Chapter 1
Allie makes her way into work, ready to take on this night. Her brother, Gunnar, has a friend who owns a bar, “Murphy’s Bar, where she works as a bartender. The name of the bar is a close comparison to her life, like Murphy’s law. Whatever can go wrong will go wrong. Josh owns the bar and agreed to hire her years ago. Turns out, she’s pretty good at it. She has a face that customers see and immediately want to tell her all their shit. She’s known who’s hooking up with who and who’s married while doing it, which recently divorced woman is looking for just a quick time, and how 21-year-olds are looking for Mr. Right Now. Manager of the bar Frank has been like a grandfather to her in many ways. Allie was always grateful that he was at the bar looking out for her.
Life for her has been... interesting. That is the only way she can describe it. She is the youngest of a weirdly put-together Brady Bunch family. She has an older half-brother who is 13 years older than her, and a not so much related by any means step-brother and step-sister. They are 7-8 years older than her. She is the red-headed sister that came from a jacked-up situation.
To make a long story short, Her dad had an affair with her mom. Mom got knocked up, dad died in the line of duty. Her dad was married at the time to another woman named Sadie. Turns out Sadie and her dad never even wanted to be together. But it was the secret affair between her dad and mom that slowly got out over time. Yet, Sadie always made sure to make Allie and her mom, Jessie, a part of their lives. Gunnar always calls or checks in when he can. Growing up he tried to incorporate their dad into many different things but Allie has never met her dad, so all she was able to go on is the stories she was told. She’s heard nothing but great things about him but she could never get a good picture of what it would be like to have someone every day. Kids her age though, that was a different story. Rumors from adults filtered to the kids and she was constantly teased.
Sadie and Ben, her step-siblings’ dad, have helped her and her mom over the years. From babysitting to financial help when her mom struggled. Her mom has dated a few guys but no one has lived up to her mom’s main love, her dad, Will.
Allie tried to go to college but found she couldn’t afford it so she dropped out and started to bartend. Needing to make enough money to support herself and send money to her mom. She would do anything for her mom, as her mom gave up a lot to take care of her.
Allie makes her way behind the bar and sees Frank walking from the back. “Hey, Frank!”
“Afternoon little lady,” He waves at her. “Are you ready for Friday night?”
“Yup! I got this!”
“I know you are opening but Gena needs to get off early. Mind closing out?”
“Sure thing! Mom needs parts for her car so I can use any extra money I can get.”
“How is your mom doing?” Frank asks.
“Good, better lately. Single again and she isn’t even upset about it.”
“She will find someone, I’m sure of it.”
“Maybe, maybe she had her one true person... love... barf,” Allie makes a gagging noise.
Frank laughs at her antics. “Watch it little lady, that will hit you in the face hard.”
“Riiiiiiiight,” She rolls her eyes.
Frank throws his hands up in surrender. “Oh, by the way, new bouncer starting tonight, Noah, can you take care of him?”
“Sure thing.”
Allie works to finish setting up behind the bar when Gena and two other servers come in. Gena has been nice to Allie but Lily and Devon are a bit too materialistic for Allie to stomach.
“Hey, hey,” Devon sways her hips.
“Haaaaay!” Lily spins through the floor.
“What’s good ladies,” Gena says without looking up.
Allie never considered any of these women her friends. She doesn’t have any friends. People genuinely tolerate her presence because of her past. Either being made fun of or they felt sorry for her because of her mom and dad’s affair.
“Live band will be here in 15, I need ice for the two stations. The kitchen should be good. Devon, do you mind checking on them?”
“Yeah, sure, whatever,” She flips her hair over her shoulder and heads to the kitchen.
“Thanks?” Allie shakes her head.
The other girls help finish setting up and Allie notices the bouncers walking in. Chris and Nate are cool to talk to and the third guy she assumes is Noah. With it being Friday and live band, things can get a bit crazy.
“AL!” Chris yells with his hands above his head.
“What’s good little lady!” Nate bounces through the room.
“Boys!” She sweetly smiles at them. “Here is Mt. Dew to start the night,” she passes them a drink.
