Nightmare

One

I was working a normal shift at the office, as I do everyday.
When it came time to go home I was exhausted but I wanted a drink like I do every so often. I decide to look on yelp for a new bar to drop by tonight.

I come across one, Cupid's Boy, it seems new. No reviews, but seems close so I grab my coat and walk out of the office.

"You leaving Maddox?" Laura our secretary asks, sounding more like a statement. She has her shirt unbuttoned way too low to be professional, and she chews on the end of her pen.  Giving me lustrous eyes.
"Yep" I roll my eyes and walk in to the refreshing air of the night.
"See ya to-" I cut her off.

I walk a few blocks down the road, not even bothering to get in my car. I'll just call an Uber later.

I continue to walk as I loosen my tie and unbutton my shirt two buttons and I can breathe again.  I walk another block and my navigation says to turn down the alley. I look at the map confused, and hesitantly enter the alley. But as soon as I do, I see the pink sign shining down on the gravel road.
It's bright as I read "Cupid's Boy".

I shrug and open the door.

I walk in and it's dark, but oddly doesn't smell like alcohol. There's people scattered around beautiful tables made of some sort of tree. They looked mystical. They had centerpieces of white and some other color of flowers. The light in here was purple and it wasn't very bright. I continued to look around and wandered over to the actual bar, and sat on a stool. There was a tiny blonde woman behind the bar polishing a glass.

I didn't pay much attention to her, but she walked over to me and looked up. Eyes blue and sharp. "What're ya havin sugar?" She said with a thick southern accent.

"What's good here?" I laughed a little to ease the anxious feeling I felt from her harsh stare.
"Well, we have some great choices, I make a mean blue raspberry vodka cocktail, but I like to call it Hocus Pocus." She giggles and her eyes go big.

I smile "I'll try that". She nods and turns away to start my drink. Her hair meets the low part of her back. It's so long but she also doesn't seem tall at all. Maybe 4'11. Probably weighs less than 115.
I stop staring so I don't seem like a creep.

I continue to look around at the forest - esc bar. It really seemed like this place was from some sort of fairy tale.

She walks back over to me and places the drink down. I thank her and she disappears behind the bar. I look at the drink and it's the bluest blue I've ever seen. It looks like there are sparkles in it, along with a really red cherry. I don't know why my eyes seem to be playing games on me. Maybe it's just this fluorescent light.  I take a sip and it's amazing.
After I drink it about halfway, the bartender comes back out and exits the bar and comes to sit next to me.

"So. You're new" she says.
I nod. "Yeah I am, but so is this bar isn't it?"
She shakes her head, "Nah I've owned this place for about three years." I nod and don't question it.
"Never heard of it before, but it's lovely in here." I say.
She smiles "Well thank ya darlin'! I've worked hard on this place."

I nod again. "Wait you own this place? Does anybody else work here?"

"No just me, when I moved here from Louisiana, my only plan was opening this place. I'd sleep in the back if I'd had to." She ranted. " well I'm just doddlin' on now ain't I?" She laughs at herself.
I smile. "Don't worry, I don't mind" I said " but don't you need to help anyone else?" I ask as I look around the bar, to see everyone has cleared out. "ah shit are you closing?"
"Yeah, but I don't mind your company." She blushes. "Oh I'm sorry I don't mean to be so blunt. That probably seemed weird. I'm just gonna excuse myself." She stands up and starts to walk away,
"c'mon now lily." She says to herself and disappears behind the bar again.

I leave a 20 on the bar and stand up to leave.  I walk out of the bar and start to walk when I hear the bar door open again.
"Thank you for comin sugar!" She smiles and waves.
I grin "Thank you." I say and wave goodbye. 
She quickly disappears behind the door again and I hear the lock click.

When I get home I strip off all my clothes and just pass out on the couch.
•••
When I wake up, it's 9:30. Saturday. I wanted to get into the office today to finish up some papers early, but I think I'll just stay home.

I walk to the bathroom and look in the mirror. My short curly hair a mess, my freckles look more prominent, and my eye bags are horrible. I look at my slim body and my unhealthy appearance.
Wow I need to take better care of myself.

I get in the shower, after that I get dressed, make breakfast, and chill on the couch, I look outside at the dismal day as always. But that's just New York for you.

I must have fallen asleep on the couch because I wake up to a knock on the door. I stand up and stretch. One of my sweatpants legs is up my calf and my bare chest is getting goosebumps. I grab a blanket and wrap it around me. I drag myself to the door still half asleep.
I open it and the small girl from the bar was standing there holding my wallet.

"Oh, hello." I say a little surprised.

She giggles, "I'm sorry, this is probably weird, and your probably wondering how I know where you live, but you left your wallet at the bar last night, and your address was on your ID."
That's weird because I could've sworn I took my wallet out of my pocket last night when I got home.
I mentally shrug and smile.

"Well thank you, would you like to come in?"  She nods and walks in.

She had on a fairy like dress that had loose sleeves and it kinda hugged her waist, but was loose down to her feet.
Her hair was done up like Daenerys from Game of Thrones.  She was beautiful.

I put the blanket back down on the couch and fix my pant leg.

"Well your house is charming." She says. "What do you do for a livin'?"

"I work for my dad, he owns a real estate company, but he bought me this place when I was about 17." I say and motion for her to sit on the couch.

She sits and nods. "So you were brought up nice." She smiles.

"I mean it wasn't perfect no, my mom left my dad when me and my sister were young, but for the most part yeah, I guess you could say so." I shrug. "Oh I don't think I got your name last night." I laugh.

"Aww shucks I'm sorry, I'm Lily Cain." She blushes. "I'm sorry I'm bad at introducing myself."

"No don't worry." I smile. "I forgot too. I'm Maddox."

She smiles "would you like to have lunch with me today Maddox?"

A goofy grin spreads on my face and I nod, "sure".