Last Shot of the Night
It was late, Clare didn’t know how late, and she really didn’t care much. The bar had been busy all night, and she had been dealing with Rachel through texts all day. She had had the early shift starting at noon, but stayed on a few extra hours to help out, and then a few more hours enjoying the attention of a hottie who also happened to be a good tipper. Shoving open the door, she stepped outside into the cool evening air and hunted for her keys.
“Sure you don’t want a ride home?” Hottie Tipper stepped out after and put a hand around her waist.
Giving him a sly smile she stepped back and straightened his tie, “Not tonight.”
“Well if you change your mind, the name’s Vincent Rockwell.”
She wrinkled her nose teasingly, “Thanks, Vince.” She pecked him on the cheek. “My knight in shining armor.” Pulling her jacket more tightly around her to shield her from the light drizzle that was falling, she walked unstably to her car twirling her keys. As she reached her car they flew from her hand, “Shit!” Bending over she picked them up and nearly clocked herself on her car’s side mirror. Maybe that last shot hadn’t been the best idea.
Waving at Vince she backed out of her parking spot and shot off down the road. Sitting at a stop light she felt her eyes droop. Yeah, definitely shouldn’t have had that last shot. As the light turned green she blasted the radio, ten more minutes and she’d be in bed no one the wiser.
Stepping on the gas she zoomed through the dark streets unaware of the car behind her. Singing along with the song she cut a corner tightly her wheels skidding, on the next turn the tires skidded again and she let out a gasp as she felt the wheel jerk from her hands. Trying to regain control of the vehicle she yanked at the wheel, and she slammed her foot down on the break-pedal. Gripping the wheel she had half a second to see the tree in front of her before she slammed into it. Vaguely, she remembered the painful feel of the seatbelt cutting into her shoulder and chest and then her whole world exploded in pain. Her head struck something as did her wrist. She cried out as something bit into her leg, and then things went dark.
“Clare! Clare! Can you hear me?”
Blinking she slowly she tried to focus on the person speaking, but the pain of something pressing down on her legs, and dizzying ache in her head kept her from it.
“You stupid, stupid girl!” The voice said again.
Suddenly, she went from feeling a crushing pressure all around her to the cool drizzle of rain on her face, and soft warm arms supporting her.
“Don’t die on me, damn it.”
Frowning, her eyes opened enough to see a familiar man cradling her in his arms. She tried to speak, “My knight in…” Before she could finish she felt the air shift again and it wasn’t raining anymore. There was noise all around her and then she was on a gurney with people bustling around her. “Where…”
“Just stay calm Ms. Bell. You’re going to be fine.” A different voice said, and then she was moving, and the light got brighter. Closing her eyes, she willed her brain to stop spinning, to focus. Yeah, definitely shouldn’t have had that last shot was her last shot.
