Chapter 5: Vox

A Few Months Later...

I no longer saw Val and things between Angel and I had become strained. He still hadn't accepted Val's offer, and despite the fact that we weren't the good friends we used to be, I do think part of that was because of me. I'm pretty sure Val knew it to.

As far as I could tell, Val had dropped it and was working on making Angel fall more in love with him and waiting for the rift between us to grow even more. Then he would make his move, and next time, he would probably be successful, but until the day Angel sells his soul to Valentino, I wouldn't stop trying to save him.

Or so I thought.

With my friendship on the rocks and a surprising hole where Valentino used to be, I suddenly began to find myself feeling very lonely.

Angel was staying over at Val's and I was feeling pretty bored at home. I'd never gone out to a club or bar by myself before, but I guess there was a first time for everything.

Feeling the sting of Val's success over me, I decided to go and drown my sorrows and try to forget myself in the loud music and bustle of drunk sinners.

I decided to go to the bar where I worked. At least there was a chance I'd feel somewhat comfortable and less awkward. Maybe I should even try to socialise.

Once I got to the bar, I perched myself on one of the bar stools by the counter and ordered a cocktail.

After a few sips, I looked around the room and considered my options for someone to talk to, and all of them seemed like to much for me to handle. They didn't look like my kind of people, shouldn't have been a surprise, it's not like I've ever thought much of my customers. I ordered another cocktail and another and another... I still felt shitty. What was I trying to accomplish?

I flagged the bar tender, "another."

"Hi."

I looked up from my drink, and a guy was sitting next to me, looking at me with some pretty sympathetic eyes. I must have looked pathetic to attract this look.

His head is a TV.

"Hi..."

"Sorry to interrupt. My name's Vox. I couldn't help but notice you seem pretty troubled."

"Oh, uh... I'm just... it's- it's nothing. I'm fine."

"Doesn't seem like nothing. You're here alone, not socialising, just sitting at the bar looking depressed and chugging cocktails." He smiled.

"So I really am that pathetic looking then."

"I wouldn't say that. But a depressed, pretty girl alone at a bar. Attracts some attention. I'm not the only one who has noticed you. I've seen a few guys trying to come up with their battle plan for how to use your vulnerability to get you into their bed."

"So you're looking to fuck me?"

"I wouldn't be opposed but it wasn't my plan."

"That what you're going with?"

"Why would I bring up sex and expose my own plan, if that was my intention."

"To throw me off and try to make yourself look like the good guy."

"Someone's jaded."

"It's hell, aren't we all jaded."

He laughed, it was a nice sound. Actually he had a nice voice in general. He was well dressed and... attractive? The TV head was throwing me a little. I had gotten used to all the sinners that looked like some kind of animal, or a slightly off brand human, but the ones that looked like objects were still strange to see.

"I suppose you're right, we are all a little jaded. Probably smart not to believe me. Why believe a sinner in hell, lying is such a minor sin compared to what everyone is probably here for."

"Very true. Incredibly unwise to trust anyone here."

"At least you don't look quite so sad now, so it seems I've helped."

I chuckled. I guess he was a little charming. Or perhaps my standards were seriously suffering after Valentino

."A laugh, I'm doing well." He smirked and leaned on the bar with his head in hand.

"Please... one little giggle doesn't mean anything. Don't let it go to your head."

"Can I get you another cocktail?" He offered.

"Seems it would be rude to decline."

"Excuse me!" He signalled to the bar tender. "Another cocktail for the lady, and a scotch for me. Thank you." The bar tender nodded and begun making our drinks.

"Thanks. So, what's your game plan here?"

"No plan. Just wanted to make sure you were alright, Dear."

"Heh" I gave him a small smile. "I don't believe you. Especially since you're plying me with more alcohol."

"Smart. I leave you be then. Enjoy the drink." He said raising his glass to me before turning and walking away.

"Bye..."

Maybe I should have stopped him, but I wasn't ready to try and get to know another person and I'm pretty sure he was just after sex. Looking around I noticed he was right, a few people were giving me a pretty sleazy and predatory look.Time to go home.

