Primal Part 1

As I get off the bus with my 2 duffels I take a deep breath knowing that I have just moved across country on a complete whim. Hi my name is River, and I had just decided to take life by the balls and move somewhere I didn't know anyone, to have a chance to completely change my life. I found an apartment listing in New Orleans and I thought well why not right? I applied and by some miracle even being thousands of miles away I was approved. First thing first is I needed to find my new apartment and find a job. I had thankfully set aside enough for at least one months worth of rent, on top of being able to pay the down deposit and get my ass across the country. I made my way to my apartment building where my landlord Wendy was waiting with the keys. As I started up the flight of stairs, I already knew this was the best decision I have made in my entire life. As soon as I neared my door I saw this lovely middle aged lady, who you knew had lived here her entire life. "River Evans?" I nodded out of breath and stretched out my hand to shake. "Yes ma'am I just want to thank you so much for this opportunity. "Of course! it has taken me months to try and find someone." I smiled and she opened the front door. It was a really nice one bedroom apartment, with an open floor plan. The kitchen led into the living room with a huge bay window over looking New Orleans. I knew I must be smiling from ear to ear, "You have no idea how much I needed this." She laughed, "Well I knew that from talking with you briefly that you weren't going to be a lick of problem for me. Now about your employment, I know you said you were out of a car for now but I found a bartending job a couple blocks over and I took it upon myself to give you a good word. If you have a moment I wouldn't mind walking you over to meet the owner." I nodded enthusiastically, and dropped my duffels. Wendy handed me my keys and led the way. We talked on the way to the bar, as I took in my surroundings. I just knew this was going to work out. As we neared the bar another middle aged lady walked out and embraced Wendy. "River, this is miss Sandy, I think you are going to have a hard worker on your hands Sandy." She took my hand in a firm hand shake, "I am sure I will." Wendy smiled, "Well I will be off then, River good luck and I will be talking to you soon." I turned my attention back to Sandy, "Well miss Wendy already told me all about you and how you bartended where you last lived. We don't have a huge set up but we do have an inside and outside bar area. We are more like somewhere to grab a drink and a quick bite. We have another bartender but as you can assume he can't be in two places at once, ah here he is now Christian come meet our new bartender River." I looked up at this really handsome not overly muscular but you could tell he had some definition to him, he had dark brown hair and scary bright blue eyes. I put my hand out to shake, "Well it's nice to meet you, and it's also nice to get some help, She'll be perfect for the outside bar." I smiled and when I went to pull my hand away he held on and looked deep into my eye's. "Well I'm really glad to be here." He let go of my hand, "Perfect! Lets go get you set up then, would you be willing to come in for a simple lunch dinner shift lets say tomorrow?" I turned my attention on Wendy instead of the sexy man in front of me. "Of course!" Then we started our way to Wendy's office, "Can't wait to work with you River. " I looked back at Christian and smiled, "You too."

While talking with Wendy we went over rate of pay and dress code, "Are you comfortable being in shorts and a bikini, you're a very pretty girl and I think you could pull it off. Of course you can always wear a tank top as well. and during bad weather you can where a long sleeve as long as we can see cleavage. I know that probably sounds like an odd request, however I know what gets my people their tips." I smiled and nodded enthusiastically, "Of course I am so happy I have a variety of what I can wear." She nodded, "Well everything is all set you start tomorrow, we open at 11:30am, and close at 12am. Welcome to the family!" I shook her hand again and walked myself out I tried to keep my head down as I walked out so I wasn't caught staring at the yummy bartender, "Hey! River!" I looked up and smiled, "Hey, what's up?" I sat down at the bar, "Where are you from? Sorry I just know if I'd seen you before I would definitely remember." I tucked my dark brown hair behind my ear. "Um well I am from New Hampshire." I watched as he cleaned behind his bar and how smooth he looked. "Wow, that's a long way what made you want to move here?" Instantly my stomach clenched, there is most definitely a reason why but I wasn't ready to talk about it, I shook my head slightly to clear my head, " I just saw a listing for an apartment and thought it was too good to be true." He nodded and I could tell he was searching my face for more clues, "Well I am excited to get to know you." I nodded and started to grab my bag to leave, "Well I will see you tomorrow I'm going to be opening up with you tomorrow." He nodded, "Well I will see you then." I nodded and headed out the door, walking down the street I took in my surroundings heading back to my apartment. I took a look around my new apartment and I couldn't be happier. I went to the bedroom and put my clothes away luckily the apartment also came furnished. I walked to the bathroom to put away my toiletries and saw the most amazing bathtub. I decided to run myself a bath when I heard my phone chime.

~UKNOWN NUMBER~ Hey it's Christian, Wendy gave me your number hope that was okay. Just wanted to make sure you knew to come in around 9am.

~River~ Of course and thank you for the reminder, I will see you then!

I smiled and put my hair up and lit some candles and got into the tub and relaxed. After soaking there I got out and headed off to bed.

