The clock read 7:48 and Nick pressed more onto the gas pedal. He was almost twenty minutes late to a party he had arranged and was putting on. The sign all lit up wasn’t that far away, he could see glimpses of it through the trees. It’d probably take another five minutes to make it down the road and find a parking spot. He groaned to himself, cranked up the volume on his stereo and speed on towards the bar.
After a few pot holes, Nick pulled into his friend’s bar and cursed under his breath. There wasn’t any parking. As a last resort, he took the dirt road that lead around the back for delivery trucks. He parked near the rear exit and climbed out. As quickly as he could, Nick made his way through the darkness and mentally told himself to let Brian know that there needed to be some sort of light put in back there. Well aside from the light that was attached to the building right near the door. Nick let out a cuss word or two when he almost made it to the steps and stepped right into a mud puddle. He was shaking off of his leg when the back door opened up.
“Where the hell have you been?”
Nick looked up and saw Brian standing there, dish rag over his shoulder as it always was. He started to roll his eyes then pointed to his soaking wet foot.
“It took you twenty five minutes to shake some mud off of your shoe?” Brian asked lifting an eyebrow. Sometimes he just didn’t understand his best friend.
“No Einstein,” Nick snapped. “I was held up with some phone calls and didn’t get in the shower when I wanted to. But this..” He pointed to his foot. “If you had adequate lighting back here, I wouldn’t be shaking my leg like a dog who just pissed on his favorite tree.”
“Kill the attitude,” Brian warned. “Nobody is ever back here in the dark so it’s not needed. Shake yourself off and get inside. Aaron has been looking all over for you.”
Brian stood on the back porch waiting for Nick to finish scrapping mud off of the bottom of his sneaker and then the two went inside, but not before Brian told Nick to wipe his feet extra good.
“You’ll be moping the floors if you don’t,” Brian laughed, slapping Nick on the back. Rolling his eyes playfully, Nick just smirked and continued walking into the bar with his friend.
The scene before them almost seemed like every other night at the bar, minus the Welcome Home Aaron banners. Nick smiled seeing his old friends and friends of Aaron’s gathered around, talking and laughing. It was almost like all was right with the world and Nick’s life was normal – whatever that meant. His eyes went over the seen, both Jessica and Lance were busy running around delivering orders. It’d be a good night for them with all the tips that’ll start rolling in the further the night rolls on. Joey was busy flipping burgers in the kitchen. He happened to glance over and Nick gave him a little nod in greeting. These people at Brian’s bar slowly became his family, giving him shelter and comfort when he had nowhere else to turn to. Before his thoughts could turn sour, Nick caught someone moving towards him.
“Hey…”
“Hey Brit,” Nick greeted, kissing the girl’s cheek. Whenever he saw her, his heart would drop in remembrance to everything they had been through. She had been the one girl he knew he’d love forever. The one who stood by his side through everything especially when he found his family dead. She was his rock and continues to be now even though they aren’t together. Luckily for Nick, Britney took over his mother’s bakery after she died. The girl had been working there since she was sixteen and knew everything there was to know about it so taking it over wasn’t a problem. It was closed for a week here and there whenever Britney heads to the college a few hours away to take some courses to learn the latest techniques in cake decorating or cookie preparation.
“Are you happy about Aaron’s decision?” Britney asked, turning her back to the crowd so she could face Nick. She knew someone would be trying to read her lips and figure out what they were talking about. The girl always liked to keep things about her and Nick private, though it rarely worked out that way.
Nick shrugged. What was there to say? He’d gone over all his concerns and fears with Aaron himself and didn’t feel that he needed to do so with Britney. So Nick told her that his brother was a grown man and if it’s what he wanted to do, then all Nick could do was support him. He knew his ex-girlfriend didn’t like the answer but knew that was all he’d say on the matter.
“Well…” She said, releasing her breath as she turned back around. Her mind was struggling to find something else to talk about. Sometimes just being near Nick was enough but tonight she wanted a little more. Finally something came to mind and she nodded towards her sister Mandy across the room. “Looks like she decided to leave you alone tonight and bug your brother.”
Laughing, Nick nodded and took the beer Jessica pulled off of her tray. He thanked her and watched her walk away. “I don’t know why she always wants to hang out with us when we’re doing business paper work and shit.”
