Joy in Dying:
Chapter 1: Bootleg fireworks
I ran about the apartment diligently grabbing the stuff I thought I might need for tonight. My roommate was yelling on the phone about some bootleg fireworks she was getting for us, apparently. I was late for work and had no time for her criminal ways right now. I grabbed my bag and coat and yelled goodbye to her, got a grunt in response, so I knew the deal was going awry. I shook my blonde hair as my smile stretched catching myself in the mirror's reflection. I was sporting my hair in a cascade of curls as my crisp white button down hugged my every curve. As I opened the door I was face to face with a tall sandy blonde beach hippy his slow smile stretched across his features and I knew.
"I'm looking for…" he started.
"Deliveries are in the back, now go on, in the back" I shooed him and turned inside again "Alex fucking Vauss, get your shit together, I have a stoner in my front door, deliveries…."
"In the back, I know, I know, I'm sorry he's new. If you want I can stop selling him some" she interrupted me and gave me a sorry look.
"Just make sure they get it right, it's the last thing we need…" I pleaded knowing I'd be really late for my shift.
"Promise." She said crossing her heart in promise and I gave her a smile and a small wave of dismissal before heading out.
It's true that my roommate was a fucking drug dealer, but she was also a good drug dealer. She got caught once, but it was an amazingly big and international operation, and that's a story for another day. I, at least got her to go down to just selling weed, which was now almost legal here in Canada so I wasn't too bothered, I just don't want the cops at our door. Alex and her girlfriend moved in after doing some time in prison, but that was in a very uptight state in America. I shook my head remembering the phone call they gave me at college and how much I cried knowing I wouldn't see my best friends for a very long time.
I took my cell phone and texted said girlfriend to let her know I was going to be late to work. I hated being late and missing work, no matter the occupation. I worked at a bar in town some nights to pay the bills. My parents, however unhappy they may have been with my current situation, were just relieved I was doing something with my life. I was, for a long time, depressed and didn't want to continue with my career. It was something shocking to my parents to say the least. I had worked so hard in school. After Alex and Piper were gone I threw myself in my residency, but after my depression I couldn't be in the hospital anymore.
However, that is a story for another time. As I got to the bar the owner was waiting for me at the bar.
"Hey, what happened you're never late?" he greeted me as I came in carrying a bag.
"I'm sorry Bruce, I went to buy some Jack for the bar, we're out" I said as he acted sorry and surprised.
"Oh, sorry, didn't know." He apologized as I gave him a smile. "Thought I'd have to cover for you and I have a mountain of paperwork and payroll to do."
"Don't worry, I'll get to work." He walked away with a smile and a thanks and I went to the bar.
Before I knew it the blue eyed blonde was at my side giving me a large grin. She knew she had saved my ass and I gave her a smirk with a small shake of the head. Piper was not intimidating at first glance. She was petite and slim, she looked like she would hit the books before hitting the gym but as the saying goes looks could be deceiving.
"Thanks for saving my ass with the text, Alex had a visitor at the front door before I left." I explained as she shook her head loading up the ice well, we expected a busy night.
"Fuck sakes, I don't wanna go back to prison." She mumbled and I chuckled at her tone.
"Relax, she was as appalled and surprised as I was. Besides you're not states-side anymore, relax a bit, we'd get fined and depending how much Vauss has on her at a time we'd probably get a bigger fine, but that's it." I reassured her as I stocked my spirits getting ready for the rush.
The night at the bar was pretty uneventful after all so I decided to treat myself to a little experiment. I took some cleaners from the dish pit, measured the correct amounts efficiently and then added it all in my tip jar. Fog started to raise from it and I let out a satisfied smile. Piper teased me incessantly about being a geek but the few patrons that would come for drinks found it amusing. At around 1:00am, Piper had taken a 20 minute break to smoke a joint in the back alley with Alex and God knows what else they could do in a back alley with 20 minutes after the stories they would tell me from their time in prison. I shuddered and smirked to myself knowing these two would probably be together until the world came to an end.
When the clock struck 3:30a we were home bound finally. This was one of the reasons my parents were not too happy about my professional choices. They abhorred the fact I'd get out so late. The world had changed a few years ago and like many others they were clouded with fear and uncertainty at what the night held.
