Pushing open the door to the bar; I'm immediately met with a blast of harsh a/c, alcohol and hard jamming music. The kind of stuff a live dj would play. It wasn't that awful to listen to considering I heard worse coming from Axel's stations he kept playing in his jeep.

There was a pack of people spread throughout the bar. Some scattered between the bar counter and the booths, the rest chilling on the dance floor which was illuminated with various fluorescent lights.

My eyes scan the place as I tried to locate a mop of brown hair but not seeing anything. My guess was he wasn't here yet or was in the bathroom. I decided to rely on the bar keep for answers. I approached the bar and flagged down the nearest bartender, which was an orange haired woman wearing a half torn crop top, booty shorts and a pair of sneakers. "Can I help you honey?" She sounded southern.

"Yea I'm looking for a guy? I'm not sure if I arrived first or if he did." She looked me up and down and pursed her lips. "Lucky guy. What's he look like?" She went back to cleaning a glass as I could tell she was listening intently.

"Brunette with light brown hair on his crown. And brown eyes." She hummed for a second at my explanation before shrugging her shoulders. "Nobody like that come in yet. Sit down and have a drink he might just be late." Following her advice I took the nearest seat across from her as I let out a sigh cupping my hand over my chin and mouth thinking heavily.

'Hope nothing is keeping him busy…' While my thoughts were rolling down a hill, the woman behind the counter slammed down a glass of vodka for me.

"I didn't ask for a drink yet." I said pointedly my expression blank and cold at her cheery display. "Just take it and lighten up, Grumpy. Some guy is staring at you from a booth over there." She jerks her chin towards the back where I turn to look at. I could see a mess of black hair and dark grey eyes just looking me over like I was some kind of 5 star meal.

"I don't know who he is…" My words come out edgy and harden. I wasn't ready to deal with another guy tonight. Jaden was the only one I had any kind of willingness to hang out with. That sounds kinda cheap but it was the best way I could explain it.

The man stood up from his place at the booth when he realized I wasn't gonna approach him nor give him my undivided attention. He sauntered over to me, his poster graceful confident and very smug. I rolled my eyes took a bit of my drink and turned to look at him as he soon appeared in front of me.

Dressed in almost nothing of color, from the black dress shoes to the black loose slacks and button down cuffed shirt he was practically black incarnate.

"Hey there… Haven't seen you here before. You new in town or just a fresh face?" I inwardly groaned but decided to just play along with the guy. "Just having a night on the town. You seem to be having a good time yourself." I didn't bother pausing tho to the man in front of me it sounded like I did to catch his name either that or he was confident I was expecting him to give his name, either way I didn't want it nor care.

"The name's Princeton… Chazz Princeton. And you, sir are a fine piece of ass that I just had to introduce myself to." He winked at me. Either he was bad at flirting or he must've been someone of high status for people to just fall into his arms like he was the king of the castle.

"Thanks. Sadly if you thought I knew who you were by name alone, your mistaken." I shrugged him off as I proceeded to turn back to the bar, but that didn't stop him from getting in the seat next to me and running a hand down my arm.

"Do you work out or something?" I raised an eye brow at him. How dense was this man? I groaned and got to my feet as I proceeded to walk to the restroom. Chazz must've followed me because the next thing I know I felt him grab my hand. "Hey you little shit..!" I got cut off when the slightly shorter male pressed into me and gripped my arm with a almost bone breaking grip. His hands were boney but were strong.

"I'll pay you handsomely so don't worry sweetheart." I looked at him bewildered. Did this short little freak think I was some kind of escort?! "Now wait a second here! I'm not sleeping with you! I'm here for a date." I proceeded to shove him back, he moved but he didn't let me go. He instead got closer to me which made me feel disgusted.

I could smell his breath, it reeked of whiskey and hot wings. What a nasty combination. I inched away from him the best I could but just ended up with him pressing me up against the wall of the restroom. "If you don't get off of me right now, I swear to god!" I growled in anger. This asshole was pushing my buttons to the extreme and he was about to get it if he didn't get off of me.

"Now where's that so called date you said you had, hmm?" He chuckled as he was about to press his lips to my neck when the door got kicked open the door slamming into the wall behind it.

There in the doorway was a clearly sweaty, panting and hot Jaden. He looked at the situation much like how I found him in when we first met. I know for one thing. I wasn't fearful like Jaden was, and if this man didn't get out of my sight soon he'd have a one way trip to the hospital. I say this even tho I can't get his fucking grip off of me. So Jaden could tell I was drenched in boiling anger that was about to blow. Thankfully he stepped up

"Chazz if you don't want to have your head in that toilet in the next 5 seconds, you better let go of my date." Shockingly enough Chazz dropped his grip and his already pale complexion turned a sheet white. "S-shit! Yuki! I swear to god I didn't know this was the guy you talked about! Please don't kill me, buddy!" Chazz looked apologetic to Jaden before clasping his hands together tightly as he was now the one sweating bullets.

"I am so sorry! I-I leave you both to your date!" With that Chazz ran out his face now flushed red with embarrassment as the door swung close behind him. I fixed my shirt casually as Jaden walked to the sink and splashed water on his sweaty face. "You okay..?" I asked him carefully, some part of me hoping his anger wasn't directed at me.

"I-i'm fine… Sorry I ran late for our date… Shit.. Guess this doesn't really count as a date does it? S..since I'm the only one who thinks it's a date…" Jaden with now dry hands ran them through the back of his head ruffling out his slightly sweaty damp locks. It looked like he ran a marathon. I felt instantly bad that I didn't bring my van to take him home in.

