VALERIE

Eighty

The concept of time was so unreal to Nick at this very low point of his life.

Day was day, night was night.

He didn't care to keep track of it anymore.

His depression came right around the time he realized he was wallowing in his own self pity and misery.

He spent his hazy days and lonely nights at bars, drinking, taking drugs, having sex, and being a complete mess.

Tonight was no different as he raised the glass of gin to his chapped lips, he took a long drink from it, indulging in the bitter sweet nectar.

"We should get going." The beautiful stripper who was sitting on his lap whispered into his ear.

Nick shook his head, "Not yet." He slurred out avoiding the girls vibrant green eyes.

The bartender glared at Nick as he watched the young kid take the last drink of gin from his glass.

Loudly placing his glass on the counter Nick hiccuped, "Can I get more?" He asked the bartender who shook his head.

"Nick you're not even 21 yet, just go home." He replied with a heavy gaze, Nick chuckled for a split second.

"I didn't fucking ask how old I was I asked for another drink."

The bartender shook his head in disapproval and looked at the stripper, "Candy, get him out of here."

Candy nodded, "Let's go." She whispered getting off of his lap and adjusting her bra.

Nick shook his head, "I can't! Not yet." He mumbled stupidly.

Lifting her eyebrow Candy scoffed, "Why?"

"I can still see her." He replied sadly, slumping his head onto the counter top.

Parting her lips to speak, Candy sighed, "Nick, you can't keep doing this every night."

Nick picked his head up, "Shut up."

"I'm serious, it's been almost two months, all you do is come in here and drink until you don't know what you're doing."

The guy sitting beside Nick laughed heartily, "This dumbass."

Nick slowly rose his head up and turned it to the guy who was sitting next to him, a man probably in his late 20's or early 30's giving him a smug stare.

"Wanna say that again?" Nick questioned vehemently, the man snorted and took a drink from his mug.

Leaning closer to Nick he snarled, "I said you're a dumbass."

Nick nodded his head slowly, his eyebrows creasing up and his smile curling upwards, he reached for the empty glass cup in front of him and quickly smashed it against the man's face.

"Security!" The bartender shouted out frantically as the other spectators became silent, and the current girls who were dancing stopped along with the music.

"Nick stop it." Candy demanded in fear but he didn't, Nick was fighting with the guy full on, some other guy got involved and now it was two against one, the other guy hit Nick square in the jaw and the other one helped by kicking his ribs.

"Break it up." One of the two bouncers that came said pulling everyone apart, laying straight on his back laughing hysterically was Nick.

"Fuck off of me." Nick slurred out while being forcefully picked up by one of the muscular bouncers.

The bouncer placed his hand firmly on Nick's shoulder and gripped it, only for Nick to fall again in his drunken stupor.

Finally outside, Candy met up with them.