I remember when it happened. I was starting out college at Yale and I was young but very far from naïve. Living in Pittsburgh before coming to Connecticut had prepared me for living in the big city and I was grateful for it. I had heard the rumblings in the radio, the rumours that the newly elected President was different in more ways than one. I was convinced it was all rumours until one day during his Presidential address I saw him completely shift into a large Cougar. He explained about the Fae being different, living in the fringes and shadows of society but no longer.
I shivered at the memory, the world changed so fast. There were Fae everywhere and it turned into a guessing game more often than not who you were meeting. When I met Alex and Piper I realized they shared my apprehensions about out ever changing social culture. We were shocked that humans were merely letting this happen, but as time went by we realized that it was much fear rather than respect.
I parted with my thoughts and memories as we piled into our car. Alex insisted on driving as always and I sat in the backseat as Piper fiddled with the radio. It was rainy outside, probably one of the last rains we would get in the year. It was already bitterly cold and we knew we would expect snow at some point. The season was by far my favourite, the changes of the weather, the leaves changing, and the temperature drops at night were all highlights of my days.
"I'm fucking starving!" Alex groaned from her seat and Piper giggled.
"Me too, we should get some poutine!" she said excitedly as Alex nodded her head.
"I would've thought you guys would be done with this obsession with poutine by now, but no matter the years you've spent up here, you still love it." I chuckled joining the conversation.
"Come on Lau, let's cross the bridge and get some café taché pleeeeeeaseeee" Piper pleaded and I laughed.
"Alright, alright ladies, let's do this then." I heartedly agreed.
After many laughs and a load of food later we headed home. I went straight into my room bidding the girls good night and plopping on my bed tired from the day. I turned on the TV mounted on my wall and decided to catch the morning news.
"…in other news, the senate voted today in favour of Fae rights. The new legislation will come into effect in the next cycle and it'll include a variety of things from hospital visits, to legally being able to marry humans as well…"
I turned off the TV with a shake of my head disgusted. Now they could marry humans? What was going on!? Next thing you know they'd be able to procreate with humans as well. I was outraged and upset I tried to calm my thoughts but it proved difficult. I fell into an uneasy slumber until morning.
I woke with a start, like I had no idea how I'd gotten there or why. I was disoriented and the light coming into the room seemed off. The house was eerily quiet and I jumped up with a jolt as I realized I hadn't set an alarm the night before. I rushed around my room as I picked up my phone from the floor where I had dropped it next to my book and glasses. I read the time and kicked myself I was late to meet Alex.
My heart hammered in my chest as I rushed about the room. Alex had softened a bit through the years, after prison things that were bad didn't seem as much. She got her shipments from a Fae and I didn't like it one bit. I would come with her every time to make sure she was safe, this time I had over slept. I threw a pair of jeans on and threw a red long sleeve on myself before rushing to the living room. I clicked the TV and it turned on immediately on the Weather Channel. I listened to the report before I quickly put my black boots instead of my trainers and grabbed my leather jacket, keys and sunglasses. I opened the door in a rush and stepped outside I slammed the door behind me as I started to power walk forwards looking back at the door to make sure it auto-locked when I hit hard into someone.
We both fell to the floor pretty hard and after hearing 'Fuck could you have been going any faster?' my head snapped up. I was staring face to face with the most gorgeous woman I had ever seen. Her blue leather jacket hugged her every curve and as we untangled from each other her ample cleavage ended up front and center. I distracted myself grabbing the stuff I had scattered on the floor.
From this other woman a hand stretched out to me to help me up. I gladly took it, dizzy from the collision against my head and as I looked up I saw these marvelous brown eyes staring at my face, her smirk was cute and I found myself blushing under her gaze. I dusted myself awkwardly, it seemed that Piper was right and I was totally a nerd when it came to gorgeous people.
"Are you hurt?" she asked and her voice sounded like velvet, her playful tone reaching my ears making me smile.
"Not really just a bit dizzy, I'm sorry for not noticing where I was going, I was in a hurry-" Immediately I shut up tucking a strand of hair behind my ear nervously and she gave me a smile.
"Nah, it's ok I wasn't looking either" she said holding up what seemed to be a paper with an address scribbled on it signaling that she had been reading and walking. "I'm Bo, I was just looking for this address maybe you can help me."
