Sirens and Cigarettes
Unfiltered Fiction By Aryca*
Photo By: Vlad
I was already late to meet him. I had caught sight of the clock as I tipped back the last of my
shooter. I could just see him sitting in the tavern, alone at the end of the bar wondering to himself
where I was and why I was late. I could also picture the empty shots of Jameson and the half empty
pint of Guinness resting in front of him on the dark mahogany bar. It occurred to me I had never been
late to meet up with this man. Eight months of being prompt. Not to mention always making sure to
look good, smell good and have extra cash in my pocket - at least a twenty-spot. He had a bad habit
of asking me to buy him drinks every time we went out and I had never said no, never turned him
down. I put a hand on the twenty dollar bill folded in my slacks "Not tonight," I thought."Tonight
you're gonna buy ME a drink." I smiled to myself.
Unfiltered Fiction By Aryca*
Photo By: Vlad
I was already late to meet him. I had caught sight of the clock as I tipped back the last of my
shooter. I could just see him sitting in the tavern, alone at the end of the bar wondering to himself
where I was and why I was late. I could also picture the empty shots of Jameson and the half empty
pint of Guinness resting in front of him on the dark mahogany bar. It occurred to me I had never been
late to meet up with this man. Eight months of being prompt. Not to mention always making sure to
look good, smell good and have extra cash in my pocket - at least a twenty-spot. He had a bad habit
of asking me to buy him drinks every time we went out and I had never said no, never turned him
down. I put a hand on the twenty dollar bill folded in my slacks "Not tonight," I thought."Tonight
you're gonna buy ME a drink." I smiled to myself.
It had been an ordinary
day for
me. I'd spent it just being mellow at home, did a bit of laundry,
ran a vacuum through the apartment, read some more of my novel and as usual I was showered and
dressed for work by four in the afternoon - ready to tend bar in sleek black attire; spike-heeled boots,
skinny slacks that hugged the right places and added miles to my legs and a fitted black short sleeved
collared shirt. Sophisticated, professional, sexy. By quarter after, I was looking fantastic and by four
thirty-two I had beat traffic and found a parking spot. I opened the heavy black door and breezed
through, heels clicking on the concrete floor as I passed the bar and gave a sly smile to the other night
bartender, Dakota, as I made my way to the back room. I dropped my big soft leather sack on the
industrial cooler in the employee area and retrieved my smokes and lighter from the depths of one of
the side pockets. I hopped up on the cooler, slid back until I was flat against the wall, lit my cigarette
and inhaled sharply. I laid my head back on the plaster wall and drew my right leg up to prop my up
my elbow. The other leg I let dangle over the side of the cooler, gently swaying back and forth. I
closed my eyes and tried not to think too much. I took a pull on my American Spirit. So many
thoughts...
ran a vacuum through the apartment, read some more of my novel and as usual I was showered and
dressed for work by four in the afternoon - ready to tend bar in sleek black attire; spike-heeled boots,
skinny slacks that hugged the right places and added miles to my legs and a fitted black short sleeved
collared shirt. Sophisticated, professional, sexy. By quarter after, I was looking fantastic and by four
thirty-two I had beat traffic and found a parking spot. I opened the heavy black door and breezed
through, heels clicking on the concrete floor as I passed the bar and gave a sly smile to the other night
bartender, Dakota, as I made my way to the back room. I dropped my big soft leather sack on the
industrial cooler in the employee area and retrieved my smokes and lighter from the depths of one of
the side pockets. I hopped up on the cooler, slid back until I was flat against the wall, lit my cigarette
and inhaled sharply. I laid my head back on the plaster wall and drew my right leg up to prop my up
my elbow. The other leg I let dangle over the side of the cooler, gently swaying back and forth. I
closed my eyes and tried not to think too much. I took a pull on my American Spirit. So many
thoughts...
Suddenly, there was a
hand on my
thigh.
Startled, I popped my eyes open to find Dakota
standing directly in front of me with his eyes sparkling, staring right back at me with an alluring
intensity that made me feel both powerful and vulnerable. Not an altogether unpleasant feeling.
standing directly in front of me with his eyes sparkling, staring right back at me with an alluring
intensity that made me feel both powerful and vulnerable. Not an altogether unpleasant feeling.
