EIGHT
"Why are you calling me? I thought we were on a break," Emmett says, sounding almost as drunk as Rose.
I can tell he is trying to sound annoyed, but he can't help but look amused. He's excited she called him.
"You're missing out. Why can't you just..." Rosalie holds her arm out blocking me from the phone.
"Give it, Rose," Alice tries to attack from her other side but Rose manages to come out unscathed, simply pushing Alice's arm aside.
Her fingers are deadlocked around her phone.
"Are you drunk? Fucking hell. Of course, you are. Drunk dialling your ex is just so you," Emmett laughs.
"Just hang up, Emmett" Edward says in the background.
"But I'm enjoying watching Bella try to crash tackle her. It's the fact people have to physically stop you from making dumb decisions," Emmett says to her.
"You're an asshole," she shouts,
"Yeah lick it," he snaps back.
A cushion hits Emmett from out of frame. The trading of insults has Rose pull down her guard slightly, giving me enough time to reach and grab onto the phone. As I take it I notice Edward's face come into frame. He'd taken the phone off Emmett too, possibly prepared to hang up.
"Hey," he smiles suddenly.
"Told you," Emmett chimes in.
"Hi," I try my best to keep just my face in the shot, but it's fair to say he's seen plenty more than I intended.
"Having fun with the new roommate?" he smiles.
"Loving it," I nod.
"I hope my sister isn't corrupting you," he says.
"She came corrupted, Edward," she laughs holding down Rose, who is still trying to reach for the phone.
"Let me guess... pillow fights and nail polish or something?" he teases.
"In her underwear," Rosalie sings out.
I'm pretty sure his eye just twitched.
"How'd the meeting and stuff go?" I ask to change the subject, urgently.
"So far so good. We have a few more tomorrow and over the weekend, but things are looking good. How about you? All ready for the big night?" he asks.
"She's going to kill it, Edward! She's a born natural," Alice calls out.
"She's sticking to cocktails," I smile at Alice, "I think we should go easy."
"I think you'd make a mean mojito," Edward teases, "I better let you go. Emmett is getting… ouch!"
Emmett had thrown back the pillow, only harder than Edward's throw before.
"Why are they so violent?" I ask Alice.
"Edward gives it just as bad," Alice shrugs.
"Bye Bella," Edward laughs, rubbing his head.
When he hangs up I hang my head in my hand groaning, trying to block out Rosalie's drunk tears.
"Babe, you look hot," Rosalie tucks me under her arm as I cleaned a section of the bar, after serving a woman.
She'd certainly brightened up since last night. Alice had insisted she stay the night. When I left this morning she was still out, curled up snoring on the couch.
Alice had put me in a midriff band t-shirt and a pair of high waisted skinny jeans. The boots made me feel tall and the light dusting of makeup made me feel confident. I'd pulled my hair back to keep out of my face while I worked pouring drinks. Alice said she didn't want to push me too far tonight insisting my comfort was her priority. After last night I had been exhausted today, having to drag myself to the cafe for a shift this morning before arriving here.
"Have you looked in a mirror?" I scoff at Rose.
She wore a figure-hugging, strapless red dress. The vision of beauty itself without even realising it. Her hair was also pulled back, her ponytail much more voluptuous than mine. She looked like Barbie and Christina Aguilera's love child. Emmett really is an idiot if he thinks no other man won't scoop her up.
"Stop that," she smacks my arm, "you look great and I won't let you compare us."
She pours herself a glass of water sipping it as she looks out over the bar. Patrons had started to file in, but it was still fairly quiet. It was only early.
"Did you speak to Emmett today?" I ask her.
She nods inspecting her glass.
"And?" I ask.
"He wants to talk when he gets back," she says, "God knows what he'll say. It could go either way really."
"Either way he doesn't define your worth, Rose," I rub her arm, "just take it easy on yourself."
"How about you. Any flirty texts? I'm sure you left him needing quite the cold shower after that surprise," she says.
"All from your doing," I point at her, "he texted me earlier but he didn't mention last night. He just asked how I was holding up and then he had a meeting. I haven't heard anything since. It's not like I'm his girlfriend."
"But you have a date when he gets back right? Alice said," she rinses out her glass placing it in the sink beside me.
"Yeah. If he remembers. I mean he could meet some beautiful showgirl," I shrug.
