What's your Poison? - h.s

1.

Do you dare to look him right in the eyes? Yeah

Oh, 'cause they will run you down, down 'til the dark

Yes and they will run you down, down 'til you fall

A simple black bodycon dress and 4 inch red heels can say a lot about a person. In this case, it's saying 'I really need this job so don't fire me on my first shift'. Tonight is my first shift as a shot girl at the infamous club, Stealth.
As I stare at myself in the mirror, I try to think positive and optimistic thoughts. I'd worked as a bartender in another club for 5 years, this should be easy, but why do I feel so nervous? Stealth was known as being a drug riddled, sex-crazy and promiscuous club, I'd previously worked at a classy club, Ivy, which sold cocktails for $15 each. It was definitely a downgrade, but I need this job if I wanted to keep my studio apartment in the nicest neighbourhood in Brooklyn. I pay just over $1,500 a month for a one bed studio apartment in Bed-Stuy, it's nothing special but I have access to the roof which is my favourite part. Being able to just sit up there alone, smoke, and listen to the hustle and bustle of Brooklyn with New York City in the background.

Bed-Stuy was only a few minutes walk from Prospect Park, and conveniently, my new job. Prospect park was another place that I love taking a walk to and relaxing a bit, especially after a night of work and getting home at 5am and then not being able to sleep, that happened a lot. For a city girl, I do love a bit of nature and pretending I'm not in Brooklyn.

"I can just see myself stacking it during the night with these shoes." I say as I twist my body to look at the height of my heels in the mirror. Katie replies with a laugh, probably imagining it. "I'm not joking! There will be shots all over the floor with me, just lying in the middle too embarrassed to stand!" I sigh, sitting myself next to her on the bed.

Katie grew up with me back home, in Pittsburgh, and we always promised each other we would follow one another wherever we would go. We both dreamed of moving closer to New York, Brooklyn just attracted us.

"You'll be fine! You're so Dramatic, Dais'. You've been a bartender for years, this is nothing!" She says, shaking my shoulders.

"Yes, a BARtender. I stayed behind the bar and looked pretty. I didn't have to weave between grinding, sweaty bodies on the dance floor." I feel so out of my comfort zone, which is unlike me.

"You're a bad bitch, Daisy. I've never seen you so nervous for something!" Katie really did know how to syke me up for anything. Together, we are unstoppable and inseparable. If I could just work with Katie, I would but she has some boring job in an office doing banking or something. "Come on, take a shot for the nerves." She says as she grabs the bottle of tequila from on top of my dresser, pouring two generous shots and passing me one. I bring the shot glass to my lips and throw my head back, welcoming the burning sensation in my throat along with the confidence it'll hopefully bring.

My shift starts at 10pm, meaning I'll stay until closing which can be any time between 3am to 6am, depending on when the last person leaves. I get a taxi to the club, which is only around 4 blocks away, but I don't want to risk falling on my face on the way to the club.

I take a deep breath before walking through the long hall, leading to the main room of the club, hearing the bass of the music getting louder and more intense as we get closer. The tequila starts kicking in as I feel myself go back to my usual confident-self. We walk straight past the bouncers, before they stop the group of guys behind us to check them and charge them. Girls must go in free on Friday nights or something.

Pushing through the doors, I'm welcomed by an instant humidity from the heat of bodies on the dance floor and the lights. I can feel myself begin to sweat already, hoping I get used to this heat quickly. The music is mixed with the neon ambient lighting of the club. The club has booths placed all around the edge of the dance floor, littered with groups of people, with some of them already getting to know one another.

"I'll see you in the morning, You've got this girl." Katie says, slapping my ass as I walk away towards the bar. Katie says she wanted to support me by coming to the club with me, but I think she just wanted to see what it was like inside. As I head over I see Joe, the bar manager who interviewed me and gave me this job. I hustle my way through the crowd and shout Joe's name as I lean over the bar. He gives me a wave as he recognises me.

"Daisy! Here, take this and this tray and start making your round. Come back once you need another tray of shots." Joe says quickly, as he passes me a card machine and a tray of jägerbombs. There was a massive crowd around the bar, meaning he couldn't spend time talking to me.

I balance the tray on my hand, turning around and scanning the room, contemplating where to start. Groups in booths are always up for shots, at least they were in Ivy.

"Hey guys!" I shout over the music to the first booth, obviously not loud enough from them to hear as I'm ignored. "Hey!" I try again, still in a polite tone, and still getting ignored. "Oi! Shots!" I shout louder, the impatient side of me coming out. All of their heads suddenly shoot round in my direction, finally noticing me.

"Ah yeah! We'll get 12, thanks babe." One of the guys said. Well that was easy, I add up the price and pass them the shots after their card gets approved. "Come back later, darl. Have some fun with us!" The same guy shouts as I turn round to leave, very classy. I move on to the next booth with the same attitude, straight to the point and loud. Another 10 shots down and I already need to go back to the bar.

"Wow! You're a popular one!" Joe says as I place the tray on the bar for him.

"Maybe this is going to be easier than I thought." I laugh, surprised how good I am at this.

"Well, the night's still young." Joe teases as he places more shots down. I go finish my round of the booths, having to go back to the bar for another tray of shots before finishing all the booths. I then notice one last booth in the far corner, overlooking the whole club floor, with two men stood either side, looking like bodyguards. I peer into the booth and notice one dark figure sat in the middle, with two girls attached to his neck either side of him.

"Is that a VIP guest or something?" I ask Joe, sitting at the bar trying to rest my feet, walking in these heels are killing me.

"Or something." He laughs. I lean my back against the bar, looking back at the booth, noticing the dark figure staring back in my direction. I can't quite work out if they're looking back at me or just in this direction.

"Here, go take him this. Just say I sent it to him." Joe says, nudging my shoulder behind me with a glass. I grab two glasses of whiskey from him and make my way over. As I get closer, the two bodyguards move forward to stop me.

"Joe sent me." I say, confused why they're even necessary. They move to the side quickly, allowing me to walk up to the table. I clear my throat to get the man's attention as he kisses one of the girl's neck. He slowly peers up at me, glaring at me in disgust. He stares back at me, as if he's looking right into my soul, as he sits back in his chair. "From Joe." I say, placing the drinks on the table in front of him. Instead of turning around and leaving, something makes me stay, frozen like a statue in front of him.

"You're the new shot bitch?" He says, removing his arms from behind the girls, leaning towards me. Although he has a charming British accent, the way he looks at me makes me feel offended, let alone what he just called me. He looks at me as if I'm just a piece of meat. Both girls laugh with him, obviously trying to kiss his ass.

"Excuse you!" I say back in disgust, laughing in offence at what he just said. He just smirks back at me, leaning back in his chair and putting his arms around the girls' shoulders.

"You may go." He says to me, looking back at the girl to his left.

"You're welcome, asshole." I mutter before spinning on my heels and walking back to the bar. I see Joe waiting for me at the bar with a smile, as if he could tell that went badly. I sit back at the bar as Joe slides a shot towards me and leans on his elbows on the bar. "What an absolute asshole!" I shout at him over the music before chucking the shot back.

"That's Harry." Joe laughs back at me. "Your new boss." I choke on the shot I just took, with wise eyes in shock.

"My what!" I shout, I quickly turn around to look at Harry again. I notice him with his drink now in his hand, staring right in my direction. I just called my boss an asshole....oh god.