Shot Through The Heart [On Hold]

Chapter One: The Way I Met Him

I slipped through the doors of the Labratory without being seen. I hated the name, especially since it was spelled wrong. I had tried telling him laboratory was spelled with an “O”, but he said he had spelled it wrong on purpose so the middle letters spelled bra instead of bora. I asked why and he said, “It’s better cause the girls serve drinks in lingerie.” I had stopped asking questions after that. I served drinks, wore trash, and kept quiet. 

I’m not saying people who do or like jobs like this are bad or trash or anything. I just don’t like this job personally. It’s not really my style. I still defend it if someone thinks I’m no good. But, I don’t care for it. At all. I had changed into the costume that had been set out for me. Hot red lingerie with black lace. They wanted me to seem dangerous and sultry. I also noticed that they listened to my request and had “Amelia” printed on the name tag. I hated customers knowing my real name. It made my skin crawl. I sat at the table and let my hair out of it’s ponytail. Limp curls and red lipstick. 

Then mascara, eyeliner, and glittery eyeshadow. Then I was done. I stood and took a deep breath. I turned to the ugly door that would open up to reveal my future. I started towards it and no sooner had I opened it, then a bunch of wolf whistles and “Oh yeahs!” greeted me. I scoffed and headed towards the bar. I smiled at a few regulars who didn’t cause trouble. I was smiling at someone named Matt or Mark. Something like that. 

Then a hand clamped onto my wrist and yanked me on top of a hard body. “Hey baby!”, some drunk asshole slurred into my ear. “Let go!”, I yelled over the music, trying to wrench my arm away. “Awww. You don’t wanna play with me today honey?” I tore my arm free. “Quit it Tommy.”, I said, before turning and marching to the bar. I hopped over the edge of the bar and saw Kim dancing on the bar-top opposite of me and Cindy. Cindy smiled at me and went back to making drinks. 

Since they were both occupied, I grabbed a rag and started wiping down the deserted part of the bar. Well, deserted except for one guy. He was tall, African-American, and seemed very...preoccupied. He kept staring into his drink, then looking off in the distance. It wasn’t towards any girl, just the wall. I walked over to him. “Need anything else?”, I asked casually. He shook his head and stared into his drink. “Dude, you look really depressed.”, I told him. 

His head lifted and he cracked a small smile. “Do I?”, he asked. I nodded and his smile softened. “Guess I have a lot on my mind.”, he said, shrugging and tossing back his drink. “Tell me about it.”, I pressed, leaning over the counter and hoping he’d talk. I really didn’t want to dance tonight since Tommy was here. He shook his head. “I don’t want to bother you.”, he stated. I grabbed a new glass, and mixed another gin and tonic. I grabbed the empty glass from between his hands and placed the full one down. He smiled and sighed. 

“You really want to know?”, he asked. I nodded. He proceeded to tell me about his best friend, who was acting strange. “What do you mean, strange?”, I asked.  He shrugged. “He’s different. He’s not himself lately, and I don’t know what to do.” I nodded. “I know what you mean.”, I told him sympathetically. I patted his hand. “Cara!”, Cindy yelled from the other side of the bar. “Excuse me a minute.”, I tell the man. “I thought your name was Amelia.”, he said, pointing to my name tag, clearly confused. 

I stopped. Oh shit. “Um, it’s not. Amelia is my club name. I don’t like using my real name on the stage.”, I rattle out nervously. He seems to accept this and nods understandingly. I rush over to Cindy. “What?”, I hiss at her. She’s taken aback by my behavior. “Um, it’s your turn.”, she says pointing to the bar. “I can’t. I’m helping a customer. Have Kim dance my turn. You know she’d love to.”, I tell Cindy. Cindy debates this. She finally shrugs and says, “Whatever.”