Rounding a corner at full speed wasn't how Reyna planned to start her day. Yet, here she was. Reyna had accidentally slept through her alarm. Mostly because she forgot to set it. So, she woke up thirty minutes late and hauled ass to get dressed and head to the bar.
Normally, Reyna would take her time and eat a big breakfast before leisurely walking to work, if she didn't just get food along the way. Today, she wolfed down two breakfast sandwiches before running to the bar as fast as she could. Which led to her current predicament.
Reyna had taken the last corner as fast as she could, but since the sidewalk was still covered in snow, her feet slid out from under her. Reyna hit the ground and groaned. She laid there for a few moments and stared at the snow she had fallen in.
"Fuck," Reyna groaned as she rolled onto her back. She had fallen right on her arm, and while nothing felt broken, it was sure to leave a bruise. Reyna slowly stood and made her way towards the bar door. There was a small line of people that started to complain as she pushed past.
Reyna simply ignored them as she walked towards Clarisse. She spoke, "Shit. I'm sorry. I slept in."
"I would normally lecture you, but you looked like you hit the ground pretty hard. Just don't make a habit out of it," Clarisse ordered.
"I won't," Reyna promised. Clarisse handed the ID back to a patron and turned towards Reyna.
"Good," Clarisse said. She raised her hand. Reyna flinched, and a frown came to Clarisse's face as she brought her hand to Reyna's shoulder. She brushed snow away from it. "You okay?"
Reyna nodded. Another flinch left her as Clarisse's hand pulled away, brushing near her face. Clarisse spoke, "Take a few minutes to get cleaned up and put some ice on where you fell."
Another nod left Reyna as she stepped into the bar. A glance around showed that the rush had yet to hit. In fact, the inside looked rather slow. Chiron was walking around and talking to a few patrons. Reyna winced as she started to walk to the back.
"Reyna!" Chiron called. Reyna stopped walking and looked at Chiron as he made his way over.
"I'm sorry for being late," Reyna began. Chiron smiled gently at her. "I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."
"Reyna, it happens to all of us," Chiron waved off. He chuckled slightly. "Before I let the others have keys, I was late a few times, and no one was able to open the door. I was just worried that something had happened to you."
"I'm fine," Reyna promised as a frown bloomed on her lips. She expected everyone to be angrier that she was late. The last time she had been late to the place she called work, it hadn't ended well for her. "I'm really sorry."
"It is fine," Chiron promised. "When you get a chance, I need to talk to you about a charity event I am having sometime in the next few months. I need volunteers to serve drinks and food."
"I'll help," Reyna said almost instantly. Chiron's smile widened.
"Thank you. I will be shutting down the bar for the day, and we will have it decorated. It is a formal affair, so I am getting tuxedos for everyone who works. I just need your size when you have time," Chiron explained. Reyna nodded. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I must check on the kitchen."
Reyna watched Chiron walk away before making her way towards the back. She walked towards the room they used to take their breaks and immediately moved for the freezer. Reyna opened it and grabbed an ice pack. She was halfway through peeling off her jacket when she realized that she wasn't alone.
A sigh left Reyna as she saw that Piper and Jason were standing at the opposite corner of the room and having another damn argument. The two seemed to fight every single day lately. Reyna frankly didn't give a shit, and she was tired of hearing them bicker.
Reyna peeled her jacket off and examined her elbow and upper arm. Landing shoulder first hurt like a bitch, and she could already see bruises forming. Reyna placed the ice on her arm. She glanced up and saw that the arguing duo was looking right at her.
"You okay?" Jason questioned.
"Just slipped in the snow," Reyna muttered as she adjusted the ice and sat on the counter.
"Can we ask you something?" Piper wondered as she moved closer.
"Your opinion," Jason added on. Reyna bit back a second sigh and nodded. "Okay, this might be a little personal, but you don't know us that well. So, you won't play favorites."
Reyna bit back her comment that her favorite would be for the two to shut the fuck up.
"It's no secret that Piper and I slept together," Jason began. He pulled at his collar, and Piper's face looked like it was starting to heat up from embarrassment. Reyna remained silent as she kept the ice to her elbow. Could she just go outside and press ice to it instead? "Piper doesn't want to sleep together unless we are dating."
"I don't want to be tied down to you if we are not dating," Piper corrected as she fixed her glare at Jason. Her eyes moved back to Reyna. "I wanted to date Jason, and he didn't want to. We went on a date as a tryout, and even though it went great, he still wants to be friends with benefits."
"How am I supposed to date someone else if I am sleeping with him?" Piper questioned.
"I don't expect you to sleep with me if you're dating someone else," Jason retorted quickly. "Either way, this entire thing was your idea. You are the one who offered to sleep with me."
"That doesn't mean I want to keep doing it!" Piper hissed. "I like sleeping with you, but I don't just want a physical relationship. I want an emotional one."
"Are you two polling everyone?" Reyna questioned.
"Jason is addicted to sex," Piper stated as she completely ignored Reyna's question.
"I am not addicted to sex," Jason argued. "You know that having sex keeps my energy down, especially when a full moon is out. If I don't have sex, I have a lot of pent up energy, and it makes me irritated during the full moon."
"I get irritated for a week every month too, Jason. You don't see my crying about it," Piper shot back as her temper seemed to get the best of her.
"I was taught that sex is the best outlet," Jason defended. "You just can't... Piper!"
Reyna watched as Piper stormed out of the room. Reyna took that as her cue to leave. She stood and placed the ice back into the freezer. It took her a moment to put her jackets back on. Jason cleared his throat.
Reyna debated just walking away at that point. Instead, she turned towards Jason and waited. Jason spoke, "I don't see her like that, you know? Piper isn't just someone for me to have sex with. She's a really good friend of mine. One of my best friends."
"I don't want her to think that I only see her as a sex toy," Jason continued. He swallowed painfully. "I like having sex with Piper because I trust her. My mentor has sex with any man who will come her way, but I can't do that. It just doesn't feel right to sleep with a total stranger."
Reyna nodded, not quite sure what Jason was trying to get at. Jason sighed and looked. He shrugged, "What should I do?"
"You two shouldn't be having sex in the first place," Reyna stated. Jason looked at her and sighed angrily.
"Not you too," Jason muttered.
"You could seriously hurt Piper. You know that, Jason. During sex, you have to hold back, don't you? Can't get too into it or too involved. Your body is screaming at you to go faster, harder. To make Piper scream so loud the whole neighborhood will know she belongs to you," Reyna explained as she looked Jason in the eyes.
"But, that will hurt Piper. You're going to break her damn hips, if not that then worse. It also isn't healthy for you. Having to hold back during the full moon means that you can't get out all your excess energy, and it leaves you frustrated and angry. One day, you will give into those urges and fuck Piper till she bleeds or until her heart gives out. Would you be able to look her in the face after you did that?" Reyna lectured.
Jason stared at her. Then, a scowl came to his face, "Whatever."
"You wanted my opinion," Reyna muttered. She wasn't sure where the rant had come from, other than her own experiences. From what Jason said, his mentor would fuck multiple men, which meant she didn't need to get most of her energy out in one session. Not if she slept with multiple men in a day. If Jason only wanted to sleep with Piper, it just wouldn't work out.
Jason's lip curled, and he stormed past Reyna, bumping her arm. Reyna glared at his back and swallowed the growl building in her throat. She let out an angry breath. Why did people insist on asking for someone's opinion and then getting mad when someone gave it.
"Idiots," Reyna decided as she left the room. She just needed to focus on getting through work and avoiding getting involved in any more drama. But, something told her that wouldn't be possible.