By Buffy
Hey all, this is Buffy, the author of "At Last." I know many of you are
wondering where that story is and, I promise, there will be another chapter coming up
soon, and it will be finishing soon as well. For now though, this story popped into my
head, and thought I'd share it with you guys. If there's any interest in it, I would love
to continue it, so leave a reply and let me know.
Buffy
Part One
"Brenda, where the h#ll is my order?!" Sam asked, over her shoulder. When Brenda, her newest employee, didn't answer right away, she turned around and filled the first order herself. When she finished mixing the drink, Brenda had made her way back out to the bar.
"I'm so sorry," Brenda began, waving a hand. "I know, I know, but I was on the phone with the baby sitter, something was wrong with the baby?"
"Is the baby okay?" Sam asked, nodding her head in the direction of a customer behind Brenda.
"Yeah," Brenda said, "He'll be fine, but I'm going to have to stop by the store and pick up some baby Tylenol, or something, because he's been sneezing." Brenda reached down and took the cap off a beer and slid it in the direction of some man that looked pretty impatient. She tossed him a sarcastic smile, and then walked back down the bar in Sam's direction. "Look," Brenda said, "I honestly didn't mean to take too long on the phone back there. Are we square or what?"
"Yeah we're square," Sam said, "I understand, we all got troubles. You're a great bar tender, you just got to work on your communication skills, that's all."
"What do you mean?" Brenda asked, pointing over her shoulder. "That guy? He comes in here every night and sits on the same stool and orders the same beer, just so he can stare at my @ss. I don't really think I owe him service with a smile."
"As long as he's a payin' customer, you do," Sam said. "Anyways, you're not the only one with rude customers. It's just the nature of the beast, I guess. You do work at one of the seediest bars in downtown LA."
"Don't remind me," Brenda said, wiping down the bar and refilling some bowls with peanuts. She popped a few in her mouth and filled some more orders before Sam reappeared from the back room. "What's up?" Brenda asked, when Sam got a weird look on her face.
"Nothing," Sam said absently. "Get me a gin and tonic, would ya?" Brenda wrinkled her nose.
"Who ordered that?" she asked.
"ME, if it means anything to ya!" a woman at the end of the bar said. "You wanna hurry it up?"
"You wanna keep your shirt on?" Brenda asked, her voice booming over the music. "It'll be ready in a second. Sorry Sam," Brenda added, shrugging her shoulders, "But it's usually a lot easier on me if I get belligerent with the customers before they get too crazy with me, you know?"
"Yeah, I know," Sam said, "but do you have to be so loud? I have a killer headache?"
"Swallow some aspirin," Brenda said, "and s^ck it up. Isn't that what you told me on my first day? I got used to the loud music, the rude, sleazy men, cause I need this job, even more than you do."
"What is it about me?" Sam asked, "that says to all my employees, 'I can speak to Sam any way I want to'?"
"Cause deep down, you're a big softy," Lynn said, coming behind the bar and tying on her apron. As she turned around to fill a drink order, a man leaned over the bar and slipped a $20 bill into the waist line of her black jeans.
"Watch it, pal," Brenda said, her voice lethal.
"It's all right," Lynn said, "I got this." She took the money and placed it back down on the table next to his drink. "Did you lose something?" she asked.
"Looks like you did, baby," the man said, taking the money and putting it back in your hand. "Thanks for a great show last night. I don't know when you started coming there, but I'm going to be at the Paradise Lounge every Saturday night from now on."
"Either you want this drink in your lap, or down the hatch," Sam said. "But I suggest you go ahead and make the decision and clear out, so everyone else can go about enjoyin' the evenin'!" The man, who was a regular at Sam's Place, caught her meaning right away. He finished his drink, and then left the $20 on the bar, giving Lynn a wink.
"See you next weekend, sweetheart," he said, before getting off the stool and sauntering out. Lynn looked embarrassed, but Sam was silent as the three women continued working.
"You're locking up tonight, right?" Sam asked Lynn, who nodded as she deposited the money into the cash register. "Good, because I am out of here."
"Oh Sam," Brenda said. The woman looked over her shoulder as she continued into the back room. "What about that new guy that was supposed to be coming in here tonight? The new bouncer?"
"You can handle it for me, can't you Brenda? Between you and Lynn, you know what kind of guy we need here at Sam's. Either he fits the bill or not. Make the decision and let me know in the morning."
"Whatever," Brenda said, shrugging, "but don't kill me tomorrow when the position hasn't been filled."
"Why wouldn't it be?" Sam asked.
"Because every guy that's been in here so far this week, is just out for free drinks, because they know all our employees get them free."
"I trust your judgement," Sam said. "See you in the morning, or tomorrow night, or whenever you're on, all right?" Sam went into the back room, and reached down into her purse for a bottle of aspirin. She put two into her hand, and then reached for a flask, and chased the pills down, shaking her head, and sighing. She then grabbed her coat and keys, and headed out.
Back in the front bar, Brenda got a moment to herself after filling about a dozen drink orders on a rush. Lynn was cleaning some glasses and being way more quiet than usual.
"Hey," Brenda said, "what's up? Something wrong?"
"No, why do you ask?" Lynn said.
"Well, because you and Sam have both been acting pretty strangely lately. I'm--I'm kind of worried I guess."
"Yeah well don't be, I'm straight here, don't know about Sam though. Not really my business."
