Pink Champagne
Got the inspiration for this story while listening to "Pink Champagne" By Venus Hum :) I suggest everyone go and listen to it! As always, constructive critique and comments are always appreciated! I want to grow and get better as a writer! Hope you all enjoy!
I had seen him around town plenty of times before; all throughout campus and randomly in convenience stores. He always looked so cool, like he owned everything he touched. He looked important, and always had some girl or another hanging on his arm. It made me jealous, I didn't really know him, or even said anything to him, but it didn't change the fact that my heart would go into overdrive every time I saw him. He was a big proud wolf. Not big in fat though, it was muscle, you could tell he worked to make his insides match his outsides. Strong and in control.
Someone like him would never be interested in someone like me. I didn't have a future like he did. He was in college, and always wore suits. While I, worked as a waiter trying to build up money so one day I could finally go to college. It was one of the best restaurants in town, but, a waiter is still a waiter. I did pretty well though. I have the classic bunny features, pink nose, big eyes, and ears down to my tail which I kept pretty well groomed. The restaurant loved to have me work as much as possible. I always put on a performance for the customers, and made sure each one felt that I wanted nothing more than to make their stay pleasant. The owner of the restaurant even said that I was the best waiter they ever had.
The constant working was what led up to this. I stood there, with a dumb look on my face, as I stared out at the table I had to serve. He was sitting there, in one of his more expensive and well tailored suits. With two girls in fancy cocktail dresses vying for his attention. I had to go though, no other waiters were free. So, I did my best to put my show on. I was failing from the start however; I kept my head down as I walked up to his table.
"Um, hello. My name is Devon and I'll be your waiter today," the three of them looked up at me and the two vixens instantly tried to turn their charm on me.
"Oh honey! Why do you look so nervous? It's ok, we won't bite," I didn't like her voice. She was trying to pull some fake southern accent but it wasn't working. The Brooklyn in her accent was too strong.
"Well she won't! Can't speak for me though. You're pretty cute," I liked her a little more. She wasn't being fake, but the way she sat was way too seductive.
"Hush girls," I gasped a little when I heard his voice. It was strong and commanding. I shouldn't have expected anything else. He sat up a little more and leaned over the table examining me. I could see his eyes as they started from my feet, up to the black khaki pants, then to the white dress shirt that was covered with a buttoned up red vest. Then, finally to my face, which was still held down, but it was more to cover up the fact that the skin under my fur was probably the shade of a tomato.
"We will just be drinking tonight. Bring us the best bottle of pink champagne you all have," I looked up while he spoke and his eyes were fixed right on me. I felt like he was trying to see inside me. I wanted to glance away, for some reason or another, but he had me there. His deep brown eyes held me there and wouldn't let me go till he wanted me to go.
"Alright sir, but, I must let you know that we are actually going to be closing in about an hour."
"That's fine."
"Would you like for us to call a cab for you since you will be drinking tonight?"
"That will not be necessary," He finally relaxed in his chair, and I felt like I could move again freely.
"Understood sir, I will be back as quickly as I can with that," I said with a smile as I tried to leave. Before I did though, he said one final thing.
"Thank you.... Devon," there was a pause before my name, like he was testing it or something. I just nodded in acknowledgment and went back to the bar to grab their order.
As I walked up to the bar, the bar tender instantly picked up my nervousness. He was the first one to talk to me when I started working, and we quickly became good friends. The otter, who I called Jack, but his real name was Jaucke, slammed a shot of vodka down in front of me. "What's up little one?" I looked down at the vodka. I hated the stuff, how it burned and made my head fuzz, but I needed to loosen up some. I grabbed the shot and chugged. "Damn, you must really be riled up if you are drinking that stuff. Come on, talk to me."
"Just a bad costumer."
"You're a bad liar."
"Shut it and get me the best bottle of pink champagne we have. It is what the costumer ordered."
He narrowed down his eyes trying to see if he could pull any real information out of me, but he wasn't getting any. So, he left for a few seconds and came back with the bottle. We didn't speak at all, but I could sense that he was getting protective.
As I headed back to the table, I could feel the vodka kicking in. It wasn't enough to make me giddy, but enough to build back my confidence. I noticed something when I walked up to the table, the two girls were gone, and replaced with the owner of the restaurant.
"Um, sir?" I wasn't really addressing either of them specifically.
