#v; bartender

"Hey!" Sophie said, trying in vain to wiggle out of his grip before she was fully off the ground. She pouted slightly, wishing very much to be on the ground--heights weren't her thing, even if it was just being a few feet off the ground. "Come on, put me down! I'm so going to get even for this."

       "My dad just called me, and         told me to come back home         ----it's about my brother."

      She's been overworking herself,        from arriving an hour early to her        shift to working two hours after closing,        counting income, cleaning the bar,         and even restocking. But she's forgotten        to take care of herself. Forgotten on         most days--to drink water. To feed herself.        To drink anything that didn't come from        her work. And she's landed herself in the         hospital, after fainting at work and hitting her        head on the corner of the bar. When Alex         wakes, she looks around in confusion, and         tries to piece together why she's in a sterile         white room--blue eyes look around and panic        afraid and the oxygen mask over her face fogs up. 

    "Hey there. Happy Fourth--      what can I get for you?"

"What can I get you, honey?"