"Can I help you?" I
asked rather quietly,
my voice in a calm yet curious tone. I raised my left
eyebrow in a questioning fashion and turned my face slightly to the right, my cigarette hovering close
to my mouth from between my right index and middle fingers as I sat there relaxing; innocent and
provocative. As quickly as his hand found my thigh, it found my hip, cupped the soft curve there,
first on one side, then the other, and pulled me toward him with strong tattooed arms. My arms went
into the air to try and balance my weight as the leg I'd been propped on fell out from under me. He
slid a hand down and grabbed at my leg, pulling it up around his waist and as he leaned down to put
his mouth on mine, I wrapped the other leg around him and let him melt me down with his mouth.
Nibbles, licks, teases. He fucked me there on the cooler with my heels digging into his skin and my
body arched beneath him, my hips rising to meet his. It was over as quick as it began and we
collapsed into each other in the musty back room of the club. Catching our breath, I realized then
that I still held the burning cigarette between my fingers and giggled a bit as I offered him a drag.
He smiled and took the butt from my hand, winking as he put it to his mouth. Delilah, one of the
cocktail waitresses, walked in then, flashed us one of her big amazing smiles, punched in on her card
and walked back out to the floor, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Dakota's pants were around
his ankles. Dakota and I just laughed.
eyebrow in a questioning fashion and turned my face slightly to the right, my cigarette hovering close
to my mouth from between my right index and middle fingers as I sat there relaxing; innocent and
provocative. As quickly as his hand found my thigh, it found my hip, cupped the soft curve there,
first on one side, then the other, and pulled me toward him with strong tattooed arms. My arms went
into the air to try and balance my weight as the leg I'd been propped on fell out from under me. He
slid a hand down and grabbed at my leg, pulling it up around his waist and as he leaned down to put
his mouth on mine, I wrapped the other leg around him and let him melt me down with his mouth.
Nibbles, licks, teases. He fucked me there on the cooler with my heels digging into his skin and my
body arched beneath him, my hips rising to meet his. It was over as quick as it began and we
collapsed into each other in the musty back room of the club. Catching our breath, I realized then
that I still held the burning cigarette between my fingers and giggled a bit as I offered him a drag.
He smiled and took the butt from my hand, winking as he put it to his mouth. Delilah, one of the
cocktail waitresses, walked in then, flashed us one of her big amazing smiles, punched in on her card
and walked back out to the floor, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Dakota's pants were around
his ankles. Dakota and I just laughed.
Six hours later, after
serving half the
damn city their favorite alcoholic beverages, I sat at the bar,
unwinding with a couple shooters of Jagermeister and a smoke. I sat there thinking about Chaz, the
guy I'd been seeing for almost a year. I found myself wondering why the Hell I'd been with him so
long. Yes, he was handsome and charming. And of course, he was independent and had a place of
his own, a good job and made decent money. But he had a history of violence towards me. He liked
to push me around when we'd argue, call me names, spew threats of unfaithfulness and physical harm
if I didn't "shut my whorish mouth." A few months ago I found myself staying at work later, longer,
drinking more and more. I had also found a friend in Dakota and went to him whenever shit got crazy
with Chaz, which was often and Dakota would pour me shots, flash that smile and say something
profound and sarcastic and we would just laugh and get shit-faced. Over time I had come to one
conclusion: I was through with Chaz and ready to start over again. My only concern was his reaction,
the possibility of anger and hard feelings. The possibility of someone getting hurt.
unwinding with a couple shooters of Jagermeister and a smoke. I sat there thinking about Chaz, the
guy I'd been seeing for almost a year. I found myself wondering why the Hell I'd been with him so
long. Yes, he was handsome and charming. And of course, he was independent and had a place of
his own, a good job and made decent money. But he had a history of violence towards me. He liked
to push me around when we'd argue, call me names, spew threats of unfaithfulness and physical harm
if I didn't "shut my whorish mouth." A few months ago I found myself staying at work later, longer,
drinking more and more. I had also found a friend in Dakota and went to him whenever shit got crazy
with Chaz, which was often and Dakota would pour me shots, flash that smile and say something
profound and sarcastic and we would just laugh and get shit-faced. Over time I had come to one
conclusion: I was through with Chaz and ready to start over again. My only concern was his reaction,
the possibility of anger and hard feelings. The possibility of someone getting hurt.
