THE PEACE OF WALKS
Rey has always been infatuated with Poe for as long as she's known him. The ladies were drawn towards his attractiveness, charm, & wit. His cousin, Ben, is the complete opposite. Darkly intimidating, & sarcastic. So why, as of late, is Rey now captivated by him?
Chapter 1: Table 12
(ReyPOV)
Mr. Q's was the local billiard bar I frequented practically every weekend. My best friend, Finn, and I took a chance checking it out when it opened about 2 years ago. It was only 2:30 pm on a Thursday and the place was empty. Sometimes a business with barely any patrons meant not very good service, but I didn't care. They were able to provide us a pool table immediately. Finn and I were very happy with that.
At some time after we shown up, the manager, Poe, came to introduce himself to us. He shook my and Finn's hand, starting a conversation with us as we played. He explained that he came from Coruscant to jump start this business, Mr. Q's. His cousin, Ben, was the bartender and owner.
When I studied Ben at the bar after Poe pointed him out, I noticed he was very tall with dark wavy hair, just like Poe's. While ink completely covered his right arm, the other was bare. I could see it under the black long sleeve shirt he wore, sleeves pushed up. His hair waved in front of his right eye slightly as he wiped the bar counter down. He was cute, but not as dashing as Poe.
I thought Poe was extremely attractive. He had a great smile, adorable brown eyes, and nice hands. It didn't go unnoticed by me, mainly because he was awfully expressive with them as he spoke. He was definitely smooth, conveying enough attention to keep me interested, and subtly flirty. Poe knew what he was doing and I was instantly fascinated. Finn and I later agreed that he was a really cool guy. I just didn't tell Finn about my secret crush on Poe.
After finding that new treasure in Jakku, Finn and I began to spread word around about Mr. Q's, boasting how great the place was. Soon, our friends and more patrons trickled in through the door. It basically became the popular hang out place for us and our friends. We became loyal regulars of Mr. Q's. and Poe was thankful for our word of mouth and we were welcomed to Mr. Q's as family.
As Poe's first impression was a remarkable experience, it wasn't the same for his cousin, Ben. I thought he was a complete jerk. The bad boy image was not fictitious in him. The way he presented himself as an asshole towards customers was a concern, in my honest opinion. Something that could potentially damage their reputation.
Often, Poe and Ben would argue about something trivial during business hours. Poe didn't want to make a scene, but Ben didn't care to what anyone thought about their arguments, or about him, for that matter. He was known to throw things while angry, hearing the crash of an object against the wall and profanities coming from behind a closed Personnel Only door. Over time, me and Finn became used to it.
"I don't give a shit!" Ben would yell angrily.
"Ben, stop that! Come on, man! You know how much that cost?!" Poe would respond.
I was surprised that Ben and Poe haven't duked it out yet, for as often as they argue. And for as violent Ben seemed. For as loud as the jukebox music was already, it clearly was not loud enough to stifle their disputes. Ben would irately rush out of the room quickly, his long strides indicating the level of his anger. Poe would eventually follow behind him, a look of defeat on his face. I always felt bad for him.
At times, I wanted to approach Poe and try to comfort him. Hoping it would lighten his mood, maybe inviting him to hang with us at our table. Get their quarrels off his mind. It would give me a chance to get flirty with him. Anything, to be able to see that great smile again.
But this was bickering between family. I wasn't going to interfere.
Over the span of 2 years, I developed more than a crush on Poe, bordering closely to infatuation. He knew exactly what to say to me, calling me his favorite girl as I arrived at Mr. Q's. Customarily we greeted each other with a friendly embrace, but I took pleasure being in his arms, even tho it was shortlived.
I did notice that he hugged many girls at the pool hall. Flirt aimlessly with them, as he had done with me. Jealousy would seethe out of my pores, but only in secret. I'd watch him, girls fawning over Poe, touching his arm flirtatiously, giggling like idiots at his wit.
Fuck my life.
Why did Poe have to be so cute? Poe didn't have an idea how I felt about him.
"Are you going to take your drink or not, Rey?" a deep voice boomed at me rudely.
