Reflection

By Kelby

"So if you aren't working tonight, what the hell are you doing here?" Eddie asked from behind the bar as he slid the beer over in front of Roger.

"I don't know." He shrugged, reaching for his beer. "Reflecting on my status of pathetic loser."

"I see." Eddie said as he wiped down the counter.

"Mark ditched me for the night to go help some girl he met at that workshop film frogs at some pond."

"Oh yeah, that's definitely not pathetic loser material there." Eddie teased.

"Yeah well, he may eventually get laid out of the deal who knows. But yeah, Collins went away for the weekend with that guy he started seeing awhile ago. Mark ditched me for frogs. I got no band. I work here. And my loving girlfriend dumped me to go back to that bastard. At the moment I just wanna sit here, get drunk and dwell on my miserable state of being."

"And I'm the lucky one to be graced by your presence during this occasion because…."

"Employee discount on beers." Roger grinned.

"I didn't think it was my charm, wit or winning personality." He laughed as he walked down the bar to help some actual paying customers.

Roger sat at the bar. He missed Mimi. Not enough to ever take her back. Not this time. Not after what she had done to him. Going back to Benny like she did and all. Even though he was angry, he still missed her. Thinking through all this he didn't even hear Eddie start to talk to him again. "Huh?"

"I said there's that asshole again. You seen him in action yet?"

"Who?" Roger turned on his stool as Eddie pointed out a large guy with his back to them.

"I don't know. Some asshole. He started coming in a few weeks ago. Once or twice a week. Just always happens to be on my shift I guess. Anyway, he's a real jerk. Calls himself the 'Toddster' or something. That right there should have been clue enough. Anyway he gets a little plastered and then thinks he's all that. Starts harassing all the girls in the place."

"Great. Just what we need around here. Another reason for people to want to leave." Roger laughed as he watched the guy try and put his arm around one of the two girls.

"Yeah, he keeps it up we may have to ban him. He's just a real jerk."

"Well that's always…." He broke off as he watched the guy. When he moved he could see the face of the girl he was making moves on. She obviously wanted nothing to do with him.

"What's the matter?"

"I know her. That girl. The one asshole is bothering." He got up off the barstool and made his way over to them.

"Look I said we're not interested. Thanks but no thanks."

"Come on baby let me buy you two fine things a couple of drinks." He told the girls, leaning in close.

"Look, I've had a crappy bunch of days. That last thing I need is to deal with a jerk like you. Why don't you just leave us alone?"

"Well honey, if you've had a bad day, then you need the Toddster to help cheer you up." He told her as he reached his arm around her waist and pulled her in close to him.

"Hey! Let go of me!" She yelled.

"Hey! Dumbass! She said to let her go!" Roger yelled at him, pulling him off and throwing him towards the wall.

"Get the hell out of here buddy, this ain't your problem. I'm just helping the ladies have a good time."

"No, your being a drunken ass. Get the hell out, before you regret it." Roger told him as he crossed his arms over chest, letting the guy size him up.

"Oh, what are you gonna do about it?" The Toddster asked in a mocking tone.

Roger let out a little laugh. Well this was certainly a change of pace from reflecting on his state of pathticness. This could almost be fun. And for a change, since he worked here, he couldn't even get into any real trouble. "I'm gonna throw you out on your ass. And don't come back. Ever."

"Oh yeah?" Todd made a move for Roger, who easily side stepped it then grabbed him and threw him against the wall, pinning his arm against his back.

"Yeah. You got anything else to say?" Roger asked, pulling his arm up a little.

"You can't kick me out, you don't work here!" Todd yelled at him.

"Actually yes I do. And I can kick you out, so I am. Don't come back. We going to have any more problems out of you?" Roger asked as he pushed the guy's arm up a little higher while and he made a pained noise. "Yeah I didn't think so. Now get your stuff and get your ass out of here. We find you in here again, you'll have real trouble. Right Eddie?"

By then Eddie had come over carrying a wooden baseball bat. He got a little grin. "That's right Rog. Real Trouble." He said as he turned the bat so Todd could see the words "REAL TROUBLE" written across it in black marker.

"Now get out!" Roger let go of his arm and gave him a push. He could tell the guy was pissed, but he wouldn't do anything. He just shot Roger an evil look and stormed out of the bar.

"Okay, shows over everybody back to drinking. And be sure to tip your bartenders well!" Eddie yelled to the crowd that had formed as he walked back over behind the bar.

Once everyone had stepped away some Roger finally spoke. "Are you okay?"

"Um, yes. Yes I'm fine. He was just an ass."

"Yeah, apparently he started pulling that routine a few weeks ago." Trying to look everywhere but at her.

"Oh. Well thanks. Sorry for trouble. And well, you know." She stood up quickly and started to loose her balance.

"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked, reaching for her arm to brace her.

"Yes, I guess I just had too much to drink. I'm sorry. Really. For everything. I just, i just never, I never expected to see you. Especially here. Especially now and all." She said shaking her head as if to clear it some. "We just came out for a couple of drinks. You know take my mind off it and all. We should go. I'm sorry Roger. We should go Crissy. Let's just go." She said, looking at her friend.

"We can't go now. Sharon and Carolyn are still supposed to meet us here." Crissy told her, obviously not wanting to leave so early.

"Oh. Um, okay." She sat back down on the stool, looking at the floor.

Roger could feel the tension in the air. He wasn't sure what to do, and before he even knew it, the words were just flying out of his mouth. "Why don't you let me take you home?"

"Oh no I couldn't do that. You're working and all." She shook her head back and forth.

"Actually I'm not. I just had nothing else to do tonight. Basically I was sitting here being miserable and feeling sorry for myself." He gave a little grin. "Look you don't want to be here anymore tonight. Truthfully I didn't want to be here at all tonight. But I didn't want to sit home alone in that god forsaken loft by myself tonight either. Let me take you home."

"Well if you're sure. Okay. Thank you." She told him as she stood up and gathered her purse and jacket.

A/N – So who is it? Somebody we know? Somebody we don't? I know, but I'll never tell! At least until next chapter.