"And she still wouldn't be close to you," Rose says, "he sounds like he really likes you. I don't doubt for a minute he's not going to pursue you with full speed, Bells. Maybe in another lifetime, we can all double date."
She leans in to give me a quick hug before racing off to attend to a man on the other side of the bar.
"Hey," a tall, tan man leans across the bar trying to get my attention.
"Hi there, what can I get you?" I smile at him.
"Rum and Coke, please," he tries to hide the fact he's checking me out, but it's obvious, "you're not from around here. Where's home?"
"Sydney," I begin to make his drink, "What gave that away."
"That gorgeous accent you have. Can you talk to me like that all day if I pay you," he smiles at me.
I'd be lying if I said his smile wasn't perfect. His mouth framing teeth that were a brightening white.
"You're the one with the accent if you ask me," I say, "you all have one."
"Do we sound like the movies?" he asks.
"Just," I laugh nodding, "it's like I stepped through the TV into Legally Blonde."
"What 's like it hard?" He mimics.
I place his drink on the bar smiling. He was pretty cute. Not Edward perfect, but the boy next door cute.
"I'm Jacob. You don't have a name tag? Am I not allowed to know your name?" he asks.
"It's my first shift. I don't think we've gotten that far yet," I say, "It's Bella though."
"Bella," he nods, handing me his credit card, "So quite literally beautiful. It suits you, Beautiful."
"Thanks, Jacob," I smile kindly, handing him back his card once the purchase goes through, "have a good night."
"Well I certainly will now," he smiles at me.
There was nothing wrong with Jacob. He was flirty, friendly, cute. The entire time he was complimenting me I just wished the praise was coming from Edward's mouth. Good god, I am totally doomed.
The night continues to get busier, but I manage to keep up with the pace. Making drinks like a machine, joking around with customers, accepting compliments and offering them up as well to strangers. Alice works beside me, offering help when I need it.
A J-Lo song begins to blare over the speakers through the bar, the dance floor erupts with excitement but it's Rosalie who catches my attention. She squeals from her section of the bar stopping service to climb up onto the bar counter. The customers standing before her cheer, bopping along immediately to the beat of the song. With her arms thrown in the air, she makes her movement seem effortless.
'J-Lo is her favourite," Alice laughs rolling her eyes, "It's like she can't physically resist."
Rosalie shakes her hips, throwing back her head singing along to the lyrics. I put a drink up for a customer on the bar who happily accepts, never taking their eyes from Rose.
The vivacious blonde leans down taking a woman's hand, tugging her until she's also up on the bar. The woman's friends squeal in encouragement as Rosalie spins her. Alice huffs in defeat climbing up onto the bar from beside me. I immediately take a step back, amazed by her, but also intimidated. I want to be out of range in case she drags me up too.
She pokes her tongue out at me dancing toward Rosalie. A few of the other girls jump up too, victims taken by the fun. The girls pull more women from the crowd up to dance along. I watch people swap credit cards for cash, flinging it toward the women. Soaking it all in I watch Alice's hand come down toward me, as an offering.
"Wanna try it?" she asks.
I begin to shake my head, but something stops me. With a shrug, I grab Alice's hand and let her tug me up to join her. She grins proudly at me, taking both my hands to dance with her.
"See. It's not that bad," she shouts over the music, "you're killing it."
"I feel like I could fall," I yell back.
"I won't let you," she shakes her head, "just keep doing what you're doing. The bar is wide for a reason, babe. You won't fall."
I let my concern subside and realise I'm actually enjoying myself. The song changes a few times, with the crowd's cheers only getting louder.
I continue serving more customers, dancing behind the bar, on the bar. Enjoying the freedom and liberation.
Soon enough the room is empty, dirty glasses stacked on the bar for us to clean and pack away.
"You killed it, girly," Alice hands me an envelope.
"What's this?" I ask.
"Your tips," she says, "we collect what they throw and divide it."
I peer into the envelope and almost drop it. There had to be a couple of hundred dollars in here.
"That's just a Friday night," she smiles at me, "Saturday you'll walk out with more than double that. I'll go hand the rest of these out and come back to help you finish cleaning."
I nod in disbelief still examining the cash inside the envelope. I'd made enough to cover a week of rent. Maybe I didn't need Daddy after all.
Thanks so much for reading!
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L