Rum and Coke

“See? I told you that you’d like this,” Bailey grinned the next day, her arm was looped through Ellie’s as they walked down the streets of New York City. Bailey had decided last night that her friend needed to get out and go shopping to take her mind off of everything. She also wanted to do something fun for Ellie and Ryan’s birthday- which was two days ago. The guys walked behind the two girls, their arms laden with our shopping bags. They had learned by now not to complain.

“Yea, I do. Guess it goes to show you that I hung out with Uncle Kale way too much.” Ellie replied with a forced laugh. In reality, she just wanted to go. She wanted to leave everything she knew behind.

“The perks of having a gay uncle.” Bailey giggled. “Ooooh!” She exclaimed, pulling Ellie into a large, daunting building. Ellie barely caught the SynGates logo before being pulled through the doors.

Once inside, they immediately separated. Grudgingly, Ellie went to the back where the accessories were and stared longingly at a guitar strap that she had been drooling over for the past few months. It was black with dark purple SynGates logos laid out in a line. Small pyramid studs were alternated with the logos.

Tears crept into Ellie’s eyes as she remembered a time that her mother told her of how SynGates was the leading company in the rise of “grunge” fashions. She claimed them as the Aeropostle and Tommy Hilfiger of Ellie’s generation. Ellie remembered her laughing the day they both saw a runway show and SynGates was a main contributor to the show. Who would have thought that a back-alley factory shop would turn into a multi-million dollar franchise? Fifteen years ago, if you told me that this would one day be high fashion, I would have died of laughter, her mother would used to say, all the while slapping her knee.

A hand on Ellie’s shoulder jolted her back into reality. Jumping in surprise, she turned her head to meet Ryan’s sparkling eyes. He flashed his dimples at her before looking at the wall in front of them. “You know, I don’t see what merits a 20 minute stare.”

“Huh?”

“You’ve been staring at this wall for the past 20 minutes. I must admit, it’s freaking out the store clerk.”

Ellie looked around and saw that one of the store clerks was glaring daggers at her. Ellie quickly looked back at the guitar strap.

“Oh, I see,” gently, he took it off the hook and draped it across Ellie’s shoulder. “I like it. It suits you.”

“I already have one.”

“It never hurts to have more than one.”

“But that one is my lucky one!”

“And what makes it so special? How about this: I’ll buy you this one. Call it a belated birthday present. You don’t have to get me anything in return.”

“I don’t want it, Ryan. God! You’re fucking stubborn!” Ellie yelled, not caring if everyone in the large, multi-department store heard. “For the record, my mother gave me that strap for my first guitar, you inconsiderate jack-ass!” I added before tearing out of the place… Yes, SynGates now has department stores. It carries everything from clothes and accessories, to lamp shades and bed spreads.

“Ellie!” He yelled after his retreating friend.

Blinded by tears and the tightness in her chest, Ellie ran and pushed herself out of the store, in desperate need for a nice breath of freshly polluted air. Through her fleeing, she bumped into someone but thought nothing of it. This is New York after all, everyone bumps into everyone and thinks nothing of it.

“Excuse you,” a heated male voice spoke.

Ellie didn’t hear. She ducked into the nearest alleyway and found a nice spot of brick to lean against. She fought to stop her tears and try to control her erratic breathing.

“I said excuse you!” the same male voice from before said, only closer and more heated. He had followed her.

“Uncle Brian, don’t,” a softer feminine voice said. “Look at her.”

Ellie wiped away the last of her tears. She was bittersweet about the spectacle that she was making for these strangers.

“I’m sorry. Are you okay?” the male voice asked, nicer this time.

“Fine,” Ellie bit back harshly. She hated when her true emotions were on her sleeve. That’s one of the reasons she went into acting: to hide her real feelings. She looked up and met the stranger’s glare. His eyes were a dark brown and filled with rage. There was a deep line in between his eyes, marking his agitation. His jaw was hardened, making his high cheek bones pop. He looked a little familiar. Ellie didn’t care, though. She knew that, through the red puffiness, her eyes shown with defiance.

He stepped back a little in shock, but quickly recovered. “You little brat! Is no one allowed to be considerate anymore? Goddammit, this is why I don’t fucking go out in public anymore!”
Ellie pushed aside the nagging suspicion of why he looked so familiar and fired back. “Did I fucking ask for your goddamn help?! No, so get the fuck away from me and quit the fucking charade of you being a fucking gentleman! I’m fine! Can’t you see that?!”

“Ellie!” Mark shouted as he came beside his friend. “Calm down.”

“No, I refuse! I refuse to let this stranger walk all over me and act like my damn father! He ain’t my father and he never will be!” Ellie pointed an accusing finger at the stranger.

“Ellie-” Mark said in a warning tone, she completely missed his wide eyes. Her eyes were firmly set on the stranger’s. She refused to be intimidated.

“Good! Because if I had a brat like you for a daughter, I would have hit your ass to Tahiti and back! I can’t even fathom what kind of a bitch you came from!” the stranger seethed. He would have taken a step forward, if not for the small brunette that held him back.

Ellie completely lost it. As soon as those words left his mouth, she saw red and her fists flew. There was no time for a reaction. There was no time to even think. The stranger hit the ground once her fist connected with his cheek. “Never fucking talk about my mother like that. She’s more of a woman than you could have ever hoped to get.”

“Ellie, calm down,” Mark said as he put her arms into a lock and pulled her away.

“Ellie, what the hell?! You can’t just-oh, hello,” Ryan’s voice faltered once he saw the two strangers. He took in his twin’s stance and the stranger on the ground. “Ellie, I know that you’re angry, but you can’t just go around and hit random famous people.”

Ellie ripped herself out of her friend’s hold. “I wasn’t planning on just hitting him, I was going to kill him,” she snarled before stalking away.

Mark looked at the two strangers and helped the man up. “I’m sorry, you’ll have to forgive her. She’s suffered two big tragedies back to back. She doesn’t think anymore.”

“I can see that.” The man grumbled. “Come on, Kay, we’re late.” He grabbed the girl and pulled her out of the alley and into the SynGates building.

Mark looked over at Bailey, who had just come outside. “Let’s go, Bails.”

“Ok? What happened?”

Mark shook his head and draped his arm over her shoulders. “Ellie just…snapped, I guess. I mean, she didn’t even recognize Synyster fucking Gates, and he’s her idol.”

Kay had to jog to keep up with her “uncle’s” long strides. “Well, that was interesting.”

“I don’t care, Kay. Just walk around, ask a few questions to customers, put up flyers, and come to my office. That’s all you need to do.”

“Uncle Bri-”

“No just…leave it alone, okay?”

Kay stopped and pulled her uncle’s arm. She quickly searched his eyes. “Okay, I know that it’s more than just being beat up by a girl. What’s the real reason? And why did she look so familiar?”

Brian shook his head. “I wish I knew. I wish I knew where I’ve seen those eyes before. You shouldn’t forget eyes like that,” he said distantly. Brian quickly shook his head. “Well, let’s get this over with.”