Sunday, January 16, 2011

Chapter 1

       How far We’ve Come
                    Chapter 1
When attempting to force one’s self the smallest noises seem to amplify over and over growing constantly louder and louder until they reach those quiet night bumps reach the point where they turn from creaks to near deafening roars of noise that seem to halt any attempts at sleep. This was as much the situation that Eva was faced with, as the rhythmic bumping of a bed sounded out from the floor above her. She prayed whatever gods might preside over such situations that it wasn’t what she thought it was, alas there were no gods of not listening to the people above you having sex at six in the morning. Muted screams of passion rained down from the ceiling, along with various bits of debris, as the morning activities came to a rather screeching halt.
     The first bits of sunlight began to sneak through the grimy shades pulled down tight, the girl let out a quiet groan apparently the gods of sleep had decided to forsake her as well. Dragging herself from the blanket wrapped confines of her bed she began to stumble her way towards the shower, the blanket was thrown haphazardly onto the one chair within room, dust exploding forth as the blanket collided with it. Eva sighed, it was bad enough she had worked the late shift the previous night but the lack of sleep on top of that was only going to make the day more difficult to get through. Grabbing the towel hung over the radiator, she made her way to the shower dropping the cloth onto the floor as she went to turn the shower on. Still half asleep she turned the knob for water only to find it firmly stuck in place.
“Oh great don’t tell me you’ve rusted over now.” She sighed exasperatedly, grabbing the knob with two hands she yanked once. Then twice before giving the biggest effort of all the knob spinning in circles as she tumbled forth into the tub a cold spray of water dousing her.
“Fuck!” Eva flailed about as she scrambled forth from the tub, ice cold water drenching her before she could fully escape the wrath of the shower.
"Least I'm up." She groaned sitting on the dirty floor of her bathroom. She looked over to the cracked mirror above her sink just barely able to make out the top of her blonde head from her sitting position. "Hell of the way to start th-" her thoughts were cut off as a fist slammed into the door of her apartment.
"Oi, Eva open the 'ell up" the voice roared out.
She sat their silently perhaps the voice would somehow come to the conclusion that no one was in.