A Week later I was getting ready for work while Angel got ready for another date with Val. "How are things going... with Val?"

"Hmm, everything is fine. You know, fun times, great sex and good drugs. Haha!"

"No... incidents?"

"Vix, again with this? Just drop it. He's not what you think, he cares about me."

"But- "

"No. I don't want to hear it. I have to finish getting ready, the car will be here soon. And you're going to be late for work."

"Right, yeah I should get going. Have a good night... I love you." I opened the apartment door and started to leave.

Angel grabbed my arm. "I love you too. I- I hate that we've been fighting lately. Have a good shift." He smiled.

I smiled back. "Thanks, I'll talk to you later."

As usual the bar was packed and I was run off my feet fetching everyone's drinks. I generally don't pay much attention to my customers, they're either jerks or molesters. But when a familiar voice asked me for a scotch, I stopped for a minute and actually looked the customer in the face. "Vox, here again."

"Hello Dear. So you work at this bar?"

"Unfortunately. Better than some jobs though."

"I don't believe I ever got your name."

"Oh... and do you expect to get it now?" I gave him a cheeky smile and a wink. "Here's your scotch."

I got back to work, no time to talk.

"Another Scotch please."

"One second Mr. Vox."

After serving a couple of other customers I poured Vox his scotch, placed it in front of him and turned to attend to customers on the other side of the bar, he grabbed my arm, "What time do you get off?"

"Ha... I have to keep moving."

"I'm patient."

"Definitely trying to get me into bed now." I said raising an eyebrow and walking away. Glancing back I could see a small playful smile spreading across his face.

About 4 hours later my shift was coming to a close. The next bar tender had arrived and I was getting as much cleaning done as I could to make the rest of their shift easier before I left. After putting the last load of glasses on to wash, I walked into the staff room to collect my things and put my apron away in the cubby.

Sigh. "Happy to heading home. I can't wait to crawl into bed and crash."

Too tired to even think about Angel or anything else I walked out the back exit into the side alley and started to walk home. As I exited the alley and turned onto the main street, I notice the dim light of a screen leaning against the wall of the club.

"You look exhausted. A girl like you shouldn't have that look on her face unless it's happy."

"Vox... I- I'm too tired for this, whatever this is." I kept walking, looking back as I did to add, "also, a little stalkery, not very attractive of you." I swear I saw him blush for just a second.

"You're right, not the classiest move. Looked like a tough night, though maybe you'd want a friend." He smiled as he fell in step with me.

"A friend? Is that what you want to be?"

"It's how I'd like to start? If anything else should develop; that's a bonus."

"Hmph, right." As if.

"Someone really did a number on you, didn't they?" I froze for a second. I couldn't help but think of Valentino. Did he really still have power over me? Was this actually how I wanted to be? My head started to ache, I couldn't handle this right now. "It's dangerous to walk alone at night." He said, changing the subject. " I thought I should make sure you got home safe."

I stared at him for a while, I knew he was just trying to save his ass, but I didn't have the energy to argue and he wasn't exactly wrong. "Alright."

We walked in silence for a while, he just walked by my side as I lead us to my apartment. Caught site of a group of sinners tearing into another poor sinner, wasn't an uncommon site. I often thought that might be me one day. I'd technically be fine, eventually, as long as they didn't have angelic steel. Which is messed up.

"You look like you're about to drop, are you alright?" Vox asked quietly, gently.

"I'm fine. Just tired from work."

"You sure that's all it is?"

"Yeah... no. But it doesn't matter. I just want to get home and go to sleep."

"Right. Sorry."

Soon we reached my apartment building. It was a pretty low end average building. Definitely not the worst in hell but far from the places the rich and powerful inhabited.

"Nice place." He sarcastically remarked.

"It's good enough. Night." I started walking up the steps to the building, he quickly grabbed my hand.

"Goodnight. Sleep well, I hope you feel better in the morning." He kissed my hand and left.

Fuck. He was trying hard.

I went up to my apartment, straight into my room, tore of my clothes and collapsed onto my bed and slowly wormed my way under the covers. Maybe tomorrow would be better.