Drowned Out Love *ON HOLD

2. Just Another Day At Work

POV:? ? ? ?

" I guess it's been a rough day," I say while drying and hanging up glasses.

"What. Sorry I wasn't paying attention?"

"We don't usually have this many day drinkers, so it's probably been a rough day," I state giving more details than I had originally. We'll see soon enough when the Princess gives her daily statement. Thinking of which I should get the TV's turned on.

"So the pretty princess hasn't found a mate yet? I would have thought they'd be actively searching given the fact that she'll be 18 soon." I hear someone say as I get our regulars another round. I get the drinks to our customers and It's at that moment that we hear the voice of none other than the princess come on to the TV. People don't completely stop what they are doing but it does get noticeably quieter.

She talks for about 15 minutes then walks out the camera's view and everyone goes back to normal. Now I can hear people talking about how she shouldn't be allowed to decide anything because she's so young. That comment kind of annoys my wolf, but I can see where they get that notion given the fact that we have had a steady increase of 'accidental' deaths. No one actually thinks it's accidental, and that she's trying to hide something.

My wolf seems to be getting annoyed at how I'm not defending her, but I'm not going to force my way into someone else's conversation. If anything I think my wolf feels more than loyalty to our leader and in all actuality has a crush on her. That seems to shut him up, and he doesn't even deny it.

As I get back behind the bar I see my ex-girlfriend sashay my way obviously drunk. I stop putting bottles of liquor away and turn to her with my arms crossed.

"Why do you look so grumpy all the time, mister grumpy pants? Is it that you miss meeee?" she slurs and attempts to bat her eyes. She must have thought the bar were higher because she had her hands under her chin and tried to set her elbows on the counter. She looked like she was trying to be graceful when in reality her elbows made a loud thunk and almost lost her balance.

"What do you want?" I ask with boredom and annoyance on my face, except my voice came out sounding riddled with concern.

"Oh I knew youuoouu still cared about me," she said slowly like she was putting forth more effort to stagger to a stool at her right. It probably would have gone smoother if she had lifted her elbows but no she just slid them along with a look of satisfaction on her face that I had cared even just a little bit. She sat down and stared at me dreamily like I was glowing.

I raised my eyebrows like when I say 'yeah totally' with high amounts of sarcasm. I turned to grab her some crackers and went back to work ignoring her. She tried to get me to notice her a few more times and I told Louie to cut her off because she was annoyingly drunk.

Let's just say she didn't like that idea and started to throw a fit. As soon as that started I sent Louie a look that told him I would be back after taking her home. He just nodded and looked relieved.

She didn't complain about me putting my arm around her shoulder and guiding her out. However, it took a lot of effort to not growl at her when she snuggled into my chest. Instead, I just scowled. Our walk was slow because she kept stumbling, but that's why I had my arm around her. We passed a few people who gave her glances like she was some strange creature. It didn't surprise me because she's still so young and it isn't exactly appropriate for her to be a day drinker.

When I get to her parent's house I'm about to knock on the door when her younger brother opens it. He nods his head for us to come in and asks I need anything; I just shake my head no. I didn't see why we could never get along. We weren't all that different but didn't hate each other so it was never something I would put much effort in.

He helps me get his sister to the couch, which she started giggling about until she realized I had let go of her. She put on an exaggerated pout and almost whimpered. I turned to her brother telling him my goodbyes and promptly left. It was almost four now and we would get the dinner rush soon so I took up a faster pace back to the Batty Howler Bar.

As I walked back I passed by a few of the royal guards that were off duty and overheard their conversation.

"I feel so sorry for Etric."

"Yah I would hate to have to chaperone that heartless royal."

"Saying things like that in public isn't very smart, but I agree. We aren't babysitters, but it isn't my problem."

" Yah well I've never heard him complain about it so I wonder if he truly is just her guardian or if there is something else going on. If you know what I mean."

That was the last thing I could hear without making it obvious that I was eavesdropping. Again my wolf was anything but happy about what they had said. As I walked back into the bar Louie commented about how I looked. I guess my wolf was making me look outwardly pissed about what those guards had said.

"So she really got under your skin?" Louie spoke to me with his back to me.

At that comment I looked up almost lost in thought trying to figure out why that conversation would do that. Then it occurred to me that he was talking about my ex. He probably didn't hear any of that conversation so he wouldn't know why I really was upset. He looked up and probably thought that the look of deep thought and lack of answer was I just confirming what he had said. I just nodded because I really didn't want to have to explain the conversation that I had just overheard to my boss.

I dropped the conversation, as I smelled my mother walk in. I looked up at her and removed all remnants of previous thought from my face. However, her being my mom she knew something was up. Which lead to her asking " What happened?" with her very affectionate voice that would have the consistency of warm honey if it were possible to touch it.

So I answered mostly truthfully " I just got back from walking my drunk ex home," and she knew exactly whom I was talking about. I had only ever dated two girls and one of them I referred to by nickname because we were still friends. She is also part of the reason I got a job here given the fact that she is Louie's only daughter.

I change the topic of conversation with my mom "I'll be off work in just over and hour when dinner time staff get here. If you want dinner I can take your order now?"

" No I'll wait for you to get done, however I'll have my usual wine." With that she walks over to a corner booth and takes out a books to read while she waits.

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