Elementals

Look, so I know I work in a bar, but seriously, just because I’m nice to you it does not mean I want to go out with you.

No, I do not want your number, and no, I do not want to listen to you bleat on about your girlfriend dumping you or your mum not ironing your pants well enough.

I. Do. Not. Care.

I’m being nice to you for tips. Or if you want to buy me a drink, I’ll take that. But no, I won’t drink it with you because you are not my friend. We are not friends.

The guy in front of me leans over the bar that little bit too far to tap his card on the reader. His eyes are slightly red and he’s just, well, he’s just not my type. Because I like men. Usually, men who have better things to do than hang out in this dive of a pub on a Friday night.

And come on, he’s about 19.

But I give him a coy smile, and ask if he wants to round his charge up to the next fiver so the rest goes in my tips account.

Why yes, of course he does, and I drop him a wink before he heads back to his table to tell his friends he’s on a promise with the hot barmaid. It’s too busy tonight, and I am not enjoying the scent of stale beer and desperation, but fancy cocktails are fun to make.

“Sash, Sasha, hey!” There she is, my best friend, waving and shoving her way through the crowded pub to the bar.

“Jem, hey bitch!” I shout at her, shoving two vodka and cokes at her, on the house, of course.

“Hey, I was next.” The girl who Jemima had shouldered out the way withers under my icy glare. There’ll be a long wait for her now.

“Won’t be long, Jem, finish in fifteen.” I call and she nods her head towards the booths at the back.

“Hey, you going to serve me now? I’ve been waiting ages.” The girl waves her bank card in my face. Really? I may be service staff tonight, but that does not give her the excuse to treat me like an actual servant.

“No, I’m not.” I smile sweetly at the guy next to her. “Hi darling, what you having?”

“I’m telling your boss, you’re a shit barmaid.” She’s putting on a show for her gaggle fake eyelashed friends, and whatever, because I’m the drinks keeper here.

“Fine, knock yourself out.” I place the guys drinks in front of him with a wink, and turn away.

Fifteen minutes turns into five because I don’t want to be here any more and what’s my boss going to do, fire me? Fine. Bar jobs are two a penny around here. Besides, it’s not like it’s my main job. It’s my second job, the fun job, the job whose money pays for clothes, shoes, nights out. My trainee solicitor job certainly doesn’t pay for anything fun, after rent and bills.

“Guys, I’ve got shots.” I slam them down on the table in front of Jemima and Evan and kiss them both on the cheek.

“Busy tonight Sasha.” Evan’s eyes travel up and down a girl who is standing at the bar with incredible, and impossibly long, legs.

“Yeah, there’s some kind two for one deal on pints or something. I don’t care.” I down my vodka. “I’m up for dancing! Can we go yet?”

“Are you wearing that?” Jemima nods at my black vest top and skinny jeans. Alright for bar work, not alright for clubbing.

“Shit, I’ll go change.”

“I’ll come with you.” Jemima follows me as I unlock the disabled toilet door with the key on the top of the frame.

“Is that guy, what’s his name, going tonight?” I ask Jemima. My clothes are gone pretty quickly, and I’m changing my comfy bra for a strapless push up that won’t show with my tiny strappy dress.

“Oh god, maybe. Either way. If it happens tonight, it happens. I’m not totally feeling it.” She says, touching up her lipstick in the mirror.

“I am.” It has been way too long since my bed has had anyone but me in it. “Someone is coming home with me tonight whether they like it or not.” Securing the ankle straps on my beautifully high stilettos, I shuffle my toes around to make them as comfortable as they’re going to be.

“If you strike out, you can always take Evan.” Jem smirks at me in the mirror.

“Fuck off,” I don’t even bother looking at her and rummage in my make up bag for glitter and more mascara. “You know it’s not like that with him.” I’m sick of having this conversation, but Jemima never lets it drop. “And I know how you feel about him,” I mutter.

Besides, even if I did want to sleep with Evan, want to be anything more than friends with him, I wouldn’t. Because Jemima is my best friend.

And that’s not what best friends do to each other.

She doesn’t answer but purses her lips.

“Hey, you should just tell him,” I say quietly, glancing at her quickly between swipes of mascara.

“I’m not ruining everything. I like this, I like us.” She gestures between me and her, and I know she’s encompassing Evan in our little group. I like it as well. We’re good, we’re fun, we’re each other’s rocks.

We’re inseparable.

“Yeah, I know. Sorry.” She shoulders me softly and I’m forgiven. I grin wickedly at her. “We’ll get you laid tonight, don’t worry.”

“Whatever.” Jemima sits on the closed toilet lid, waiting for me to be done. I need more glitter, you can never have enough glitter. Especially not for the strobe lights in Pulse, the club we’re heading to tonight.

“Come on, you’re done, you seriously don’t need any more.” One more blast of dry shampoo and I’m ready.

You know those nights where you’re just on fire? You’re looking amazing, hot and damned sexy, and you’re feeling amazing? When the stars align and your hair falls just right, your make up is on point, your dress is like it has been made just for you?

Well, that’s tonight.

Three shots later, the girl with the impossible leg’s number in Evan’s phone, and we’re on our way to Pulse. The queue is long, but I know the bouncer, and that little velvet rope is unclipped with a crisp twenty passed between us.

I breathe in the sticky air and head to the mezzanine level to scan the bodies on the dance floor. There’s some possibilities tonight, but my eyes laser in on a chiseled blond at the bar, jeans hugging his thighs in all the right places. His blue eyes catch mine, and a pout of my lips and flick of my hair pulls a greedy smile from him. My teeth pull at my bottom lip hungrily and I commit his face to memory for later.

I won’t be going home by myself tonight.