Lauren pulled into Jessica's driveway in the car the dealership gave her until a decision was made about her jeep. She unlocked the door of the house with her key, everything was turned off. "Jessica you here?" Nobody answered. Maybe she was at work. Lauren got out her phone and sent Jessica a text. She locked up and went to work. She would be very early but she knew she could just sit and think there.
When Lauren got to the club she saw Matt's and a few other cars in the parking lot. She headed into the bar and poured herself a drink. She walked to the V.I.P. section and sat on the couch. She sipped her drink and stared into space. She hoped Jessica was okay. Lauren figured she had already started her new job and she'd reply when she got off. Lauren's mind drifted to the thought of Harper standing in her apartment naked. Then another face came to her mind. A perfect face completed with a strong jawline, a pale skin tone, and comforting, brown eyes. She shook the thought from her head, taking another sip of her drink.
Lauren sent Harper a text letting her know she was working at the club tonight. She figured why not, she had to get her mind off other things. Then she heard a voice at the entrance of the room. "Well hey, what are you doing?"
Lauren looked up from her phone and there stood Jessie, smirking. "Just figured I'd show up to work early for once." Lauren gave her crooked smirk.
Jessie sat down next to Lauren on the couch. "Ah, same here. So how long have you been here?"
Lauren put her phone in her pocket, "I started just before the club almost closed. Told Matt he had to make changes to keep it open. How long have you been a DJ?"
"Well I've always played around with music. But I had to start paying bills somehow."
"Yeah, that's why I started bartending. Needed to get off my sister's couch." Lauren was completely shocked that she just told Jessie. She was practically a stranger.
"Yeah? So did you get your own place then?" Jessie said without missing a beat and no judgement in her voice.
"Yes ma'am. An apartment complex not too far from here." Lauren ran her fingers through her hair.
Jessie nodded her head. "So how'd you think I did last night? Like my mixes?"
Lauren smirked "Eh, they are alright."
Jessie laughed "Just alright? Guess I'll have to step up my game tonight then." She nudged Lauren's shoulder with her own.
Lauren felt her stomach drop at the sound of Jessie's laughter and smile, it was like a warm hug. Lauren couldn't believe how something so simple made her feel so good. Starting to get uneasy because of her feelings she stood up. "Want a drink?"
"Yeah sounds good." Jessie replied.
"You like rum?"
Jessie nodded and followed Lauren to the bar. Lauren quickly mixed Spiced Rum with Dr. Pepper. She placed the glass in front of Jessie. Jessie took a sip and shook her head slowly, then smirked "It's alright."
Lauren couldn't help but grin. "Guess I'll just have to work harder then."
Jessie looked at her watch. "Better get set up. Thanks for the drink. Maybe I'll get another on my break."
Lauren nodded and got to work cleaning up the bar, getting it ready for the night. Jessie headed to her stand. Lauren was almost done when she heard Jennifer's loud voice come through the doors.
"Tripp! You are here early. Let me tell you about my night!" Jennifer shouted as she made her way behind the bar.
Lauren stood up and looked at Jennifer. She was all dolled up. She must have gotten laid.
"I had the best sex last night. Well second best, of course you are number one Tripp. My area's all clean. Did you do that?" Jennifer looked around her side of the bar.
Lauren smiled "Yeah I got it ready for you."
"Thanks. How did your night go? I saw you left with that older woman."
"Her ex showed up. But I got a nice glass of scotch though." Lauren looked over and saw Jessie in deep thought on her computer.
Lauren saw a group of people come in from the corner of her eye. They all came up to the bar and started ordering. Lauren started getting their drinks together. As she was handing the people their glasses, she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She looked over and saw Jennifer with their shot. They both gulped it back and got to work. Tonight would be pretty busy and they both knew it.
After an hour Matt came up to the bar. "How is everything going Tripp?"
"Alright, slow right now. Sure it'll pick up in an hour or so." Lauren replied.
Matt nodded "Yeah a lot of calls about V.I.P. tonight. We'll all go home a little bit richer. How about you stay the whole night this time?"
Lauren looked at him coldly. "We'll see."
Matt shook his head and walked off. He may have hated Lauren, but he wouldn't fire her and everyone knew that. She had no intention of leaving early tonight and she didn't the other night. But things happen and he could just deal with it. Lauren glanced up at the DJ stand while running her fingers through hair. Jessie was very talented with the music. Lauren liked everything that was played and loved the mixes Jessie had created. Lauren wondered what sort of music Jessie listened to when she wasn't working. Lauren figured Jessie understood that in a club you have to play certain music based on what the crowd seemed to like, but Lauren knew that every now and then Jessie slipped some of her personal taste in. Especially in her mixes and mashups.
"Tripp!! What the hell are you staring at? Wake up and get to work! We are getting slammed here." Lauren shook her head, realizing she had slipped off into one of her usual dazes. Jennifer was staring at her impatiently. "Well did you hear me? Come on." Jennifer handed her a mixer.
"Sorry." Lauren started mixing drinks quickly. Within minutes, they were caught up and back in their usual flow.
The club was busy, as promised, and the tips were great. Lauren figured by the time the club closed, her and Jennifer would take home $1,000 each.
"I'm going to take a smoke break. You okay?" Jennifer tapped Lauren on the shoulder.
Lauren nodded. "Take your time."
She knew Jennifer would be gone for at least an hour. Her smoke breaks always were. But Lauren planned on taking her break right after Jennifer got back. Lauren checked her phone, no messages. It was 10 already and Jessica still hadn't responded to Lauren. Lauren texted her again "Hey everything okay?"
Lauren went back to work. The club was extremely busy now. Lauren was making six to seven drinks at a time. But she didn't mind. Lauren enjoyed being challenged and pressured. Lauren found herself mixing and making drinks to the beat of the music. She recognized the song as Crown The Empire's "Breaking Point" but Jessie was adding twists and drops to the background. Lauren was enjoying working to the music, she lost track of time. Jennifer's hour smoke break flew by. As soon as she got back Lauren headed to the back door. She found her usual overturned crate and sat down. She looked at her phone but there was still no reply from Jessica. Lauren rubbed her forehead and ran her fingers through her hair. Leaning back against the wall, she stared up at the sky falling into deep thought. She thought about her childhood and how she would look up at the same sky, wondering when she would get out of the Smith's house. Lauren remembered the times that she didn't really remember, because she drank with almost every breath of the day. She knew she had been through alot and overcome even more, but she hated when people took pity on her. Lauren managed to take care of herself and Jessica growing up, they had a tough life, but all Lauren wanted to do was forget it. She didn't want that to be who she was. Lauren took a deep breath and ran her fingers through her perfectly messy hair. She stood up and adjusted her jeans, then headed back into the bar.