I turned my head to glare at Poe's cousin behind the bar. I didn't know he even knew my name. Poe must have told him. We rarely spoke to each other, except to order drinks, food, or get a table.
"Excuse me?" his voice is deeply soothing, but rude.
I turn towards him. Ben gestures sarcastically to my vodka sour on the counter with his right hand, an annoyed look on his face. His eyebrows then raise out of impatience. I grab my drink and see his arm. Noticing that all the ink on his right arm is just black and red.
It didn't quite reach all the way to his wrist, but stopped short just above it. Script in beautiful calligraphy wrapped around his arm in black. Random ink blotted at some points of his skin, like the imaginary calligraphy pen leaked. Then red smeared across the letters, deliberately depicted as smeared blood.
It's dark, but magnificent work.
Ben caught me staring at his arm and bends his head down to catch my attention. A what are you looking at vibe came from him. I look up at him and see his eyes for the first time. Really see them. I had thought they were brown, from a distance. Now I'm much closer, some light reveals he had multiple shades of browns. The darker shade encircling his pupils. If I thought his tattoo was beautiful, his eyes are captivating.
We had a moment, trying to read each other. No words exchanged. Usually, this type of silence would make me feel awkward, since I didn't know Ben as well as Poe, but I couldn't look away. Neither could he. This Ben I was observing was a different Ben.
I smiled. Genuinely smiled at him.
And he was shocked by it. His eyebrows now took another expression of curiousness and his lips gave me a small smile in return.
"Nice ink. It's beautiful," I admitted.
"Thanks."
"What does it say? Is it a poem?" I asked him, bending my head closer to try to read the calligraphy.
"Uhh," Ben began, deep in thought, "it's a haiku."
I look incredulously at him, then down at his arm. It was not a haiku, obviously. It was too long! I looked up at him again and he had a smirk on his face.
He got me.
I laughed and he gave me a real smile that I've never seen in my two years coming here. I don't think I've ever seen him smile, to think about it.
"No tattoos on your left arm?" I motioned towards his left arm, which was completely blank of any ink.
"Nah, I'm not right-handed," he finishes.
"You did this yourself?! There is no way!" I said, grasping his arm to observe it closer.
He looked at me with question.
"I'm kidding. I am right-handed," he said matter-of-factly. "Someone else did it."
Ben had a sense of humor. Sarcastic as fuck, but funny. Who knew.
I nodded, releasing his arm, and remembered I had a vodka sour. I proceed to pull my money out of my pocket, when Ben waves his hand at me.
"On the house," he gives me a quick grin and goes back to work, turning around.
I realize then that Ben is a very enigmatic person. He has walls. Just like I do. He is hot and cold. Right, then left. I saw a different side of him than what I'm used to. Now I'm beginning to think he is a little more interesting than what he lets on.
(Ben POV)
I don't understand how women literally fall at Poe's feet, desperate for his attention. He's an asshole. And a complete dog. He loves the women and he knows how to get them wrapped around his finger.
He may be my cousin, but he's still an asshole. How do I know? An asshole knows how to sniff out another asshole. Plain and simple.
I turn back around to see him surrounded by multiple women, relentlessly flirting with him. I shake my head and serve the next customer, giving them the billiard balls and the number to which table they will be playing at.
The number of customers is starting to pour in quickly now and I look towards Poe, hoping I'll catch his attention without yelling out his name. I need his damn help! I can't do everything myself with this big of a crowd coming in. He's laughing along with the ladies around him. His back is facing me and I can see his hands animated with what he's saying to the ladies. A line starts to form at the bar as they wait for service. It's going to get really busy soon. I need to hire another person if Poe-Shmoe is not going to help me soon.
Fuck this.
"POE!" I yell loudly towards him.
His head whips around quickly and has the audacity to raise his eyebrows up into a 'what do you want' expression.
Like I said, he's an asshole.
"Come on, man," I put my arms up in annoyance, then gesture to the customers waiting in line.
