The Jerk Next Door

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The greatest irony of life is that fate always tends to make the opposite of what you want happen. This was a fact that Eliza was acutely aware of.

The day after she discovered Nate's drawings, she didn't know what to think of him. The way he put his soul on paper seemed out of character. Though, as Eliza had admitted to herself the day before, there was more to Nate than he was letting on. But that didn't make his personality any more bearable. In fact, Eliza tried to avoid him as much as possible.  She didn't like his unstoppable flirting, his mania of calling her "princess" at every chance he got or the lack of feelings she saw in his stunning eyes. Ironically enough, while Eliza was trying to see as little of him as possible, she had to run into him a few times a day.

Finally, a week after meeting him for the first time, Eliza decided that she was no coward and would directly talk to him about the pain she witnessed in his drawings. She knew about pain and was sure that she could help him somehow. Eliza had convinced herself that she wouldn't mind spending time getting to know her mysterious neighbour. Of course, once her decision was made, she couldn't get a grip on Nate. He seemed to have vanished.             

When she didn't find him anywhere, she started to look at the situation under a different perspective. Maybe she should let him be. After all, he didn't ask for her help. His behaviour clearly portrayed that he wanted her to mind her own business, to forget about what she saw. Plus, she spend enough time worrying about him, it was time to worry about her.

Over the past week, Eliza had gotten a job as a waitress at Sin, a bar near her flat. That day was her first day of work and she was nervous. She didn't have time to worry about anything that wasn't job-related. She needed the money of her tips if she wanted to last in this big city.

When she walked into the bar, dressed in the required short black skirt and white shirt a girl about her age wearing the same outfit laughed.

"You look like a kid playing dress up, "  she said, clearly mocking her. Her words hurt Eliza's self-esteem, but she had too much pride to let it show. She knew she looked a bit younger than her age, but she always figured it would be a blessing when she'll be older, even if it was a handicap right now.

Fire blazed in Eliza's eyes, but someone spoke before she could react.

"Leave her alone, Annie. At least she's decent, unlike somebody else I know," said a tall girl standing behind the bar, looking pointedly in the first girl 's - Annie's - direction.

Annie laughed again. It was a loud, obnoxious sound, obviously used to gain attention. "That was a lame come back," she said. She then saw that a client was telling her that he wanted a refill. "Later kiddo," she said while walking away.

"Don't mind her," said the girl that defended Eliza. She was frowning while looking at Annie's retreating back. She then turned Eliza's way and smiled. "My name's Katie. I'm a barmaid."

"I'm Eliza."

"Don't worry, Eliza, I'll help you through your first day. Annie was supposed to do it,  but I wouldn't want you to resign because of that witch."

Eliza merely smiled, still anxious about the hours that awaited her.

Surprisingly enough, her shift went well. True to her word, Katie helped her a lot and introduced Eliza to her friends and colleagues.

At the end of her shift, instead of going back home, Eliza went at the back of the bar, where the pool tables were situated. She decided to play a bit before leaving. Her brother was the one who had taught her how to play. In a way, she was connecting with him and her childhood and she liked it. The nostalgic feeling brought memories back while she stood there, in front of the pool table, in a daze.