Find Her Keeper

Chapter One

My mother quietly wakes me up, telling me to stay quiet. Her normally caring joyful expression is replaced by seriousness and fear. She shoves me in a closet. "Don't come out or scream. No matter what.", she whispers the command. She goes to hide my little sister who is doing everything she can to not cry loudly. A few men in solid black suits burst into the bedroom and grabs my mother by her blonde hair. Dragging her to the middle of the room.  A man comes in, his white t-shirt freshly stained with blood. He steps in front of her, staring her down. He opens his mouth to speak. I can't hear anything other than my own heartbeat. He stares at the woman, who is glaring daggers at him. He slams the bottom of his gun against her face, causing her to fall to the side. She looks up at the man sternly as her mouth moves to say something. Whatever it is the man did not like it. He brings the top of the gun to his face and closes his eyes, as though he's frustrated. He opens his eyes and looks down her. My mother hides all fear behind her rage. He cocks his head to the side then points the end of the barrel at her. BAM!

My eyes snap open to hearing my alarm go off for school. I hit the snooze button and roll out of bed with a deep sigh. Pushing the nightmare to back of my head. I get dressed and grab my book bag. Running down to the parking garage of my apartment and grab my bicycle. I peddle down to an old factory that is now owned by S.C.A.D. I chain my bike to a pole and walk up the front steps. Looking up at the words above the old entrance. 'Savannah College of Art and Design'. I smile to myself in pride. "My last year. Who would've thought?" I mumble. A little sad that after May nineth I won't be attending classes here anymore. I snap out of my thoughts and run up to my class so I'm not late.

Building to building. Class to class. The day goes by fast, like normal. After the last class of the day, I ride down to East River Street. I park my bike and make sure the chains on my bike are on tight enough so no one steals it. Again. I walk around to see what new stuff is selling. Noticing there are more tourists today than normal. It's about six in the evening and about forty degrees. The wind coming off the water makes it feel colder. 'It's the middle of February. Why  the fuck are there so many tourists out this evening?' I think to myself.

Once it hits seven-thirty, I walk across the street. Walking into an underground bar. A man around his 40s looks up, with his brown puppy like eyes, at the sound of the entry bell. "Hey, Jamie." I say as I tie my apron around my waist. "Good evening, Blair. How was school?" He says as he grabs a rag and wipes down the counter. "Same as always. But I have a project that's due next week." I pull my long light brown hair up in a pony tail and walk around the counter. "What kind of project?"
"I have to take pictures of something that is overlooked, but has a deeper meaning or history behind it."

"Well when we close you can take photos of this place. I mean this bar has been here about 150 years. I'm sure you can find one story of this place that goes with your project." He lays the rag in a bucket filled with now dirty white vinegar mixed with water. "Really? You'll let me take pictures of the bar?" I ask, shocked. "Long as you are respectful and make this bar look aesthetically pleasing. Maybe we can get more customers." Jamie says nonchalantly. I pick up the bucket, "Thank you. Once I edit the pictures I'll let you pick your favorite ones. Okay?" "Sounds good." He gives me subconscious, lazy half-salute.

I take the bucket to the kitchen and dump the dirty water down the drain. Quickly refilling the bucket with hot water and pour more vinegar in it. I grab a new rag and setting it on the side on the bucket then grabbing another, throwing it over my shoulder. I take the bucket and set it under bar.

I lean against the counter while Jamie refills a few guys' glasses of whatever they ordered. Zoning out by accident. The nightmare comes back, replaying in my head.

My boss snaps his fingers in front of my face. "Focus, Blair. Customers are starting to pile in." He states with authority. "And call Alex. Looks like tonight will be busy. Cassie will be here shortly to be our dishwasher tonight." "Yes, sir." I call Alex asking him to come in.

After a few hours it seems that Jamie was right about it going to be busy. "What's with all these people tonight?" I mumble to myself as another small grove of people walk in. "It's Valentine's Day weekend, remember?" I groan. "Right. That holiday." The new kid scoffs at my comment. "Guessing you hate Valentine's Day?" I turn to him, as he puts a Bloody Mary and a few beers on a tray, "Yes, I absolutely hate Valentine's Day. It's an overrated holiday. You buy flowers, teddy bears, and chocolates for you s/o because of a holiday? And people proposing because of it, is so cliched. It urks me." Alex seems amused by my hatred for such an idiotic holiday. "Why does it "urk" you?" I set a gin and tonic infront of a couple, that look like they might jump each other at any minute. "Because its an excuse to buy things and not be expected to make an actual effort at any other time. You can get the person you are with or like flowers, candy, stuffed animals, and what-nots any day. But people don't because then they will be expected to do stuff like that all the time. It's a huge cop out." Alex laughs, "Just wait until you love someone. You'll be the one that goes all out." "Bullshit."

Our boss steps up next to us, "Blair, I need you to man the bar tonight. Charlie is coming in, to help Alex on the floor. And I need to go do some paper work." A since of pride over comes me. "Of course, sir." He nods and walks in his office, closing the door behind him.

"That made you a bit happy." Alex states. "I love bartending. Get part of all tips and I don't have socialize with more people than the ones at the bar. Hell yeah I'm happy." I smile at him as he rolls his eyes and walks off to go take some orders.

After a few minutes Charlie walks up to me. "Hey. So what section I get tonight?" She asks as she gets herself set before going to get orders from customers. "You get section B tonight, but you may have to help the new kid with section A if he gets swamped. So check in with him from time to time." She looks over the sea of people to see the blue-eyed freckled kid, Alex. "Sounds like it will be a fun night then." I scoff, "Oh definitely. Maybe Jamie will let us stay late tonight and let us get some drinks of our own for once?" "Ha! Keep wishing, sweetheart." I give her a look and she raises her hands in surrender . "Yeah. Yeah. You hate being called 'sweetheart'. I know." She smiles and walks off.

Once I start taking and filling orders, I get caught up in it that I don't realize that my mind isn't thinking about fifteen million other things like normal.

Just this. Forced flirtation with people who are trying too hard, or too drunk. Doing my best to stay out of couple conversations. I hear a couple start getting into a heated conversation; so I go to the opposite side of the bar. "What would you like to drink, sir?" I look down at my little notepad, getting ready to write drinks down. "Kit?" I instantly look up at the owner of the voice on the other side of the bar. Hearing that name makes my blood go cold; frozen in place as the room spins around me. Memories of the people who once called me that nickname rush to me all at once. The man's hazel eyes widen in disbelief.