Poe nods once and turns around to let the ladies know his time is up. I can hear them "awww" from where I'm standing. I roll my eyes. He makes his way towards the bar, of course greeting almost everyone in line. Fine, if he's gonna be social to everyone, he can run the register. I'm gonna make his ass work tonight.
Mr. Q's is my baby. I moved to Jakku to start my business, Poe following me here, to help me out. In honesty, this business is 100% mine. Whole heartedly mine. I paid for all of it. The name, the liquor and supplies, the food, the rent. Everything. He may be manager, but I seem to be managing everything at the moment. Plus solely own it.
Did I mention Poe's an asshole?
When I attempted to open up Mr. Q's in Coruscant, I wasn't as lucky. Snokie's bought the building I had hoped to open at. Ever since then, that establishment had been my main competition. Reason why I moved to Jakku. Worked out for me because the strip mall here was immensely cheaper than what Coruscant wanted for rental fees.
Mr. Q's was doing exceptionally well in Jakku and I was here to stay.
While opening a beer bottle for one of my customers, I hear a playful yelp at Table 12. It's Rey and her friend. What's his name? Phil? They've been coming here almost every weekend to play pool with each other for awhile. I remember her friend saying her name in passing. I just don't remember his name.
This Rey was different from the other girls. Cute in her own way, with brown wavy hair, petite. She didn't try so hard like most of the girls that came in here. The others were fake. She was real.
She high fived her friend as she held onto her cue stick. She won the game. Her guy friend had a look of a defeated expression, but congratulated her with a small smile. She patted her friend on the back passing him and made her way to the jukebox, which was right next to the bar.
"Hey, it's my favorite girl," Poe says as he's punching numbers on the register.
"Hey, Poe," she responds coyly.
Fuck. Not her too.
"Hi Ben."
Rey usually doesn't greet me. I'm mostly overlooked, until today. I look at her and give her a nod. She gives me that same smile she gave me earlier. Something in my chest flutters. It fucking flutters! I purse my lips because I don't know how to react to that. I play ignorant asshole again and ask the next customer what they want.
I discreetly watch her stand in front of the jukebox, looking through the list of music to play. This is the moment Poe-Shmoe converses with her.
"Hey Rey, do you know of anyone looking for a job? We have a waitress position open."
"You looking for someone to help you guys out? Do you specifically want a waitress? What about a waiter? My friend has experience," Rey tells Poe.
Rey speaks while she still searches through the list and finally picks a Breaking Benjamin song. She has good taste. One of my favorite bands. She makes her way to the bar and sits on one of the barstools in front of me when the introduction of Breath begins to play in the pool hall. Good choice.
"Do you think he'd be interested?"
I start to pour measured liquor into a shaker for the customer sitting next to Rey, all the while, listening to their conversation.
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind working here. We love it here," Rey says with a smile.
"We love you too," Poe smiles with his teeth practically blinding me.
I feel a heat flush my skin at the giggle Rey gives Poe. He's flirting with her. I turn and inhale deeply, anger rising inside me. Maybe Rey isn't different at all. She's like all the other girls. Falling for Poe's stupid fucking bullshit.
After mixing the drink, I pour it into a short glass and grab a small black straw, forcefully dropping it into the glass. My expression is of irritation as I look at the customer.
"Four, seventy-five."
"How much?" the customer asks again.
My irritation grows with my impatience of having to repeat myself. I put my hands on the counter to lean closer to this nitwit. It's obvious that I am about to lose my shit. And the night just barely started.
The customer's eyes widen as I lean a bit closer.
Suddenly, I feel warmth on my right arm. It's Rey, her hand on my skin. Her expression is of...I don't know what it is.
"Let me help you," there's a small grin on her lips.
She then turns her head towards the customer and tells him the price of the drink. The guy nods with relief and pulls his wallet out. He puts a $5 bill on the counter and leaves quickly.
Twenty five cents tip. Wow.
"That's what you get you, dipshit," Poe scolds me.
I snap my eyes to Poe a give him deathglare, gritting my teeth. The muscles in my jaw tense. He continues to punch buttons on the register, ignoring my glare. Poe doesn't take me seriously most of the time. He was used to seeing me pissed everyday of my life.