"I know I don't know you guys really well, I've only been working here for a few months, but you know you can talk to me if you need to," Brenda said. Lynn looked as though she was about to confide in Brenda, but then they were both interrupted when a few guys that recognized Brenda and Lynn from school started hassling them and giving them a hard time. "Blow it out your ear," Brenda said over her shoulder. "I'm cutting you guys off right now."
"Oh, come on, Brenda, you can't do that. We'll be good, we promise," one of them said, slurring their words. Brenda nodded.
"Yeah, right, whatever, you're dry now, that's all I have to say about it. Take it somewhere else, Sam's has the right to refuse service to anyone."
"Oh, but you wouldn't refuse service, would you?" a young man said, coming up to the bar. His name was Leo, and Brenda recognized him, but she didn't think Lynn knew him.
"Hey!" Brenda said, "How many times do I have to tell you guys?"
"We just want a beer," he said, shrugging. "Little Lynn here will oblige, won't you? You were real accomodating the other night--"
"All right gentlemen, I think you heard the ladies ask you very politely to leave the premises. Now why don't YOU oblige THEM." The man was tall, and his voice was distinctly foreign, Brenda thought as she looked up from the vodka shots she just poured.
"I can handle myself," Lynn said, looking coldly at the man. He had blonde hair, cut short, but not too short. Just the way she liked it, Brenda thought to herself.
"Just doing my job, I hope," the man said. "Now, back to you gentlemen? See you around?" he asked, his voice lethal. The young men were in no position to argue, and probably too drunk to fight, so they left, making cat calls as they went. "Sorry about that," the man said, shaking Lynn's hand. Brenda made her way down the bar, ignoring orders as she went.
"Lynn, get those for me, will ya?" Lynn made her way back to where Brenda's position had been, and Brenda smiled at this handsome stranger. "Can I help you with something?"
"Yeah, the sign outside said help wanted. I called, and the position was for doorman."
"Oh how grand you make it sound," Brenda said, waving her hand. "You mean a bouncer?"
"Well, that's right," the man said. "My name is Jasper Jacks, do you have an application I can fill out?" Brenda laughed.
"You really want this job?"
"Of course," he said. "Why, what's the problem?"
"You just don't look the type, that's all?"
"Oh really and what's the type?" he asked. "If I can do the job, and believe me, I can, there should be no problems."
"Are you even old enough to work here?" Brenda asked, stalling the conversation.
"Are you?" he countered.
"Touche, Jasper," she said.
"No one calls me that," he said quickly. "I go by Jax. J-A-X."
"Whatever," she said. "Times are tough all around, I guess. Well, if you want the job, it's yours. We don't give out free drinks, though."
"What?" Jax asked, obviously unaware of what she was talking about.
"Never mind," she said, smiling at him. "I'll have to look in the back for a shirt big enough for you, but you can go ahead and take your place at the door there, and I'll be right with you." He nodded, but a few minutes later, he returned.
"No one believes I work here," he said, leaning over the bar. "Don't you have any shirts my size?"
"Oh, I haven't had time to check," Brenda said, "but you know most of the bouncers who work here, they usually just work with their shirts off--that way it's hard to miss them." Jax's forehead crinkled, and Brenda laughed inside but managed to keep a straight face. Lynn laughed out loud, but kept her mind occupied on filling drink orders.
"Well I'd be happy to oblige, but I'd think it'd be easier to get cut that way, don't you think? I mean things do get rowdy around here sometimes, don't they?"
"Never mind," Lynn interrupted, "here's a shirt, it's the biggest size we've got, it ought to do."
"You spoil all the fun," Brenda said, smiling brightly. "Sorry about the hard time," she said. "Just seeing if you can take it."
"Can you?" he asked openly, as he took off the shirt he had on, and replaced it with a black one similar to the ones Brenda and Lynn wore. Brenda was taken a back at the sight of his chest, and he had to admit to himself, he was impressed by the way she looked in her T-shirt. He smiled to himself. "Do you go to UCLA?" he asked. "It's where I go."
"Yeah," Brenda said, nodding. "It's my last year. But I've never seen you there before."
"I'm a grad student," he said, nodding. "Would you like to go and, I don't know, grab a bite later?" Brenda smiled knowingly, as did Lynn.
"If you're up to it by the time the shift is over, sure. But why don't you get back to your post, Romeo? I think our friends have made a second appearance. We need a big strong man like you to protect us little ole' ladies." Brenda and Lynn laughed out loud when Jax pretended to tip his hat, and made his way back to the door, making short work of the persistent, yet drunken frat boys.
Brenda glanced over at Lynn, whose smiled faded quickly. "What's wrong?" Brenda asked. "You know you can tell me. That's the second time someone's recognized you, and I know you don't know all of those guys."
"Just skip it," Lynn said, ignoring Brenda.
"Wait a second," Brenda said. "Are you--someone mentioned the Paradise Lounge. What's up with that? Are you--are you dancing for money, Lynn?"
"Times are tough, remember?" she said, looking down, unable to meet Brenda's gaze. "Look it's just for a little while, okay? Don't look at me like that."
"Come on, Lynn, you know the deal. It's bad enough we're working in this dump. Why would you want to degrade yourself like that--"
"Don't give me that!" Lynn said. "You've got a kid, you know how things are. Tuition is killing me, out of state fees are a b!tch, Brenda."
"Look, you don't owe me any explanations," Brenda said. "And you're right, I do get it, but come on. If you need some money--"
"I'm not going to get it from you," Lynn said, looking at Brenda finally. "And don't even try and tell me you've got it, because I know you don't. Look, this is just temporary. What I make here in a night, I can make there in an hour. Combined, if I work my butt off, and drop a few classes, I can maybe pay off some of these loans. Look, I don't want to argue, all right? We got work to do." As the evening wore on, and Jax had to put up with one rowdy customer after another, including getting into a few fights himself, he was in no mood to be a smooth talker, and take Brenda out. Not that she would have went anyway, of course. He was just amusing.
