Blackmailing The Untouched

Stabbed In The Back

“Nothing.” Anna states as she goes to his side, trying to pull him away from the situation. Travis’ eyes turn to slits as he breathes at his friend.
“I heard you say that you fucked my girlfriend.” He spits with a long finger pointed directly at Zach. “What the hell?!”
My heart leaps into my throat. I watch with wide eyes as it all unfolds before me.
“Were you messing around together behind my back?!” Travis orders the truth from them. The impact from his words sends his hands in his hair, ripping the hat from his head and onto the floor.
Anna’s eyes well up with tears. Her lips tremble and she starts to shake.
“How long?” Travis asks with a huff, “How fucking long?!”
Zach takes a deep breath, a hand shooting into his hair, “It was a long time.” He finally admits to his affair with Anna. He confesses to sleeping with his best friend’s girlfriend.
I watch the veins in Travis’ arms pop as he lunges at Zach, punching him square in the mouth. The skin on Zach’s bottom lip opens and blood drips from the fresh wound. He runs his thumb over the cut, eyes glaze over with fury. “You’re a piece of shit, Zach!” Travis states through clenched teeth as he raises his fist to strike again.
I want to stop him from hitting Zach. I want to stand in front of him to protect him from himself. I don’t want to see any more of his blood. I can’t witness him losing anything else.
Anna’s eyes fly wide, shocked and sad to see that her actions have caused all of this to happen, “Travis please let me explain.” She requests and attempts to grab his hand.
Zach shakes his head, “Don’t listen to her. She has done nothing but follow me around since I ended it.” I’m shocked to hear Zach talking like nothing has happened, “She doesn’t love you.”
An evil laugh spills from Travis’ mouth, sending chills up and down my spine, “Why? Does she love you?” His voice is icy.
“I don’t see how she would.” Zach shrugs, “We only ever did things on my terms.”
“How long were you screwing my girlfriend behind my back?” Travis demands as he tears away from Anna’s touch.
“Almost the entire time you were seeing her.” Zach continues with his confession. He holds nothing back. He’s truthful and it makes him come off as careless, when I know that isn’t the case. “I ended it almost a month ago.”
“Only when you found a new toy to play with.” Anna yells at him.
Zach huffs with a shake of his head, “No. That’s only what you like to tell yourself. I called it off because I didn’t want you. I saw how attached you were getting so I shut it down.”
“Bullshit.” Anna seethes with a shake of her head, “I saw Hollie at your house. I know you were screwing her too!” She reaches over and tries to slap him once again, but he dodges her hand.
Zach swallows and rolls his shoulders, “Don’t say another word about her.” He threatens with a chilly stare.
Travis scans his face, and then plants his feet firmly. “What makes you think you deserve to be happy after all this?” He asks. “I know Hollie means something to you. I’ve seen it firsthand.”
Zach’s jaw hardens, eyes flicker with potential rage, “What do you think you’re going to do?” He snaps with bared teeth. “She’s innocent in all this. Leave her the hell alone.”
“Maybe I’ll just have a turn.” Travis cocks his head with a spiteful grin. “How is she anyway? She any good in bed? Though, I imagine she must have to be to have an asshole like you fall for her.”
“You don’t stand a chance.” Zach breathes heavily, “We have a connection. No one is going to take that away. I won’t allow it.”
“Then, where is she?” For the first time since I’d met him, Travis is vile. He is trying to get Zach to snap, saying anything and everything to get him to react. “Looks to me like you’re the Anna in the situation.” His eyes light up with a condescending smirk. 
Somewhere between the jealousy and anger, Anna and Travis have now teamed up against Zach, attacking him with hateful words and spiteful thoughts. I can’t bear to stand here and watch Zach like this. I don’t like what they’re saying to him. I don’t like the way his eyes have filled with sorrow, how he has lost his fight. I want to rush to his side, shielding him from the hurt Travis is trying to instill in him. I wish I was strong enough to go help him, but I can’t make my legs move. I can’t force my head to agree with my heart. So, with a heavy heart, I turn and walk the other way.
The music has pretty much sunk deep into my veins by the time I begin to make my way through the eerie fog that fills the dancefloor. Bodies surround me, bumping and grinding, and hopping to the Halloween mashup the DJ plays. Green and Purple lasers skitter through the crowd, illuminating the faces of the people dancing like monsters. I weave my way through until I’m directly in the middle and then I allow the beat and vibration of the music to take me away. I throw my hands up in the air, jumping on my tip toes, trying to get as high as possible.
I force Zach out of my mind. The feelings I have for him try to linger on my skin, memories of his mouth on me earlier make my knees tremble. I slam my eyes shut, willing the thoughts of him away, locking them up deep down inside. As I’m dancing one of the bodies that closely surrounds me, bumps into me on a happy laugh. “Oh! I’m so sorry!” She squeaks as she brings her face to meet the stranger. The instant I see the short, vibrant red hair and beautiful smile, a wave of relief washes over me. “Hollie! Where the hell have you been?!” She demands with a tight, friendly embrace.
“I got a few drinks at the bar.” I respond with a nod, It’s not a total lie. I choose to leave Zach out of the equation. “The bartender is super cute.” My lips curl into an easy smile.
Her face softens, knowing eyes staring back at me, “The Pirate? I know, right?” She pats me on the arm and winks purposefully. “Toby just left to take a call.” A frown appears on her face.
“That’s not good.” I tell her, “He’s most likely going to leave.” I know from experience that whenever Toby has a phone call, he usually doesn’t stay where he is for much longer.
“I hope not!” Sally objects, her voice high and hopeful, “We’ve had so much fun tonight.” I’m curious to know what exactly she means by this.