"What did you expect?" Poe continued. "Do you blame him? The music's loud in here. Hell, I didn't hear him either!"
"Go fuck yourself, Poe," I turned to throw some glasses into the dish bucket. A little too forcefully.
"Fuck!"
Now I have to clean that broken glass later and order a new set of shot glasses.
"Do you drink while you work?" Rey points her random question towards me.
This woman is crazy. Is she kidding me? I look at her incredulously.
"What?" I ask quizzically.
"I mean, do you allow yourself to drink during work hours?" Rey words it differently.
"Of course I can. I'm the fucking owner," I almost shout at her.
Rey didn't bat an eyelash, or wince. It didn't intimidate her at all. Impressive.
"Ok, then. Have a shot with me," Rey proposes.
I stare at her.
"You're serious."
"Of course I am," she tells me.
"Why?" I ask. I fold my arms across my chest, leaning back against the counter.
I catch her checking out my right arm. I play that I didn't, but I do catch her. Why is she looking at me like that?
"Maybe it'll help you to relax a little," Rey shrugs.
She's trying to help me. Poe looks at me then, waiting for my answer. Then looks at Rey, then back at me. He's enthralled what's happening in front of him.
"I'll pay for it," she adds.
"No, I'll pay!" Poe finishes. He has a big amused smile on his face.
If Poe is paying, then absofuckinlutely.
"Let's go," I say quickly, before he backs out of his offer. I relax and lean against the counter again in front of me. "What do you want?"
"Vodka," she answers. Rey loves her vodka.
Poe snorts. What the hell is his problem?
"If it's Vodka, I'll buy another shot!" Poe adds. I want to punch that smile off his face.
"You can't do that!" I yell at him.
"Why not? He's paying," Rey points out, shrugging.
I glare at both of them. There's silence between us three. Rey and Poe are bothing waiting for my answer. Ok, fine. Why the hell not? If Poe is paying, then I will gladly take his money.
I grab 4 shot glasses and slam them down onto the counter. Grab the vodka, open it, and pour the liquid into the glasses. Then place the bottle on the counter.
"Ladies first," I say sarcastically, pointing with my hand towards the liquor.
She grabs one and lifts it up, waiting for me. I take one glass and mirror her. She gives her cheers, clinking my shot glass with hers, looking into my eyes. I nod my head and we both slam the shot back and drink. Rey finishes with an "aahh" and puts the shot glass down.
When the vodka hits the back of my throat, I squeeze my eyes shut. I hate vodka. I get drunk quicker with vodka.
Then realization hits me.
Poe knows I get drunk quicker with vodka. I'm not a lightweight but vodka does something to me compared to any other liquor on the shelf. Now I know what he's doing. I know what he's up to. Sneaky prick.
Yep. I'm glaring at him again, placing the shot glass down. That stupid grin is still on his face. I know his game now.
"Rey, I thought you wanted to play another game?" Rey's friend shows up at this moment beside her.
"Finn! I'm so sorry! Hold on! I'm gonna take this shot then we can play another game," Rey tells him.
Finn. That's his name. Not Phil.
"Hello Poe," Finn smiles, nodding towards Poe.
His smile instantly falls when he sees me. "Uh, hi Ben."
I intimidate him. Good.
"Ready?" Rey raises her 2nd shot glass, catching my attention. "Salud!"
She knocks back her shot and I observe her. Her skin looks slightly pink from the liquor already. Her hair bounces with the nod of her head after downing her shot. Her bottom lip wet from her tongue erasing any remnants of vodka. Freckless dot her cheeks. She's not cute, she's pretty. Very pretty.
I swallow hard.
A/N: This is my first fic about Star Wars. Be kind! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it.
I just wanted to mention that I haven't watched the latest Star Wars movie, but I have to admit, I've had a crush on Kylo Ren since he spoke the very first time while in the mask.
I refuse to watch the movie at the moment. I already knows what happens in the end and seriously... Kylo Ren/Ben didn't deserve what he got. I'm sure there was reasons, but NOPE! I'm mad at Disney right now.
Please review! Please? PWEAAASE?!