"How's it going?" she asked, when she was finally ready to leave the bar for the night. She glanced at her watch, it was 3:00 in the morning."
"I am exhausted," he said, closing the door and offering to lock it for her. "But," he added, "I still know how to be a gentleman."
"So I see," Brenda said, smiling ruefully to herself.
"So," he said, putting his hands into his pocket. "How about that bite."
"You're hungry?" she asked. He smiled.
"Well, maybe not," he said.
"I'm not either, but I'll see you tomorrow," she said. "Listen, you did good tonight. Most guys don't last."
"Oh really?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. "Well maybe you'll find out later--I can go all night." Brenda laughed out loud at his forward comment.
"Down boy," she said, getting into her car. "You really don't want to go there with me."
"We'll see," he said, watching her drive away. "We'll see."
So, should I continue? Let me know. ;-)
Let me know what you think.
Part Two
Brenda arrived early the next afternoon in order to open up Sam's Place. She was thankful she didn't have to work all night until closing. When she parked her car, she noticed that Jax was already manning the door.
“What’s up?” she asked, when she walked in. He glanced up and down the street, and then followed her in.
“Not much,” he said. “Just workin’.”
“I know how that goes,” she said, busying herself at the bar. She looked up at him expectantly when he didn't move from the bar. "Can I help you with something?" she asked.
“Yeah, how long are you working tonight?”
“Why are you worried about how long I’m working?” Brenda asked. “Aren’t
you
here all night?”
“Actually, I’m just here an hour longer than you. They hired another guy to
watch the bar, too.”
“Sam hired another guy?” Brenda asked, arching a perfect eyebrow. “Wow,
I’m
surprised.”
“Well in any case, if we’re both off, what do you say we grab a bite to eat?”
“Why?” Brenda asked, putting a hand on her hip. Jax's eyes couldn't help but wander down her body, and then back up to her eyes. She met his gaze and then smiled at him. "Well, if that's why, why don't we just skip dinner?" Jax coughed and laughed out loud.
“I’d really like to take you out,” he said sincerely. “I know you’re
probably busy
with classes and everything--”
“I don’t have any classes tomorrow, but you’re right, I am very busy.”
“Workin two jobs?” Jax asked.
“Not that it’s any of your business,” she said, “but I have some
things to take care
of at home. Some responsibilities.” He nodded, and seemed unswayed.
“Can’t they wait?” he asked. “I mean, a girl’s got to eat.”
“Are you really serious?” Brenda asked. Before he opened his mouth to answer
her, she made the mistake of looking into those gorgeous blue eyes of his, and nearly
having a heart attack. “You know what?” she interjected quickly. “I think
you should
probably get back to the door, people are going to be coming in soon, and I have some
things to set up and some tables to wipe down before they do, so I’ll see ya later.”
“Did I miss something?” Jax asked himself, as he watched her hurry into the
back
room.
The night went on basically without a hitch, and Jax was grateful, it meant he
could spend more time watching Brenda, instead of the door. He had to smile at how she
handled the customers in a no-nonsense manner. A lot of the men she mouthed off to
were three or four times bigger than she was, yet she never seemed intimidated. “I
wonder what’s going on,” he said to himself, “behind all that toughness.”
“She’s a hot little number, all right,” a voice said, coming up behind
Jax. He
turned around to see a young man, the same young man he had thrown out the previous
night.
“Hey guys, look,” Jax said, “I don’t want any trouble here tonight,
why don’t you
just have a few drinks and call it a night?”
“That’s the plan, man,” he said. “The name’s Troy,” by
the way. He shook Jax’s
hand heartily, but Jax gave him a wary look. The young men paraded in, and as Brenda
leaned over the bar, wiping up a spill, she glanced up and got a strange look on her face.
She stared past them to Jax, who was welcoming some other people into Sam’s. She
sighed deeply, and really did not want to have to deal with them any more.
“Troy,” Brenda said, as soon as he sat down right in front of her at the bar,
“I
really don’t want to do this tonight, all right? Please. Just get your drinks and get
a table,
all right?”
“Why would I do that when I am loving the view from here?”
“Well you can love it from wherever you want,” Brenda said, casually tossing
him
a beer, “because my shift’s almost over, and I’m getting the h#ll out of
here.”
“Two bad,” Troy said, snickering as his buddies whistled and applauded while
Brenda moved to the other end of the bar.
In five minutes, Brenda was still there, and so was Troy and his friends. She
glanced at her watch, and then towards the door. Jax was staring at her, as she found he
always was whenever she looked at him. He smiled at her, and pointed to his watch,
shrugging. Brenda shrugged back and mouthed the words, “Where’s Holly?”
Holly was
suposed to relieve Brenda, but she was obviously very late.
In another fortyfive minutes, Jax was looking as impatient as Brenda felt. Of
course, she had a calm and cool demeanor to her, but she was worried. It was getting way
too crowded in here for her to fill all the orders by herself. Finally she gave up, and
left
the bar for a second, going over to Jax at the door. It was so crowded, she sort of got
shoved into him, and wasn’t able to put much distance between them. He looked down
at her, and smiled.
“Is there something I can do for you?” he asked. She blushed for a split
second,
then recovered.