I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. I could feel he was nervous about the whole thing. He must've been horrified internally to see his friend about to seduce his date. "I'm sorry you had to see that tho. I didn't know who that was and he thought I was a hooker." Jaden's expression turned hot red and sheet white at the exact same time. Horror could be seen on his face as his hands waved in the air exaggeratedly.

"N-n-no! What!? You don't look anything like a hooker! I swear to God! Gah!! Now I wish I shoved his head in the toilet….Oooh I could kill him!" Jaden proceeded to nibble on his thumb, embarrassment could be seen spreading through his body as he hunched over the sink trying to hid his expression from me. I… found it endearing. And I have no idea why.

I walked over to him and looked at his expression in the mirror he was still flushed which was weird because he should've been fine. I also notice the way his hands gripped the sink as if it was the only thing holding him up.

"Jaden… Are you okay?" I touched his arm lightly as I spun him to face me. He was red in the face. It looked like a fever. "You don't look well." He saw I was about to touch his face when he slapped my hand away.

"I-i'm fine! I..I got a little overheated…I'll be fine.." His eyes met mine, a smile framing his face even tho he looked unwell. Maybe I'm reading too much into it. I sigh just a little before putting my hand down.

"Sorry, if that made you uncomfortable…" Jaden's expression turned to one of shock as he must've read my emotions. "W-wait, Jesse..! I didn't mean to make you feel like that… Can we… Can we continue our date? I promise I'm alright…" I looked down at him my eyes softening just a little at his attempt at desperation even tho it was obvious I wasn't going to leave him on his own.

"Let's get a table, some drinks and you tell me why you looked like Satan dragged you through the ringer a few times." Jaden chuckled at my words as he trustingly put his hand in mine letting me once again for the second time we've met, lead him away and out of the restroom.

He smiled as he picked out a booth for us to sit at. It was in a quiet corner away from the rowdy dancers and the loud music. I didn't catch sight of that Chazz douch but if he was getting loose he was probably still around. I wasn't gonna relax much knowing that.

I just ordered a rum and coke while I made sure Jaden just stuck with some water and a hard lemonade. I didn't trust he couldn't handle alcohol but I also didn't buy he wasn't feeling well either. He made no attempt to argue my decision and just accepted the hard lemonade with a caring smile.

"For someone who's so cynical about life you sure have a caring side to you.." He murmured as he drinks the lemonade slightly tho switching to the water to dampen his hot face with from the condensation rolling down the sides of the glass.

"Life has a way of making you view the world differently… Your childhood experiences make us who we are as people.." I spoke in almost a harsh tone. It was a hard fact I had to live with but it was something I grown to accept as well.

"I won't ask. I'd rather you feel comfortable telling me." Jaden finished his sentence with a warm smile as he finished his lemonade. My gaze rested on his face, the redness in his face was finally subsiding. That was a good thing in my mind, I had been worried if he over exerted himself.

"Your complexion is more normal now." I pointed out the words escaping my mouth without my brain realizing it. I immediately shut my mouth and looked away from him my face painting itself pink as he started laughing.

"Did I? Did I seriously worry you that much, Jess?" He had a smirk on his face his chin resting on both of his palms his eyes showing playfulness and humor in them. I ran a hand through my hair trying to smother some of the embarrassment I could feel trying to spread across my face.

"I have to drive you home so I wanted to make sure I was driving you to your place not a fucking E.R damnit!" My cursing at the end only showed my worriness for him when my voice cracked at the end making the brunette in front of me burst into a giggle fit once again.

"Hahahaha…. Ahh… I'm glad." I raised a brow at his words. He had covered his face with his hands as his attempt to hid his laughter a second ago. He slowly lowered them on the table laying them flat. "I was worried you didn't enjoy my company." I looked away and then back at him once more I could see relief in his eyes as he was staring down at the table and not in my direction.

"And what made you think that?" I asked out of pure curiosity. I know the type of person I show myself to others to be, someone who had their guard up. Someone full of cynicism and sarcasm and one who doesn't show they care for anyone.

His eyes met mine after a couple minutes of thinking, his eyes being like clear water in a lake I could see the emotions he was swapping through. He was conflicted on ever level but he was confident. "You said before… most people don't stay with you, nor do they keep being your friend because of the job you have. I was afraid that made you… spiteful of people and not care about anybody."

My face settled on a neutral smile one not immediately noticeable as I answered him. "Life's kicked my ass too much for me to care about people who don't leave an impact in my life. So when I do care about someone they know before I do. Because I tend to hide my emotions and motives." I looked him in the eye, judging by the subtle blush on his face my words must've sparked a reaction in him.

"Even tho… I just met you.. and I don't know you much either… I still considered this a date." The smile that spread across his face in that second was like watching the sunrise after a stormy night, just some kind of beauty could be found in it, and I was caught up in it.

"Then let's dance! C'mon!" He chuckled standing up and grabbing my hand. I downed my coke and rum in 3 gulps before letting the cherry brunette drag me to the not so crowded dance floor. "Hang on, Jaden!" I was surprised by his forward response. Something I'm almost never am: surprised. Nothing ever gets me by surprise so by having this brunette pulling me into a dance was something I couldn't even describe if I tried.

As the music blared around us the two of us caught up in the moment of swaying bodies and the reek of alcohol, I swore to myself that this was a night I don't think I could ever forget, even if Jaden eventually walked out of my life like everyone else I grown to care about.