Back To Black

Sweet Cheeks

"Who's that?" In the corner of the club, some guy stares at me, as if he'd never laid eyes on a woman before. I guess I kinda can understand though. It can be quite shocking for a guy to see a woman, especially if all he's ever use to is chasing around little girls.

"Oh, her? I made her. The way she walks, talks, carries herself....that's me. I made her who she is today, I guess you can say I created her. I saw her potential, gave her significance and put her in a display case for everyone to see. I even taught her the game." Daniel turns around and stares at me, completely mesmerized. If he hadn't turned around, I wouldn't have even recognized him.

The guy looks up at Daniel, who doesn't even bat an eye. His gaze on me is intense and his eyes look as if they were filled with love, but I know better. I know lust when I see it. "You make her sound like a prize."

Daniel takes a sip from his glass, but stops to chuckle. "It's like when an artist creates a masterpiece, they let everyone know what they've created by putting their name on it, no matter what the painting. Their name is there, wither it's in the corner, visible or their initials are somewhere hidden amongst the art. She is my masterpiece, she carries my name."

The guy stares at the floor, thinking about what was just said to him. Slowly, I approach the two- Daniel's eyes never leaving mine and I feel my own turn into slits.

I waist no time, as soon as I reach Daniel, I move in close to him, to where are lips are only centimeters apart. Daniel bites his lower lip, while starring at mine. "You may have taught me the game, but I play by my own rules." Looking down I take the drink from his hands and walk away, before he even has time to react and without blinking an eye.

I look down at the newfound drink in my hand and shrug a shoulder. "Free drink, a girl's dream." With that, I take a sip.

One Year Earlier...

"Where is she? New girl?!" I rush to my feet as Cleo's voice breaks the calmness of the room. I was putting away pastrie toppings in storage, but I could hear her getting close.

Cleo was short, but even in small height she was a ball of fire. Her hair was red like flames, and her eyes were hazel. I stood frozen. "There you are, new girl.

"I-its Jessa." My cheeks turn red with frustration, I hate the fact that they do that when I'm too shy.

"Excuse me?" The disbelief on Cleo's face is more than enough for me. I don't want to start my new job off on the wrong foot. So, I shake my head.

"N-nothing." She points to the broom and dustpan. "Right." Heading out the back, I make my way to the front of the café with both in my hand.

"So, I see you've met Cleo." My best friend Kenndy stands at the cash register, watching me.

"I don't understand how someone can sound so nice on the phone, but in person, is so intimidating." I sweep up crumbs, straw papers and whatever small trash I could find.

"Don't worry, she's only hard on the people that she knows are more capable than what they give themselves credit for." Great, so my boss thinks that I don't give enough effort into my work. Nice way to start off a job, Jessa.

I glance up at Kennedy as she leaves her post behind the counter and walks over toward the window. Her blue eyes reflected against the small rays from the sun that creept their way through the glass and her long, wavy blonde hair touched the middle of her back, even in a pony tail.

"What are you thinking about, Kens?" She wipes her hands on her apron, as if she's wiping away every sin she's ever carried.

"Remember when we were teenagers and would talk about, how when it was time for us to enter adulthood some guy would sweep us off are feet, takes us around the world and treat us like princesses. They'd just show us off because we'd compliment them. How did I end up her, Jess?" I could hear the sadness in her voice, it was unusual.

"Well, Kennedy, don't be silly." Quickly, she looks at me, offended. "You got here from a man and a woman." Winking at her, I see the betrayl disapear as she smiles. "You'll get out of here soon, sweets. I just know it." She takes an extra moment to stare through the glass, but something catches her eye.

"Jess, I think you better get started on those tables." Glancing back, I see Cleo emerging from the back.

Quickly, I put the broom and dustpan behind the counter, and grab a rag, and the bucket full of soapy water. As the rag breaks the calmness of the water, I wring it out, so it's not soaking when I wipe down the table. "On the tables already, new girl? I'm shocked."

Cleo goes back into the back and I share glances with Kennedy. "Was that suppose to be a compliment?"

"Yep, and consider it your first and your last. Don't get use to it."

I wipe down the rest of the tables and customers start pouring in. When I finish, I wash my hands and get started on the dough. "Welcome to Reid's . What can I get for you?" Kennedy spits out greeting after greeting, it seems to go on forever.

"You know it's a shame to have someone as beautiful as you working so hard." A masculine voice says in my direction, but I never look up.

"Well, I must be gorgeous because I feel like a packed mule." I let out a sigh.

"Well, you're not a packed mule at all, if anything you're like a unicorn." We both laugh and it actually brightens my day. "I'm Elliot." Finally, I look up and immediately, I'm taken by his charm.

"Jessa."

Elliot had curly, short, brown hair and brown eyes that had nothing, but life to them. Elliot's smile was bright enough to bring light to the world, if it ever went dark. He hesitated, "I-I know I just met you and this may seem crazy, but...."

"If you're going to say here's my number, so call me maybe, I promise you I'll scream." His smile gets brighter and he laughs, while he shakes his head.

"I was just going to say, you seem like a nice girl, and I'd love to go out sometime. Maybe tomorrow?" My body froze, was he talking to me? It couldn't be true. I starred at him, my lips parted. "Well, what do you say?"

"Um...y-yeah, I'd love to. It's just..."

"What? Is something wrong?" I shake my head no, and then it hits me.

"I actually work tomorrow." Elliot's face drops a little and his smile fades. I feel a little bad, he really seems like a nice guy.

"Oh, okay then." He grabs his caramel frappé and turns to leave.

"Elliot, wait." Stopping dead in his tracks, he waits for me to say something.

"I do have a break tomorrow at six. How about then?" His smile creeps back onto his face.

"Six it is. See you then."