I try to hide the curiosity on my face, but I feel a pang of jealousy that comes out of nowhere. “Have you kissed him yet?” This is none of my business.
She reads my face and then clicks her tongue, “No, but we did do some dirty dancing.” She nudges me with a suggestive grin. “I know he was turned on.”
The idea of Sally having sex with Toby is not one I would particularly like to imagine. In my head and heart, he would always be mine. He would always be mine to run to. He would always be mine to tell all my secrets to. The thought of him having someone else to share all of that with creates a wave a nausea that hits me and nearly knocks me over.
I gave her the “go ahead” so, I have no right to feel like this. Toby isn’t mine. He could have been mine.
Thankfully, Toby joins us on the dance floor before I’m forced to deal with my complicated feelings for him. I force the awkward air between the three of us away and then grab his hand, pulling him to dance along. He is sandwiched between Sally and I, raising his hands in the air. “I see you found us.” He leans into me and says with a smile that makes me smile as well. “She was starting to worry you’d gotten abducted or something.” His eyes crinkle and twinkle.
“Oh, I did not!” Sally slaps him on the back of the head playfully. “She’s a big girl. She can handle her own.”
Funny you say that.
Seconds bleed into minutes and by the time we’ve danced through several overly-long songs, we leave the dance floor, desperate for hydration. Sally drags me to the bar, face red from exertion, “Have another drink with me!” She squeals, buzzing on the stool beside me. “You too, Toby.” My eyes fall to the innocent contact between their hands and an uneasy feeling sweeps over me.
“Okay, but it has to be the last one for me. I’ve already had that Martini and two Vodka tonics.” I slap my hand on the bar top with a shrug. “Oh, Pirate, us Wenches would like to be served please!” I flirt freely, taking a five-dollar bill from the seams of my top and waving it in the air.
Pirate’s light eyes target me, a smile plastered on his face. “You’re a Wench?” He says with a nod, “I thought I explained this to you.”
Of course, I remember our conversation about Wenches, and what is and is not one. “I’m making a joke.” I pout with an innocent graze of his shoulder, “Not very good, huh?”
“Aren’t Wenches like sex slaves or something?” Toby puts in his two cents with a look of confusion that puzzles his eyes. “Prostitutes maybe?”
Pirate glances over at me and chuckles loudly, “Precisely.” He nods. “I think that is maybe why she called herself a Wench?”
My eyes light up, cocking my head, “Hey, you get it!”
“So, Pirate when do you get off tonight?” Sally asks with a hidden agenda. Her scheming eyes pin my cautious ones and my skin buzzes when I see her devious smile.
“I don’t get off shift until four in the morning.” He frowns, “but, I have a break in five minutes or so. Why?” His eyebrows knit together, wondering.
I turn to Sally with scanning eyes, “Yes, Sally. Why?” I cross my arms over my chest and glare at her. I know exactly what she’s up to. She is so obvious.
“You should hang out with us.” She suggests with a hopeful smirk.
I have already dragged Tyler into my mess with Zach. I don’t want to drag another guy into the mix. I want to voice my dismay; however, Pirate gladly accepts her invitation. I shoot hard looks her way, making sure she knows just how annoyed I am at her. She always does this sort of thing. She has always tried to play matchmaker in my life. She has a kind heart, but sometimes she oversteps and makes me so angry. Tonight, is one of those times.
We follow Pirate to a tall table in the back of the room, sitting on red stools that sit up high. I take the stool closest to the inside. Pirate sits on the outside, closest to me. Toby and Sally sit diagonal from one another. A menu framed in green displays a variety of appetizers and drinks that are served at the bar.
“How long is your break normally?” I ask as I open the menu and scan down the two pages.
Pirate removes the sword from his hip, laying it down on the table in front of him. “It varies. Tonight, I’m working a double, so I can take up to an hour.” He states.
“You like being a bartender?” Toby questions with stern eyes. I watch as Sally’s hands disappear beneath the table. Mime and Construction worker flashes in my mind. I scan Toby’s face for a change of emotion from the possible action of her hands. I read him carefully, holding onto the idea that he would never do such a thing.
“I love it.” Pirate says with enthusiasm laced inside his strong tone. “Though, it can be a little tedious at times.”
“I get that.” Toby says with a nod and adjusts himself in the stool. I watch him carefully, praying silently that Sally isn’t as bold as I think she is. “You must hear it all, huh?” He stretches his back and then sits up straight.
My eyes dart to Sally’s face, searching for evidence that she is performing a sex act beneath our table. Fortunately, I find nothing and then she removes her hands and folds them on top of the table. With a sigh of relief, my head can focus on the conversation at hand. “What’s the worst story you’ve ever heard?” I question with bright, interested eyes.
Pirate taps a long finger on his chin, thinking hard. “Oh! One time this woman came into the bar and drank because she had been fired from her job.” He claps his hands together with excitement, “Apparently she had been having an affair with her bosses Husband.” He makes a face and then lets out a hearty laugh. “You’d be surprised what people are willing to divulge when they are drinking.”
“Wow. That’s terrible!” I can’t help the giggle that escapes my mouth. The light from above our table casts a red beam on Pirate’s face, eyes hardening with interest. His gaze makes me uncomfortable and nervous.
A crowd up at the bar begins to rally for drinks, slapping their hands hard and loudly against the top of the bar. Voices from impatient customers fill the room, making it nearly impossible to focus on anything else. Pirate huffs, “Damnit! Looks like I have to cut this short.” He grunts as he gets off from the stool and takes my hand to help me up.
I’m expecting him to say goodbye and be on his way, but I’m shocked when he quickly leans in and places a warm kiss on my unsuspecting lips. Before I have a chance to react, he is quickly shoved away from me and then sucker punched hard in the jaw.