Chapter 1-(Bar of the Angels)
"Thank you for flying with us, we hope you will enjoy the rest of your trip", the overly peppy flight hostess's voice said over the PA system
Thalia's eyes fluttered open, with a groan she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, she ran a hand through her short black hair. She'd changed her clothes from her green camp uniform and Barrett to a black leather jacket, skinny jeans, and a white T-shirt. People had already started to grab their carry-on bags, filing in the cramped passage way out of the plane. Thalia grabbed her overheard bag and stepped into line; she ignored the glares from the people behind.
When she had finally made it through her fellow passengers, and security, the airport doors were a welcomed sight. The twenty-one-year-old stepped out, and inhaled the smell of New York, a mixture of pollution, river and something distinctly New York, home she thought.
During the taxi ride, she stared out the window, the buildings and skylights loomed overhead. The street lights sent strips of light against scenery, before giving way to the darkness, then repeated. The sidewalks and parks were empty.
The taxi stopped at a corner, she paid the driver then stepped out she looked up, in bright neon letters on the building in front of her read "Bar Di Angelo", bar of the angels huh, she mused to herself. Breaking her trance the driver called, "Don't mean to be rude miss, but could grab your bags?", she turned back to the taxi, "Yes, sorry about that", the driver opened the back of the car, she grabbed her bags, no sooner had she closed the trunk, the driver took off down the street, the red back lights fading off into the night
Thalia turned back to the building, brown brick which looked like it and seen better days comprised the face of the three levels, a large black wood double door with a brass doorknob each were enclosed in a ornate wood entry. It was striking, yet welcoming. She could hear the din of conversation and the clink of drink glasses on tables, taking a breath Thalia steeled herself and squeezed her luggage handle. The noise about doubled as the door opened, the room was large, wood floored with beautifully intricate glass chandeliers, tables scattered the room, chairs already filled with chattering people, a suit-wearing businessman, harder looking bikers, and college students.
To the right of the doorway was the bar, a sleek black marble bar top stood, wood paneling adorned the front, with a line of four legged stools topped with black leather. Behind the bar stood a young man who could not have been older than Thalia. In fact he looked younger, maybe by one or two years. She dragged her luggage and stowed between two of the stools to the side closest to the door, then sat heavily on a stool.
"Miss?", a rich voice said, Thalia looked up, the bartender had come over, his black hair hung slightly over his black eyes, his attire was composed of a black long sleeved dress shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows and black dress pants, he was attractive and carried himself in a composed way quite different then all the other young men Thalia had encountered in basic training, his eyes stood out against smooth olive skin, a sharp nose and angled jaw, they were deep and seemed to be smooth obsidian.
"Could I get you a drink?", he continued,
Thalia blinked, "Um, yes", the bartender nodded and lifted an eyebrow in question, "oh, um, surprise me?", she cursed herself for being flustered, especially over a guy she didn't get flustered, getting flustered meant mistakes and mistakes which meant more chores and extra training hours in basic, he nodded again and walked back to his station of various glass bottles of different sizes, shapes, liquids of different colors, light and dark ambers, light blue, and clear., the light overhead barely lit the street below it. Thalia stepped out of the taxi grabbed her bag from the trunk, the driver sped down the abandoned street.
His hand clothed in a thin black glove slid across the tops of bottles, before picking up a clear bottle, within it an amber colored liquid. Seemingly from nowhere he placed a glass on the countertop, using a pair of tongs he set three ice cubes in the middle of the glass, then let the amber liquid cascade over the ice, a small cinnamon stick was placed to the side, his motions were smooth and practiced.
Coming back to her holding the glass in his hand, and swirled it lightly. He placed it gently Infront of her, "Cinnamon, with honey bourbon, I get it from a guy in New York actually", she held the glass and took a sip, it was warm and slightly sweet with the burn that came with alcohol, she gave a smile, "it's perfect, thank you", he smiled back and turned to leave,
"How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?",
the question slipped out before she could stop herself, he turned, "well miss that depends, are you asking out of personal interest or legal interest?" Thalia raised an eyebrow towards his response, she hadn't expected that, she leaned her elbows
On the barand rested her chin on them, "...Personal interest..."
"Well then, I'm 19."
"No offense but aren't you little young to be running a bar?"
He shrugged, "if your good at your job, I don't see why age should matter", he replied easily
She smiled at that, "I guess you're right", then took another sip. "Aren't you supposed to ask a person for their ID before you give them a drink?"
Again he shrugged, "I didn't need to, after a while in the business, you can generally tell how old a person is",
"Pray tell how old am I?", she questioned,
"21", he said immediately,
"Right on the money",
"Told you, it's just as much of an art as drink making is", he came around the back of the bar and slid into the stool next to her. "My turn to ask questions", he said simply
She turned so that now she could face him, "go for it",
"Why are you in New York?"
"I just got back from basic training."
"Who are you waiting for?"
"Who said I was waiting?" She retorted.
"Just a hunch I had"
"Got me again, I'm waiting on my brother and his girlfriend, they're letting me stay with them while I'm in New York"
"And how long would that be?"
"3 months, why?"
He cocked his head at her, "Personal interest." She laughed.
….(shhhh ima. Line break)
The bar door swung opened, and guy with short spikes in the front blonde hair and tan skin stepped into the now close to empty room, he spotted Thalia and rushed over to her, she let out a surprise yell as he grabbed her into a bone crunching hug, "Oh my gosh, I can't believe you're home!",
Thalia smiled at the blonde, "Yes, yes I'm home you big oaf, now let me go", He blushed and set her down, "right, sorry 'bout that"
Thalia turned for her brother to the bartender , still seated, "This is my brother Jason, Jason meet…"
She realized she hadn't asked his name, the bartender, seeing her freeze, chuckled, "I'm Nico Di Angelo", he nodded towards Jason "we've met before, I'm the reason him and girlfriend met in the first place"
"I thought you met at the library!?", Thalia asked her brother, Jason rubbed the back of his neck,
"Um, yeah about that, sorry?"
"Next time you lie, I'll break your arm",
He gave a nervous laughed,"I'm sure you don't mean that",
She stared at him blankly,
"That's reassuring…anyways! The car is outside, are you ready to go?"
Thalia smirked victoriously, "Yes, I'll grab my luggage", then turned to Nico, "thanks for the drink and the conversation.
He gave her a small smile, "Anytime".
She turned, luggage in hand and pushed the door open, Jason trailed behind her.
On the way to Jason's apartment, he asked," what did you think of Nico?",
"He's smart, and he knows his alcohol, why?",
He shrugged," no reason", a small smirk adorned his lips
Thalia saw the smirk, and promptly punched his shoulder.