“Thanks! This is Noah,” Chris introduces.
Noah reaches his hand across the bar and Allie shakes his hand. “Nice to meet you. What’s your poison for after closing? These two like a lager,” Allie asks.
“You are Al?” He shakes his head, clearly thinking Al was a guy. “Good to meet you too, yeah I’ll have the same.”
“Allie, but this lot of fools call me Al. If you get hungry, let me know 15 min before your break and I’ll get it up for you.”
Noah’s eyes got wide looking at her and she looked back confused.
“Whooooaaaaa Al,” Chris teases.
“What?” She is looking back and forth between them.
“You’ll get it up for him?” Nate clears the air with a wink at her.
“UH! NO! Not like that, just food!” Allie is mortified at her words. “Um...I am so sorry!”
“It’s cute when you get all flustered!” Nate leans over the bar towards her.
“Shut up, pretty boy,” she drops her head in embarrassment.
Chris laughs and grabs his soda. “Ok, we are going to see Frank and get Noah on the books.”
“It was nice to meet you,” Noah kindly says.
“Yeah,” Allie huffs a fake laugh, “I’m sure. Later.”
They walk to the back and Allie slinks into a dark nook they have for a quick break. No one can see when they are in that tiny passthrough spot. She hangs her head in her hands completely embarrassed. Every time she talks, it’s the weirdness that fills the air.
She sarcastically speaks to herself. “Al, stop talking. Hey nice to meet you, I’m the resident weirdo.”
“It was nice to meet you,” Noah tries to make her feel better with his gentle tone.
“Shit!”
Noah laughs realizing he scared her. “Sorry, I was asked to come up and grab a beer for Frank.”
“Yup,” Allie jumps up and grabs a Bud Light, popping the top and handing it to Noah. She can only muster a weird smile but is not able to even look him in the eye. Great first impression.
“Thanks, Allie.”
She turns and gives him a thumbs up. She quickly looks at her actions and turns back towards the bar. Thumbs up? Wow Allie you are 100% a nerd.
She focuses on the band setting up as Devon and Lily are flirting hard with the band members. The drummer is looking at Allie and she smiles at him. He’s cute but he doesn’t give her the whoa buddy vibes so she just focuses on the stations.
The night goes on and the band brings in a hefty crowd. Allie can feel her feet hurting but is silently thanking the band for the people and tips that they bring in. She and Gena are throwing drinks out left and right and it’s all in all a good night.
“Al!” Nate yells over the bar.
“Pretty boy!”
“Can you order Noah a cheeseburger and fries?”
“On it!” She yells back as she shakes a cocktail. “Tell him 20 minutes, the kitchen is a bit backed up.”
“You got it!”
After 20 minutes, Devon comes over with Noah’s order. “Who’s Noah?”
“New bouncer. Set it in the nook and let him know it’s there?”
“Fine,” She huffs. When she walks back from telling Noah she has the biggest smile. “Girl! If I didn’t have a date with a band dude I’d hit him up! He is fine!”
Allie gives her a side-eye. Devon and Lily are always trying to hook up with people and with no shame. Allie is a bit jealous of the confidence they have in going after what they want.
Noah walks up and stands beside her looking directly at Allie.
“Cheeseburger is in the nook. Give me a second and I’ll get you a drink. Any preference?”
“Mt. Dew is fine,” He nods.
Devon tries to get his attention by giving him an 'I want to bang you' smile. Allie rolls her eyes as he walks to the nook area. They hit a lull and she is finally able to take a drink to him. “Sorry, it took a little longer.”
“No worries, Allie,”
“You good? Frank is keen on good food and making sure we are all good,”
“Yeah, one of the best burgers I’ve had in a long time.”
“Good,” Allie nods and it creates an awkward silence. “Well, got to go get people sloshed,”
Noah smiles and nods to her. “Good, thank you.”
She gives him thumbs up again, not sure how to act around him. She rolls her eyes at herself trying to figure out what is wrong with her.
The band plays their last song and starts to pack up. There is a lot of talk of an after-party and Allie calls for the last call, wrapping up the evening.
