The Orphan and the Beast

Club music is blaring down the block. In the center of it all stands Brittany, swaying back and forth, trying to forget she's celebrating yet another birthday alone. Tommy's Bar in Blood Rock, NYC, isn't somewhere she usually visits, in fact it's the first time she's ever been here. Bad-mouthed bar tenders, snobby DJs, and an entry fee of $20 are usually reasons enough to deter her, but tonight she is turning 18. It's been 8 long dreaded birthdays since her parents died in a car accident and she wants nothing more than to drink her sorrows away and be with people who seem happy, even if it's not for her. In the dim lit bar, her tears go unnoticed as she sways to the music and looses herself to the sound. Sweaty, with her long brown hair matted to her face she decides it's time for another 's*x on the beach'. Never having allowed herself to drink before she thought it was best to choose a drink she had heard the other more popular girls discussing in the bathroom at school. As Brittany waits to get the bar tenders attention she reflects on whether she should even be in a place like this, dirty and dimlitted, filled with the towns roughest undesirable men and women, but eh, it's her birthday and she's alone, somewhere she wanted to be - somewhere no one would know her name. To be fair she chuckles to herself, it's not hard to find a place where no one knows the "orphan girl". She is pulled from her thoughts though when someone slides her a drink, "s*x on the beach, right?" asks the tall man sitting on the barstool next to where she stands. "Uh, yeah thanks" she mumbles as she takes the drink and begins to step away, that is, until she is roughly grabbed and placed onto his lap. In her scramble she spills half of her fresh drink onto her brand new dress, a dress she had saved for this very occasion. "what the hell!" she screams as she begins to wiggle and claw her way up out of his lap. Grabbing her again he asks "have you been crying?" "no, of course not, anyways what's it to you?!" she demands which elicits a humor less chuckle to rumble from his chest. Releasing her, he notices the large wet stain forming on her dress, offering her a napkin before he disappears through the crowd. "What the hell was that?" Brittany grumbles as she pats the napkin against her dress, having no luck at drying herself or removing the stain. With a long sigh she decides to head home, but not before finding that mystery man and giving him a piece of her mind! After all, she's buzzed, giving him some attitude might drain off some of her anger surrounding her s**tty birthday and the fact she's yet again going home to an empty house. Stumbling through the swarm of rough-necks to the back of the bar, she notices a door with R. Boulderdash engraved on it. Peering through the slightly open crack she noticed that same guy now sitting behind a large mahogany wood desk, feet propped up, not a care in the world. "If you're looking for me, just come in" he shouts, startling Brittany causing a loud "yip" to slip out. Gathering all of her courage, liquid courage that is, she pushes the door open causing it to slam into a bookcase hidden behind the door. Momentarily shocked at her own actions she mumbles an apology before remembering why she barged in. "Who the hell do you think you are!" she shouts and before he can even answer she starts berating him with questions. "How dare you ruin my new dress, do you even know what this costed me?" "How the hell did you know I was even at the door, were you stalking me!?" and "Do you think your so high and mighty you can just man-handle anybody you want?!" Throughout her yelling match she begins to notice a sly smile forming on his lush beautiful lips, shaking the thought away, she yells, "well!" "Are you finished?" he bemuses which only entices her to scream at him again but she decides to hold her tongue and nod waiting for him to speak. "I am Rosco Boulderdash, as the door said, I am the owner of Tommy's" shocked by his response she begins to regret pursuing him. Rosco Boulderdash is well known for his illegal activities, he's feared for his brute strength and the rumors indicate to never mess with him unless you'd like to go missing. Blushing she begins to retreat until a commanding tone compels her to stop. "Get back here!" he states with such authority it's hard to resist. "I haven't finished answering your questions. I wanted to make sure you were okay as you appeared to have been crying, and besides I only went to grab your arm to talk to you, you're the one who jumped into my lap." smiling he waits as she flaps her lips, unable to utter a word. Many things come to her brain, all unintelligent gibberish though. Finally settling on appalled at the accusation of her 'jumping into his lap". Her attention is caught though when she looks over and sees an 80" television screen on the far wall, with at least 20 camera views displayed, one of which being a direct crystal clear image of the door she was peeking through just moment ago. Embarrassed and feeling the weight of the night slowly settling on her shoulders she decides the best option, after all of the information, is to just give up and go home. Nodding, she turns to leave, but not before looking back one more time at the smug man behind the desk. He takes this opportunity to wink at her and joke that he'll 'see her next time.'