“Can you mix drinks?” she asked.
“Sure,” he said. “I applied for a bar tender position, but they were
filled.”
“Well they’re not, as of now, so come on, I really need your help. You get one
end of the bar, I’ll take the other.”
“What about the door?” Jax asked.
“Forget it,” Brenda said. “We did fine without you on it before.”
Brenda grabbed
Jax’s hand, and he found it surprisingly warm and soft, almost inviting. She didn’t
look
back as she led him through the crowd. He came behind the bar, and began filling orders
left and right. He had an instant camaraderie with the patrons of the bar, and the regular
customers, who hated dealing with men, seemed to like dealing with him.
At one point, Brenda noticed Jax laughing and slapping one of Troy’s friends a
high five. It made her angry, and she wasn’t sure why. Something had told her he wasn’t
like those guys, but she guessed now he was. It wasn’t any of her business anyway,
right?
She barely even knew the guy. Brenda shook her head, and looked up when she heard
someone calling her name.
“I’m so sorry, Brenda!” the voice said. Brenda just rolled her eyes and
began to
untie her apron.
“I really don’t care,” Brenda said, “I just want to get home to
my--” She stopped
herself when she realized Jax was approaching.
“I know how anxious you are to get home,” Holly said, “and believe me,
it won’t
happen again.”
“James is already on the door,” Jax said, “so I’ll see you guys later, I guess.”
“Yeah whatever,” Holly said, as she stepped up to take some quick orders, and
then turn back around to face Brenda, after Jax had gone into the back. “So what’s
up
with that?” she asked Brenda, who promptly rolled her eyes.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, nor do I care. There is only one
man in
my life.”
“Don’t I know it,” Holly smirked. “It still wouldn’t kill you
to go out on a date,
would it?”
“Considering the kind of men that show up around here, yes, it would physically
kill me to be made to endure an evening with any one of them.” Holly just laughed and
turned back to face the bar. Brenda went into the back room, surprised to find Jax still
there. “You’re still here?” she asked. He tossed a glance her way.
“What’s it to you?” he asked. She just shrugged.
“Nothing I guess, you just look like the type that can’t get out of this part
of town
fast enough.”
“I actually only live a few blocks from here,” he said, “if that matters
to you.”
Brenda smirked to herself, and opened her locker.
“Listen,” she said, “I’m sorry to have dragged you up to the bar to
do all that
work, especially when you aren’t going to get paid for it. And believe me, I know
tips
are lousy around here.”
“I actually made $50 bucks.”
“You WHAT?” Brenda asked. “Are you serious? You made $50 in tips? In
that
bar out there?” she asked, pointing behind her. He nodded, and took out the money.
“Here,” he said, putting it into her open palm. “It’s yours.”
“Mine, why?” Brenda asked, her face twisted in confusion.
“How well did you do tonight?” he asked.
“I made $20,” she said, shrugging. “But this money isn’t mine, you earned it.”
“You served twice as many drinks as me tonight, and you do it every night. Here.”
“Don’t you need this money as much as me?” she asked.
“Are you going to let your pride get in the way?” he asked, stepping back
when
she tried to put the money back into his hands. She smiled to herself, and walked over to
stand behind him. She took the wad of money he’d handed her, and slipped into his
back
pocket.
“I think,” she said, her voice in a whisper, “that this belongs to you.
Here you go.”
Brenda patted his behind once, and then went to get the key from her locker. “And if
you
even try to give that back, you’re going to be sorry.”
“Oh I wouldn’t dream of getting out of line with her Highness,” he said.
Brenda
couldn’t read his voice, but she was sure she heard tension, and slight anger in his
voice.
“Look, Jax, I thank you, really, but I’m not in the habit of accepting money
that I
didn’t earn, even if I--”
“Need it?” he asked, looking at her seriously. “Look, I--I’ve heard
things, and I
was just trying to help out.”
“Heard what things?” Brenda asked, tossing her long brown hair over her
shoulder and effectively distracting Jax.
“That some of you girls here have had to well--you know, do some things for
money.”
“Some things like what?” Brenda asked, crossing her arms and switching her
stance.
“Like, dancing,” Jax hedged. “And, well, you know.”
“Uh-huh,” Brenda said, clicking her tongue. “I do know. Listen,”
she said,
moving to stand closer to me. “You don’t know anything about any of the girls
here, and
you really don’t know anything about me, or what I want.”
“Would you settle for something you need?” Jax asked, meeting her gaze with
equal intensity, though he was finding it hard to concentrate with her standing so close
to
him. She pursed her lips together, and squinted her eyes.
“And what would that be?” she asked sarcastically.
“Well,” he said, lowering his face to hers, until their faces were
centimeters apart,
“would you settle for an escort to your car?”
“Hmm?” she asked, getting lost in the haze that he was slowly pulling her
into.
She snapped out of it when he chuckled lightly, and stepped back, sighing.
“An escort,” he said, opening the door for her, “to your car?”
“Yeah,” she said. “That’d be nice, thanks.” She kind of looked
surprised at the
comment that came out of his own mouth.
“Forgot the sarcastic comment?” he asked, smiling at her. “See how easy
it is
when you’re not even trying?” She rolled her eyes at him, and then walked out
the back
door.
“My car’s right here,” she said, pointing to the 1990 Honda. “See
you when I see
you,” she said. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, turning around and starting for his own
truck, when
he came face to face to a mugger.
“Let’s have it,” the man said, wielding a knife. Jax shook his head and
shoved
the guy. Brenda heard the guy when he fell against the brick wall, and looked to where
Jax was standing. The man dove for Jax, who jumped back as Brenda got a glimpse of
bright steel.
