Hi there reader. This is a new story of mine, and is one of what will be many attempts to break out and try to write in a very different category to the ones I'm used to. I will be giving several categories a go, many of which I haven't ever written in before, or in some cases even thought about. I hope you enjoy the experiment!
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It was the watch that first caught my attention. What can I say? I like nice things.
It wasn't just the watch, though. I remember that pretty much everything about this man stood out. If it wasn't the watch it was the suit, or the shoes, or the attitude. Most importantly though it was the company he kept. I could tell this guy and his friends were going to be a handful of trouble soon, given the number of drinks they were all throwing back, and the poor girls in this place would be easy pickings.
Even as I thought this at the time, sitting at the bar with my one drink, I watched him start to eye off the young ones, mentally licking his lips like a big cat predator in Africa or somewhere. Such brutes wouldn't show much care for the girls they hurt, and not all girls were capable of looking after themselves. I sipped my drink as one of the servers was not slapped, not pinched, but firmly grabbed on the ass by one of the two biggest guys, laughing at her squeal of fear.
Part of me always wonders how the people of this city put up with guys like them, day in day out, roaming the streets at night like packs. I knew of the rape and the murder, the theft and the violence, but never could I have imagined it would be so casually ignored. It made me sick, and it was that sickness which guided me that night.
Another girl seized by her personal areas by a thug, another cry of fear, but no one moved. The offender – the one with the watch – got up and laughed to his friends as he made his way to the bar, staring at the behinds of every female in sight on the journey over. When he was done examining the eye candy he slapped the bar loudly to get the attention of the mild mannered owner.
"Where the fuck's the service, eh? Oi! Get me some drinks over here!" He grinned back at his goons as they laughed loudly, as if they really did own the place. As the bartender brought some glasses over the brute noticed me, eyed me over, and put on a far smoother voice.
"Drinking alone huh?"
"Yep," I said, staring straight ahead as I swirled my glass around. I had a feeling my nonchalant response threw him just a little, considering the moment it took him to formulate his next words. Either that or it was the alcohol in his system.
"That's no way to enjoy a night out. Could do with a few more glasses, or maybe somethin' stronger, don't you reckon?" he asked, as if his intent was perfectly hidden. I shrugged my shoulders, still casual.
"It's strong enough," I said, and I tossed the rest of the drink back like it was water, slapping the glass down and nodding at the barkeep, who poured me another powerful dose. Perhaps not expecting two cool replies in a row, the big guy threw out his empty glass and indicated he wanted some as well, taking a long pull before coughing violently, the strength of my chosen liquor surprising him.
"Y-you know," he said, managing to hold back from choking, "drinking alone can't be a lot of fun. Say, how 'bout you come over with us? We'll have a good time, couple more drinks, on me." He moved closer and slicked his dark hair back, as if it would improve his chances.
"More drinks?" I said, finally looking at him, a strand of long, dark brown hair falling across my face. "Don't you think you should go easy?" I took a sip of my new drink as easily as I did with the first, letting the sharp, warm liquid slip down my throat. I had a feeling he wasn't used to being challenged so much, but to his credit he only lost his temper for a second, his nostrils flaring as his eyes blazed with fire and alcohol.
"Come now, I'm just looking to have a good time, that's all," he said, restraining his anger. "No need to insult a man's integrity. Besides, I have no problem with a woman who can hold her liquor." He took another sip of his drink, managing not to cough this time. He had learned, which showed more intelligence than I would have given him credit for.
"A girl's gotta look out for herself, lot of unsavoury characters down here." I looked over to his table of brutes. "Preying on the weak-willed."
"Aww, they're just having fun, no harm meant... besides, these girls are askin' for the attention, wearin' those outfits." He smirked to himself. "Not you though, right doll? No, you're somethin' else...I think I like that."
"Do you? I'm a tough girl. Aren't you into girls with a little less...bite?" I asked, narrowing my hazel eyes.
"Hey now, it's all good, besides...you wouldn't be having this conversation if you weren't looking for something," he said, "something a little...stronger."
"Oh wow, I guess that's where you come in, is it?" I said back, sarcasm slipping from between my ruby red lips.
"Let's not pretend here. I know you're looking for more than a drink at the bar. I also know you aren't a fan of my boys and their...manners." He glanced over at the table where a girl was being held rather tightly in the lap of one of the biggest men there. "So how about we split this scene...my boys will go home and you and I can continue this conversation, perhaps over some real drinks." His eyes flickered down my body, taking in my modest black dress and long legs, bare from the knees down.
