Case 325 || Loki

F O U R

"Hey Lily, I've got to head out early and pick Zoey up. Will you be okay locking up?" Jade asked, slinging her jacket over her shoulder.

"Yeah absolutely. Don't worry about a thing over here." Lily reassured, wiping down the tables at the tipsy apple. It was Sunday and Lily was working an extra shift for Jade so she could go on her date with Zoey. 

Jade smiled nervously, "Do I look ok? I didn't know what to wear and Zoey always looks flawless and we're going to dinner and-"

"Jade!" Lily stopped her. She put down her wet rag, wiping her hands on her skirt and walked over to the emotional wreck. Lily lifted her hands and straightened the collar on Jade's shirt. "You look stunning."

Jade sighed, relieved, "Thank you. Right I'm going before I back myself out of it. And Lily?"

"Yep?"

"Thank you for setting us up. I would never have had the guts to ask her out myself. Oh my god, I think I love her - nope, no, only the first date, I can't say that."

"Sometimes you just need a gentle nudge." Lily smiled reassuringly, "Now go, go, before you're late." Lily ushered her out of the door.

"Right, yep, bye!" Jade jogged out of the bar, practically doing excited skips on the way.

Lily worked tirelessly to serve customers, clean tables and make drinks - never stopping to realise how exhausted she had become. Being a Sunday, it was teeming with people. Some on first dates, others regulars who came in just to drink their problems away.

"4 shots of vodka." A middle aged man ordered sluggishly. Lily had been serving him all night: he sat leaning over the counter on a bar stool, shoulders slumped over, head drooping down, completely wasted.

"Coming right up." Lily replied. She half filled the shots with water, knowing that he was drunk enough as it was. And she didn't feel like calling Jade during her date to say that she's had to call an ambulance. That would be a lot of paperwork. The man merely grunted in response, downing the shots one after the other without taking a moment to breathe.

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It was just past midnight and Lily's eyes were beginning to close. A wave of relief washed over her as she turned around the open sign to closed. The chefs and extra waiters had gone home, leaving Lily to lock up. It was a weird feeling seeing the bar deserted. She found herself hating the eerie silence where she could hear a pin drop.

She scolded herself for forgetting to wear gloves as she swept the floor. Pulling her hands away from the broom, she winced at the blisters already beginning to form on her palms and fingers. Leaning the brush back against the wall, she began to stack the clean glasses inside the cupboards.

"Well aren't you a pretty little thing." The drunken man from before toppled out of the bathroom door. He sluggishly leaned over the bar counter. 

Lily tensed, trying to ignore the comment. "We're closed now, would you like me to call a taxi?" Even though the man was out of line for saying what he did, Lily couldn't imagine the guilt she would feel if something happened to him if she just kicked him out.

The man's dark eyes trespassed over her body. "I could tell you what I would like, we could have a good time together."

"Sorry, I only date men. I'm going to call you a taxi. Wait here." She instructed, her stomach twisting with the man's gaze. 

The man immediately reached over the bar and grabbed her arm tightly, "Did you just tell me what to do?" While his voice slurred from the alcohol, the man knew exactly what he was doing.