Love To Hate Me

zombie dance

I walk up to the bar stools sitting down talking to the bartender about a job opportunity. Bartender says," I am actually the owner no need to be nervous." I look in shocked and say," wow I am an idiot." He chuckles and says," an idiot with a job. How soon can you come in?" I smile nervously and say," as soon as you need me." He says," I'll need you on the weekends 8 to 3. So Friday Saturday Monday. Training startsThursday at 4."
I smile shaking his hand and say," I'll see you tomorrow sir."
He shakes his head and says," You can call me Matthew."
I correct myself and say," See you tomorrow at 4 Matthew."
I notice him look up and down at me. He says," I'll see you tomorrow Ashley. Dont be late."
I laugh and head out the door to check my phone. I notice a text from Andy. It reads," I am in LA. Would love to get together. Miss you bestfriend x." I text back," Great to hear from you. Let's do it. Miss ya x."
I get a call from Ronnie. I quickly and say," What's up Radke? "
His smug voice says," Did you get the job?"
I smile into the phone and say," I did."
Ronnie laughs and says," Celebratory lunch?"
I laugh and say," Absolutely tell me the detail through text so I can GPS it."
Ronnie says," Awh love me some tourist."
I giggle and say," Fuck off Ronnie. Bye." I hang up the phone and start getting into my car. My phone bings. Ronnie texts," let's eat here. ***********. " I copy the address and put it in google. 25 mins from here are you kidding Ronnie I thought. I pull out of the driveway and start my journey blasting some Get Scared. I'll tell you one thing people in LA need to learn to drive jesus. I take the 25 minute drive and par my car next to Ronnie's black one. I get out locking all the doors to see a cute little Chinese Restaurant. I think this restaurant looks really familiar. Maybe I visited it a while back when I visited LA? I look to see Ronnie smiling back at me. I look at him and say," it's beautiful Ronnie." He looked absolutely disassociated. I touch his arm. He shivers. I look at him weirdly and say," What's wrong with you?" He says," Nothing," locking arms with me to guide me in the restaurant. The nice little petite girl says ," Reservation ?"
He smiles and says," Radke?"
She says," right this way."
He pulls out my chair and says," You look beautiful." I smile as we eat and conversation comes so naturally for the next two hours. I loss track of time and say," shit. I got to go I am heading out to the bar I work at tomorrow to see what's it about." Ronnie says," thanks for hanging out with me tonight. I have to get up early for the studio tomorrow."
I smile and say," awh you party pooper."
He laughs and walks up with me to pay for the food. I smile wide and say," You are amazing Ronnie."
Ronnie laughs and says," because I paid for your food ?"
I hit his arm and say," you are always going to be a big part of my life. How did your date go?"
He smiles nervously and says," I have been seeing her for a min. Shes actually one of the girls you kind of caught me with."
I hit his chest and say," I am so not ready for this I got to leave I am sorry."
Ronnie says," look I am sorry. It was just thing."
I say," I love you Ronnie. You dont owe me an apology for moving on. I moved on to Craig. I am just not happy about it being one the girls that ruined what we had." Ronnie says," I know I just never thought moving on would be a thing with us." I hug him tightly and says," I know exactly how you feel. Bye ron."
He smiles and waves as we drive off in different directions. I drive the 30 minutes to my apartment jamming out to a random punk station. I walk up my apartment number still singing a green day song that just played on the radio. I walk upstairs unlocking my door. I go in my room to grab an outfit I wanted to wear tonight. I turn on my bluetooth speaker blasting some upon a burning body as I find my perfect outfit slipping it on while still finding time to dance around my room laughing. I finish my look checking myself out in the mirror. My phone bings super loud due to it being connected to a speaker. I check and see its Ronnie. I disconnect from the speaker. I say," What's Ron?" He text back instantly ," I dont think you should go out tonight." I text back," What do you mean ?"
He says," I hear from some people. Craig's going to be there." My heart skipped a beat while I read it. I go to text back before I get a call from a random number. I answer," Hello."
The voice says," Hey is this Ashley?"
I say," Yes."
He says," its Matt. I need you to work tonight."
I say," ok what time?"
He says," as soon as you can get here."
I say," ok on my way."
He says," Thanks Ashley bye." With the end of the conversation my heart was pounding. I text ronnie," I have no choice now. I just got called in. Fml."
Ronnie texts," I'll come if you want."
I text back," I love you Ronnie. It's ok I am going to have to face him eventually. I just hopped it would be when I looked good."
I text my friend Lacie from back home," my life is a mess. I wanna go home."
I head out to my car and drive to the place with my phone going off the whole way. Lacie texts," What's wrong?" "Who hurt you?" "Ashley!" I go to answer before I thrown behind the bar for a two hour training class on the computer. I check the time to see its 10. Matthew smiles at me as he helps me pour til 11. He says," Alright kid. Your on your own. " I turn around setting up cups of ice as I see a whole group of people come in.
I hear a familiar voice making my hands tremble. He says," I'll have a whiskey sweetheart." I grab a cup to turn around to see that beautiful white smile of Craig. He face turns to shock and says," Ashley, how have you been?"
I say," fine," as I pour the rest of the peoples drinks. I collect the cash quickly. Craig checks me out and says," You look good baby girl."
I smile and bite my lip. I say," you dont look bad yourself." Admiring his now short black swept hair. I notice a girl walking through the bar coming up next to him. She got half black And half red hair. My phone bings. Ronnie says," Hes got a girlfriend. The girl from New years day."
I read that and said," What will you been having?"
Ashley smiles and says," just a bud light thanks girl."