his eyes looking distant and dull not really making eye contact,

"Use it for the bar." he finally replied.

"I think you'll like a Tequila Sunrise. Violet" Case tells Violet with a soft smile. Violet watched, intrigued by his fluid movements. There was an ease and familiarity as he maneuvered behind the bar, he seemed at home there and out of practice. Reconnecting with an old friend. 

He mixed tequila and orange juice together and then came the ice.

"Where are you hiding...?"

"Grenadine!" he exclaimed in a triumphant grin.

He poured out the syrup it cascaded like a crimson molten waterfall, settling at the bottom of the glass. Violet felt hypnotized by it. He picked of the knife and chopped a fresh slice of the lime affixing it to the glass.

Finally, Case slid a carefully prepared drink across the bar to Violet, their fingers brushing briefly.

She took a sip.

"I'm glad we came," Violet said, the hint of melancholy in her wry smile were evident.

Case chuckled.

"How does it taste?"

 Violet cradled the drink in her hands,

"It's perfect," she whispered when her lips left her glass. 

"I'm sorry about this night-"

"I still owe you an explanation about Jun Chu... and we don't have to drink all night for you to get it."