I motioned to Dakota
for another shooter
and he delivered it with a wink and a slight smile. I
dropped it back, looked at the neon clock, smiled to myself and pulled a twenty dollar bill out of my
pocket. I slapped it onto the bar top and stepped down from the stool. I expertly swung my black
jacket from the back of the seat I'd been in and slipped it on, grabbed my leather bag and headed for
the door. I heard Dakota behind me say something about seeing me later and I acknowledged him
with a wink as I shouldered through the door and out to the sidewalk. A quick light of an American
Spirit and I took off. The heavy clicking of my boots bounced off the sides of buildings as I made my
way through the syrupy yellow streetlights down to the tavern, where I knew Chaz was waiting.
dropped it back, looked at the neon clock, smiled to myself and pulled a twenty dollar bill out of my
pocket. I slapped it onto the bar top and stepped down from the stool. I expertly swung my black
jacket from the back of the seat I'd been in and slipped it on, grabbed my leather bag and headed for
the door. I heard Dakota behind me say something about seeing me later and I acknowledged him
with a wink as I shouldered through the door and out to the sidewalk. A quick light of an American
Spirit and I took off. The heavy clicking of my boots bounced off the sides of buildings as I made my
way through the syrupy yellow streetlights down to the tavern, where I knew Chaz was waiting.
When I reached the
small smoking tavern I
put my cigarette out in the butt can and make a quick
phone call before taking a deep breath and pulling open the creaky wooden door. There he was, in
almost the exact spot I had imagined him earlier. No signs of Jameson, though the pint was there,
half-empty as I had thought it might be. I could only imagine how many empty shot glasses had been
cleared away from in front of his face; his cheeks were flushed and his body looked too relaxed as he
leaned on the edge of the bar. When he saw me walk in, he immediately squinted at me, dropped his
head, picked up the pint and took a swig. I walked over and dropped my bag into the seat next to him
and mustered the most sincere smile I could.
phone call before taking a deep breath and pulling open the creaky wooden door. There he was, in
almost the exact spot I had imagined him earlier. No signs of Jameson, though the pint was there,
half-empty as I had thought it might be. I could only imagine how many empty shot glasses had been
cleared away from in front of his face; his cheeks were flushed and his body looked too relaxed as he
leaned on the edge of the bar. When he saw me walk in, he immediately squinted at me, dropped his
head, picked up the pint and took a swig. I walked over and dropped my bag into the seat next to him
and mustered the most sincere smile I could.
"Hey, you." I said in
my chipper voice.
"Hey," he said in his
unhappy asshole
voice. "Where were you? You were s'pposed to meet me
here a half a fuckin' hour ago."
here a half a fuckin' hour ago."
"Chaz, take it
easy. I was working,
y'know? It is Saturday, after all."
"You're never
late. What were you doing?"
"I had a drink after I
finished. Cut me a
break, okay? I had a really long night and I don't feel
like arguing with you right now. 'K?"
like arguing with you right now. 'K?"
He looked at me
blankly, then his
eyes
filled with emotion. "Well, don't provoke me then," he
hissed.
hissed.
I looked him right in
the eye, tried to
think of something to say, something neutral to bandage the
damage we'd just done within five minutes of being around each other. Fuck you, Chaz. FUCK
YOU, Chaz!
damage we'd just done within five minutes of being around each other. Fuck you, Chaz. FUCK
YOU, Chaz!
"I'm not doing this
anymore," I said,
deadpan. "This doesn't feel good to me and I need to feel
good. I'm sorry, Chaz."
good. I'm sorry, Chaz."
Again with the blank
stare. He must
have
been far more intoxicated than I had originally thought.
What an ass. I picked up my bag where I had dropped it and slung it on my shoulder. He said nothing
as I turned and walked to the door, called out a greeting and farewell to Larry the bartender behind the
mahogany and walked back out to the street. I took a few steps and then stopped to dig out my pack
of Spirits. No sooner than I'd struck flint and sparked butane did I hear the tavern door creak open.
"Lola! Lola, what the fuck you doin' out here? You're just gonna...you're leavin' me? You're leaving
me?"
What an ass. I picked up my bag where I had dropped it and slung it on my shoulder. He said nothing
as I turned and walked to the door, called out a greeting and farewell to Larry the bartender behind the
mahogany and walked back out to the street. I took a few steps and then stopped to dig out my pack
of Spirits. No sooner than I'd struck flint and sparked butane did I hear the tavern door creak open.
"Lola! Lola, what the fuck you doin' out here? You're just gonna...you're leavin' me? You're leaving
me?"
