Call Me Six

45: 'Michael' -Tobias

TOBIAS-

Harvey's was the typical local bar; everyone knew about it; everyone knew who worked there; no one batted an eyelid at the... Technicalities of the place.

It's strange. This place so unlike I expected it to be. Harvey's was wild. The music was blaring, people were dancing, conversations were flying and nobody looked miserable.

I don't know why I was here. I just somehow ended up standing in the door as a group of drunk girls yelled at me to move. It was a nagging in my gut, I think. The slight worry and dare I say: jealousy which drew me here.

The amount of people I recognised from school was ridiculous. This bar was like a harbour for the under aged drinkers and partygoers.

The walls are dark, black paint with red splats scattered across them. The bar is against the left wall, with red stools - mostly occupied - surrounding it. On the opposite side of the large, open spaced room were a few booths and tables where no one was sat. Or at least no one was sat who was sober.

You can smell the alcohol in the air. Liquor reeking from every corner.

And the bartenders... The girls wondering around in whatever was skimpy and the guys looking like something from a magazine.

Whoever this Harvey person is, they knew how to run the show. Everyone looked immaculately placed. As if the world of late night drinking and partying was where they were born.

I couldn't find her though. The blonde girl that could catch my eye even in the darkest of places was nowhere to be seen. But someone I wasn't expecting suddenly came rushing up to me, a tray of shots and a plate of nachos balanced precariously in one hand.

"Tobias!"

"Chris?! I didn't know you worked here," I said, baffled by her presence.

"I don't normally," she had to shout to be heard over the music, "but Tris told me they were hiring and got me the job! Tonight's my first shift and it's amazing!" She was grinning from ear to ear, her dark eyes dazzling like I hadn't seen them before. She was happy. She deserves it. She's found a light that had been missing for so long.

"Is Tris here?"

"No," she answered within the same heartbeat.

And then a holler was heard. Cheers echoed about the room.

She was there. Tris. Standing on top of the bar with a shot in hand whilst one of the male bartenders, Michael - I recognise him from school - held her by the waist.  "Ten," she cheered, wielding the small glass higher, "you owe me twenty bucks,  Archie."

I could only watch as she downed it, and everyone - especially the men - went wild. She cheered, dropping and slamming the glass into the bar and standing back up in one fluid movement. She was in his arms. In his embrace. He was holding her fucking ass in one hand and her hip in the other.

A fire ignited; a fury I didn't know I possessed until this point.

His head dipped, those wretched, smoker's-breath lips attaching to her satin skin.

"Tobias, just-" Christina's hand rested on my chest, trying to prevent me from the inevitable future but it was too late. My body took charge, moving only through the jealousy that coursed through my veins.