~Nathan~
"Aye Nate, go make sure the bathrooms are clear and ain't nobody in there fuckin' like last time." My supervisor said through the walkie-talkie.
"I gotchu." I replied back.
I made my way through the now empty club to the hallway reserved for the restrooms.
I pushed open the Men's bathroom door and called out loudly, "Aye anybody in here? The club is closed so...get out."
I waited for a response then checked each stall.
I walked out after turning off the lights and locking the door.
I walked further into the hallway and reached the Women's door.
I pushed my way in and called out again, "Anybody in here?"
A sniffle.
"Hello?" I said. "Whoever is in here needs to leave. The club is closed."
I checked each stall until I reached the one in the corner, farthest from the door.
I knocked on it gently.
"Ma'am, the club is closed. I'm gonna need you to step out-"
The lock clicked and the door swung in, revealing a beautiful woman with tear marks down her face.
Besides the ruined makeup, nothing else seemed to be wrong.
"You alright?" I cautiously asked, taking a small step back and setting a hand on my taser.
You never knew what kind of crazy women you'd meet in a nightclub.
She nodded and wiped at her eyes but didn't look up at me.
"I-I'm sorry. I'm leaving now." She stepped past me and walked towards the door and that's when I saw her arms.
Both of her wrist were red, like they were held tightly with something for a while.
I grabbed one gently and she jumped away from me
"Don't touch me." She snapped.
"I...I'm sorry but, your arms...what happened to you?" I asked quietly.
"Nothing. Can I go now?"
"Uh yes. Do you have a way to get home?"
She looked away.
"Yeah."
"Are you sure? I could call you a cab or if you need to borrow a phone to call someon-"
"I said YES so could you stop trying to fucking help me. I don't need your help!" She yelled and made her way to the door with a slight limp.
Well damn.
I sighed.
"Fine."
I quickly walked past her and opened the door for her.
Even though she was being bitchy, I do still have manners.
She stopped abruptly and narrowed her eyes at me, then walked out.
I turned off the lights and locked the door, and turned to see that she was gone.
I walked back to the floor of the club and looked around for her.
She was nowhere to be found.
"Hey Paul?" I called to the bartender whose head popped up at the sound of his name.
"Yeah?"
"Did you just see a strange woman come through here?" I asked, taking a seat at the bar.
"Yep, took off outside like a bat out of hell." He cackled.
"Ah." I nodded slowly. "Thanks."
Well at least she left somewhat peacefully.
I stood up to leave when something on the floor caught my eye.
I squatted down to pick it up.
I opened the clutch purse, looking for some form of ID.
I found a driver's license and squint at the picture.
It was hers.
Bethany, huh?
It fit.
Beautiful name for a beautiful girl.
"Whatcha got there?" Paul asks leaning over the bar.
"Oh it's a friend of mine's wallet." I lied. "I'll go give it to her."
He nodded and continued wiping the bar down.
I stood up straight and moved towards the exit.
The bouncer outside nodded at me.
"Hey Ed, you see a girl come through here a few minutes ago?"
He nodded and pointed down the street at a figure limping down the street.
Yep, that was my mystery girl.
"Be careful." He warned as I took off.
"Hey!" I called, jogging after her.
She ignored me and kept walking.
I got right behind her and tried again.
"Bethany!" I called her by her name hoping she'd stop. "Bethany, please stop."
Oh she stopped all right.
Stopped, spun around and slapped the hell out of me.
My head snapped to the side.
So maybe calling her name wasn't a great idea after all.
"You do not fucking know me! Don't call my name!" She yelled, then crossed her arms. "How do you know my name anyway?"
I turned my head back to face her and handed over her purse.
"You left this inside. I was just returning it."
She reached and grabbed it from my hand, searching through it like she thought I stole something.
"I didn't take anything." I said, holding my stinging face. "I'm not a thief.
She continued searching until she found her phone.
She looked at the screen and cursed.
"What? What is it?"I asked.
"It's dead.." She mumbled and continued walking the way she was going.
"You're just gonna walk home?" I called to her. "I have a car you know."
"My feet are just fine." She called over her shoulder.
I groaned.
Why was she being so stubborn?
I jogged through the parking lot to my Black Challenger and got in.
I cranked it up and pulled up beside her.
"Bethany, please just get in the car." I called out of the window. "I'm just trying to help you."
"I don't want your help." She kept walking. "And stop saying my name."
I kept my car rolling along beside her.
"Well can you at least say thank you for returning your things?"
"Thanks." She gritted out through her teeth.
"Oh so you do have manners?" I joked, smiling.
I saw the corner of her mouth twitch.