-The next day-

I woke up to the sound of my annoying alarm, and decided it was better to just get up and ready for my day. I went to my closet and got a pair of denim shorts and a cute bikini top with sequins and a slinky tank top to put on top. It was already really warm for only being 8am. I went to the bathroom, and fixed my hair into a side braid and worked on my face. I typically keep it pretty simple and keep it to my eyes. I did a Smokey eye to make my blue eyes pop. I went to the kitchen and made my self some coffee and grabbed my bag and headed out the door. I put my headphones in while walking down the road to work. As I walked to work I was watching everyone open up their shops, I guess New Orleans is used to opening up later rather than early. As I neared the bar I saw Christian opening up, he looked up from unlocking the door and gave this drop dead gorgeous smile, "Morning, I hope you're ready for this." I chuckled, "I've worked in a bar before, I've actually bartended in my home town, New York, Las Vegas, and Massachusetts." His eyes were wide open, "Those are really busy places, I think you'll fit in great here." I smiled, "Well since you've worked in so many bars I will show you to yours so I can see how you set up a bar. You're allowed to change how the liquor is set up to make it easier on you. You will also have a busser later on so they can make dish and glass runs for you, they will also stock your bar and buss it after hours you just leave them a list." I nodded taking this all in, and thinking I've always done my own so this was strange. Christian showed me to my bar and it was like a little tikki hut. I started right off by wiping down the bar and setting things up to my liking. I ran and grabbed ice, and set up my sani buckets. I also got bus buckets to make it easier. It was about 10 minutes to opening when Christian walked out, "Wow, look at you this looks amazing." I smiled, "Thanks." Then Wendy walked out, "Well look at this River this is amazing!" I smiled, "Thank you, I am really excited for my first day." Wendy nodded, "Remember River this is a lake side bar, so as long as your comfortable you're allowed to be in a bikini top." I nodded and took off my Tank top and put it with my bag. "Well don't you look adorable!" I smiled, and looked at Christian who was starring and making me smile even bigger, he must have realized I was watching him gawk at me when he turned really red and walked back inside to open up. I smiled and made sure I had my cash drawer all set up and ready to go. It was Saturday so I am sure it was going to get busy. Then I saw two men come out and sit at my bar, "Well look at you aren't you adorable, are you sure you can make a drink?" I laughed, and leaned onto the bar, "Well let me know what you would like, and I think I could manage." He raised an eyebrow at me, "I would like a margarita with a salted rim." "Make that two." I nodded, "What kind of tequila boys?" They chuckled, yeah I think I'm going to really like this job. I started their drinks, and finished them off with a salted rim and a wedge of lime. I put it in front of them, and waited to see what they thought. The man who talked to me first nodded and smiled, "Well at least you can dress a drink properly, the last bartended looked like I had three heads when I asked for a lime for my drink." I shook my head, that's basic knowledge or at least should be in my book. As he took a sip his eyebrows went straight up and so did his buddy's "Well girlie I think I underestimated you. This is the best drink I have tasted in a long time." I smiled "Well you two enjoy and let me know if there is anything else I can get you." They nodded and went about themselves, a few more people came on to the deck and I went on my way to serve everyone. As I neared back towards the bar the first man stopped me, "Well I think you are going to do great here." I smiled and nodded, "Thank you I think I will too." As I was closing out their tab The man and his friend gave me their checks and went on their way. I looked at my tab and there was a tip of $100 each. I thought there must be some kind of mistake. "Sir! Excuse me sir!" He stopped and turned around, "I think you and your friend tipped more than you thought." He looked at his buddy, "No honey you deserved every last of that tip, but let me give you some advice." He pulled me in close "Don't trail after every customer who leaves you a large tip, you're in New Orleans now we like to drink, and we like to tip big." And with that he gave me a kiss on my cheek and left, as I looked up I saw Christian and he looked mad. But walked away as soon as I saw him. I shrugged it off and went back to work.

