Wicked Rose

I woke up suddenly. I had a horrible nightmare. I was running from something I couldn't see or hear, only smell, and it smelt awful. I knew it was coming to kill me but no matter how far I ran or how fast, it just stayed right behind me. I couldn't outrun it, and yet it wouldn't just kill me. It was like it was feeding off my fear.

I had a few hours before work, I got dressed in my pinstriped outfit with a red tie. It was the outfit I wore when I needed some humor in my life. Don't ask me why. My hair was bobbed in curls above my shoulders, and it was hard to get it to do anything but curl up like a coil snake. I ran some water through it and shaped it so it was even. I stared at myself in the mirror. Often I skipped makeup, I didn't need it. But something about putting it on, even just eyeliner and lip gloss. It makes me feel more like me. I don't wear a mask in public, so my make up is my mask. It protects me from the world of others, allowing me to live in my own. I am not just a pretty girl, I am strong woman, and for some reason wearing make up makes me feel that way.

I felt human once I was fixed up and had some coffee in me. The sun began to set and I looked around the room. I didn't see Ville anywhere. Where was he sleeping? Not a moment later, my answer was given as he came out of the closet. I giggled, and he gave he an odd once over before smirking, he had changed into a red shirt and leather pants this time. He was a damn good vampire, I'd give him that.

"You look beautiful tonight," was the first thing he said. I would have rather died than blushed but when a man who looks as good as he does tells you you're beautiful, you bet you're blushing. I cleared my throat and turned towards the counter. "You're even more beautiful when you blush." I put my coffee cup in the sink and walked to the door, grabbing my coat.

"I need to go to work." Ville came towards me and put his blazer on.

"Remember I come with you, I'll stay outside the bar and wait until you're done." I rolled my eyes as we existed and I locked the door behind us.

"It's going to be hard to get use to you fallowing me." I looked up at him as we walked into the street.

"It's going to be hard for us to get use to a lot of things." I gave him a funny look, sometimes he said things that reminded me that he played his vampire role too well. I was deeply starting to believe he was actually a real vampire. He than put his arm around my shoulder, gripping my arm with his hand he held me close. I was around five foot four, with he was around six foot two so he was quite taller than me, I was right below his shoulders. He made me feel even shorter than I always did. He was also cold. Than I wondered why I let him keep holding me. I guessed it was nice, to be held.

"This is it," I said as we rounded the corner and across the street was the bar. Sami was no doubt worried about me, last night with Alexi had me really shaken up. He had never seen me scared before.

"Oh, well than I'll wait out here. Don't worry I am watching you." It didn't sound quite reassuring. He leaned down and I backed up, was he trying to kiss me?

"Hey, what are you doing?" I asked as he dived down again. He stopped and frowned at me.

"I just want a small kiss."

"Well I don't fee like a kiss right now." Actually, I was dying to kiss him. Remembering what last time felt like, it was near torture to say no and act uninterested. He pouted and sighed,

"Fine, go on before you're late. I'll here when you get off." I nodded and gave him one last look before running across the street and into the bar. Sami came up to me from behind bar the moment he saw me come in. I hated how he always lit up when seeing me. I didn't like men wanting me. Don't ask me why. Trust issues I guess.

"Are you alright, Alice?" he asked, looking in my eyes and touching my shoulders. I nodded and smiled.

"I'm fine, just fine."

"Okay, than…um can I talk to you in my office?" I wondered what about. Better not be about him begging me to be a bartender. It paid better but I hated being hit on by drunk men and it was just part of the job if you were worth looking at.

"Sure," we walked back behind the bar and down the hall to the small back room Sami made into an office with a desk, chairs and a computer. He closed the door behind us and he sat on the edge of the desk, facing me. He played with his hands, looking down. He was going to ask me something hard.

"Alice…I need to tell you that unless you take the bartender position, I'm going to have to let you go. I can't keep paying you nothing to wash dishes when Kenny would do them no big deal and I know you need the extra money." I crossed my arms and thought it over. I didn't want to do it, but sometimes in life you do things that you'd rather not because you have to.

"Sami, you're lucky that you’re my friend because otherwise, I'd be really pissed at you right now." He smiled.

"So you'll take the job?"

"Yes…you jerk." I turned around and went to go put the apron on and start the night which would be full of stupid pick up lines.