She pointed to the now crumpled piece of paper in her hand and I squinted. I leaned closer trying to help her out. Our bodies were so close to one another I could smell her shampoo and body spray and it was the right mixture of body musk with the chemicals, it was perfect. I snapped out of my trance as I heard her chuckle softly and I concentrated on the task. I read and re-read the address bewildered as to why she would be coming to our house.
"Um… were you looking for someone in particular at said address?" I tried not to give away my curiousness.
"Yeah, um… " she blushed and it was as if the thought hit me instantly.
"You're looking for Alex." It was a statement not a question as she smiled at me and nodded.
"I am… I'm Bo" she stretched her hand to me and I took it, the softness of her skin as like silk and I pondered if the rest of her body was as delicate and soft.
"I'm Lauren, Alex's roommate." I clarified and she gave me a huge smile.
"She was supposed to meet me at the docks but told me to drop it off here instead." She clarified and I tensed significantly.
"You're her contact?" I whispered as I apprehensively dragged her into the apartment.
I had come to the realization that if this woman was Alex's contact then she was obviously Fae. As much as that terrified me, knowing I was dragging one of them into my home, the prospect of talking about drugs in my apartment hallway was not something I wanted to do. I was all too aware of the fact that my roommates had indeed been caught at some point with their little side operation.
Once inside Bo shot me an amused look. I locked the door and pressed my back to it looking wearily at the brunette in my living room. If she noticed my discomfort she didn't voice it and I shook my head trying to be polite.
"I'm sorry about that, one of our neighbors is very nosey and this is obviously not something we want to broadcast to the whole world." I explained as she waved me off.
"It's not my first rodeo" her smile was so wide I saw a small dimple form.
I shook my head. Stay alert Lewis, this is not someone you wanted to have in your home, these people are dangerous. I reminded myself. The reality was that Fae or not this woman in front of me was beautiful. I just couldn't help the way my heart hammered as I looked at her features when we had collided.
"I… I didn't even know Alex sent you here." I confessed finding it odd.
"She said something about her girlfriend needing some help with work. She told me her roommate would be here which I assume is you." She looked so comfortable and casual.
"Yes, it is me." As if on cue my phone rang. "Excuse me Bo."
"It's your home Lauren." She said with a smile.
I was still reveling on how she had said my name and the way it rolled off her tongue as I reached for my phone noticing it was Alex.
"Hey." I said when I reached the kitchen and heard her grunt on the phone.
"Fuck Piper how many more of these damn cases do we have to move?" I heard her hollering in the distance. "Lauren? Hey, my contact might be coming over later, please tell me you're home."
"I'm not happy, but I'm home." I hushed into the phone and Alex laughed.
"I see you've met Bo. Listen, I had to help Piper with some things, I need you to distract Bo while I get home. I mean, I can't have you receive my drugs, that'd be accessory. Did it once, never again." She explained.
"Will you be long?" I asked desperatedly.
"Maybe an hour, two max." she mentioned in a tone that told me she knew she was pushing it. "Look I know Bo from self-defense class, she's a real cool girl, I know we've had our points of view on the subject before… but Lauren, you need to loosen up, not all Fae are bad."
I let out an audible sigh through the phone as I saw Bo looking around the apartment, still and perfect as a marble statue. She didn't seem threatening but then again not many of them looked it.
"I'm doing this once and never again." I replied through gritted teeth as Alex roared in approval.
"Thank you so much, take her to the bar or something!" she suggested.
"I'll see you home." I huffed as I hung up.
I returned to the living room where Bo had been patiently waiting. There was a small smile upon her lips and I couldn't help notice her mischievous demeanor.
"Are you okay?" came her velvety voice.
"Yeah I'm fine" I said turning around and smiling at her.
"You seem pretty agitated, I can go if I'm providing any kind of inconvenience." She offered.
"No, I just… I hadn't met many Fae and it was a shock that's all. I needed time to adjust I'm good now. I'm sorry if I make you uncomfortable talking about it like that in the open, I don't know what etiquette is used-" I explained and she raised her eyebrows in surprise at my rambling.
"Yeah, no biggie it happens" she said fidgeting with her pockets. I looked at her fingerless gloved hands and thought to myself there was no harm in taking her to the bar just this once.
"Alex got caught up and I'm not allowed to receive her deliveries. Would you like to go for a drink while we wait?" I offered and she smiled making the dimple appear once more.
"Like hang out?" she asked as I nodded.