"Hey I'm not a damn idiot the shower is on Eva get yer ass out here!" The voice slammed its fist insistently upon her door."
"Figures I can't catch a damn break today" she mumbled as she stood doing her best to dry herself off with the ratty towel. "I'm comin' I'm comin'" she called out as she made her way to the pile of clothes stashed in the corner of her room. Tossing on a large shirt and pants she made her way to the door throwing it open. "What?" she attempted to sound as passionately disinterested as possible.
"Rents due" the voice stated, the owner now standing in front of her. A fat woman glared down at her “And if I recall you was late last month as well." Bits of spittle flew from her mouth as her green eyes danced with annoyance.
"I...uh...don't have it" Eva admitted shuffling her feet some.
"Well ain't dat a problem." The voice slurred out at her, bounds of chin fat jiggling as it spoke. She leaned in closer so that Eva could taste her breath, the smell of stale cigarettes and cheep alcohol on it. "Well if you ain't got the cash I suggest you start packing. Standing up the voice looked over the top of Eva's head. "From the looks of it won't take you very long."
"I get my paycheck today" Eva lied, anything to buy some extra time. The voice looked her up and down a few times before seemingly accepting. After what seemed like an eternity it relented and nodded.
"You better" the voice turned and began to waddle down the hallway, peeling wallpaper guiding her path.
"I will" she called after the woman "Oh and Val fix the damn water pipes!" she yelled this time slamming the door after her. The morning's momentary crisis had been fixed but the relief from that was quickly displaced with panic. She hadn't bought herself more than a few days with that little lie. She could ask for an advance but that was a long shot.
Eva slumped down to the floor, her eyes wandered over the hellhole of an apartment she lived in. The pathetic floral wallpaper was either peeling or faded, and the walls behind them littered with patchy repair jobs. The rough rug under her feet felt like sandpaper to her skin and probably hadn't been cleaned properly in decades. The only furniture in the room was the rickety old bed that felt like it would break under the slightest weight, a rotting coffee table that she'd found thrown in a ditch, and her dusty chair. The bathroom wasn't much better, with a tiny cracked mirror, a shower that only worked half of the time, and a toilet with pipes that were starting to rust over. Even the lights hadn't worked in over three months, the wiring having shorted out soon after she'd come to the place.
It was a pathetic dump, unfit by most anyone's standards yet it was the only place she could hope to afford with her current situation, and even that seemed to be in jeopardy. Her life was barely holding together, and the walls were closing in. Eva pushed herself to her feet grabbing books and a tattered satchel from underneath the chair as she walked out. A lot of people would have broken down and cried at this point, shitty apartment, shitty job, and a shitty life. Eva just wished she had something around that was worth breaking.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sin'dorei raced down the streets and back alleys. She weaved and bobbed through the crowds, classes had run long. It always seemed on the days she needed to be somewhere the most someone decided to ask a question within the last five minutes of her class. Thankfully the few months of having to sprint from classes to work, coupled with the complete lack of money for public transportation had given her quite the pair of lungs allowing her to move at a brisk pace. Dodging an oncoming caravan she raced down an alleyway coming to a sliding halt in back of a small diner.
Happy that she had arrived with time to actually spare she caught a quick breather, the diner was one of the few things she could consider actually working out in her life at the moment. The pay was decent for someone at her age and experience level that and tips had allowed her to stay enrolled in classes and have a roof over head though nothing more. Plus they had flexible hours to the point where she could both work and go to school, plus no one seemed to care if she sneaked some food from the kitchen during her breaks and with her money any free food was good food. The dinner rush hadn't started yet as she opened the back door.
"Ah good to see you're on time today Eva" the booming voice of the manager roared out. Eva winced her boss was a good enough guy but the last few days construction had forced her to take a small detour and she had been late.
"I uh...try to follow your advice sir." she said through gritted teeth.
"Good perhaps you're learning something here after all." He laughed at his stupid joke heading out to the front part of the restaurant.
Eva sighed as she slid on her uniform, tossing her pack into the recesses of the kitchen. "Idiot" she mumbled once he was clearly out of earshot.
The night had so far been uneventful, tables moved in and out. However a full day of classes coupled with the lack of sleep had begun to wear on the girl as she sat down in a chair in the kitchen.
"You know you could take the day off" a bossy voice sounded speaking to Eva.
"Can't afford that, you know as much Ell." Her coworker looked at her though somewhat sad eyes. Ell was a student at the local common school like her, she was studying to be a doctor, leading her to often...butt in with suggestions about Eva's health. Eva didn't mind it much Ell was could be bossy but for the most part it was generally sound advice, plus she was, for all intents and purposes, nice. As a result, she was one of the few people that Eva could be around for long periods of time without getting an urge to commit some violence related crime.
"I'm a day away from being evicted, not exactly the time for a vacation is it?" she grinned at Ell. "Plus if I didn't show up who'd be here to take care of all your sorry asses."
Ell huffed stomping away leaving Eva with a few more moments of solitary rest as she tried to slow down time with her sheer force of will. However, like always, the more she wanted time to slow down, the faster it seemed to go, and she soon heard someone calling for her.
"Eva two at table four." A voice rang out beckoning her to return to her duties.
"Yeah yeah I head you. Don't blow a blood vein." She sighed cracking her neck wondering who she would have the pleasure of serving this time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Okay spill, the scratches on the arms and back maybe, but there's no way THAT is from one of your romps."
"Hah well once more you're wrong."
"Bad move, no way am I letting this go now, spill."
"Fiiiiine, remember that sales girl from yesterday?"
"The red head who couldn't look you in the eye or string together three words did that?" An eyebrow was raised "She didn't strike me as a scratcher."
A laugh rang out "Hah. No. I'm in her room, she's naked, sweaty, and desperate. I'm just about to get her to call out my name, when guess who comes charging into the bedroom."
"Who her dad?"
"No worse. Boyfriend."
