• BEEEEEP! BEEEEEP! BEEEEEP! my alarm clock screamed in my ear. I groaned and began beating my dresser blindly, trying to shut it off. I felt my hand hit it and then I heard it crash to the floor.
    "Oops." I mumbled. I looked down and saw the batteries scattered across the floor, but it was still beeping.
    "What the ********?" I wondered aloud, standing up and walking over to it. I picked it up and started pressing all of the buttons, unsure of what I actually doing.
    "Stupid possessed piece of crap." I said, slamming it onto the floor. The plastic crack in some places and shattered in others.
    "At least it stopped." I shrugged. I sighed and dragged myself to my kitchen, grabbed the broom, and started cleaning it up. I threw away the scraps and placed the batteries on the counter. My phone started ringing and I checked the caller ID. MARY, was on the screen in black pixels.
    "Hey." I said, picking up the phone and putting it to my ear.
    "Oh, hey. I was wondering if you could fill in for me a Jack's." she said, her words muffled. She was probably eating something.
    "Why? You're perfectly healthy." I replied.
    "Because, I don't want to go in today. This guy keeps on checking me out every time he comes in. It makes me feel self conscious." she said. I heard her place something in the sink.
    "Fine, but only because I don't want to stay in the house today." I mumbled.
    "Great. I love you. Have fun with the all-nighters!" she said sweetly.
    "b***h." I said, hanging up. I rubbed my temples, wondering exactly I really said yes. I walked over to my closet and slung open the door. I pulled out my black shirt with a couple of buttons at the top and my black slacks with my black tennis shoes. The dress codes at "Jack's" is that the waitresses have to were all black with their hair pulled up. I slipped on my shirt over the tank top I was wearing and took of my shorts. I pulled on my slacks and went over to my mirror. I stared at my reflection, hating how gothic I looked. I undid all of the button except for one, showing my neon green tank top. I grabbed my black belt that had pink, purple, green, yellow, white, orange, red, and blue splatters on it. I fastened it around my waist and smiled at the mirror. I yanked on my jacket and wrapped my purple scarf around my neck.
    "Much better." I said to myself as I headed to the bathroom. I ran a brush through my long red hair and pulled it into a ponytail and put a clip in it, making it a little shorter. My bangs fell out of the ponytail holder and framed my face. I rummaged through my jewelry bow and pulled out a silver chain that had a silver heart with a J carved in it. I fastened it around my neck and stroked the charm. I found a pair of ankle socks and put them on with my shoes. I yanked on my jacket and wrapped my purple scarf around my neck. I grabbed my phone and my car keys and left.
    I walked down the steps of the apartment complex I lived at, not willing to take the stairs.
    "Hey Jenna!" someone called to me. I looked up and saw Ms. Henry holding her black and white cat named Larry.
    "Good morning Ms. Henry. Hey Larry." I smiled. Her cat just threw me a hateful look. I stuck my tongue out at him and Ms. Henry laughed.
    "He just hasn't been fed yet." she said, stroking his head. I waved and raced down the stairs. I hit the unlock button on my car keys and climbed in my car. I started it up and pulled out of my parking spot, and out of the parking lot, racing to get to Mary's work on time.
    I pulled in to the bar's parking lot and counted all the cars, seeing how busy they already were. I sighed as the total was 17. Tonight was going to be rough. I got out and jogged to the front doors.
    "Jenna!" people shouted as I walked in. I smiled and waved and walked over to the front counter.
    "Hey! Jack!" I shouted into the back doorway.
    "What?!" a man in his late thirties shouted back grumpily, walking out of the back room. He had on a red and black plaid flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He had his normal scowling look on his face and his hair was messy. He looked up and his face brightened as he saw me.
    "Jenna! It's so nice to see you!" he smiled.
    "Yeah, I'm filling in for Mary today, she was, uh, sick." I smiled back uneasily. he nodded.
    "Kay, just make sure you don;t drink the merchandise." he said jokingly. I nodded and jumped over the low rise counter on the right side of the main counter and took my position at the whiskey section.
    Eight long hours of serving loners and fending off harassers, with the help of Jack, of course. I was just about to take a break before someone sat in my section again. I groaned and turned around. My heart stooped and my breathing cut short as I looked face to face at the blond guy I met last night.
    "Oh, hey. It's you, Jenna." he smiled casually. My lips parted slightly to say something, but nothing came out.
    "Yeah, I half expected that reaction, but then again, I thought you were going to throw me out." he mumbled, propping himself on his elbows and leaning forward.
    "Uh, so, Danny. what would you like?" I asked him, saying his name just to prove I remembered.
    "Water, with ice. Shaken, not stirred." he replied in his best James Bond voice. I laughed.
    "You came to a bar to get water?" I asked. He nodded and I shook my head. I threw some ice in a cup, went over to the sink and got some water. I put my hand over the top of the glass and shook it. I removed my hand and slid it to him.
    "Thank you. I didn't actually expect you to do that, honestly." he smiled. His white teeth gleemed as his brown eyes smiled with him, making him look like hi belonged in a movie. I breathed in and realized I love the way he smiles. Especially when he's smiling at me, I thought. I shook my head to erase the thought and turned around, picking up a rag to dry my hand.
    "When's your next break?" he asked. I whirled around.
    "Right now, why?" I asked, looking at him questioningly. I walked over to the counter and propped myself up and leaned forward, just like he was doing. Suddenly, a smell crashed over me like a wave. It smelled like sweet spice with a hint of musk. I leaned forward further, taking in a deep breath, realizing it was him. His scent was completely intoxicating. I wanted to curl up in his arms and just sit there forever. I closed my eyes and leaned forward just a little bit farther.
    "Uh, hi." Danny said, breaking me from my trance. I opened my eyes and realized our faces were only about an inch apart.
    "Oh. Uh, hi." I stammered, my face completely flushed. I leaned back and stepped away from the counter. He laughed and my face got hotter.
    "I was just thinking that we got off on the wrong foot, and I was wondering if you'd let me take you out, to prove I'm not a creep." he said, "But I guess I didn't seem that strange if you're willing to get that close."
    "I-I, it was your cologne." I tried to explain.
    "I'm not wearing any. My nose is, sensitive. But I do like your perfume." he replied. The way I smell? I wondered, that's the reason his friend said he pulled me into that alley last night.
    "I'm not wearing any either."I said, taking another step back.
    "I was afraid you were going to say that." he sighed. I just stared at him.
    "Listen, I was just wondering if you would like to-"
    "Sure, whatever." I said, cutting him off. Little alarm bells began to go off in my head. I ignored them and jumped back over the counter. Danny smiled and stood up and came to my side.
    "Jack, I'm taking my break!" I shouted, as I walked out of the bar, Danny right on my heels. He showed me to his car and we got in. The whole time I was wondering, what did I get myself in?