Where Two Collide

Chapter Twelve - Cat

Chapter Twelve

Cat

"Can I have a word?" Vickie said as soon as they were gone.

"Sure," I replied, quickly wiping down the surface where I'd spilled some of the cocktail whilst mixing it, before joining her in the corner.

"I just wanted to check we're good," she said, her arms still stiffly crossed as she gazed down at me. She was tall for a woman, and it wasn't like in comparison to me as I was just sort of normal size and Vickie towered over me. Though maybe it was the stilettos she wore like it was her own personal brand. Either way she made me feel the size of a hobbit. "After our chat the other night?"

"Yeah, we're good," I said, surprised she was bringing it up again. Usually with Vickie, you got told once, and then that was it. No second chances. She'd been clear on that when I'd approached her about the job.

I'd found a flyer advertising the position at this quirky café a few streets over. I'd gone there first looking for a job initially. They'd known what school I went to and had turned me away; they'd be in as much trouble as I would be if people found out I worked there. I'd ordered a peppermint tea and glanced at the notice board before I left, finding a small pink business card with 'Job Vacancy – Bartender' written on the back. At that point I was desperate and showed up as a different person entirely. I dyed my hair with a box of peroxide, and worked on my makeup-skills, something that had once been an Alice only activity. Then dressed up as though I was interviewing for an office job as a middle-aged worker.

Vickie took me on without much question, except for a side note to dress less uptight. She was all about rules though, which is why they made their way through staff like they were going out of style.

"Smile for the customers, do what you're told and don't bring your outside life inside the club. No exceptions."

Apparently, the last girl had gotten fired when her boyfriend had turned up and screamed at her across the bar, which frankly seemed more his fault than hers.

"You're good at your job," Vickie said. She pursed her lips, clearly finding this conversation difficult. "I'd hate to lose you. Just make sure you keep being good at your job, no more repeats of what happened."

I shuffled my feet as though I was a toddler being scolded. "It won't happen again," I promised. And I meant it. Kind of.

When I took my position back at the bar, Addie was there, perched on one of the bar stools. She smiled sweetly at me as I approached.

"Can I get a cola please?"

"Only a cola?" I reply, surprised. This was a bar after all, it was sort of expected that people drank.

"Of course. I'm working, just on a break at the mo." She made a pfft sound. "Do people here usually drink on shift?"

I grinned. "Yes, in fact it's encouraged. It makes staff more pleasant to the customers." I winked at her. There was a small stage on the dance floor where some of the staff writhed around a pole, just in reach of yearning fingertips skimming their flesh. I wouldn't do it, not that I thought I could. I also knew those girls made twice as much as I did in tips alone, so a girl really had to think hard about it.

Addie squinted at the stage, shuddering when she saw a man wrap his hand around one of the dancer's ankles. The dancer kicked him off in one fluid motion making it look like part of her routine. "I suppose I would need a drink if I had leeches on me all night."

I slid a bottle of coke across the bar to her. The bottles tasted better than the stuff we pumped from the bar, I wasn't sure why, it just was.

Addie lifted the bottle in a cheers, and then swivelled her stool around, leaning back against the bar.

My phone vibrated in my back pocket. I checked over my shoulder before pulling it out, Vickie has gone, likely back up to the office. It was Travis.

Travis: We have the new Marvel film, it's right up your street. Powerful women who don't need no man. Up for it?

I wonder if it's ok for me to go watch movies when my sister is ill in hospital. If I was to ask Alice, she would laugh at the idea of not going, she'd say "Friendship is like a flower, it requires nurturing or it will die." I tapped out a quick reply and his response is instantaneous.

Cat: Yessssssssss! After Art club?

Travis: Standard.

Travis's parents worked mostly from home, so they were always pottering about, and fortunately for him his mum had great connections in the film industry which meant getting access to films pre-release. Which in turn meant, as Travis's only particularly close confidant, it was fortunate for me too.

I used to hang out at his house regularly after we did our club activities, which was twice a week, that was until I started getting busy. He did have other friends, from his other classes and other out of school activities, but he didn't really invite anyone else into his home. Then again, his out of school activities pretty much consisted of online gaming, and the "friends" were people he met online. Really it was just smart not to invite them over to his house.

I tucked my phone back into my pocket and looked up at the bar. Addie was peering over her shoulder at me.

"Can I help you?"

"I was just wondering," she said, super casually. "What do you think it says about a person who kisses with their eyes open?"

I arched my brow quizzically at her. "What?"

She tipped her head in the direction of the small stage area. I looked that way and immediately saw what she was alluding to. There was a couple stood just off to the side of the stage, lips pressed tight against one another's, their hands exploring. That was disturbing enough. What made it more disconcerting was the fact that the guys eyes were wide open and seemed to be surveying the room with immense interest.

"Huh," I said, and looked away. Taking a rag, I absentmindedly wiped down the bar area. "I think it probably says that he's a bit of a weirdo."

"Don't you think it's strange that he seems to be looking for someone?"

"No?"

She turned in her chair a little, her eyes wide. "Maybe he's a hitman and he's here to track down a target."

"What are you talking about?" This girl had a seriously vivid imagination.

"Dontcha think he's just with that girl as a distraction. Who's going to look at a guy canoodling with a girl in a club? It's the perfect cover."

"First of all, you were," I pointed out, and swiftly chucked my rag back in the sink under the bar. "And secondly, maybe he's trying to make another girl jealous and he's making sure she sees."

Addie's eyes glowed with excitement, seemingly gleeful that she'd managed to draw me into her musings. "What about her?" She waved a hand toward a nearby table where a woman in thigh high boots was chatting to a slightly chubby looking businessman.

I glanced at the woman, then back at Addie. "What about her?"

"Do you think she's a lady-of-the-night?"

"If she was, Vickie would have her out on her ass in a second. They're not good for business." I paused, then flashed her a smile. "Actually, I think that would be your job, Miss Bouncer."

"Valid point." She stood from her swivel chair, flipping her braids over her shoulder. "That's Miss Addie to you, only my lovers are allowed to call me Miss Bouncer."

I laughed as she flounced over to the possible hooker, calling after her, "Noted, Miss Addie".

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