Friday night in Los Angeles always become a long and sleepless night. All restaurant, nightclubs, and bars are full of people who looking for entertainment, including the bar I work in. Standing for over eight hours, serving food, cleaning up after customers, washing glassware, & another side work is always been my job. I glace at my watch and it shows 1:45 am. I wave my hand at the guard outside the bar and signal them to close the gate. There are some guests that still sit delicately even though they know the bar will close soon. My coworkers and I spread around the bar and clean the floor and tables. The guests leave one by one when they realize that I turned the music off. I approach an old man sleeping on a lounge, intend to wake him up.
"Sir, wake up. The bar's gonna close soon." I said as shaking his arm. He opens his eyes and sits for a minute. He stands up slowly and leaves the bar by himself.
I look around the bar for one more time. I ensure myself that everything is clean. The tables are clean; the chairs are neatly arranged, and the floor's clean with no puke or spilled drink left. It's done. I follow my friends who are chatting in the locker room. I say goodbye to them as I grab my jacket and my bag. I check my phone and the time shows 2.45 am.
"Lyra!"
"Damn Alexa! You don't have to startle me like that! Can I borrow your lighter?" I said. Alexa gives me her lighter and I take my cigarette out of my bag. I light it up and smoke it deeply. So does Alexa.
"Do you have free time on Sunday night?"
"Sunday night? I'm free at night, because I have a morning shift on Sunday. What's the matter?"
"So, I bought two tickets of 5 Seconds of Summer concert for Sunday."
"And?"
"And, actually I didn't have a friend to go with." Alexa said sheepishly. I'm gaping at her.
"So why on earth did you buy two tickets if you see them by yourself?"
"That's why I'm asking you to go with me! Actually, I was planning to go with my friend, but she cancelled it because her boyfriend said that his parent wanted to meet her." A disappointment appears on her face.
"Okay." I answered her. I smoke my cigar for the last time before I throw it away.
"YES! As my gratitude, let me drive you home." She grabs my hand and opens the car door for me.
"But you drive me home every day." I said before get in the car. She chokes on air and awkwardly turns the car on. I giggle watching her reaction. We talk about everything on my way to home, from what happened in the bar today, vacation plan, and Albert.
"Do you still live with Albert?"
"Of course. He's like a brother to me."
Alexa, Albert, and I were friends in high school. I met Alexa when I attended my classmate's birthday party. She was a shy and quiet girl, actually. She wouldn't talk to everyone unless someone started the conversation first. I saw her sitting alone in the room's corner, so I accompanied her and talked to her. Since then, we became so close like a sibling. Her confidence began to grow, and she was not as quite as before. We separated for almost a year after the graduation, and we met again when she offered me a job by Facebook message, which is my current job now.
We arrive at my apartment ten minutes later.
"So see you on Sunday."
"I guess we still meet at work tomorrow?" I said as jump off her car.
"I take days off on the weekend." She said giggly.
"Damn! But thanks for the ride though. And don't forget to pick me up on Sunday." I take a step backward and she waves me good bye.
I reach my key in my bag and as soon as I open the door; the darkness greets me. I walk to my room without turning the lamp on. I lay down for a minute to lessen my backache. Migraine grows on the right side of my head. The only sound echoes in my room is the clock ticking, and my heartbeat. I get up and clean my face with makeup remover and walk to the bathroom. All my tiredness is gone, washed up by the warm water. I rinse myself when I realize that my fingers are wrinkled for staying in the water for too long. I check my phone and it's 3.25 am. I put on my pajama, take a pill of aspirin, and go to sleep as soon as I can, hoping that this fucking headache will be gone.
I wake up by the sound of my alarm on the night table. It's 7.30 am. I turn it off and go to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth.
"Good morning." A raspy sound from a man I live with greets me.
"Morning, Al. Why do you wake up so early?"
"I have a meeting at 9 with my client. What time did you go home last night?" He asked while making two cups of coffee in front of him.
He is Al, Albert Miles. He was my senior in high school. I met him when my ex boyfriend introduced me to him. Al and my ex were football player in my high school. Every time they had a football competition, I always came to support them. That's why I knew him very well. I consider him as my older brother, because I don't have a brother, but other than that, he is the one that taking care of me, and my medication. No, I'm not having a chronic disease some sort. I'm just on a battle with depression and anxiety. Those two things sometimes make me wide awake at night; mostly because I had a nightmare, or even I didn't sleep at all.
"Hey." His touch on my arm bringing me back to the reality.
"What?"
"You seem lost in your thought. Is there something wrong?" He asks. I can see a discomfort in his eyes. I just smile and not answering his question.
"I was home around 3, I guess." I sip a coffee that Al made. The smell really wakes me up. I see Al put his cup on the table and look me in the eye.
"Are you awake now or you did not sleep at all?" He asks uneasily.
"I've slept, Al. I'm okay. I'm not on the red code now." Al and I agreed to use term 'green, yellow, red' for my mood.
"If you need it, just tell me."
Even though I'm dealing with my mental issues, I don't want myself addicted to any anti-depressant or any other medicine related with my issues, since I don't have a good history with them. That's why every time I see my therapist, I ask Al with me. He is the one that know anything about me and my medication.
"What do you want for breakfast?" I ask him. I open the fridge and waiting for Al to answer. "Al!" I shout at him because he didn't answer me.
"Yes! I found it! I want sandwich!" he shouts back at me while lifting a TV remote high.
"Dumbass."
Ten minutes later, two plates of sandwich are neatly placed on the dining table. We are eating at peace while accompanied by the sound from the TV.
"I go to concert on Sunday night."
"What concert? With whom?"
"5SOS concert. I go with Ally." Al just stays silent hearing my answer.
"Ally? Ally who?" it's my turn to stay silent. What a weird name I gave for her.
"Alexa. Sorry." I giggle at him.
"This is why I hate you! You always use a weird and stupid nickname for someone. Ally for Alexa? Tsk, weird."
"Shut up."
***
YOU ARE READING
Keep Me in Your Heart // Ashton Irwin //
Fanfiction"We'll meet again. Until that time, keep me in your heart."