"Why are you trying to help me?" She finally stopped and leaned down so she could see me through the passenger window.
I put the car in park, got out, and walked around to the hood.
She took a couple of steps back.
That was a question I didn't have a real answer to.
"Because I'm a nice guy just trying to help a troubled woman safely home." I said after a moment of silence.
"I'm not troubled and I live right over there." She pointed to a house across the street with the paint chipping and boarded up windows. "So you can leave now."
I suddenly laughed and her eyebrow raised.
"What's so funny?" She asked with a slight attitude."
"Like I would actually believe someone like you would live in this neighborhood. I saw your address on your driver's license. You don't live anywhere around here." I smirked at her as her eyes widened. "Now get in please."
She chewed her lip.
"I already called a cab." She lied quickly.
"How could you have done that with no phone?" I questioned, amused.
She sighed.
"I will call one. I can use a phone from the club."
Just as she said that, the club lights went out.
"They're closed."
"Well, can I use your phone to call a cab?" She blew out a breath.
I grabbed it from my pocket and passed it to her.
"Thank you." She said, grabbing it and typing on the screen.
"Wow, two thank you's in less than 5 minutes. I'm beginning to think you might actually be a polite human being." I laughed when she rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah and that cab ride will cost you quite a little bit to get you from here to your house."
"Nuh uh. You're just saying that so I'll get in the car with you." Her eyes narrowed.
I held up my hands.
"I'm telling the truth. And I'm sure that bill in your purse won't get you very far."
She stopped typing and looked at me.
"I don't even know you." She said quietly.
"Nathan Riley." I held out my hand.
She stared at it then slowly reached out to shake it.
"Now will you get in?" I asked.
"I-" She started.
"Look. I swear I won't try anything with you. You can even sit in the backseat if you don't believe me. I'm just trying to be a gentleman and escort you home. So please, just get in."
She chewed her lip again.
"I promise. Just a ride home. Nothing else." I raised my hands in the surrender gesture.
"Fine." She finally said and I smiled." But, I'm keeping your phone until I get home."
I tilted my head to the side.
"Why?" I questioned.
"In case I need to call the police." She said then gave a small smile. "You might try to kidnap me or something."
"Deal. You can use my charger too if you want." I grinned then walked past her to open the backdoor for her.
"Wow twice in one night. What a gentleman." She said sarcastically, climbing in.
I closed the door, jogged around to the driver's side and got in.
"I am a gentleman." I shut the door behind me. "I didn't even stare at your ass when you got in the car."
She snorted and plugged her phone up to my charger.
I smiled and pulled away from the curb.
"Left or right?" I asked when we pulled up to an intersection.
She told me which direction and when to turn onto another street.
For the beginning of the ride we're silent until she broke it when I stop at a red light.
"How do I know Nathan is your real name?" She asked quietly.
"How do I know Bethany is yours?" I fired back as I pulled my wallet out and handed her my license.
She studied it before returning it back to my hand.
"That could be fake." She shrugged and sat back.
I chuckled and looked up at the still red light before I unbuckled the seat belt and turned to look back at her.
"Let me see yours again."
She pulled it from her purse and placed it on my open palm.
I looked at it quickly, back at her, then back at the picture.
She rolled her eyes.
I shrugged and handed it back.
"That could be fake." I mimicked her.
She sucked her teeth but couldn't hide the smile that slid on her face.
"Well it's not."
"I don't know." I shrugged again and looked at her. "You could be a serial killer on the run for all I know."
"Are you serious?" She laughed and that joyous sound filled the entire car. "What kind of serial killer looks like this?"
She motioned to her face with dried tear streaks going through her makeup.
"There's nothing wrong with how you look." I said. "You look pretty damn good to me. Even with your makeup messed up."
She stared into my eyes, then blushed and looked down.
"Shut up." She said and tucked her hair behind her ear.
I've noticed she does that when she's nervous.
"I'm serious." I laughed. "You're beautiful."
She blinked in shock.
"Nathan..." She breathed.
"Yes Bethany." I said, my eyes falling to her lips.
"The light is green."
"Huh?"
The car behind me honked their horn.
I turned back to face the stoplight and saw it was green.
"Oh." I put my seatbelt back on and stepped on the gas. "My bad."
"It's fine." She laughed nervously. "Turn right at the next light."
I can't believe I was thinking about kissing a woman I just met not even 20 minutes ago.
It's quiet after that.
I turned the radio up to eliminate the semi-awkward silence.
"-don't want nobody but you
(Kissing on my tattoos)
And I don't want nobody but me
(Talking to you)
Until you fall asleep.