“Jax!” she screamed. “Oh my God!” She heard Jax wince, but he
knocked the
guy out cold and reached down to pick up the knife and see if the guy had any more
weapons. Brenda rushed over to him. “Are you all right?” she asked, her hands on
his
arms.
“Yeah,” he nodded. “It’s just some young kid. Runaway, probably. I’m
going to
go and tell Holly to make sure she comes out with James when they lock up--” Jax wasn’t
prepared to see the frantic look in Brenda’s eyes. “I’m all right,” he
said, touching her
cheek lightly.
“No you’re not,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re bleeding.”
Prt. Three
Brenda held open Jax's jacket as he inspected his own shirt. A small circle of crimson continued to spread. "You're bleeding," she insisted. "Come on, let's get you in back inside," she said, grabbing his hand, unaware of the contact, the warmth in his grip. He was aware, however, of the softness in hers.
"It just felt like he hit me," Jax said, shaking his head. "I really didn't think I was cut."
"Well, you are all right," Brenda said, shaking her head, and sitting him down in a chair. "Let's get this off," she said, pushing his jacket off his shoulders, and unbuttoning his shirt. He held his arms out tentatively, while she worked. Her breath caught in her throat at the site of his bare chest. His skin was tanned, typical for LA, she thought, and his stomach muscles were defined, but he looked thin. Brenda considered what a gorgeous man he would be if he gained a few pounds. When she looked into his eyes though, she smiled to herself.
Whirling around, she stood on tip toes to reach the first-aid kid that Sam kept, but Brenda imagined had never used. Jax got a perfect view of her rounded bottom as she stretched to retrieve the small white box. She sighed to herself, and turned around, pulling her shirt back down, and then pulling another chair up to Jax. She parted his knees slightly to get closer to him, and cleaned the wound with what she could find.
"You mean you don't believe in that age-old treatment, whiskey on wounds?" he asked, wincing.
"Sorry," she said, clicking her tongue at his comment. "You watch too much tv."
"Impossible," he said, laughing slightly as she finished putting the bandage on. "Don't own one." She ignored him, and his obvious attempt at charm. She stood up and sighed, looking at her watch.
"That doesn't look that bad, actually," she said. "I don't think it needs stiches. It wasn't deep."
"Yeah," Jax said, "I'll be all right." He stood up, and shook her hand, slowly, steadily. "Thank you very much, Doctor Brenda. The patient will make a recovery, I think."
"I hope so," she chuckled softly. "I'm just going to warn Holly, and then I'll head out." Jax was waiting for Brenda when she returned, and he smiled at her.
"Just thought you'd want to know," he said, "that the mugger's gone. Must have woken up and took off."
"Yeah, either that or he's hiding out in the bushes," Brenda said, opening the door and charging out. Jax admired her conviction. "I'll see ya," she said, getting into her car, and starting it. She waited for him to pull out of the parking lot, and then she followed him. She knew she was late, but what could it hurt? She decided to follow him, just to see where he lived. "He said he only lived a few blocks," she said softly to herself, as he continued to just drive around. It became apparent to her in the next fifteen minutes, when they passed the same restaurant for the third time, that Jax was driving in circles--and that he knew she was following him. He finally pulled into a gas station parking lot, and got out, slamming the door. She hesitated before getting out of the car as well.
"Can I help you with something?" he asked. She didn't quite know why he was so angry, but she hoped her explanation wouldn't be too flimsy.
"I, uh--I was just worried about you," Brenda said, her head drooping. "I'm sorry--I shouldn't have followed you."
"D@mn right," he said, putting his hands on his hips, and then wincing as his wound continued to cause him pain. She took a step forward, almost reaching for him. "No, it's fine," he said, stepping out of the way. "Now would you mind telling me exactly what you think you're doing?"
"Yeah, you know," Brenda said, gesturing towards him, "I feel really silly about all of this. You were hurt, that mugger guy really did cut you, and I thought--well I just wanted to make sure you got home okay."
"Really?" Jax asked, obviously not believeing her. "You know, if you wanted to see where I lived, why didn't you just ask me? You don't even know me, you had no right--"
"Would you have told me?" she said, challenging him. "If I had asked you where you lived, would you have told me the truth? You said you lived a few blocks from here, but we're miles from Sam's now. Why--" she said, her voice softening. "Why did you lie?"
"I didn't lie," he said, "and it's really none of your business." He immediately regretted the harshness of his tone. "Look, I'm sorry," he said, "but we don't know each other well enough to even be having this conversation. It's late, and I'll bet money that I don't have, you've got someplace to be. So why don't you just go on home, and forget about me?"
Brenda watched him walk back to his truck, and then called out to him, before he could get inside. "I don't think I can do that," she called, ignoring some of the stares she was getting by the gas station attendants.
"What's that?" he asked.
"Forget about you," she said, smiling without thinking. He arched an eyebrow, and she realized her comment. "I--I just meant that I'd really like to know where you intend to spend the night. If you don't have any place--"
"I have my truck," he said, sighing deeply. "If it'll get you off my back, then I'll tell you. This is my home away from home, and if I park it where I usually do, then yes, my home would be a few blocks from Sam's. Now will you please just go home?" She could tell he was embarrassed, but she couldn't let him sleep in his truck, when he had probably saved her life from that mugger. There was no way she could have fought that guy off.
