Golden Rule

Chapter One

"Almost there... Three.. Two.. One.. Break, phew" I stopped my intense sprinting and slowed down to a walk. It was dark out as the wind rustled through the trees and bats swung from branch to branch eating the bugs of the night.

I shivered as the cool air hit my hot face, feeling cold but good at the same time. The streets were uncrowded and it was quiet as I continued on my way home. I had just finished my five mile run, training for my marathon this summer. Walking through the ghettos at night was scary, if you were new to the area, but running through here daily you get used to it very quickly, and my apartment was just outside them. I quickened my pace while glancing at my watch to see that I had only two hours left before venturing off to go work my shift at Kai's Bar. It was small, but very homey.

Screaming erupted from the next ally way as fright filled me. Part of me was screaming to run in the opposite direction while the other told me a peak wouldn't get myself killed. Taking my chances, I went with the latter, silencing my footsteps, approaching the alleyway. Heart pounding, hands shaking, I gripped the bricked building peering my head over the side, just enough to see the gist of what was happening.

I regretted it. The second my head turned my ears picked up the slight thud of a bullet hitting the mans chest, his cry for help, and the body fall to the cold ground. The puddle his body laid in turned red. I laid back against the building, my breaths coming out in gasps at what I had just saw. I need to leave, get away as far as possible before he shoots me too. I slowly back away, one step, two steps. Turning around, I fasten my walk, looking behind my shoulders every few seconds.

Once I was to the next alley way I was gone. I ran, sweat flowing everywhere. Upon reaching my apartment, my body automatically moved in the direction of the apartment, not stopping until it had reached the bed. Flopping down, breathing in deep, steady breaths, I began rethinking what I had saw tonight. The 'thud' replayed over and over in my mind, the blood swimming across my field of vision. Fear and terror enveloped me. Then relief flooded me as I remind myself that no one saw me there. I had gotten away.

I lived all by myself in the one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles. Moving down from Seattle a year ago, it took me a while to adjust and I wasn't very wealthy, being a bartender still in college, so I found the cheapest apartment that was still in a considerable neighbourhood. The people in my building were nice, unless you counted the couple three floors below who constantly got noise complaints at nighttime.

Rising from my bed, I head towards the bathroom to shower before work. It doesn't take me long to get ready, throwing back my hair into a ponytail and quickly brushing my teeth. My work uniform was a black v-neck shirt, and black skinny jeans. Minimal makeup followed teeth, and after I grab my jacket leaving my house. Kai's was just around the corner. Paranoia still surrounded me, little peeks over my shoulder and my fastened pace made sure to make it slightly obvious. I reached his bar safe and sound, pushing the entrance and entering the building, the slight clashing of cans on the door alerting people of my arrival.

It wasn't crowded yet, but knowing Kai's it would be full by nine tonight. His bar was always filled with the rowdiest people looking for a good night of drinking and watching the several games Kai always had playing. Kai was a nice man in his late twenties, who, rather than becoming a world-class surgeon like his father, opened a bar with his inheritance, and several nation-renowned resteraunts. He was very successful and charming, not forgetting attractive. His charming personality warmed crowds and kept the bar full, while his muscular build scared away those who wanted to start a fight. When I first started working there little girly crushes filled me, but now I was immune to his flirty ways. Most of the time anyways.

"Hey Less, could you give me a hand in the back retrieving more glasses?" Stella greeted me with a warm smile. She was very attractive to men and sometimes women with her beautiful blonde hair, and skinny body. Only the women though were lucky enough to score her number.

"Sure, just let me clock in really quick." Walking towards the back door I slide my time card in and place it in its slot. I throw a towel over my shoulder and walk towards the back, where Stella already was, as well as Max, our chef. For being such a short and young guy, he could put many cooks and chefs to shame. "Since it's Friday we'll need to bring more than normal out don't forget." Friday's were always our busiest days.

"Ha, like I would forget. After the whole Scott accident I'm sure Kai would tattoo that message to our foreheads if it happens again." Stella replied with a giggle.

"Scott looked so terrified when Kai approached him. I thought he was going to shit his pants." Max practically shouted, his laughter mixing with Stella's.

"Just like when Kai approached you about being late almost everyday last week Max." Max looked at me horrified at what I just said.

"I thought he was going to kill me!"

"So did Scott." I replied. Stella bursted into full blown laughs, as Max turned bright red. We were all friends in the workplace so I knew Max wouldn't mind the little bit of teasing done on my part.

"I didn't realize I paid you lout to stand around doing nothing." A voice rang loudly behind us. Max's face turned white and rushed off to the other side of the kitchen. Stella returned to stacking glasses onto the back rack to be used later, and I turned to face Kai.

"Kai! What brings you in today to this wonderful establishment of mine?" I say while grinning.

"This is my establishment Alessandra, and I can come whenever I want." He said, the corner of his lips twitching upwards slightly.

"Awe and here I was hoping that you were just visiting me. What a shame."

"And what makes you so special to make me want to come to my bar to just see you?"

"My loveable personality of course. If I'm not why you didn't come by today what is?" Kai's slight smile dropped suddenly, and I knew it wasn't going to be good.

"I'm sorry Alessandra." No, no this couldn't be happening. He couldn't be firing. The only time I messed up was when some guy groped my butt and I accidentally 'spilled' his drink on him, but that's why I worked behind the bar now.

"Please Kai, I'll do better, hell I'll do anything. Please don't." I begged. I needed this job. I've had it for almost the whole year. He can't just fire me now.

"Im sorry Aless. There is nothing I can do. I already told my mum you were my girlfriend." Wait, what?

"What the hell are you talking about Kai?"

"You thought I was firing you?" He cracks up, dimples exposed. "You're like my best bartender, why would I fire you?" He continued laughing until I punched him in the arm. "What the hell Less?!?"

"What do you mean 'What the hell?' What the hell is up with you? Why would you tell your mother I'm dating you?"

"I was joking about that to see your reaction, but the whole 'Please-don't-fire-me-reaction was way better." He was bent over now and his laughter filled the entire back room.

"You've got to be kidding me." I mutter as I make my way to the back to the bar to prepare the rest of it for tonight's rush.