Rules & Roses

s i x

Rain.

Why is it always raining?

Like, really. 

I sigh and grab my sweatshirt, throwing it over my head and pulling it down, not bothering with fixing my hair, I have ponytails.

ding.

Alan: Here.

Tieing my shoes, I grumble a 'bye' to my again hungover dad, and walk out the door.  It was gray, with somewhat darker clouds in the sky, and not really a sun. I could see darker clouds rolling in, meaning it wouldn't stop raining for maybe a few days. Great. 

"Sup' Jas?" Alan asked when I opened the door and sat down in the passenger seat. I sighed, 

"Nothing much, same ol' same ol' I guess." I reply, crossing my arms over my chest. Since I was still on suspension, Alan decided to take the time to do some research

"So, I did a bit of research about those newspaper arcticles and news broadcasting clips we found," Alan started. "And I found a few things I think may be helpful." He continued as he stopped and turned right at the crossing. 

"And that is?" I ask as he pulled into a Sonic ordering space. 

"There in my backpack in the back, check them out while I order us lunch. What do you want?" He asked while he rolled down the window. 

"I will eat just about anything at this point." I reply as I lean over the seat to grab the backpack as he ordered from the drive-thru. 

"There's a place I know we can go to as well..." I say as I crawl back into my chair, opening the navy blue backpack, pulling out a navy blue spiral notebook. Alan has a thing with navy blue that I don't understand. 

"What's that place?" Alan asks as he rolls up his window and shifts into drive, moving forward. 

"You'll have to see when we get there. I can give you an address and a street, but you'd kill me if you knew where we were going." I reply as Alan stops at the next window. I pull out my phone and google 'Sarah Marlo':

Sarah Elaine Marlo

Born on April 15th, 1982, in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Became an Author at age 25, a few months before marrying Reol Marlo, 

Became a mother at age 27, giving birth to Jasper Valerie Marlo. 

Disappered at age 42, leaving behind her daughter and husband. 

I clicked off my phone when Alan placed a McDonalds bag in my lap. 

"Okay, where are we going?" Alan asked after pulling out of the drive-thru and into the freeway. 

"To information." Was my only reply

----------

"No."

"Alan, come on! I know a guy who has information!" I argue, crossing my arms over my chest. 

"Jasper, I'm not letting you go in there! You could get hurt!" Alan exclaimed, using his arm to gesture to the building we were parked at. 

"Alan, I can handle myself! You have to let me do this!" I say, not backing down. 

"Jasper, No! I can't let you do this!"

"You can't exactly stop me, can you?" I reply as I grab the backpack, swinging it over my shoulder as I walk to the doors, and I hear Alan hurry to close the car door and rush behind me. 

I sighed.

-----------

The strobe lights were blinding. 

I didn't think you'd need strobe lights in a bar, but okay. 

I avoid the crowds of now dancing people and blaring music pounding in my eardrums. 

"JAS- IS-PLACE?!" Alan yelled in my ear, yet I still couldnt hear him.

"KEEP MOVING!" I try to yell over the music, Alan nodded, grimacing, with his hands over his ears, and followed me to the actual bar part, where it was surprisingly much quieter. 

"Hello, what can I get you on this fine evening?" The bartender asks in a soothing tone, he had dirty blonde hair that laid flat over his forehead, He was wearing a white button-up shirt, with brown Kakhis, and formal shoes, with a red apron covering his chest, and a nametag that read "Matthew".

"Hi, Matthew...I was wondering if I could speak to Will?" I ask in my nicest voice. Mathews eyes widen, then he composes himself again in the flash of a second. "You can't see him." He says' flatly, then goes back to cleaning his shot glass. 

I try again, "Can I please speak to Will?" 

"No."

"May I please speak to Will?" 

"No."

"May I please speak to--"

"Matthew, Will wishes to speak with our guest."  Another man from behind the counter said in a whisper, Mathew sighed, nodded, and left.

"Mr. Murray will be with you in a minute. In the mean time, would you like anything? On the house." The new person asked. 

I shook my head, but Alan said, "I'll take a water please." The bartender nodded, and left. 

I turned around to face Alan. "Sooo, who's Will?" He asked me, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Dunno--"

"How do you not know? You were so persistent with that bartender--"

"Jasper!" A voice from behind me exclaimed. 

I turned back around to face the bar, and Will stood there with his arms out. 

"Hello, Will, long time no see huh?" I reply, leaning against the tabletop.

Will had a mop of messy, but still done, brown hair, extremely blue eyes,- Now that I think about it, he looked like Alan a little. -He had a black button-up shirt on, with Kahkis' and dress shoes, much like his staff. He didn't have a nametag on his shirt, He had a scar on his left bicep, and going across the left side of his neck, hastily covered in small amounts of makeup, and a beach-like tan. 

"What brings you to my Bar, Jasper Marlo?" He asked, going under the counter for something. The other Bartender came back with Alans water, sliding it across the table to Alan, who stopped it and took a drink. 

"Alan, I wouldn't--" I started, and Will cut me off.

"Its simply water, Jasper. Do you think I would actually--"

"Yes."

"Fair point."

"What?" Alan asked, shocked. I looked at him with a 'you're in trouble' sort of look. His sea green eyes glazed over, the glass he was holding slipped out of his hand, his knees buckled and gave out under him, and he collapsed. 

I lunged out to try to catch him, but Will grabbed my wrist to hold me back while two bartenders came and carried Alan behind the counter. 

"Now then, Jasper Marlo, Take a seat."

END OF S I X