"Yeah dork, like hanging out" I said smiling as I pulled my jacket out of habit "I just kinda need a drink, and you were bailed on for a few hours. I mean if you're busy…"
"I'm not busy" she breathed and started walking towards the door "Well, come on we're hanging out" she said suddenly.
"Wha-" I asked as we flew out the door. She seemed so energized all of the sudden.
"We're hanging out, come on" she said grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the parking lot
"Where are we going?" I asked letting her lead me but gently pulling my hand out of her hand.
"Just come with me!" She said stopping in front of the parking lot browsing around.
"You forgot where you left your car?" I asked teasingly feeling a bit more at ease at the situation. Alex would never send harm my way intentionally.
"Not really" she said smirking and started straddling a red motorcycle.
"Bo, look you're nice and all but that's a motorcycle and I'm not really that keen in-"
"It's all I've got, I don't really have a car" she said almost looking apologetically and I smiled at her.
"Don't worry, come on I know a place nearby" I said and grabbed her by the jacket sleeve making her dismount the red bike and follow me. As we walked besides each other I could feel the warmness of her body beside me, making me wonder how cold was it outside and how warm could she be in those clothes that revealed more of her cleavage than covered the cold.
"Are you taking me to an alleyway or something to mug me?" She asked chuckling as we turned a dark corner.
"Psht, nah then how would you buy my drinks" I said smiling at her and led her towards the entrance of the bar. "Besides, I'm sure you can handle a small human like me."
She shook her head slowly with a small smirk. I guess my dialogue made her smile a lot. The bar was our spot, it was called Dragonberry and it wasn't much, a bar, a dance floor, lights and good music, the bartender knew us and it was just what I needed.
"So do you usually kidnap chicks you've just met into random bars like this?" she asked me while sitting at the bar teasingly.
"Not really, just the cool cats" I said and smiled ordering both of our drinks to Matt, our bartender.
Before I knew it we had drank more than our fair share of drinks. Talking to Bo had been easy for me once we had found common ground and I ignored the fact that she was Fae. She loved art as much as I did, in all forms and sizes. From digital art, to old school to sculptures, we talked about all of it. I randomly went into an explanation of the 19th century art in the chapel nearby and she looked enthralled hanging on my every word.
The bartender had kept it coming even when we were slurring our words badly. I had forgotten completely why we were here until now. I picked up my phone to see I had a bunch of missed messages from Alex. Long story short, Alex had been suckered into working the whole shift with Piper and now she was stuck. She wanted to postpone with Bo.
"Alex is not coming." I shook my head exaggeratedly and she laughed.
"It's ok, I understand she had to help her girl, she's very sweet when it comes to her." Bo laughed as she downed a shot and offered me one.
I knew I shouldn't have but I drank it anyways and the next one, and the two after that. After more small chitchat and a hell of a lot of alcohol Matt decided it was time to hail us a cab, since we weren't good enough to even walk back to my place. When the cab arrived at my apartment I noticed that as drunk as I was, Bo was ten times worse, she had been mixing drinks while talking about everything under the sun with me. I had to make a choice I liked this girl's company and didn't really want her to have an accident or anything, but at the same time I barely knew her and didn't want her thinking anything funny. The right memories won over my ethics and I turned towards her when she turned to leave for her bike and put a hand in her shoulder.
"Who told you we were stopping, come upstairs you're not driving like this" I tried.
"Lau-ren you've been wonderful company tonight, but I don't wanna be a burden" she said kind of sloppily and I laughed.
"Non-sense Bo, come on up you come with me" I said smiling leading the way tumbling slightly over my two drunk feet as she fret over me.
After five minutes of trying and a hysterical fit of giggles I managed to open the door to my apartment, which to this day I don't remember how I closed it. Bo and I walked into my living room and she immediately looked green, she shot a desperate look towards me and I got the message quickly enough to steer her to my bathroom. She puked a couple of times while I tried to comfort her by drawing circles in her back just like so many friends had done to me before.
"You are drunk!" I slurred by the last heave and she smiled despite of herself. I guided her towards the sink where she rinsed her mouth and washed her face and soon I was supporting her full weight, I placed her gently in my bed and took her shoes off, following suit with mine and just collapsing next to her jeans, coat and all. All I could think of when those last minutes of consciousness kicked in was, don't let me regret this in the morning, as the blackness of drunken sleep took over me.