I stroll into the bar. All eyes were on me as I walked in. I held my head up high and headed to the counter. I take a seat next to this brunette. I just sit there. Waiting.
"What can I get you?" The bartender asks me. He was cleaning a glass with a dishrag. That didn't look sanitary. I shake my head. "Nothing, just trying to clear my head." I smile. "Well if you decide to get something just holler." He says leaving.
"Who comes to a bar and doesn't drink?" The brunette next to me slurs. She faces me. "Obviously me. Does that bother you?" I snap. Her face went from confusion, to having a huge smirk. She changes stools and sits closer. She all of a sudden seemed very interested. "Well someone has an attitude. What's troubling you?"
This is all strange to me. Does she really care? She doesn't know me. I feel like telling her. Spilling my guts and saying what's on my mind. "I don't think I can talk about it." I mumble. She signals the bartender. He slides to small glasses of brown liquor towards her. "Here this will help. Besides bars are made to tell others your issues over a drink." She laughs sliding the glass to me. "I don't drink. I never have actually." I sigh, sliding it back and forth between my hands. "Honey you need one. Here." She gives me a lemon. She demonstrates for me. "There's always a first to everything, right?"
Maybe one won't be so bad. I mimic her actions.
The liquor was strong. It left a burning sensation down my throat into the pit of my stomach. I cough hysterically. "That's it. How'd it feel?" I nod my head. "Great."
Honestly it did. Strange but welcoming. "Joe another round for me and my friend here-" she looks at me, "Jade." I answer. He brings us two more glasses. The brunette stops him from taking the bottle. "We are going to need this." I laugh. I feel giddy and childish inside. Everything seems amusing.
"I'm Beth. Are you ready to tell me what's on your mind now?" I down another shot of liquor, this time it's more soothing.
"Yes."
She pours us each another glass. "It's just that I've been asked to leave people I care about. This guy I'm datings management thinks it would be best if I left and that he would be better off because I'm a distraction."
"Sounds uptight and controlling."
"Your telling me." I down my drink. "He is struggling, anger wise. I've been trying to help him. That's what they hired me to do afterwards. I did it regardless because I had feelings for him. From the start I knew I felt something. From the moment I saw him across the room that night in the hotel but I just didn't want to admit it."
"Sounds like you're in a bind. Are you going to listen to his management?"
"I have too. For their sake, even if it kills me."
"I think you should tell that snob to fuck off and worry about his own life." I nod. "You should really think about it?"
"I have that's why I agreed. I don't have the best history which affects them and so do all my decisions." I sigh. Twirling the glass around my finger.
"I think you should do what you think is right. What is your heart is telling you? If you care about him, and this is the only way then I say do it."
I start to laugh at my predicament. "Thanks." She basically brought me back to the beginning. I've gotten no where but have had a few drinks down the way.
I grab the bottle and take a swig. I laugh even more. It seemed like the music has gotten louder. "You need to let loose, especially with your life." Beth shouts over the music. So it has gotten louder.
She stands on her stool, and steps onto the bar counter. "Joe turn it up." She shouts. She takes my hand and helps me up with her. I let my hair down and start to be carefree. We are dancing on the countertop when people started to gather around us. My hips swayed to the music. My mind getting lost.
It felt great. Everything on my mind had been completely swiped away.
Some men at the bar started slipping bills into our jeans, whistling and clapping. The song ended and everyone cheered. I stepped off the the counter.
A blonde with mesmerizing blue eyes gave me his hand. "I'm John." I shake his hand. "Jade." "What do you say we get out of here." I shake my head and step away. "Sorry I have a boyfriend." I sit back down on the stool. "At least let me buy you a drink, yeah?" I smile and motion for him to proceed. He signals to the bartender. He sits down by me. We chat for a bit. Then the alcohol really hit my blood stream, and hard. I started to get very light-headed. I just shrugged it off.
"Do you feel better?" Beth says from my right. I nod my head downing another shot. I'm really going to pay for this tomorrow. I was having a great time when I felt a tugging at my bladder. "Where's the restroom?" My voice has made it evident that I've consumed a large amount of alcohol. "Over there down the hall to your right." Beth says. "Thanks."
Stumbling I find the restroom. I lock the door behind me and use the toilet. As I wash my hands I stare back at my reflection. I look dead. My eyes are bloodshot and my hair is a mess. My cheeks were flushed.
I pull out my phone absentmindedly. I dial a number. It rings and rings. The rings were giving me a headache. I lean against the wall and slide down to the floor. I was becoming impatient. My head was killing me.