He laughed, laughing at
me probably, for
making what he started calling "the biggest mistake of
your life, Lola. You're gonna be sorry you ever did this to me." I looked at him with disgust and
brought the cigarette to my lips. I inhaled, exhaled heavily, then spoke.
your life, Lola. You're gonna be sorry you ever did this to me." I looked at him with disgust and
brought the cigarette to my lips. I inhaled, exhaled heavily, then spoke.
"Chaz..." I laughed. I
couldn't help it.
"Chaz, you're a mess. I've spent too much time today
cleaning up filthy messes. Go home." I turned on my heels and moved as fast down the concrete as
my boots would allow. He grabbed me from behind before I had time to react and I lost my balance
for a split second. It was just enough time for him to get my arms pinned to my sides. He began
whispering shit in my ear, the smell of booze leaking from every part of him. His breath was hot and
foul on my face.
cleaning up filthy messes. Go home." I turned on my heels and moved as fast down the concrete as
my boots would allow. He grabbed me from behind before I had time to react and I lost my balance
for a split second. It was just enough time for him to get my arms pinned to my sides. He began
whispering shit in my ear, the smell of booze leaking from every part of him. His breath was hot and
foul on my face.
"You think you're such
hot shit, don't ya?
Think you can just use people up and then walk all
over 'em? You're a fucking whore, no one's gonna want your stank ass once I finish you up." He
let go of my arms, pushed me from behind; hard, fast. and I lost my footing. Fucking boots, I cursed
to myself as I tried to climb back to my feet before he could get a grip on me again. I got the feeling I
had underestimated this drunken bastard. He was weaving like a blacked out teenager but he was
accurate in his aggressions and had me up on my feet by my arms just as I realized I was going to
be launched by him again - directly into a dumpster. I tried to brace myself against the impact by
putting my hands up but the force I'd been moving with caused my head to fly forward and collide into
the hard unforgiving green bin.
over 'em? You're a fucking whore, no one's gonna want your stank ass once I finish you up." He
let go of my arms, pushed me from behind; hard, fast. and I lost my footing. Fucking boots, I cursed
to myself as I tried to climb back to my feet before he could get a grip on me again. I got the feeling I
had underestimated this drunken bastard. He was weaving like a blacked out teenager but he was
accurate in his aggressions and had me up on my feet by my arms just as I realized I was going to
be launched by him again - directly into a dumpster. I tried to brace myself against the impact by
putting my hands up but the force I'd been moving with caused my head to fly forward and collide into
the hard unforgiving green bin.
"Not so full of
yourself now, huh, bitch?"
I felt a hot trickle on
my forehead. I
didn't have to see or touch. I was bleeding and from the
sick smile on Chaz's face, he was deriving pleasure from it.
sick smile on Chaz's face, he was deriving pleasure from it.
"Little bloodied, eh?"
he chuckled. "What
now, Lola?" he cackled into the night air and for a
second I questioned my safety. And then the air was split with a chilling explosive sound, so loud and
sudden I thought it may have stopped my heart. I realized very quickly that it had indeed stopped
someone's heart. Chaz dropped to his knees and fell to the ground sideways. He did not move again.
Standing in the space behind where Chaz had been looming over me was Dakota, who quickly stashed
the piece back in his shoulder holster and came forward to kneel over me.
second I questioned my safety. And then the air was split with a chilling explosive sound, so loud and
sudden I thought it may have stopped my heart. I realized very quickly that it had indeed stopped
someone's heart. Chaz dropped to his knees and fell to the ground sideways. He did not move again.
Standing in the space behind where Chaz had been looming over me was Dakota, who quickly stashed
the piece back in his shoulder holster and came forward to kneel over me.
"Jesus, Lola. Are You
okay?" he said putting an arm
around my waist and helping me to my feet.
He then picked me up and began carrying me down the street. When we reached his beat up Ford
Ranger he unlocked my door, helped me get comfortable, pushed the hair out of my face and kissed
my nose. He walked around the front of the car, got in and started the ignition. As we pulled onto the
road and headed east out of town, we watched three cruisers whiz by us at lightning speed, heading in
the direction we'd just come from. I looked at him. He winked at me. Then Dakota and I just laughed.
He then picked me up and began carrying me down the street. When we reached his beat up Ford
Ranger he unlocked my door, helped me get comfortable, pushed the hair out of my face and kissed
my nose. He walked around the front of the car, got in and started the ignition. As we pulled onto the
road and headed east out of town, we watched three cruisers whiz by us at lightning speed, heading in
the direction we'd just come from. I looked at him. He winked at me. Then Dakota and I just laughed.