We better stop play-ing
(We better stop play-ing)
Before we mess around and someone gets hurt," The artist sang.
I nodded my head to the slow beat.
"This dude is talented." I said out loud.
"Yeah this sounds like a great song. It feels familiar but I've never heard it before." Bethany said looking at me through the rearview mirror. "Do you know who it's by?"
I shook my head. "It's my first time hearing this too. But whoever he is, he's got some good pipes on him."
She nodded.
The song ended and another one started.
U, Me, and Hennessy by Dej Loaf ft. Lil Wayne fills the car.
"Oh I love this song." "This my shit right here." We both said at the same time.
I glanced at her through the rearview mirror and laughed.
"Girl hush. Whatchu know about my girl Dej?" I raised an eyebrow at her then focus on the road.
She sucked her teeth.
"Make a left up here. I love Dej Loaf."
"Me hennessy and youuu..." She continued to sing the chorus.
"That was cute." I said as the chorus ends. "But let me show you how it's done."
Lil Wayne's part began and I sung/rapped along with him, hitting every single note perfectly on key.
When the song went off, she was gaping at me from the backseat.
"How was I?" I peeked in the mirror then back at the road.
She closed her mouth.
"It was okay I guess. You're not Drake or nothing but..." She shrugged and looked at the window, trying to hide her smile.
"Oh it's like that?" I chuckled. "I'm giving you a free ride home and you're gonna judge my singing abilities? That's cool."
"But you practically begged to take me home." She laughed. "Don't act."
"I didn't beg." I defended, smiling. "I was just being a nice, well-mannered man."
"Mhmm." She looked in the mirror at me. "Well thank you Nathan 'The Nice Guy' Riley."
"You're welcome Bethany 'Can't Sing To Save Her Life' Stanton."
She busted out laughing then gasped and hit me on the shoulder with her purse.
"Ouch! But you shouldn't have to thank me for something that should be my job."
Her laughter stopped quickly.
I looked over my shoulder at her.
"What?"
Her mouth opened but she didn't say anything.
"Bethany what did I say?"
"Nothing." She said quickly. "It's...it's nothing."
Just when I thought we were good.
Way to fuck up Riley.
The next few blocks were completely silent besides her giving me directions now and then.
When we pulled up to her house, I unbuckled my seat belt and turn around to look at her.
"Okay what happened?"
"What?"
"We were having a good time and you just shut down on me."
She sighed.
"It's not you, Nathan. It's just..." She played with her hands. "I just remembered something that I didn't want to. I don't want to talk about it."
I sighed.
"Look, I understand we met less than an hour ago so you don't really know me. I don't know you either but I'd like to. You seem like a cool girl who obviously has a lot of shit to deal with but I just want a chance to get to know you." I said honestly.
She looked up and raised an eyebrow.
"My boyfriend might not like that."
"Well he'll have to get over the fact I want to be friends with his girlfriend. Just friends." I said gently. "If that's okay with you."
She nodded. "Maybe, I could use a friend."
"Good. Can I see your phone?" I reached my hand out.
She placed it in my hand hesitantly.
"I'm giving you my number so you can call me if you need another ride home." I looked up at her and gave a small smile. "Or just want someone to talk to."
I opened up her contacts app and added my number with my contact name as Nate The Great😜.
She took it back and laughed.
"You are so corny." She gave me my phone back. "I'm glad I wasn't being kidnapped."
We both laughed together and she opened the car door.
"Thank you." She said, stepping out.
"For the ride? Oh it was no problem."
She closed the door and I rolled the passenger window down as she leaned down.
"Well yes that, but I meant thank you for making me laugh."
"Oh yeah. Anytime." I grinned and she returned it with a sweet smile. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." She straightened and walked up the driveway to her front door.
I looked up at the house and noticed all the lights are off.
Some boyfriend.
I watched her until she got on her doorsteps before calling after her.
"Yo, Bethany!"
She turned and smiled.
"Yes, Nathan?"
"Tell your 'boyfriend'," I air quote with my fingers, "that he could have came looking for you if he couldn't get a hold of you. Or at least have been waiting up for you to get home."
Her smile shrunk but then came back and she waved goodbye.
I made sure she was inside before pulling away from the curb.
Bethany was a cool girl.
But I wanted to know who fucked with her so bad to have her crying in a bathroom.
I wanted to know everything about her.
Not in the creepy stalker way though, as a friend.
Just one 35 minute car ride had me already feeling some type of way.
•What do you think about Nate?
•Sweet isn't he?
•Is Bethany emotionally okay?
•What's gonna happen next?
Keep reading/voting/commenting!
~•Dana•~