"Jade? Where did you go?" I hear his raspy voice. It made me weak.
"Sorry wrong number I meant to call Gerardo. I needed to talk to him about the kiss we had the other night." I hang up. Not to long my phone is vibrating on the counter.
I walk back to the bar and my phone hasn't stopped.
"Are you going to get that?" Beth says. I shake my head. She shoves the phone into my hand forcing me to answer.
"Hello? Whose this?" I slur.
"Jade have you been drinking? Are you drunk? Where are you? I'm coming to get you." He says, his voice has changed on the other side. He seemed upset.
"Don't bother. I'm having a great time. I've met a lot of new people." I laugh. Everything still seemed hilarious which is a good thing.
"Jade tell me where you are?" I groan.
"Why? What if I don't want you to come? God Harry you have to be such a buzz kill, don't you. Besides there is no point in picking me up. I have to leave anyways."
"Don't you dare get into your car Jade. You are not capable of driving. I can hear it in your voice." He growls.
"Don't tell me what to do. I hadn't planned on leaving in my car anyways." I smirk.
"Jade, so help me God... Tell me where you are now?" He is shouting on the other end. His rage seemed to sober me up and clearing the alcohol in my system. I hang up the phone. That was a terrible idea.
I turn off my phone and begin to enjoy myself again. This guy is buying me a drink when low and behold Harry storms in. He scans the room. He sees me. Shit. He looked pissed. It turn in my seat and take another drink.
"Jade! What the hell? I was worried sick. Why haven't you been answering me?" He shouts catching everyone's attention.
"I haven't answered because I didn't want you to come. You don't need to be concerned about what I do anymore. I'm leaving tonight."
He slaps the glass out of my hand. He grabs my arm tightly. "Come on we are leaving." I stop, and try to pull my arm back.
"No. I'm staying, you should leave." The guy next to me speaks up. "Hey man let the girl go. We're not hurting anyone." Harry's eyes blaze. He lets me go and grabs a fistful of the mans shirt. "Why don't you mind your own fucking business before I beat the shit out of you."
The man walks away. "Why do you always do that? You need a drink Harry." I say handing him a glass. He slaps my hand knocking the glass to the floor again. "Really Harry? So wasteful." I snap. He tugs at my wrist leading me out of the bar. "We're leaving."
The ride back is silent. "What were you doing there? I thought you didn't like that type of scenery?" He mumbles.
"Well I guess we never really know a person do we." I snap. I needed to leave. He wasn't helping if he was caring too much. I had to be a bitch and make him hate me. That is my new plan. If he hates me then he won't care when I leave. It was better this way.
"Is it true you kissed Gerardo?" He says quietly, I almost didn't catch what he said.
"Yes I did." He says a faint oh.
"Did you like it?" He asks.
"No." Regardless of my plan, I still couldn't lie. Not yet anyways.
We drive up into the driveway. I slam the door and run inside. Harry follows after me. "Jade stop." I jerk my arm from him.
"Harry please don't." I don't think I can do it.
I push open the door. I try to run up stairs but Harry grabs me from behind. He pulls me to face him. I push at his chest to separate myself from his embrace. The guys are all in the living room watching. I glance back and forth between them and Harry. I start backing towards the wall.
"I can't stay here." I say. I'm on the verge of tears. I am officially aware of what it is I'm doing. I don't think I like it very much.
"Why can't you stay here Jade?" Louis asks. The tears come freely.
"Please don't cry." Liam soothes. They start to approach me. I put my arms out.
"Stop. Please don't make this any harder."
"Make what any harder?" Niall asks.
"I'm leaving tonight. I think me being here was a huge mistake. I should have never stayed at that hotel that night. I should have never opened the door that day. I should have never come here. I should have never let you into my life." I say out of breathe.
"You don't mean that." Harry says. His voice cracked in the process.
I wipe my tears and straighten up. "Yes I do. I mean every word."
"Have you been speaking with management is this where it's all coming from?" I shake my head. He try's to step closer. "If so, it's ok. We don't care what they have to say. I love you Jade and no job will change that. I will leave all of this to be with you. I will for you."
He was tearing at my heart. A single tear escapes his eye. I'm gasping for air in the fits of my sobs.
"But I don't love you." I run out of the house. Outside a car is waiting. I rush to the passenger window. It's Simon. I jump into the car and slam the door. He steps on it and we leave.
"Is it done?"
"Yes." I say wiping away the tears. It's for the best. It's for them, I repeat to myself.
It's for them. It's for him. It's for Harry.