"Look," she said, sprinting towards him. "What could it hurt if you just came home with me? For the night," she added, amending her statement. "Come on," she urged. "You're hurt, you're obviously tired, and I have you to thank for saving my pretty little neck," she prodded.
"Now I know you're serious," he said. "The helpless routine does not suit you. Really, Brenda, I'm fine, and you don't know me well enough to be inviting me into your home."
"I feel as though I can trust you," she said softly. "Come on, I dare you. What are you, chicken?"
"This is stupid," he said. "Just go home, please."
"Not until you come with me," she said, climbing into the back of his truck and sitting on the side of it. "I'll stay here tonight if you will."
"You're crazy," he said, chuckling. "But, if it will appease you, I'll be more than happy to do so."
"I can count on you to follow me?" she asked with a huff, as she jumped down from the back.
"Yes," he said, starting the truck. "Lead the way," he said.
Jax and Brenda reached her apartment twenty minutes later. It was the third floor in a
building that looked like most others in that part of town. It was respectable enough, and
there were no drunks in the hall, but the walls were thin. Jax could hear children crying,
couples fighting, the usual. The paint was peeling in a few places, and Brenda struggled
slightly with the key and the door, that stuck.
"This always happens," she said, laughing weakly and giving the door a good heave, as it came open for her. "I am so sorry," she began, as her friend, Stephanie dumped her son in Brenda's arms. "I had no idea I was going to be this late."
"It's fine," Stephanie said, "he was actually quiet while I studied?"
"Bryan?" Brenda asked. "My son?" Stephanie nodded.
"Listen, I've got to run, you know I love you Brenda, but I can't make a habit of that."
"Baby sitting is a rite of passage for trust-fund casualties from Rhode Island," Brenda said, giving Stephanie a hug. "But thank you again. I can't promise it'll never happen again, but you have my word that I'll do my best."
"You'd better," Stephanie said. "I'll see you tomorrow. And I want to know who the cute guy is," she added with a whisper.
"You got it," Brenda said. She closed the door behind Stephanie, and shifted the sleepy little boy in her arms. Jax could see that he was an infant. "Surprised?" Brenda asked, her face expressionless.
"Uh, yeah," Jax said, "you could say that. I had no idea you had a son. How old is he?"
"He's just four months, actually," Brenda said.
"Wow," Jax said, "you look great!"
"Thanks," Brenda said. "I think." The silence was awkward between them for the next few moments. Why should he care if she had a son? They barely knew each other, and she owed him no explanations. And what did she care what he thought? He certainly wasn't paying her bills or anything. "Listen, I really do need to put him down. Make yourself comfortable," she said, moving some newspapers off the couch. "Help yourself to anything you can find in the fridge, too." Jax stood and watched her walk into the baby's room, closing the door softly behind her. In the baby's room, Brenda's head was spinning, for some unknown reason. A part of her hated to imagine what Jax must be thinking at the knowledge that she had a son, a young one at that. She didn't want him to think less of her, or think that she was irrepsonsible enough to have a child when she couldn't take care of it. But hey, Brenda said, shrugging her shoulders, that's exactly what I did. Get it together, Brenda, she told herself. It doesn't matter what he thinks. But something told her deep down, it did.
When she came back into the living room, Jax was sitting quietly, staring at the door. "That anxious to get out of here?" she asked.
"Oh no," he said, standing up, and then sitting back down quickly when a wave of fatigue hit him. "I left my books downstairs, and I know I should study, but it's just not going to happen tonight. I don't know how you do it," he said, when whe went into the kitchen and handed him a beer. "I'd be beside myself, raising a child alone." She looked at him, her face expressionless. "Excuse me," he said, "While I remove my foot from my mouth."
"It's okay," she said, "I understand. I guess I'm not the mom type."
"Oh, but you are," he said quickly. "You're just the type of girl I can picture--"
"Getting pregnant on a one night stand?" Brenda asked, squaring her shoulders and moving to face him. Part of her wanted desperately for him to tell her he didn't care at all about that, and another part wanted him to say it, so that she could think the worst of him in return, and get him out of her system. Was he already there, though? She had only known him for two days. She shook her head, and sighed.
"You know, I'm just digging myself further and further into a hole," he said. "And I think I'd better quit while I'm ahead."
"Why don't you do that," she said, taking the beer unceremoniously from his hand. "I've got a long day tomorrow, as usual, and I'm sure, so do you. Have a good night. There's blankets in the closet," she said, her tone clipped. It pretty much told him that was all she had to say.
Jax had a hard night on the couch, but it was still ten times better than the night he would have spent in the cabin of his truck, and a lot safer, too. Brenda's son Bryan cried a few times through the night, and Jax caught a few glimpses of Brenda in her night clothes. He had guessed right, and often smiled to himself. She wore a light gray tank top, and matching shorts, that were so short he almost caught a glimpse of something he shouldn't have seen. Brenda noticed him noticing her, but didn't respond. The few times during the night she had gone into the living room, either to make a bottle or to check on him, she was sure he was awake, and only pretending to be asleep. She made up her mind then to give him at least a good breakfast, for being an almost gentleman for most of the night.
The next morning, she woke up, her usual cranky self, but it pleased her slightly to know that she could have a grown up conversation with someone, instead of baby talk with her young son. She walked into the living room, and saw that the blankets she'd let Jax use were folded neatly in one of the chairs that bookended the coffee table, and a note was on top. She took it up, and read it to herself.
