Arunia

Collage Graduate

*Narrator*

It had been four years since Arunia had left home for collage. She was finished with all her classes and relaxing until her collage ceremony for graduation. Then her friends were going on a trip together, so she would be alone. Alone to find herself in life. Maybe she’d go on her own vacation to the mountains.

*Arunia’s POV*

I was laying in a bean bag chair in our flat, waiting for Sara and Blane to come home from their final tests. I had my eyes closed and was only in a bra and short shorts. I’d cut my hair and bleached it blonde for a bit after leaving home. I couldn’t help but wonder how my mother was doing, even though she was toxic as hell and I was better off without her in my life. But sometimes a girl just misses her mom.

I pushed my butt off the floor, and buried my head in the chair as I sighed. I was so bored!

“I bet those jerks went on a date after their tests.” I thought to myself snidely. Ever since they started dating three years ago I was constantly being left out, not that I minded too much, but they were the only family I really had. My grandma died, my dad was MIA, and my mom, well, you know about my mom. No siblings, no cousins or anything. Just me. Once Sara and Blane leave for vacation, I really felt like I’d never see them again.

Ring ring ring

Ring ring ring

My cellphone rang as I sorted over to get it. The name flashing across it was Nookie, which was Sara’s childhood nickname. I flipped it open and answered dryly.

“Yes?”

“We’re done with our tests finally! You wanna come out with us tonight and celebrate?” I could hear how hopeful she was, and weighed my options. I could either go out and drink and be ignored by them, or stay in and be lonely and get woke up at 3 am by them banging around and moaning. I shook my head in disgust.

“Sure, why not. It’ll be nice to blow off some steam. But, I gotta dye my hair before I go. I’ll just meet you guys at the club.” I said reluctantly. I wasn’t feeling my blonde ‘do anymore, so I figured I’d go back to my natural black. It felt more like me anyway.

The phone line clicked after Sara squeezed in delight. I sighed and got to work on my hair.

........................

Three hours later I was dressed in all black with my makeup done lightly, and packed my deep pockets with the essentials: makeup refresher kit, money, ID, and phone, along with some mints and my knife. I was officially ready to go and for some reason I was actually... Excited?

I hopped onto the small shuttle bus they had around campus that went from the club to the dorms and waited the twenty minute drive silently. There were a lot of weirdos around here so I wore my sharpest ring, which I’d bought for cheap, because it’s meant for protection. It was a spike that you swivel around to punch with if someone is attacking you, which I normally didn’t need. One good right hook usually had people on their asses.

The bus finally shuddered to a complete stop in front of the club, which wasn’t too packed at the moment. It had just opened and people usually filtered in between 11 and 1 am. Which was fine for me, I always came early around 10 and stayed till Bud, the bartender, closed up. I worked there some nights too, when he needed extra help or just a pretty face on boys night. I liked it too.

“Ah, Rune, my girl! You don’t know how happy I am to see your beautiful face!” Bud jogged up to me at the door and smiled.

“And why’s that Bud?” I rolled my eyes and posed the question to him. He laughed and walked away, using his fingers to tell me to follow him. I did, pretending to be bored all the way. When we reached the bar he handed me a sheet, with all the employee names on it. Mine was right on top with multiple days a week planned out, all month! I sucked in air and looked at him in disbelief.

“Bud, are you giving me a job here finally?” I laughed and looked at the paper again.

“Yep. You’re a hundred times better than any of the other applicants, and now you’re officially done with collage, so I don’t feel bad about you working late hours. Welcome to the family. You start tomorrow night.” Bud smiled and patted me on the back before getting ready for the night.

I sat the paper back behind the counter and sat on a barstool. I couldn’t believe it. I’d been trying to get hired on for four long years, and it was finally happening. I’d studied art in collage, and had planned on taking another course, but had decided against it when I realized I was really really bad at art. But I was good at fighting and drinks, so naturally, a bar felt like home.

The night went on and Sara and Blane came and went, drunk as skunks, and happy as all hell, because I’m the middle of drinks, Blane proposed to Sara. She said yes of course, and I was left, again, out of everything with them. I’d made a decision that night, to move out when they went on vacation. They’d want a place of their own and I didn’t blame them. It was a good rent controlled flat, and it had been made into three rooms. I didn’t want to always be the third wheel, so moving out and getting this job were godsends.

