Bloody rose

The shot went down like liquid fire. Jack inhaled the liquor before taking another shot. He reached across the table for another. "wow Richards take it slow the night is only starting" Taylor said taking the shot out of Jack's reach.

"his right" echoed Joe "we don't need you passing out again."

Jack gave both men a serious look "you both know I can hold my liquor ten times better than you pussies" Joe chuckled unfazed " ya ya ya big man. you can hold you're liquor alright til you can't and we have to drag your ass outa here. remember senior year homecoming you said you could hold your liquor then too" unable to help the laugh that escaped him Jack raised his hands in surrender. "Fine you win I'll take it slow" he said disgustedly. Jack Richards wasn't the kind of man who liked going slow. The only time he ever did was in bed and even that was rare.

"You should know better than to argue with a lawyer" Taylor said chuckling "no one beats his sharp tongue"

"That's not true" Joe said shaking his finger "Jade beats me every time"

"Wait" Taylor said in mock shock "you and Jade argue. I am just absolutely flabbergasted. I thought you two were the perfect couple" he slapped his hand on his forehead then began laughing loudly. " ass hole" muttered Joe laughing along. "Wait wait wait" said Jack joining the laughter "when you say argue do you mean like about the dishes not being clean or your small dick?"

"fuck you" said Joe with a beaming smile. Atleast mine's bigger than your's"

"Tell yourself that. your lucky she loves you and your tiny dick"

Suddenly Joe's face sobered "you have no idea how lucky I am." He said "and um-" he cleared his throat " there's a reason I asked you guys here" Both Jack and Taylor nodded and focused on Joe. For Jack it was harder tuning out the loud music around them and the chatter of the other people in the bar.

With no words Joe pulled out a black velvet box from his pocket and placed it on the table. He opened the box revealing an engagement ring. Taylor chuckled "look man you know I love you but you ain't my type. I like my men much more handsome and -" Joe punched him in the shoulder. Jack leaned forward and took a closer look at the ring. "Are you for real right now?" he asked. "Yeah man. I know me and Jade have only been together for a year but I love her. She's the one . I'm sure of it" Saying no more Jack pulled Joe into a hug. "Do you think she'll say yes though" asked Joe. "Are you shitting me? Ofcourse she'll say yes." said Taylor patting Joe's back. Jack grabbed the waitress who'd been passing "get us a bottle of Champaign"

"hey ass hole you don't just-" she stopped her words left hanging in the air. " OMG Mr. Richards I am sooo sorry. I like swear I had no idea it was you. I'll get your bottle please don't fire me I really need this job. please don't-"

"you're not fired. Just get the bottle" he said. The girl a few seats over gave him a curious look. She had brown innocent eyes and long dark hair pulled up in a pony tale. She wore a dark silky dress that excentuated her curves. She was beautiful but it wasn't her beauty that held his attention it was the fact that she looked remarkably like his one and only ex-girlfreind. Maybe he was a masochist always actively seeking out women who looked like the woman who broke his heart but he honestly couldn't help it. It was a like a compulsion. The woman winked at him and gently bit her lower lip. Any other night he would have bought her a drink. He would have talked with her of idle things and told her things that would make her feel beautiful and special. Then he would take her to his room upstairs and Fuck her then he'd forget she'd ever existed. She would probably tell him she was cool with it being a one night stand, most girls did. Maybe she'd even mean it, which most girls didn't. But tonight wasn't the night for that. Tonight he would focus on his freinds. Maybe that was a mercy.

They spent the rest of the night at the bar. Joe talking about Jade and his planned proposal while Taylor supportively mocked him. Though Jack was happy for Joe he couldn't help but feel innanly Jelous. He wanted what Joe had. He was tierd of the revolving door of women in his life. He wanted to find a woman for him. Correction he wanted to find one who wouldn't shatter his life and leave him broken. He wanted to find his Jade. But he was no closer to finding her than he'd been when he hit puberty. When it came to women he didn't exactly listen to head. Besides he was addmitedly incapable of commitment. He was twenty six years old and he'd only had one actual relationship. That said alot.

Joe was the first to leave " Early morning tomorrow" he said before bidding them goodnight. Taylor stayed a while longer until he got a call from his boyfreind. Then he too left, leaving Jack alone with his liquor. In truth he wasn't much upset liquor was his favorite company. Plus with them gone there was no one to manage his drinking. He glanced at where the brunette from earlier had been but he couldn't see her. Sighing in disappointment he pounded a shot. "Easy there big boy" he heard a silky voice say " you won't be much use to me if your passed out"

Jack turned ready ti cuss out. His jaw went slack when he saw who had spoken. " May I?" the brunette from earlier asked gesturing to the empty seat beside him. " ofcourse" Jack said with a smirk.

She smiled seductively " I'm Ursula" she held out her hand. " It's a pleasure to meet you Ursula" he purred her name while taking her hand and kissing it. " I'm Jack"

Jack woke with a shock. His heart beat frantically. He shot out of bed and stumbled feeling suddenly dizzy. He blindly reached beside him until he found something solid to him up. He rubbed his hands over his eyes but it was no help. There was something on his face clouding his vision. Below his feat he heard the soft sound of voices and a familiar playlist. He exhaled in relief atleast he knew where he was. " Come on Richards this is your place you know your way around" he told himself. Taking small measured steps and using his hands for navigation he made his way to the bath room. The cold water burned as he splashed it across his face.

Slowly his vision cleared. But became dotted in red. He took another handful of water to his face and opened his eyes. Startled he staggered back. The sink was filled with red water. With his heart in his throat he looked into the mirror. He had, what he hoped wasn't blood all over his face. He looked down it was on his hands. It was on his chest and feet. It was all over him. But it can't be blood he thought. It can't. He put one of his reddend fingers in his mouth. The metallic taste flooded his taste buds. It was definitely blood.

Still in shock he walked out of the bath room. The bedroom was mostly clean. There was a book case against a wall. a desk stood at another wall and there were bits of cloth scattered on the floor. There were no splashed of blood, no streaks of red on the floor and walls, nothing to explain the blood on him. He slowly made his way to the bed and pulled off the covers. " Holy shit" he gasped. What had been a baby white mattress was now a deep dark red. What the hell happened last night? he thought. Suddenly the room reeked of blood. It was all he could smell. He could even taste it. It wasn't unpleasant. Most people would have been disgusted by the sight, Jack was too but the disgust was washed away by a sudden overwhelming tiredness. Later he would ask the questions he needed to ask. Later he would freak out about waking up covered in blood. Later he might even call the police and he would wonder where that Ursula chick went. Yes he would do all that later. For now he was just very very sleepy. The world could wait while he took a nap. He crawled into the bloody sticky bed, the warmth was creepily comferting, and fell asleep. The sweet metallic taste followed him into his dreams.