"Thanks for last night," he wrote. "I appreciate it more than you know. I'll find some way to make it up to you. See you at work, and say good morning to Bryan, for me. Thanks again, Jax." Brenda unconsciously held the piece of paper to her heart, and sat down on the couch, wrapping one of the blankets around her small body. It smelled like him. A combination of cheap aftershave and soap, she noted to herself. There was no smell of cigarettes or beer, despite having worked in a bar all night. Brenda wondered what kind of man Jax really was, but didn't have time to think on it for long. She put on a pot of coffee to brew, and then hurried to her son, as he woke up, crying for her. "One of these days," she said sighing, "something is going to have to change, and change for the better." Thinking of Jax, somehow she knew that particular wish had to come true.
Buffy
Part Four
Brenda had some time on her hands, so she was spending her afternoon in the student union, waiting for her class to start in the next twenty minutes. Being an English major was not all she thought it would be, but this was her last year, and she was getting through it as best she could. Last year, being pregnant had taken its toll on her body, and her job at the local gas station had fallen through when she was robbed one too many times. Now here she was, working at Sam's, and crawling through college, student loans, grants, and scholarships barely keeping her afloat. She tried to focus on balancing her check book, and making sure she could participate in the upcoming discussion of Browning, but Jax just wouldn't leave her thoughts. The way he had looked last night on the couch, a little uncomfortable, yet much more peaceful than if he had been sleeping in his truck.
Brenda shook her head as she leaned down to check on her son, as she rocked him gently with her foot. He cooed up at her, and she smiled. She turned her attention back to her books, but her mind didn't stay there. She couldn't help but be worried about Jax, and where he was, right now, at this moment. If he was living out of his truck, where was he showering at? Where did he keep all his possessions? Did he even have any possessions at all? "It's none of my business," Brenda said to herself.
"Talking to yourself, I see," Andrea said, pulling up a chair at Brenda's table.
"It's a long story," Brenda said. "And thank you, by the way," she said, lowering her voice, "for letting me bring him in here. I know you could get into trouble if anything happened." Andrea worked in the student union as part of her work/study program, and let Brenda bring her little son into the usually quiet room. No one seemed to mind Bryan's presence, he was an unusually quiet, and patient child, and the few people who knew Brenda, knew she was having a hard enough time, without having to come up with a baby-sitter, 24/7.
"You know I don't mind," Andrea said, "as long as you do me a favor in return."
"Sure," Brenda said, "What is it?"
"Tell me who this delicious man was, that supposedly you came home with last night?" Brenda rolled her eyes, and sighed.
"Stephanie has a big mouth."
"Come on, you know you can tell me. I'll keep it just between us."
"There's nothing to tell," Brenda said, "he's just this guy, a grad student, and he works at Sam's Place with me. He's a bouncer on the door."
"My, my, my," Andrea said, tossing her long brown hair over her shoulder. "So how'd he manage to get an invite to YOUR place?"
"He got hurt," Brenda said, "some guy tried to mug me, and he helped me out. He saved my life, or my purse at least, and the least I could have done in return was offer the guy a place on the couch for the evening."
"He didn't have his own couch to sleep on?" Andrea asked.
"It's not really my story to tell," Brenda hedged. "I felt obligated," she said quickly, when Andrea gave her a wary look.
"Well it was certainly not my intention to be an obligation," Jax said, appearing over Brenda's shoulder suddenly. She jumped at his comment.
"I, uh--"
"Hello there, Bryan," Jax said, kneeling down and shaking the little baby's hand, offering only his index finger. The baby's eyes fluttered close, and Brenda smiled weakly.
"He's really tired," she said. "He's been feeling a little sick lately."
"Well I hope he's all right," Jax said.
"Oh he's fine, I've been to the doctor, and everything's all right." Jax nodded. "Listen, about that comment you heard before--"
"It's forgotten," he said, standing to his full height and further intimidating Brenda. "I understand, anyway." Brenda turned her attention back to Andrea, who was openly admiring Jax. "Hello," he said, extending his hand. She took it, and stood awkwardly, almost knocking over her chair.
"Hi there," she said, reluctant to let go of his hand. "My name is--" she shocked herself out of her reverie when he looked to Brenda for a quick save.
"This is Andrea McCourt," Brenda said. "She runs the student union, and she's a good friend of mine." Jax nodded.
"It was nice to meet you," he said. Andrea smiled gratefully, and allowed Jax to take her seat. With his back to her, she gave Brenda a thumb's up, and mouthed, "go for it!" Brenda laughed, and shook her head, her willowly locks weaving a spell over Jax. "Was it something I said?" he asked.
"No," she said, an ease to her voice that he wasn't prepared for. "Where'd you disappear to this morning?" she asked. He suddenly looked very guilty.
"I didn't think you'd miss me," he said.
"I did," she replied, before she knew what she was saying. Her cheeks colored slightly, and she pretended to be paying attention to her son.
"I had a job to get to," he said. "I'm a cook at a local diner," he said, almost ashamed to admit it.
"Really?" Brenda said. "So you work at this place in the mornings, and at Sam's at night, when do you ever have any time off?"
"Well I don't work at Sam's every night, and I don't work at the diner every morning, so the few that I have off are when I have time to study, and besides, being a business/accounting major didn't take up too much of my time. The extra classes aren't that much of a bother. I am glad that after this semester, it'll be all over though."
"I know what you mean," Brenda said. "I can't believe I'm graduating from college in a few months, and I already have a son. I don't know what I'm going to do with my English Degree, though."
"You could be a teacher, couldn't you?" Jax asked. "It'd mean a few more years of school, wouldn't it?"
