In Collision

It's cold. It's dark. The only thing I can see is my breath in the frosty fall air. I'm shaking, my blue denim jeans and my black hoodie not being enough to keep me warm. My back aches from leaning against this hard, brick wall. This wall is tucked away into an alley in the city of New York, belonging to a bar downtown. Shadows peak in and out of the alley as the owners of them walk past me without recognition. Street lights are a distant blur at the opening of the alley, cars are driving past, splashing water from puddles onto the people of the sidewalk. I close my eyes, breathing in the crisp fall air, mixed with sewage and garbage from the dumpster behind me. I hold my tears in and hug myself tighter, trying to forget where I am. As I'm about to drift off to that place between awake and asleep, a rat scurries over my converse covered feet and I let out a screech. I decide enough is enough and push myself up, in need of warmth and necessities. I carry my frigid body into the bar I was just sitting against, desperately trying to suck up it's heat. My shoes pad against the wet cement as I waltz my way up to the door, keeping my head down and my blonde hair tucked into my hood in hopes of invisibility. I needed to lay low until I could figure something out. I reached for the door handle, I could almost see the warmth radiating from it. I swing the door open and I'm greeted with heat and coziness. I hear a few people playing pool, the balls smacking against each other. I make my way to the bar and sit down on a stool, I rest my head on my arms, laying down in a way. I take in the heat and breathe. I'm content until I hear someone clearing their throat, clearly trying to get my attention. I slowly lift my head, tucking fallen blonde hair behind my ear as I make eye contact with shocking blue eyes. "What's a girl like you doing in a place like this?" His deep and soothing voice questions. I stare into his eyes that look through me, letting them trail to the mirrored wall behind him. I examine my appearance and almost bust out laughing. My platinum blonde hair is tangled and wavy underneath my hood, my emerald green eyes have bags attached to them that make my face look sunken in along with my high cheekbones. My lips are chapped and my skin is pale, I look like a mess. This guy is either funny, or he needs glasses. A snapping sound pulls me out of my trance, I meet his amused eyes once again. "I think this place suits me just fine," I retort, my voice raspy from being so thirsty. His forehead wrinkles up as he raises his dark eyebrows at me. I take this moment to let my eyes wander his appearance. He has dark chocolate brown hair that you would mistake for black, his eyes are an electric blue that pierce right through you. His smooth skin is tanned and reminds me of honey, his nose fits his face with high cheekbones and a strong jawline that has slight stubble on it. His lips are full and a natural pink, his lips are inviting. From what I can see behind the bar, he is built and has all the muscles a girl would want in a man, his black long sleeve fits him perfectly, showing off his biceps and toned stomach/chest. "Honey, pick up your jaw you might catch flies," he chuckles, making me snap my mouth shut and glare at him. "I need a shot, doc," I say annoyed. He stares at me curiously, his eyes raking my face, "How old are you?" "I'm 19," I answer. He doesn't question me and turns his back to me, giving me the perfect view of his strong shoulders, he is looking at all the alcoholic beverages as if guessing what I might like. "Got any Captain Morgan spice rum?" I pipe up. I see him nod slightly as he grabs it and an average sized shot glass. He leans onto his arm as he pours me the shot, biting his lip as he does so. "What do you want to chase it with?" He asks and looks me in the eyes again, making my heart skip a beat. "Do you have any blue Gatorade by a chance?" My voice hopeful. He makes a weird face, clearly never being asked this before. Dropping the look he walks to the other end of the bar and reaches under the counter to pull out a bottle of my chosen chase. He takes long strides towards me and slams the bottle down beside my shot. "What's your name?" He asks while glancing around the almost empty and dark bar. I take my shot and chase it down with my blue drink, slamming the glass down. "What's yours?" I push out, my throat and chest warm with liquor. "Michael, my name is Michael," he tells me with a charming smile, flashing his pearly whites. I try my best to smile back without my lips cracking from being so dry. "Ellie." - however many regretful shots later - "Okay we're closing now, everyone is gone, you have to leave Ellie," says the fuzzy but hot bartender in front of me, his hand resting on my arm. I whine and grab his hand, pulling him closer to me as I drunkenly whisper, "I can't leave if I have nowhere to go." I see the pity and confusion in his eyes as I rest my head on the wooden bar. I close my eyes and take deep breaths, my head spinning. I feel like I'm falling off of my stool and I gasp as my eyes shoot open. I see stairs, I'm floating up them. Oh, I'm not floating. I see feet and feel arms around me, carrying me up these creaky old stairs. "Don't drop me through these stairs, I don't want to sink in them," I mumble. Michael chuckles and pushes a door open with his foot, the room is dark until he puts me on a soft surface and flicks on the light. A yellow warmth spreads in the room and I can slowly take in my surroundings. The walls I can see are white, the rest of the walls are covered in posters, there is black furniture around me with CD's and records on top of them. I look down and realize I'm on a bed with white bedding, I'm comfortable and warm, I want to sleep. Michael makes his way towards me as I rest into the pillows and comforter. He starts to slowly and carefully pull off my clothes, and I start to panic drunkenly. "What are you doing? No, please stop," I say, my voice cracking and quiet. His eyes look confused, but then clear up with understanding, "No! That isn't what I'm doing, I'm just going to get you into some comfortable clothes sweets." My heart slows it's beat and I just plop back down and let him undress me, not caring anymore. He leaves me in my bra and panties, along with my socks as he rummages through some drawers across the room. Michael shuffles quietly back to me with a white t-shirt. He tugs it on over my head and covers my exposed body, the shirt reaches my mid thigh. He pulls back the covers from under me and covers me up, tucking me in. My eyes are still closed, I'm half asleep when I feel his lips on my head, the move to form what sounds like, "You're okay now, sweet dreams Ellie." The lights are turned off, just like my body when I suddenly pass out.