“Oh em gee,” Devon prances to the bar. “Afterparty,”
“I know!” Lily shakes her shoulders.
“Al....” Devon gives a begging pout.
“Allllllll” Lily follows.
Allie knows all too well what they are asking. “Go, I’ll do the last call and clean up. Don’t forget to put your tips in for the bouncers,”
“Ok, I’m out. Here are my tips,” Gena places a wad of cash down. “Thanks for tonight!”
“Tell Greg and the kids I said Hi,” Allie thanks, Gena.
“Will do,” Gena grabs her stuff and hurries out.
Devon and Lily drop their tips and hurry to the band. Allie starts to count the tips and realizes it’s a good night. She puts her share in as the guys walk in, taking a seat at the bar.
“Great night,” Chris says, relieved it’s over.
“Smooth too,” Nate adds.
“Ready?” Allie asks.
“Hit us,” Chris states.
She passes them each a beer and wings from the kitchen staff as she hands them their tips.
“Good band and good tips tonight,” She says.
“Hells yes!” Chris picks up the cash.
“Perfect! Allie, why don’t you let me take you out?” Nate tries.
“Because you’ve banged too many girls here. They keep limping in from bruised ego when you dump them,” Allie winks at him.
“I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Awe, cute. Nope,” she cuts him down laughing.
“How’s your mom doing?” Chris asks.
“Good needs a new axle or something like that for her car. I’ll buy that tomorrow with the tips we got tonight,” Allie proudly states.
“Who’s fixing it?” Chris asks.
Allie scrunches her nose. “Gunnar said that he and Ben could try, but Ben gets distracted.”
“Yeah, don’t we know it!” Chris laughs.
“I’ll find someone,” Allie shrugs her shoulders. She knows how to find what she needs.
“I can do it, I know a lot about fixing cars,” Noah surprises everyone with his interruption.
“Yeah?” Allie asks, skeptical of this new guy. She looks to Chris and Nate who give her a thumbs up. They always try to look out for her and their approval helps in trusting this new person. “What’s your cost?”
“Well, a normal mechanic is about $70 per hour.”
“OUCH!” She clutches her chest.
“I’ll do it for $20, total,” Noah says.
“DEAL!” She quickly says before he changes his mind. She writes down her mom’s address and her cell number giving it to Noah. Hopefully, they can make some plans to meet up at her mom’s house. “Alright, I need to finish cleaning.”
“Cool, thanks Al,” Chris waves to her.
“You are the best little lady!” Nate salutes her.
Noah nods in line with them and they all head out. Allie is finishing up as Frank heads towards the doors. “Later kid!”
“Bye Frank.”
“You good?” He asks. She throws a thumbs up at him. He laughs and turns to walk out.
It takes her another hour to finish cleaning and setting up for tomorrow’s dayshift. She walks out and locks the doors behind her. Keeping her keys in one hand and mace in the other hand as she walks to her car.
“Hey, Al....AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!” Noah screams.
“AAAAAAHHHHH!” She screams as she sprays mace in Noah’s eyes. She didn’t see him and out of initial instinct, she sprayed him. “OH MY GOD! I am so sorry!”
“Damn it!” He is trying not to rub his eyes to make it worse. “No, I’m sorry! Ah, this burns!”
“Come on,” She grabs his hand and guides him inside. She walks him into the bathroom and takes damp paper towels and starts to clean around his eyes. “I am so sorry!”
“It’s all good, I just wanted to make sure you got out safe,” Noah says chuckling.
Allie pushes him to sit on the counter and she walks between his legs to get closer. “Don’t rub it.”
“It only makes it worse, I know.”
“Ok, well when you get home, be careful. Don’t put your head back in the water, lean over and let the waterfall from the back of your head to the front. We don’t want it to resurface.”
“Yup, will start over if you lean your head back in the water. You have to keep it off your body.” Noah clearly understands. “Alright, I’m good. Let’s head out, I’m tired,” he laughs.
Allie can’t find the words to save this night. Mortified and embarrassment seem to keep building up for her. They walk out together, quietly going their separate ways.
She is mentally giving herself a high five.
