Jenalyn: Disconnected (#5) [Complete]

Chapter 35: Hayden

Wed. 12/31/08 • 7:01 P.M. EST

The rooftop lounge is really nice; It's definitely as swanky and exclusive as was advertised in Mama G's brochure! The darkening sky of New York City falls around us and carefully placed lights mimic the stars shining within it. Quite a few people decided to come up early, so I've had to keep my shit together while doing some light socializing. Thank goodness I started drinking early or I may have been a little too drunk to come up here and do all of this!

"Hayden! You're here too! Are you performing tonight? Please tell me you're performing tonight!" Nicole, an actress I've met at a few other events says as she makes her way over to me. I plaster a kind smile on my face as I turn to greet her.

"Not tonight! Sorry!" I say as she plants an air kiss on my cheek. "Strictly vacation! I'm here as a tourist tonight! Ready to take it all in!"

"Oooh!" Nicole sing songs before blaring music from the streets below begin to drown her out. She says something about catching up later before hugging me and floating off to other people to make her presence known.

I'm not going to lie, Jena did allow herself to get a little excited about showing off this lifestyle she nabbed for herself to Evelyn. It seems like just yesterday that we were both dreaming about these kinds of opportunities if I won the contest! Granted, we had no idea the Golds would take me under their wing as they have- but that made showing her my new life all the better! I was going to take her under my wing, just as I promised back then. Being up here now though, alone and just going through the motions isn't really how Jena imagined her night going. I have to keep her from growing too disappointed knowing it makes her vulnerable to her monster's influences. Hayden set limits for herself tonight, and Jena has none.

Almost as if on queue, a line of what looks to be bartenders file out onto the roof and take their spots behind the bars. I immediately spot the victim Jena would make her own to swindle shots from; A younger looking guy with dark hair and eyes that seem like they'd enjoy the flames she tends to bring. He scopes out the crowd, his eyes falling on every female for a moment before a slick smile spreads across his lips.

I shouldn't make my way over to him. That's something Jena would do... not Hayden. My feet are already taking me across the roof to the dimly lit bar station he starts setting up at though. I guess the disappointment seeped in to Jena's conscious already... I just have to keep her at bay.

"Happy New Years!" he smiles as he notices me approach the bar. "What can I help you with, pretty lady?"

7:26 P.M. EST

Everything seems to be going well. I'm three more shots in, and I've managed to act completely Hayden despite Jena controlling most of my mind.

The bartender, Leo, is definitely picking up what Jena is trying to put down. His shift is done at 2, and though they're pretty strict about attendance considering the event tonight, he's made numerous comments about meeting up later after he's done. I'm not sure if I'll hold him to his plans considering Hayden's "restrictions," but... I'm going with it for now. I haven't had to pay for a single shot! I was expecting, not only to pay, but to pay a fee for making him risk his job to serve me. But nothing. He even signed for confidentiality without a single question!

Jena knows what guys to go for.

"You having another one?" Leo asks as he makes his rounds around the bar.

I shouldn't have any more. I know I shouldnt, but I'm going to. I have less than an hour before Ty is going to show up so we can act like everything is okay for the sake of the media coverage tonight. This situation with him can only be bareable under the influence. I can't risk getting all weird about it because I'm sober...

"Sure!" I exclaim, mindlessly entertaining the words of the guy who sits next to me excitedly talking about the ball drop tonight. He's been trying to get my attention for a good 20 minutes now... but he's not the one on Jena's radar.

"You better slow down there, babygirl!" Leo says, proceeding to pull the bottle of vodka from the shelf anyway. "We still have 5 hours until the big show, and 7 until the better one!" he winks.

Jena doesn't too much care for the presumptuous guys. She never has, but will go for them anyway sometimes just because she likes to see what a pile of mush she can turn them into. Her monster grows excited at the thought, and even more excited once I douse her in the shot Leo hands me.

"You think you're so slick!" I laugh as I chase it down with a sip of freshly squeezed orange juice.

Leo laughs, and rushes to take care of the other customers sitting at the rest of his bar. I'm just about to take out my phone to check on Ty's status when I feel two taps on my shoulder. Assuming it's Ty, I turn around with a sigh.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but please don't tell me a lovely lady such as yourself is sincerely attracted to that... douche bag?" A man, not Ty, says as soon as I turn around to face him. He's a shorter guy with brown hair stuffed into a silly looking man bun, short and scruffy looking facial hair, and a suit that doesn't quite match his overall image.

Who the fuck is this dude?

"Uhm- excuse me?" I hiss with my brow raised in confusion. I keep my attitude in check knowing that this event is pretty prestigious, and that it wouldn't be too crazy to have someone from the industry approach me tonight. "Do I know you?"

The guy let's out a small laugh before adjusting his suit and giving me a once over. "No, but I would like to get to know you, if possible?" he responds after a moment. "I'm Russell. Over here in the beautiful city of New York for the ball drop, but reside in L.A."

I can't help a further look of confusion from spreading across my face. "...okay?" I stammer, turning away for a moment to place my glass of orange juice on the bar. I clear my throat before turning back to him. "And? Is this about work? Because I'm strictly vacationing right now, I'll have to forward you to my management team."

Russell looks surprised by my response. He runs his hands through his hair before letting out another laugh. "It's not about work, just can't help myself from magnetizing towards beautiful women," he says confidently. "Can we talk?"

Why is this guy such a weirdo? He was clearly standing behind me listening to my conversation with Leo a few moments ago, just waiting for the right time to slip in and try to hit on me... what a creep. Even Jena and her monster are turned off by his slightly cocky and odd demeanor.

A few moments pass with me being unable to form words out of astonishment in this guy's nerve before Leo returns to my end of the bar. I use the opportunity to let home boy know I'm not interested, flagging him down for another shot and then turning back around to face Russell.

"Sorry Russell," I say, sure to keep any bit of snark from creeping into my voice. "I'm kind of in the middle of something with Leo here right now. Maybe later?"

Russell fixes Leo with an odd glare before plastering a smile on his face and nodding his head. "Understood!" he exclaims, clapping his hands together. He promptly reaches his hand into the pocket in his suit to whip out a wallet, pulls quite a few bills from it, and then signals for Leo himself. Leo finishes up pouring two shots of Tequila for the tastelessly dressed women across from me and makes his way over to us.

"Hey, uh... leave this girl alone tonight, alright? I'm really feeling her, and well... you're in the way!" Russell says to him as he leans across the bar. Leo shoots me a confused look before turning back to Russell. I'm in too much of a shocked state to say or do anything. After a moment Leo slides the bills into his apron and shoots me another look before sundering off.

What the fucking hell...

"How's that?" Russell asks after Leo is occupied tending to customers on the other side of the bar. "You free now?"