Nightmare Part Ten

"Want a drink sweetheart?" Slurred a drunken, male voice. He stared shamelessly at her, and she could feel his gaze hot on her neck as he breathed in slowly, truly a drunk.
"Not if you think it will get you in my pants." Jamie smiled, as she moved past him, attempting to act as though his comment hadn't scared her in the smallest bit. She considered leaving, but she had a purpose here.

At least she convinced herself she did.

Basically, she needed a place to stay the night, and was hoping they would give her a room for cheap. She wandered quickly up to the bar, and sat down on the stool closest to the bathrooms- in case she needed to exit quickly. But then again, someone could push her into the room designated for males, and well, she let her mind wander too much. At least sometimes it served its purpose.

The bartender ignored her for a few minutes- apparently checking out her character, and asking himself if she was a local. She obviously wasn't. By the time he noticed her correctly, she had long ago created a speech, trashed it, and given up.

"Bourbon please." Jamie smiled, attempting to make it natural. "And, do you have a spare room?" She finished, glad she had never been taught manners. With manners, she would be like a cold fish in a warm beer. Completely out of place. The bartender slowly reached downwards, and pulled a murky glass out. He pulled out a bottle of bourbon, label unrecognizable, and poured it almost full. Shoved it over to Jamie, the liquid threatening to spill over the sides.

"Room's fifteen a night, check out's 12. If your going to be 'working', then you'll need to find a new place." The bartender blankly spoke, although with a hint of character. It surprised her in all the right ways. He then walked off, to collect her money later, obviously.

Jamie picked up the glass, and gulped down the entirety of the fiery liquid. I am Jamie's ruined liver. A small, smirk-like smile spread across her lips, and she wiped it before anyone noticed.

"Drink me." She mumbled, and waited for the bartender to refill. He was there soon enough, pouring the same as before, and giving her a coaster for underneath the drink. Was that a signal to slow down? This drink lasted longer, Jamie slowly sipping it.

It was going to be a long road.

* * *

New alarm.
New school.
New inexorbanent form of torture.

Daniel rolled over, his eyes aching like someone had managed to urinate in them while he hadn't slept. It was going to be a long school year. He remembered the promise he had made himself, and immediately regretted it. But still, he was going to go ahead with it.

By the time he stepped out of his bed, Seth had already disappeared, gotten changed, and reappeared. He was currently re-lining his eyes, on top of the fading grey from the eyeliner of previous days. He rubbed one hand over his shaven head when he was done, and tossed a chain around his neck. Whatever was on it clattered profusely, again as he leant over, to make his bed messily. Daniel opened his suitcase, and pulled out a pair of jeans, and pulled them over his boxers. He couldn't be bothered to find a new shirt, and decided to wear what he had slept in. Seth was the first one to start a conversation.

"Do you sleep?" He questioned, sitting down on his bed, and sorting through what seemed to be books.
"No. Why? Do you?"
"Yes, all night long in fact."
"Then how do you know I didn't sleep?" Daniel questioned, pulling at his hair with a brush that had probably belonged to Jamie sometime in it's lifetime. His hair wouldn’t sit right without a shower, but it didn't matter.
"It looks like someone tried to burn your eyes out of your skull." Seth replied, a small snigger escaping as he did.
"It feels like it too."
"I would guess so. Any other deep dark habit based secrets I should know now we're sharing a room?" Seth asked, in a sarcastic tone. This is it Daniel. Just say it. You know you need to. You'll go crazy if you don't, and take up a career in making soap.
"I'm gay." Daniel muttered, not believing he had just said it. First person he admitted it to, he had know for 17 hours and 11 minutes. Not long enough for this kind of relationship.
"Serious?" Seth asked, cautious.
"Yeah."
"How'd your parents take it?"
"They don't know."
"Your friends?"
"Same as parents."
"So I'm the first to know?"
"Pretty much."
"Should I be proud?"
"No."
"That's cool. As long as you don't shoot heroin here." Seth smiled, attempting to warm Daniel, in a completely non sexual way. "I wouldn't tell anyone. No one will leave it, and your life here will be more hell than it's already pre-destined to be."
"I wasn't planning to. I'm hungry."
"Let's go. Breakfast." Seth smiled, before stalking conspicuously out the room, his hands folded defensively across his chest. Daniel sighed. Maybe this won't be as bad as I thought. Or maybe my mind just wants me to think that.