"Oh! Welcome back Devon!" My boss spoke up. "Sorry, we are done with our talk. Enjoy your stay Harold."
"I believe I will sir. Thank you for humoring me while I waited." So his name was Harold. I could feel myself getting hot under my fur.
"Well? Are you gonna sit Devon?"I lost all of my breath
"Um, what?" I didn't think I heard him correctly.
"That was why I was talking to your boss. Just making sure it was ok if I kept you to myself for a minute," He made it sound like I was something to be owned. I could tell my breathing was heavy and unsteady.
"If I'm not mistaken, you had a couple of acquaintances with you before. What about them? I wouldn't want to be rude," I needed an excuse. Some kind of excuse.
"I sent them away. You are much more interesting than both of them put together," He gave a little smirk. He knew he had me and could manipulate me. "So, go ahead and sit down," he pulled up the chair next to him and invited me to sit. I didn't have a choice.
"So what did you want to speak to me about sir?" I kept my head down, I knew the second I looked at him, it would be all over. He would have me. But it wasn't working, he pulled my chair up against his and lifted up my face to his.
"You've been drinking at work? Naughty," He looked me dead in the eyes. I could see the power and fire locked away behind the brown spheres. He was alive and determined, and I felt weak compared to him. Not in a physical way, but in an emotional way. Like he could break me or build me up with a single breath. Not even a full word.
"I... I was nervous to serve you, I needed something to help me relax and the bartender gave it to me," I couldn't lie to him. I knew he would see right threw it, even if I tried.
"So I should be reporting the bartender for serving a minor alcohol?"
I snapped out of the trance I had been lost in and grabbed a hold of his arm. "No! Please don't! He is a really good friend! He was just trying to help! He loves his job! Please don't! Please!" He looked down at me, examining me even closer now.
"Well look at that. Here I was worried that you might be boring. You're pretty quick to stand up for your friends, but when it comes to yourself, you don't care what happens huh?" And just like that, he read me like a diary left wide open. It was true of course, but I didn't say anything, I just laid my hands in my lap and stared down at the floor. "So I'm right," He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. He was still staring at me, but with a smirk on his face. "You're pretty cute Devon. I admire someone who is so full of pride that they would die for those they care about. I feel like we lack that now days. So, what do you think about me?"
I thought about the question for a moment. "Well, you seem, very confident. But, you also seem like you enjoy manipulating people. I don't feel a lot of warmth from you, but you are also the kind of person everyone wants to know."
He sat there judging my response for a few seconds, and then chuckled. "Pretty good! But, are you attracted to me?" The question should have surprised me, but it didn't. I could tell it was leading up to this. He was just toying with me. Manipulating me. But, I was letting him do it.
"Yes. From the first time I saw you, I have admired you. You know you're attractive, you didn't need to ask me that."
"Careful with that tongue," he lifted up my face and stared at me again. "But, you are right. I just wanted to hear you say it. I can read it all over your face. So, even with my affliction of manipulating people, you still want to be with me huh?" I just nodded, it was true. Hearing his voice, having this conversation with him, I felt like I was about to burst. The heat inside of me, my face must have turned the pinkest shade nature would allow. "Then I'll meet you tomorrow at the book store we've seen each other at. I already talked to your boss; he is giving you tomorrow off."
"How do you two know each other?"
"He is my uncle. Well the restaurant is closing. Before I go though," He reached over and grabbed the champagne bottle I had set down, and popped it open. He only poured one glass. He stood up, glass in hand and took my chin in his free hand, lifting my head up. He placed the rim of the glass on my lips, and forced me to drink. It wasn't really forced, I drank it freely and didn't object, but I wouldn't have drank any of the alcohol if he hadn't done what he did.
"So, a good little boy till the end. Doing whatever you're told huh?" I looked up at him. "I could get used to this view." I new what he meant when he said that. "Good night little Devon." He leaned down and kissed me on the lips. I didn't expect it to feel so nice. His lips were actually really soft, but it didn't last long. He was just trapping more into his web, and I loved it.
"Have your bartender friend take you home ok? I can tell you're a lightweight." He chuckled as he left. My mind was getting fuzzy. Damn him he was right. At the moment, while I stumbled back to the bar, I hated him, I loved him, I wanted him to take me in his arms, and I wanted to stab him in the back.
"Devon! What happened?!" Jack came around the bar and grabbed me as I almost fell over.
I looked at him and said. "Harold."