"Yeah," Brenda said. "Probably not as much since I'll have the English degree already, but I don't think kids are really my speed."
"You are doing an excellent job with the little one," Jax said, pointing to Bryan. Brenda smiled gratefully at him.
"Thanks. Listen," she said, "I have to go soon, but I didn't want you to think that I was getting into your business, before. It doesn't really matter, anyway."
"If you have a question," Jax said, "Then go ahead and ask it. After everything you did for me last night, you deserve some answers."
"Okay," Brenda said, the words rushing out of her in waves of relief, "why are you living in your car? Are you from California? How'd you get into this? Where do you sleep at night besides your truck? Where are all your things?" Jax's eyes got bright with amusement at her rush of questions. She didn't expect him to be so happy about answering her questions.
"Well," he said, clearing his throat, "I suppose this means that you're going to answer a few of my questions."
"You first," she said quickly, not wanting to talk too much about herself, and hoping that the time it would take for him to answer her questions, would save her from answering his.
"Well, I am from California. Both of my parents passed away when I was 16. My aunt was my legal guardian, but she had kids of her own, and a husband to take care of. I was a bit of a handful, and I knew she didn't need the aggravation, or the extra mouth. Don't get me wrong, I tried it for a few months, but it didn't work out. I emancipated myself after about a month of being with her, and she had no problems with it. I had a truck that my dad left me, the bank took the house and just about everything in it. The few things that I did have are locked up in storage, I didn't have anywhere else to put them. As you can see from today's lovely ensemble, that I don't have much in the way of a wardrobe. I wash my clothes in the same place that you do, probably, the local laundromat. I take my meals at the diner, study when I can, and you see me at Sam's. That's basically my life story."
"How'd you earn enough for college?" Brenda asked. "I mean, if that's not too personal."
"Oh it isn't," Jax said. "It was my father's dream for me to be the first one in the family to go to college, and I was determined not to disappoint him."
"How did he die?" Brenda asked, softly interrupting him. Jax's face went white for a few moments, and then he sighed.
"I don't really want to talk about that."
"Oh, it's okay," Brenda said quickly. "I mean, of course. Go on," she motioned. "College."
"Yeah, right," Jax said, shaking his head. "Well, my father instilled in me a talent, a love if you will, for the game."
"The game?"
"Cards." Brenda nodded. "I took the last $300 I had, went to Vegas and turned it into $25,000. I had an apartment, for about five minutes," he chuckled. "Tuition was a monster, as you well know, my building was condemned, if you can believe it--"
"Condemned?" Brenda asked, stifiling a laugh. He chuckled out loud, and she sighed slightly.
"It was condemned. I was left without a place to stay, I was either at work or at class, and it got too easy, too quickly, to just spend the night in my truck. It was never comfortable, and it was never ideal, but the money I saved on rent, well it was just so useful in other things."
"There's nothing like a roof over your head, though," Brenda said, putting a pacifier in her son's mouth.
"I learned that one the hard way. Pretty soon the little money I did have was gone. I needed another job, so I came to Sam's, and the rest, as they say too often, is history." Brenda nodded. "Now what about you?" he asked.
"Me?" Brenda said, coughing slightly. "Well, there's not much to me. I actually have no time to talk right now, I'm going to be late for class."
"Mind if I walk you over?" Jax asked. Brenda wasn't prepared for him to let go so easily, but it made her feel good to know he wouldn't pressure her. She had been uncontrollably curious when it came to him, and what his story was, but she didn't know if she was ready to share her story with him. It wasn't one she was proud of. But standing here now, looking at this gorgeous man, offering to WALK HER TO CLASS--it had never happened to Brenda before, she didn't even know how to act.
"I guess I don't mind," she said.
"Good," he said, "I'll carry that for you," he said, grabbing her packback, and baby bag. She picked up her son, and smiled up at Jax.
"Thank you," she said, unaware of how softly she was speaking.
"Your professor lets you bring your son to class?" he asked, as he opened the door and grinned at Andrea as he went out.
"Only when I can't find a baby sitter," Brenda said, "which is most of the time. It's been a little more frequently lately, but you know, as long as I don't make a habit out of it, she's cool with it." Jax nodded.
"Well you know, if you ever need a baby sitter--"
"Thanks," Brenda said, a little too quickly, "but I think I'll keep him with me while he's not feeling good. Thanks though," she said again, rushing through the door, and taking her seat at the back of the class. Jax peeked through the window, and then remembered that he had Brenda's diaper bag and back pack, still with him. He grinned, realizing that she'd probably been in a little bit of a hurry, trying to get away from him.
He opened the door as softly as possible, and only a few eyes, not including Brenda's turned around to face him. The professor wasn't anywhere in sight, so Jax walked up to Brenda, and set her things down beside her. She looked frantically up at him, and then sighed with relief. She mouthed a 'thank you'. He just nodded back to her, and then unexpectedly planted a kiss on top of her head. Brenda closed her eyes at the warm, unexpected contact, and then opened her eyes back quickly, to find him walking quickly out of the room. She gazed after him, and then became aware of the whispers behind her, and the unwavering gazes. She sank down a little in her chair then.
"Ms. Barrett," professor Dalton said, coming into the room. Brenda could tell
from her tone exactly what she meant. Brenda opened her mouth to explain, but the older
woman just put a hand up, and said, in a tone Brenda fully understood, "Don't let it
happen again." Brenda nodded, and felt the blood rush into her cheeks, unsure if it
was from being singaled out by her professor, or the kiss Jax had just given her. She was
determined to see him again, and find out.