Leo's Gold

One | Snicker Bars and Tequila

Leonard Calathey held his hand out to grab the snickers bar, his eyebrows raising as he thought about the pros and cons of eating the rich, silky smooth chocolate that hid in the brown and golden wrapper. He looked around the convenient store as he processed his internal, fleshly thoughts. The cashier was ringing up a little girl as she continued handing her handfuls of delicious looking treats that would most likely result in a horrible stomach ache later that day. What a joke I am to society. He breathed out a laugh through his nose before closing his eyes and grabbing the small bar from the shelf and firmly grasping it in his sweaty palms.

It's been two days since my last snickers. Two fucking days, Leonard, get a grip on yourself man. His brain continued throwing thoughts to him, hurting his not so manly ego as he pitifully grabbed a coke so he could wash down the bar down once he ate it in his car. Gathering himself, he hastily rushed to the counter and before he could stop himself he grabbed a packet of hubba bubba gum and slid it to the cashier who looked very amused at the man buying himself candy items. Leo fished out a ten dollar bill and grabbed the three items, one foot out the door already as he said "Keep the change."

Leo was in no way a man that would be embarrassed as to what he is buying. Once before he had gone into that very convenient store and bought three packets of skittles, two milky ways, and a cold Diet Coke, and walked out with a content smile on his face. Of course he knew the outcomes of these trips to the store he made almost four times a week. He would go jog it off every time, so it wasn't a big deal as to what he was eating, or how he was spending his rather low minimal wage pay check he receives every two weeks. The worst these more than once weekly trips would do is hurt him in the later run once he's ninety and struggling to bend over to get the remote, but that's a long time before then, so maybe his sugar addiction will end pretty soon. At least that's what he keeps telling himself every time the cashier looks at him with that same pitiful look.

The light breeze of Chicago hit Leo with the smell of burgers and delicious milkshakes of Pete's Diner, where he knew he would be dining at later that day. Man, do I love those strawberry milkshakes. He smiled to himself just thinking about the savoury flavour that would be going into his mouth hopefully sooner than later if he's lucky and gets off at his job, Vick's Bar early. Who am I kidding, that damned milkshake will probably have to wait until Sunday. He shook his head at the thought and ran a hand through his light brown hair before running his hand down to scratch at the stubble that was growing on his chin. But he still wore the smile he always had when walking down the busy streets of Chicago and he held his head high with pride rather than sulking in the nauseating feeling that he wouldn't be getting that mouth watering milkshake for at least two more days.

Soon, the cheerful man made it to his ran down car and tried opening the drivers side of the door, only to realize for once he was smart enough to lock the damn thing. Placing the coke he had bought from the store on the top of the vehicle, he dug into his pockets for the keys to the old mustang his father had given him on his eighteenth birthday. His hands dug further into the pockets as his mouth scowled out a grunt of frustration. Shit, I should have checked the forecast, it's fucking hot out here. His eyes widened as he heard the familiar sound of his keys rattling. He twisted his fingers around, only to then slide his index finger on the sharpest key he had and cut the skin. "Fuck." He murmured to himself, biting his lip as the key once more cut him before he fished the key set out of his pocket.

For a moment he just squinted at the keys. It was almost as if he were trying to have a staring contest with metal keys that had somehow gotten stuck in his pocket. "Damned key." He groaned, before reaching down to unlock the old car and hastily slide in before closing the door with a loud slam. Leo looked ahead of him at the traffic that was building up in the busy city and sighed, turning the key and starting the engine up. Switching the radio to his good ole Guns and Roses playlist, he turned the volume up and once more ran a hand through his messy and sweaty hair. He looked at himself through the mirror, studying his green eyes that looked like they hadn't closed in years, and decided he would go home and take a much needed nap after all that shit he had to go through to just get a damned snickers bar.

He looked at the time on the car that read, 3:54, and nodded to himself. He had more than plenty of time to take a good nap before he had to haul himself into the bar until whatever time Vick, the owner would let him leave. Deciding it was best to leave before he got a parking ticket that he wouldn't be able to pay off anytime soon, he pushed the stick into drive and his foot hit the gas, as he slowly pulled out of the spot he was in, to get into the traffic that was building up rather fast.

And it was then, he had realized he was thirsty, very thirsty. He reached down to grab the cold coke he had bought from the store only to realize it was not in the cup holder. He shook his head at himself as he looked back in the rear view mirror and saw a busted can of coke laying on the ground that he had forgotten to get off the roof of his car.

Sage Amor was struggling to decipher on if she wanted to go into the bar, or simply get back in her car and drive home and cry to herself and take a bath. She couldn't help but squirm at the feeling of another night filled with crying and tissues all over the bed and floor. But the bar, that is filled with shady men, who want to forget about their poor wives at home for the night were definitely not on her to-do list. Rocking back and forth on her feet she looked up at the bar sign that read 'Vick's Bar' with red neon lights behind it. Pursing her full lips, she looked down at her attire and shrugged. "Why not?"

So many nights for the past two months were spent on crying over the same person who hurt her. Who broke her. Parker Bancroft, the same guy who she had been with since freshman year at highschool, whom she shared everything with, graduated with, and then found cheating on her with some girl from downtown. And finally after two months of dwelling on him, Sage walked through the doors of the bar, sat down at the counter and ordered a shot of tequila to further the process of getting over the jerk.  The drink was bitter and tasted of like battery acid, and it burned all the way down. She coughed and forced herself to swallow. She hoped the taste was worth it, when it would all end.

One shot turned into six, and by six, Sage could feel the pain fading. Instead of the heavy weight of heart break, there was a soothing numbness that made her feel like time had stopped all was right once again. Like the olive trees were blossoming in spring, the lucid thoughts that would flow from ones brain to the next of how beautiful nature is and how wonderful it feels to be outside. It felt as if she was floating in the sky to where she could look down at people and easily pick out who is who, and know all their secrets and their intentions.

And even though it would end in the morning, and she knew this, she felt whole once again. Like the world was shining on her and on her only. Like she was the flickering candle in a dark room.

••••

Author's Note

This is only the beginning. The characters will meet in the next chapter so stay tuned!