CHAPTER 2: EYES IN THE CROWD
1188 Words
The music begins to pulse through the walls, soft at first, then swelling like a heartbeat syncing with the energy of the night. “Mmm, it’s my favorite song,” I murmur under my breath, swaying slightly as I close my eyes and place the small notepad against my chest.
I’m still standing near his table, but he’s far too busy scrolling through his phone to notice me humming along. Thank God; getting caught daydreaming by a customer would be so embarrassing.
Why do I feel like I'm drownin’?
Like I'm runnin’ out of air? Ah-ah-ah…
The lyrics dance in the air, tugging at memories I keep tucked away. For a moment, it doesn’t feel like I’m here, wrapped in a stiff uniform and aching shoes; it feels like I’m someone else, a version of me that never lost everything; a version of me that had a family.
My lips curl into a rare smile; I breathe in the fleeting happiness and turn away from the corner table, carrying the order slip toward the bar, weaving through the dim light and chatter that’s growing louder by the second.
Wouldn’t it be nice if my parents were still alive? My brother and I could be on the other side of this life, maybe even sipping cocktails in a place like this, instead of serving them. We’d laugh, argue over music, and crash into soft beds that didn’t creak with every breath.
But no, that world is gone; I remind myself of that every single day.
I reach the bar and place the slip down, tapping the polished surface gently. Finn, the bartender, looks up with his usual crooked grin.
“Guess who’s got a little glow tonight,” He teases; raising an eyebrow as he looks at me.
I roll my eyes. “Ugh, stop. It’s just been a long night,” I reply.
“Long nights don’t usually make you hum like that,” He says, mixing a drink without even looking. “You got any tips yet?”
“Not yet,” I sigh, leaning against the high counter. “But I’m hoping…”
“Same,” He replies. “Heard there’s a VIP party later; big names and big wallets. If we’re lucky, we’ll be counting twenties instead of pennies tonight,”
“I hope so,” I say, then lower my voice. “You said your mom was sick, right? Any better?”
He shrugs. “She’s hanging in. That medicine costs a fortune, though”
My chest tightens. We all have someone we’re trying to save.
My eyes drift again, inevitably, to the man at the corner table. There’s something about him I can’t place it. I know all the regulars here, every billionaire and socialite who strolls through that door, flashing fake smiles, but this guy? He’s new. His presence isn’t loud, but it pulls you in.
“Order’s up,” Finn says, snapping me out of my thoughts. He places two crystal glasses and a small dish of appetizers onto a tray.
“Thanks,” I say with a soft smile, lifting the tray carefully.
“Good luck out there,” He calls as I disappear into the crowd.
Navigating the packed club is like threading a needle through chaos. The dance floor pulses with bodies, laughter, and expensive perfume I couldn’t afford. I smile and excuse myself every few steps, careful not to spill anything.
When I finally reach the table, I notice he’s no longer alone. A second man; white, sharply dressed, maybe in his late twenties sits across from him. Not a girlfriend then; a business associate, a friend? Make me a kind of relief.
I place the drinks and snacks on the table with practiced grace, my smile never faltering.
“Enjoy your evening, gentlemen” I flash them a smile afterward.
“Thank you,” The second man replies warmly, already reaching into his pocket. I turn to leave, but his voice calls me back.
“Hey, miss!”
I pause, turning slowly with my most polite expression. “Yes, sir?”
He places a folded bill onto the tray. “Just a little something,”
“Thank you so much,” I say with gratitude.
Then the first man; the one I’ve been watching all night, adds a second bill, sliding it onto the tray casually.
My heart skips; one hundred dollars.
My eyes widen. “Sir, that’s too much…”
He just smiles. “No, no. It’s fine. Take it”
I hesitate. “Are you sure?” I ask again just to make sure.
“You deserve it,” He says and there’s something in his voice. Not flirtation but something quieter, like he knows a secret I haven’t told anyone.
I nod slowly. “Thank you… really,”
They nod back, and I leave the table, the tray now heavy with more than just money.
Back at the bar, I linger, waiting for another call. But my eyes, again, drift to that table.
“What’s going on in that head of yours, Evelyn?” Molly suddenly appears beside me, nearly making me jump out of my skin.
“Jeez, Molly” I groan in annoyance.
“You were zoning out hard,” She smirks; leans on the bar. “What are you staring at?”
“Nothing,” I say quickly, too quickly.
“Ohhh,” She hums, following my line of sight and then she laughs softly. “Now I see…”
“It’s not like that,” I stammer. “I just… I don’t know. He looks familiar… kind of”
Molly arches an eyebrow. “Evelyn. Do not tell me you’ve got a crush on Mr. Mysterious over there”
“Pffft, as if,” I scoff. “Come on, Molly… a guy like that? He probably owns half of Los Angeles! I can’t even afford a sandwich right now” I say.
Molly shrugs. “Doesn’t mean he’s out of reach, everyone deserves some kind of happiness, even us,” She says.
Her words linger long after she’s walked away, fading into the crowd; I swallow hard.
She’s right but the truth? I haven’t thought about happiness in a long time. It’s been survival, every day, just making it to the next.
If I could go back in time… if I hadn’t begged my parents to visit Grandma that summer… if we’d never gotten in that car…
Maybe we’d still be a family.
Maybe Evan wouldn’t be in prison.
Fiuhhh… I exhale slowly, grounding myself in the now. I have work to do.
Then
“Hey, Evelyn” Molly’s voice cuts through the crowd again. “The guy at 9 o’clock, he’s asking for you”
My heart drops and flutters at the same time.
I glance at the table. He’s looking directly at me now. His eyes locked with mine.
He knows.
But how? Why?
And then, just for a second, a flash of something dark passes across his face; almost like recognition.
My breath catches.
Who is he?
And more terrifyingly… what does he want with me?
- Writer