>six months later<

It had been a while since I started at the club, and I’d gotten comfortable right away. I did everything from bouncing to mixing drinks to cleaning up. Bud had even been seriously thinking about making me his manager so he could go home to his wife and kids during the night and not always be needed here. I was excited about it, because I got along with everyone who worked there.

There were six employees besides me and Bud. Two girls and four guys. Two of the guys were dating, and the others had partners outside of work. The only single ones Were me and Jess, but Jess had always hit on me, so I figured that was why I couldn’t get a guy to look my way. I wasn’t particularly bothered about gender, as I was attracted to how a person was rather than their outward appearance and appendages, but I’d always thought I’d end up with a guy. Maybe because my mother beat it into my head one day when I told her in middle school I thought my classmate, a girl, was cute. I still felt the sting of her slaps and the punches to my gut any time I looked at a girl. Man my life was so messed up.

The night was starting and the doors opened. Tonight it was Bud, me, Jess, and Jax. A few people came in and got drinks, and went to go sit at tables and talk until the place started jumping. I busied myself at the bar, setting out the drink components and waited for more customers.

*Darian’s POV*

I never thought I’d smell that smell again. That beautiful smell, my mate. She’d disappeared from the town I’d been conducting business in, and I never knew why. I’d been searching for four years. And I’d finally found her.

I was walking past this disgusting place called Club Day-Oh, and smelled her among the alcohol and humans body sweat. I went in and sat at a table in a corner in the dark. A few different girls came up to me asking to dance. I didn’t bother answering them and they got the hint, well most of them did. One of them came over and started rubbing herself on me. I pushed her off and growled at her, and she nearly peed on herself as she ran away. I didn’t want to smell like human skank and give my mate the wrong idea. The girl had run to the bartender, and she had looked straight at me. As I looked into her eyes, I felt a jolt, and I knew, I’d finally found my mate.

*Arunia’s POV*

A woman, who I should know her name as she was a regular, ran to the bar crying, asking for help.

“Miss, Miss! Where is Bud, I need someone thrown out right away! He assaulted me! “

“Liddie, you know people pushing you away is not assault.” Bud said from behind me as he grabbed another bottle of whiskey. “You know you do it to yourself. Don’t make me make you go home.” He walked off to make more drinks for other customers. I sighed and decided to humor her.

“Okay Liddie, is it? Okay, what’s this guy look like?” As soon as I asked she pointed to a corner with low light and I understood how she was scared. He was HUGE! Big muscles, tall, at least 6’2 maybe a little taller. I was only 5’3 so he was a monster compared to me. I looked him over and decided he was fairly attractive. But I also decided to have a word with him over Liddie, to apologize. I walked over to him with two whiskeys in my hands, and sat one on the table.

“ so I hear you pushed Liddie away. Sorry about her, she’s a bit of a mess.” I handed him the glass and sat in front of mine. He seemed surprised, and tense. Honestly I was just trying to avoid a lawsuit because this guy looked LOADED. Fancy suit and all.

“It’s okay. I just thought you’d be more... well, that doesn’t matter. I’m Darian. What’s your name?” His voice was like smooth chocolate. Deep rich and I could feel my insides melting and screaming to get to him. What was wrong with me!?

“I’m Rune. I bartend here.” I stated, not wanting to give too much away, but also hoping to score a one night stand with this absolute HUNK. I was sick of being alone. I’d had one s****l encounter, and it wasn’t even counted. My old boyfriend Kyle had pulled his member out to do the deed with me and finished before I’d even gotten my pants off.

“Rune. That’s a unique name. I like it. “ he smirked and took a drink. Something in me wanted to be open and honest with this guy. What the hell?!

“It’s short for Arunia. My dad gave it to me, before he left my mom and me.” Holy hell why can’t I shut up?! He looked sad for me, and touched my hand. I felt a spark and jumped but didn’t pull my hand away. His was warm and comforting. I felt like I could just melt into his arms. I shook my head and cleared my throat. “Well, I have to get back to work, and I’m sorry again about her.” I left with so much speed I was lucky I didn’t push someone else down on the floor. I busied myself with work for the rest of the night and ignored the looks I felt him giving me.

What was going on with me?