Britney rolled her eyes and swatted at Nick’s arm. “She has the biggest crush on you. How many times do I have to tell you that?”
“No she doesn’t,” Nick said modestly. He took a big drink from the beer bottle and glanced around at everybody else.
“Yes she does. So does Jessica…look at the way the girl’s eyes seem fixated on you while she’s over there taking orders. I’m surprised she can even walk straight whenever you’re in here.”
“Be nice will ya?” Nick asked, glancing sideways at Britney.
“You need to stop being in such denial. It’s getting old,” Britney complained. She finished off her drink and walked back towards the bar to get something else.
Nick watched her leave and decided to head over and greet his brother. They exchanged man hugs and Mandy immediately started to talk to Nick. It was enough to get Aaron chuckling. Nick punched his shoulder and glanced over to see Britney heading in their direction. The conversation turned and about an hour later Britney announced it was time to head back to the house. Mandy began to whine.
“I have an early morning at the bakery remember?” Britney told her sister. “And you have to be there to help me get the bagels finished up before the morning crowd comes in.”
“Remind me to find a new job?” Mandy asked in slightly bitter tone. She had always hated having to work with her sister but was secretly thankful that Nick gave her a job so she could work for him. Britney smacked her sister’s arm and reminded her that she was standing in front of their boss. Nick laughed.
“It’s okay. I’d hate to get up that early too,” Nick told them, then wished them a good night. Aaron did the same and the boys watched the sister’s head out the door.
“Whew Mandy grew up,” Aaron whistled under his breath. Nick laughed and finished off his beer. It wasn’t even a minute before Jessica was right there to give a new one. He thanked her and decided to go sit at his bar stool in the corner. Nick needed to escape for a minute.
It was around an hour later when Nick glanced around the bar to see who all had showed up, who left and if anybody was getting themselves in a drunk stupor. Nick didn’t want any problems tonight at his brother’s party. Things looked okay, everybody behaving themselves but right before he was about to turn back to the beer he was nursing someone caught his eye. It was AJ, the vampire who had saved him in the woods. He couldn’t remember him coming in, even though his back was to the door. AJ sat at a table not far away with another man. Curious to know who the stranger was, Nick stood up. He figured he could go over there and talk to the vampire. Be polite and all.
“Hello AJ,” Nick greeted, stopping near the table. He felt a little bad interrupting their discussion.
“Nick,” AJ stated in a voice laced with pleasure.
“I didn’t see you come in. How long have you been here?” Nick asked, stuffing his hands in his pocket. He could see Joey over the order window throwing his spatula down. Nick knew the guy hated vampires and Brian probably told him to go take a break out back. Looking around, Nick saw a slight glimpse of disgust on Jessica’s face but as soon as their eyes met, she threw a smile. Bringing his attention back to the two in front of him, Nick took a seat when AJ asked him to.
“We’ve only been here about fifteen minutes,” AJ told him. He motioned towards the other man. “This is one of my nest mates and best friend, JC.”
Nick shook JC’s hand and said it was a pleasure to meet him. Their conversation carried on for nearly forty minutes when JC nudged AJ and motioned towards the door. Nick turned around and saw another strange man walking in through the door.
“Who is that?” Nick asked, studying the man for a minute before looking back at the two vampires.
“Justin,” AJ spat in disgust.
“Is he a vam…” Nick started to ask but JC was already nodding. The vampire also added that the man was his brother. “His name is Justin.”
“And that’s our cue to leave,” AJ said under his breath.
JC nodded and stood up to go stop his brother. Nick looked around confused and his eyes finally fell back on AJ. The vampire was pulling something out of his coat and handed it to Nick.
“What is this?” Nick asked as he looked over the card in his hand.
“I work at the vampire resort…well I work at the nightclub at the resort. You might have heard of it, Bite? Any way, that is a ticket for free admission if you ever wanted to stop by and check it out.”
Nick nodded as he continued to look at the card. He looked up and gave AJ a little smile. “Thanks.”
AJ told him it was no problem then rose to his feet. He said they had to get Justin back to the nest before he caused trouble. Nick turned his head to watch AJ leave with JC and Justin following not far behind him. He sighed and got up to go get another beer then find his brother and see if he wanted to head home.
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