The shorter of the two men, threw his head back and cackled like a mad man. A few other patrons stared at him but he seemed entirely unconcerned. Upon regaining his composure he waved at his companion indicating for the story to continue.
"Right so he comes charging in, his fucking sword drawn and swinging. My reaction is to head for the window. Course it's three stories up, but hey what is magic good for. So I blink down only to land in a damn rosebush. I try jumping the fence only to get this." He motions to the leg wound "Anyway the damn bastard ended up chasing me for three blocks while I'm in nothing but my underwear."
This of course brought on more laughter, visibly disturbing some of the patrons as if the story wasn't enough. The man nearly spilling out of his chair in his bouts of laughter.
"Damnit Traestus, you're the only one who could not only get himself into these situations but actually seem to enjoy them."
Traestus grinned spreading his arms wide "I aim to please"
Righting himself in his chair, the shorter man fiddled with his hair flicking a braid.
"So what happened next? Ever get those clothes back?"
"You know me Rhys, I never go back. Especially when there's angry boyfriends with swords involved."
The young man known as Traestus simply grinned as he finished sipping his beer. Young, handsome, and filthy rich were the best ways to describe Traestus Koth'Arsvent. His father owned one large shipping business, his mother owned one of the most successful chains of exotic fabric businesses in all of Silvermoon. Never wanting much for himself growing up in addition to an easy life growing up without any sort of rules or guidance had lead him to a rather...care-free personality and general life outlook. Seventy-Five, a university student only in name, preferring to use his ties there to chat up pretty girls that caught his eyes at the different clubs and taverns.
His friend Rhysienn Delador, was very much the same, differing only in personal vices. Trae had a penchant for pretty girls and one night stands. Rhys instead preferred the parties themselves and was rarely seen at night without a large stack of bottles surrounding him. Physically speaking he was just as attractive as Traestus if not a bit shorter, granted that was dependent upon who you asked, and of course if you could get past Rhys's somewhat acerbic attitude. He'd met Trae back when they were in a primary school for nobles back when they were even more immature. They'd hit it off immediately much to the horror of every adult within a fifty mile radius. Their equally reckless life outlook fitting with each other well, and thus best friends were born.
They were sitting at a table in the front of the restaurant near the giant glass window, a few young girls stopping once and a while to sneak a peek at the two of them. However, to Trae's sadness Rhys was far more concerned with filling his stomach than hitting on pretty girls.
"Look just order your damn food and let’s get out of here. It's not like if you don't pick up someone now you won't have six more eating out of your hands in a few hours."
"Hey you don't know that" Trae said defensively though without much conviction.
"Whatever just keep it out of the restaurant I don't feel like fleeing for my life since you decided to use the bathroom for recreational purposes, or even worse the damn kitchen!"
"Hey that was once" Trae snapped back.
"Yeah and we're still not allowed back in there, they had really good food too." Trae dismissed his friend's complaint with a wave. As Rhys studied the menu with intent that most people would study a textbook, Trae studied the restaurant. It was quiet, not the type of place his usual prey frequented. However it seemed to be his lucky night as a blonde head bobbed out from the kitchen doors and made its way over to their table.
"Just you two correct" She said briskly, as she brushed her hair back over her shoulder.
"You are" he said smirking as he locked eyes with her green meeting green.
"Right then I'll be back with your water in a moment then" She turned on her heels and started to walk off towards the kitchen. Trae sighed inwardly he had hoped she was a blusher, as he made sure that his leg rubbed against hers as she walked off.
"Not even a shiver" he thought to himself as she was gone. Her absence was not long as she brought back the waters. Trae made sure to take his personally as he softly caressed her hand with his fingers before taking his glass.
"Are you ready to order?" the waitress asked levelly, not even hesitating. Figuring that he had to be a little more direct, the playboy leaned back letting red hair fall over his face smirking at her.
"How about whatever you'd get if you had the option." he said quietly, eyes keeping constant contact with hers from beneath red locks.
"Right and you" She asked Rhysienn as he ordered not missing a beat or even addressing Trae's flirting.
Rhys somehow managed to contain himself until the girl had made her way back into the kitchen. "Looks like the great ones swing and miss a few times here Trae."
Traestus shrugged "While that's true, this one is in the bag." he said grinning at his companion. "I can feel it."
"Hah. You're kidding right? Sure you're just not feeling your damn overactive sex drive?"
"Nope" Trae just shook his head "I know I'm right."
"Bullshit" Rhys responded.
"Care to bet the bill on it?"
Rhys hesitated for a moment, but nodded confidently. Smiling and leaning back in her chair, Traestus calmly waited. A few minutes later, the waitress came back to their table, sliding two plates in front of them, walking off just as quickly. Rhys grinned, thinking that he'd won, but Traestus grinned back, slyly lifting up the slip of paper that had been discreetly dropped in her lap. Inside was a small piece of paper with the serial number for the waitress’s communicator.
"See, I don't swing and miss" Traestus said confidently stuffing the piece of paper into a pocket.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eva watched the two men walk out of the restaurant, the flirtatious one giving her a parting wink before she left. Sighing in frustration, she went to clear the table, but was soon smiling when she counted the cash that was left there.
"Might get enough tips tonight to get the gorilla off my back for a few days," she thought, pocketing the bills.
It was definitely the worst part of the job, having the damn players trying to pick her up. She'd lost a lot of work because of them – well, more like the broken noses that she'd given them – but eventually she'd found an easy solution to deal with the problem: turns out that the second they got a number they stopped hitting on her. Best of all, they always tipped better when they thought they were getting laid, and that alone made it worth showing a little restraint.
Chuckling to herself as she counted her tip, she briefly imagined the man calling the number she'd given him. With any luck, that over obsessive narcissist hadn't moved yet.

4 comments:

  1. Interesting story, awaiting chapter two.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes. Very interesting. I really enjoy your style. Thank you for posting! Following.

    ReplyDelete
  3. following and supporting

    anon-o-mayse.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete