crying lightning

Scarlett was a little annoyed but she couldn’t say no a second time, she picked the change up, “Fine, I appreciate it but it doesn’t mean I’m happy about it.” She placed the change in her pocket, vowing to do something with it later when her shift was over. “So big spender, what brings you out tonight?”

“Maybe you should use the tip to buy yourself a drink.” Ben smirked bringing the glass to his mouth. “Or I could buy you a drink when you get done here.” Was Ben flirting? Maybe. Heather had left, and he had completely let himself go. “Um, let’s see. I definitely didn’t come out to make eyes at a pretty bartender, that was just a plus. I guess I just needed a drink.”

Scarlett looked at him then at the twenty dollar bill, “That’s too much.” She shook her head, yes she accepted tips but not of more than double the price of the drink. “I can’t take that,” she pushed the money towards him, hoping he would pick up the change and leave it at that. 

Ben shook his head pushing the change back. “I insist, it’s not sweat off my back.” Ben smirked giving the redhead another glance. “I’m a waiter, I know how it is with tips, hold onto the change.”

Scarlett nodded and started pouring the whiskey then placed it in front of him when she was finished, “Here you go.” She found herself quickly glancing him over, something she did when she was working, because spending all that time at the bar… she had to find something to do to pass the time.

“Thanks.” Ben smiled taking a sip of his whiskey and placing a twenty dollar bill on the surface in front of him. “Here, keep whatever change there is.” He knew that a twenty would cover it, and leave a pretty generous tip. He knew how it was to be in service industry. 

.

    [  “What?” Lennon innocently echoed. “Maybe. You wouldn’t be the first to throw that accusation around.”

“If you jump in there I might not be able to save you if it goes wrong.” Ben wasn’t really a strong swimmer. “If Bodhi were here then maybe.”

Scarlett rolled her eyes at the person in front of her, “Are you actually going to order something or just stare because I haven’t got all night to wait on either.” She stood with her arms crossed, waiting to see what they would say or do and hoped they would do something soon because like she said she didn’t have all night. Her shift was coming to an end soon and if she had to end it like this then she was definitely going to need a drink or two.

@santamonicarp-starters​

“Hm?” Ben looked up, he was slightly startled from the redhead’s voice. Damn, he definitely was staring. He truly didn’t mean to, it’s just that the redhead reminded him of someone. “Um, yeah sorry, I’ll just get a whiskey, neat. Thank you.” He looked around trying to focus on anything but the bartender.

    [  Bodhi faked offence at Ben’s comment, “Excuse you, this is all me. No child stacking is needed here.” Screwing his face up in thought, Bo looked at Ben, “Between you n me, or between the kids that make up your body?” he questioned. 

“Okay sure, and if I poked you in the stomach the kid on top definitely won’t fall over backwards. Don’t worry your secret is safe with me.” Ben dragged his fingers over his lips to mimic a closing zipper, with a wink. “You and me man, kids can’t drink.”

“Oh my god. It’s not… it doesn’t have anything to do with how I look. I’m just… not an easy person to be around sometimes.” Kellen sighed, shaking his head. “Please do not. I’m not great with compliments… Wait, do you really have a whole list of compliments? How long have you been waiting to bust these out?” He didn’t think he was hideous, but he didn’t think he was handsome either. He considered himself okay at best. “Shit, alright. I was expecting much worse. Still must’ve been awkward though.” He didn’t have any current hookups for Gracie to have awkward conversations with. After their breakup, he couldn't’ bring himself to sleep with anyone else. “Do you think you’d want to get back together with her after all this time?”

“Oh it’s a whole list baby, everyone is on here. My favorite compliment is about you though.” Ben said with a smirking unlocking his phone and scrolling through his notes. “Okay, so this one I wrote a little while ago and it reads, ‘I have to agree with Doja Cat, damn, Papa is a rare breed, no comparing.’ Eh? Get it? ‘Cause you’re a hot dad.” Ben was maybe a little too enthusiastic about that compliment. He didn’t really listen to a lot of Doja Cat’s music, but for a solid week the bluetooth adapter for his car had broke, and that happened to be the same week Streets was playing nonstop. “Yeah it was a little weird, I honestly forgot all about Elise, I mean half the people I sleep with I forget about if it’s truly just a one time thing. Do you think that makes me an ass?” Ben asked, he started to care more about being nice to people, maybe he was maturing. “I want to get back together with her, so bad man. I just want to hold onto her for the rest of my life, but I’m scared she’ll leave again.”

    [  “I am nothing but a truther, skuzz,” Lennon replied, challenging Ben. She gave a thumbs up before closing the cooler and waiting on Ben’s lead. “I’m everyone’s favourite Hudson. They usually settle for Bodhi, it’s okay to admit it,” she replied. “But I can only offer you that, they’re to advertise Bo’s show at the afterparty.”

“Well if Bodhi had the alcohol he would be my favorite, plus he’s nicer than you.” Ben teased nudging the younger girl a little. “Damn Bo’s the best advertiser, send him my regards, there’s truly nothing that man can’t do.” He took another few sips from his drink making sure to savor it. “Bo’s lucky to have you, my sister watches me get hammered at Christmas and goes on about how it’s not healthy and she asks if I need someone to talk to, she’s a therapist, but still. She needs to just let me get trashed for the holidays.”

“Uhh, not great. Things were alright at first, but we ended up getting into a nasty fight,” he admitted. “That was late April. Haven’t tried to reach out since, but I know she’s here tonight. Saw her in the crowd, which was pretty awkward considering most of my originals are about her.” The ones that weren’t about Gracie were about drugs. He quieted down, not wanting to make this all about him. “Damn, dude. You really do have shit luck. What happened when the other chick showed up? Did they get into a cat fight? … Sorry for your loss.”

“She was in the crowd? Shit man, at least you looked hot as hell. Show her what’s she’s missing and all that.” Ben smirked, “Her loss if she doesn’t want to be with your fine ass. Sorry I’ll cut the complements, unless you want me to keep going, I have a list of complements in my phone notes for all my friends.”That last part was half true, he didn’t have all of his friends on there, just the important ones. “No cat fight, Elise just came by to drop off a t-shirt, and I guess they had a quick chat. Didn’t seem to deter Heather though, which is good.”

She forgot that he mentioned having a cat at first, but ten pounds and having a ‘beautiful fur coat’ gave it away. “Ah, right, cat. I can’t have pets, but I did have dogs growing up.” She wanted to have another dog in Santa Monica, but the last apartment she lived in didn’t allow animals.

“Yeah, I have to pay like an extra $50 just to keep him in the apartment, but he is my baby.” Ben really did love that cat more than anything in the world, more than himself even. “What kind of dogs did you have?”