Enter Stage Right

A late night in the city.

Aren woke up in the late evening. Sonofa…why didn’t my bro wake me up? He rubbed his eyes, double-checked the time and sat up on the edge of his bed. Damn, I can’t miss another freaking day of work. He quickly got dressed and went down the stairs to see his brother sleeping on the couch. Selfish little…I’ll deal with you later. He kicked his brother in the side and left the apartment while his brother groggily rolled in pain.

Aren pulled up to the office building. He finished buttoning up his shirt and rolling up his cuff sleeves before getting out of his car. I’m only…he checks the time again. Seven hours late. It could be worse, right? Aren ran up to the front door of the building and was greeted by his manager. “Well, I’m glad you decided to come.” Oh, shoot, think, think.

"Ya, sorry about, I had to help my brother with his sleep research project thing and I just lost track of the time."

"You had to help your brother with his sleep project?" the manager raised one of his eyebrows. Shoot, he’s not buying it.

"Ya, really sorry. Won’t happen again."

"You’re right. It won’t happen again." Oh, no no no no no.

"No, really, I’ll be on time next time."

"How many days have you been late. Because I just checked recently, out of curiosity, and I was really astounded."

"Just give me one more chance, sir. I swear. I really need this job."

"I think you really need to get that sleep research project thing worked out. In the meantime, you are dismissed officially and if you aren’t a customer or worker here, I’m going to have to ask you to leave." Sonofa…I can’t lose another job like this! The manager closed the front door of the building and walked away. Aren stood at the entrance for a minute, processing. Damnit! He turned around and walked back to his car. Damnit! He got into the car and closed the door behind him. He looked at the white office building and banged his fists against the steering wheel. “DAMNIT!" he yelled. He put the keys in the ignition and drove back home.

"What happened?" Aren’s brother asked.

"I got fired," Aren responded.

"Again? For sleeping in?"

"Ya…no thanks to you."

"Hey man, I would’ve woken you up but I had a late shift last night and I got home and went to sleep right away."

Aren sighed. “Ya, I know, bro.”

"Hey, it’ll be alright. You’ll find another job someplace."

"Mhm."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Something."

‘I just…” Aren paced around the apartment. “I just had this really…nice dream. There was this girl. And she was beautiful. And I felt like she could take all my troubles away.”

"Ah, man, are you having dream sex above me?"

"Screw you!" They laughed for a bit. “I think, I’m going to go out for a drink. Wanna come?"

"Man, I would but I’ve got to help my professor tonight."

"Gotcha. Okay, I’ll see you later then. Text if you need something."

"Like always. Later."

"Later." Aren left the apartment.

When he got into the tavern, Aren noticed the place was empty except for one girl sitting down at the bar. Her back was turned to the entrance. Aren walked over to the side of the bar and took a seat himself and tried to get a glimpse of the girl’s face. The bartender quickly came up and asked him what he wanted to drink. “Ugh, how’s about…everything?”

"Ha, one of those days?" the bartender said. “I’ll get you something."

"I’d recommend what I’m having," said the girl.

"Oh, well, then I’ll have whatever she’s having," Aren said. The girl stood up, introduced herself and sat next to Aren. He introduced himself to.

"Long day then?"

"Quite." Well considering I just woke up a couple of hours ago…ah it doesn’t matter. “What brings you here?"

"Oh, my boyfriend thinks cheating is acceptable behavior."

"I take it that you don’t," Aren grinned.

"Hm, I don’t know. Haven’t tried it." The two sat at the bar for another hour and had several rounds. The girl went through a couple of cigarettes in the time and offered some to Aren but he told her he wasn’t a smoker. “Shame," she said. Aren decided to pick up the tab for the two of them and offer the girl a ride back to her place. “If you need it." he said.

"Mm, I don’t know. Kinda don’t want to go back to my place." she said as they walked out of the bar. “Maybe you’d know some places to show me."

The two got into Aren’s car. He put the keys in the ignition and drove towards his apartment. “Whew, there’s the alcohol,” Aren said, blinking his eyes rapidly.”

"Oh, what, are you a lightweight?"

"Nope," Aren burped a bit. The girl tapped her index finger against the window of the passenger side door. Aren started feeling a headache coming on. “Hey, can you not do that?" he asked.

"What?" the girl said.

"That, like, freaking tapping." Aren swerved a bit.

"It keeps me calm."

"Ya, well it’s giving me a freaking headache."

The girl sighed. “I don’t know how he can stand doing this.”

"Who? What? You can’t stand something?" Aren said, looking over at the girl.

She turned to face him. “No, you bore me.”

The girl grabbed the steering wheel and spun it all the way to the left. The car swerved into the opposite lane of traffic and lost contact with the ground on the passenger’s side. Aren tried to understand what was happening. The girl let go of the wheel and braced herself. The car flipped over on the empty road.

Aren suddenly felt pain all over his body. He didn’t remember anything except leaving the bar. The blood was rushing to his head as he was suspended in the air by his seat belt. He immediately thought about the girl and looked over the passenger’s seat. Empty. Where is she? There was a tap on the driver’s side window. Aren craned his aching neck to look. The girl was bent over and peering into the car. “Oh, and here I was wondered that you’d be dead or asleep for a bit.”

"I wish," Aren mumbled as he spat out some blood. He could feel some of his front teeth were broken off. “You okay?’

"Oh I am dandy. I thought this night would go differently but I think I prefer this." the girl said as she took out her lighter and cigarettes.

"Think you could help me out?" Aren noticed a puddle of gas expanding near his window.

"Oh you want the cigarette now? Sure." She lit two cigarettes and put one in her mouth before throwing the other one into the puddle. It immediately caught fire. The girl jumped back, not expecting the flames to rise so high. Aren let out a yell and frantically tried to undo his seat belt. Sonofa…my freaking hands are mess up! Aren’s hands got flayed in the crash. The more he tried to release himself from the safety restraint, the more pain that surged through his body. The growing heat caused him to sweat all over. The blood in his head kept him from thinking straight. Aren let his arms hang down and let out several yells for help. The girl walked away and finished her last cigarette as the flames engulfed Aren and his car.

Seriously, I don’t know how you can cheat. I have too much respect for myself, the girl thought as she dropped the rest of the cigarette on the road.