Merle Dixon the towns drug dealer, addict and whatever else name the people gave him, headed into town for a drink. Well not exactly a drink, for a while now he would just go in there to just talk to the bartender there. She was new in town, and actually talked to him, real human conversation without being judged. But he never actually told her how he felt…. She was a college student and him… who would actually want him. What she was doing was simply being friendly with the customers, or so he thought.
Walking into the bar, Merle sat on a stool, ordering himself a beer as he looked up to see Aspen going into the back room. She must be going on a break now, most likely her lunch or rather dinner, as she normally picked up the later shifts. One of the other bar tenders handed Merle his drink. "Enjoy" came the half assed reply as the other bartender walked away thinking that guy only is friendly to Aspen, I don't like him.
Merle sat there and nursed his beer for about the next hour. Just as he was finishing up Aspin came over, " back again huh Merle? '' she asked with the softest smile as she handed him another drink, which he opened for himself.
"This Bar has got the best drinks in town doll.. " he replied. This comment caused Aspen to softly giggle as she responded "Its the only bar in town."
Merle could only smile in return. The bar would be closing with-in the next two hours for the night, and he planned on staying those two hours; it was better than just sitting around on the couch at home, especially with his brother Daryl, out of town for the next week.
As the night went on,Aspen would have some time to stop and talk with Merle before going off to hand out more drinks. A few people started flirting with her, and anyone could see that she was clearly uncomfortable with it. There wasn't much she could do about it, as she was working and retaliation could cost her job.
Aspen, the moment she saw Merle at the bar, she became a bit more comfortable. She didn't know why. Being a female bartender wasn't always the wisest idea or job. But she had needed a job, and they had given her one. That and the idea of being a preppy retail worker made her utterly sick as she could never really wrap her head around the idea of being so fakely nice to the most asshole of customers. At least with this job she could retaliate to some degree, but with Merle there she didn't have to at all. It seemed most of the drastic assholes stayed away from her when he was sitting at the bar, maybe he was just that scary
She didn't see how though, she found him pleasant, easy to get along with, though she had never gotten him mad. The times he has been in the bar, occasionally he would be rowdy, but would calm down as he didn't want to be arrested.
Aspen checked the clock, soon she could walk home and have the next day off to herself. Walking over to Merle she handed him another bottle. "This one is just water" she said shyly as she set it down. "I noticed that you didn't drink much today, so…" She trailed off unsure what to say next. "Sorry" she apologized, only to have Merle shake his head gently.
"Nothing to be sorry about doll face… " Merle spoke in a gruff tone as he went to drink it not saying much else as she nodded slightly in return, before going to help start closing up shop for the night; making people leave and go home. One or two where a bit of a problem but they left eventually. Saying goodnight to her co-workers Aspen walked out the door, as they finished locking up.