~Later that night~

It was 5 minutes until closing and my busser had come and gotten all of my dirty dishes, as soon as it hit 12am I started counting up my tips and cashing out my drawer. I did almost 200 people today by my self, and I have to say when it's just drinks it makes it a whole lot easier. I put my tips in an envelope and left some for the busser as well. I left the envelope for the busser and started to get ready to leave, "So, how was your night?" I looked up to see Christian, "It went really well actually I met a lot of amazing people today." He nodded and smiled, "So I don't know if Sandy told you, but on Sundays she closes down the bar for the day. So we don't have work tomorrow." I nodded feeling very grateful I could get some stuff for my apartment. "Alrighty then I will see you on Monday." He stopped me as we walked out the door, "Well I was actually wondering if you wanted to come to a bar with me?" I raised an eyebrow, "What bar could possibly be open right now?" He chuckled, "Follow me." We headed for the bar Christian was talking about. I took it in and trust me there was a lot to take in. There was strobe lights and neon signs. It made the sequins on my top go everywhere, as we headed inside the bar, which if I am being completely honest it was more like a night club. Once we got fully inside I felt Christians hand on the small of my back as he led me to the bar. As we neared the bar I felt Christians lips on my ear, "What would you like to drink?" I don't know if it was the long day we just had or his hand at the small of my back but all I wanted to do was jump this guys bones. I put my lips to his ear, "A beer is fine." He nodded and yelled it over to the bartender who was working. Then I was given a tall pint of something that smelled really good. I took a sip and it was the best beer I have ever had, and it tasted like there was coffee in it. Christian and I talked or tried to at least, So far I had three beers and it was starting to hit me a bit, then I felt a hand on my hip again and it was Christian, he leaned in so I could hear him, "Would you like to dance?" I looked out to where everyone was bumping and grinding, and I thought well I have two options either dance with this man who I much rather be doing in a bathroom stall or walk away. I chose to dance with him, I nodded and put down my drink and he pulled me on to the dance floor. He spun me in front of him and had a firm grasp on my hips. He pulled me in really close, and I got to thinking maybe he wanted this just as much as I did. I started to really dance on him and show him what I was made of. As I was doing so I don't know what happened but the drinks started really hitting me hard and the room was spinning. I'm not much of a drinker, so a little bit tends to go a long way with me. I turned around and Christian smiled but then looked concerned, I pulled him down so I could tell him I needed to leave. "The room is spinning I think I need to go home." The last thing I wanted to do was hurl on the guy I work with. He nodded and wrapped an arm around me and we left the bar. As soon as the cool night air hit me it was such a relief, "You all good? I'm sorry I didn't mean to push you." I giggled, "Nah it's all good I just don't drink a whole lot so a little goes a long way with me. " He chuckled "Lets get you home." I nodded and he grabbed me around the waist as I tried to walk with him, but I felt more like a new born dear. Then we heard a whistle behind us, and when Christian looked back he groaned, "Not in the mood dude!" I looked back and I didn't recognize who it was, "What's up primal dude?" Christians grip got tighter on my waist, "Dude you need to go home I am not dealing with you." the guy chuckled and I knew at this point it wasn't going to end well, "What you mean she doesn't know what you like to do in your spare time?" I stopped and looked at Christian, "What's going on?" Christian shook his head, "Just someone trying to start trouble, let's just get you home okay?" I looked back at the guy again, "What the hell is your problem?" I might also add that I'm not always the nicest when I drink, "Oh I think it's you who is going to have the problem when you figure out what he does in his spare time." I rolled my eyes and the guy stepped up to me, and before Christian could step up I threw a punch right to the guys nose then he fell. "Now I think it's you who has the problem and probably a broken nose, I'd get that checked out if I were you pal." I turned back to Christian who looked happily surprised. "What?" He shook his head, and wrapped his arm around me again and headed to my apartment. As I opened my door Christian piped up, "Where did you learn how to punch like that?" I looked at him and sighed, "That is a long conversation for another day." He nodded and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. I watched him as he walked down the hall before I shut the door, I fell into my bed and fell fast asleep.

~The next day~

I was so happy to have the day off, until I heard someone knocking on my door. I dragged myself out of bed and pulled on some pj shorts and a tank top and went to open the door. When I opened the door I was greeted by a laid back looking Christian and he had coffee, "What are you doing here?" He shrugged, "Well after last night I wanted to check on you said you'd tell me how you learned how to punch like that another day, well it's another day." I opened my door more so he could come in, "Very clever of you, just give me a minute." I ran to the bathroom fixed my mess of a hair situation and cleaned up majority of makeup that was under my eyes. I walked back out and he had already made himself comfy on the couch, when he saw me he patted the couch, "Now come tell me how you manage to punch like a man." I laughed and took a sip of coffee, "Well it kind of ties into why I move around so much I guess." He raised an eyebrow, "I had an ex who liked to settle our disagreements with his fists," I could instantly see the anger in Christians face. "So in between me going to work and him working, I would take a self defense class to protect myself, and that is how I learned how to punch." I shrugged like it was no big deal, because at this point it's all over. "But I'm confused if you learned self defense why did you move so much?" I sighed, "Because unfortunately it doesn't take him long to track me down and make threats." I took another sip of my coffee and I couldn't help but notice his grip on his coffee, "But it's been years now, I don't have any social medias so he really shouldn't find me." I think he noticed that I saw him getting angry and he calmed down a bit, "Well good because now I owe you one for punching that guy last night." I giggled, then I remembered what he had called Christian. "Why did he call you primal guy?" Christian's eyes got very wide when I asked, "You can trust me I hope you know?" He smiled softly "Do you really want to know?" I nodded enthusiastically "I really do." He got kind of serious, "I enjoy primal kink." I looked at him, "Do what now?"

-STAY TUNED FOR PART 2-