| March 23 | Friday Evening |

~ Sam's POV ~

As much as I'd like to believe that the Nikki thing was behind me, I knew that wasn't the case. We had settled a battle, but for some reason, with Nikki still being around, there was still an underlying war.

Her presence, even when she wasn't physically with me, caused tension. And knowing that she had attempted to manipulate Megan and make it seem like I was the problem made it worse.

I still had anxiety over the situation but was managing to keep it at bay. For now.

I arrived at work a few minutes early due to little traffic and found Sara already there readying for the shift. Mariah was her counterpart for the evening but hadn't arrived yet. She should be here soon.

"Hey Sam," Sara greeted.

"Hey Sara," I answered. "Need help with anything?"

"I think I got it." She looked around. "I'll ask Mariah to stock the mugs and pints when she gets here."

I just nodded and walked to the office, knowing it wasn't my job to do the bartender's opening work, but sometimes helped anyway.

I typed away, working on the books and emailed Danna back and forth for a few, until I realized thirty minutes had passed and I hadn't seen Mariah walk in for work.

I stood and went to the bar, only to find Sara alone.

I frowned. "Mariah isn't here?"

Sara just shook her head, too concentrated while mixing a drink.

I took my phone out. She was thirty minutes late, which was odd. Usually, if someone was late, they'd call and let us know. I had nothing from her.

I typed a message and waited for a response.

Five minutes passed. Then ten. Then fifteen. Still nothing.

So then, I called.

The phone rang and rang, and then went to voicemail. I tried again but had the same result.

At this point, Mariah was almost an hour late for work and I was growing more worried than annoyed. She tended to get herself into situations, and I couldn't help but wonder if this was one of those times.

Was she okay? Did she need help? Where was she? And why wasn't she answering her phone? My heart began to race.

I began pacing towards the back entrance, ready to call her again as my phone pressed against my ear, but when I made it outside, she was walking up.

"Mariah-"

"Look, I'm sorry," she blurted groggily. "I lost my phone, and I-I passed out at m-my friends..."

There was something off, but I couldn't pinpoint it. She never really stuttered, which was weird, but maybe she was just tired from her nap.

Protocol was a write up. Those were the rules, written in all of our hiring contracts, but I couldn't find the heart to do so. I was the manager, and my employees wouldn't question me if I bended just a little, right?

"Alright," I said.

I followed her inside, watched her put away her things, and get to work next to Sara, who didn't seem all too happy. I decided I would let them talk it out on their own without interfering and headed back to the office.

Considering spring break was technically in session, a lot of our crowd was heading out of town. Megan and I didn't have any plans for next week except for relaxing, and my few shifts.

Then my phone rang. It was Shawn.

"It's about time you call me," I answered with a smile.

"Phones work two ways, you know," he countered.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, well, I guess time got away from the both of us."

"Yeah." He drug out the yeah longer than need be. "Hey, listen, I have a proposition for you..."

"Sounds enticing," I responded. "What is it?"

"I'm being sent on a business trip and was wondering if you, Megan, Blair and Tony would wanna come?"

"Are you serious?"

"As a heart attack."

I smirked in dark humor. "You know our mom had one of those, right?"

"Yeah. Still too soon, I guess."

"So, what are you planning? Or have you ironed out all the details and just need us along for the ride?"

"My boss is sending me about an hour and a half away from where I live, and offered up his house for me to stay at instead of booking me a hotel. Told me if I wanted to make a little vacation out of it, I could."

We would have to fly out, which wasn't a huge problem. I guess. I had never flown. I believed Blair and Tony were free because I couldn't recall them telling me they had made plans... Maybe this could work?

"Let me talk to them," I replied. "I'm sure-"

That's when I heard a loud noise in the bar. Like glass being dropped.

"What was that?" Shawn asked.

"I'm at work and it sounds like someone just dropped some glass."

"Well, let me know as soon as possible, alright kid?"

"I'm twenty-one, Shawn," I huffed. "I'm not a kid."

"You're still a kid to me." He paused. "Call me later, and make sure it's with four yes'."

I laughed. "Alright. Bye. Love you."

"Love you... kid."

Then he was gone.

I stood and shoved my phone into my pocket before hurrying out of the office. When I emerged from the hall, I saw Mariah attempting to clean the broken glass from behind the bar.

"What happened?" I asked.

But from the looks of it, Mariah had dropped nearly a dozen pint glasses. Since when was she that clumsy?

"I-I'm sorry I just..." Mariah stammered, but didn't finish.

"She was unloading them and started from the back of the crate..." Sara informed. "The weight from the front caused them to fall over."

I moved towards the storage closet to grab a broom, but within that moment Mariah must've grabbed a piece of glass. She stood abruptly, holding her hand that was now practically covered in blood.

"Shit," she voiced.

Mariah disappeared towards the back to clean her hand when I went to Sara and handed her the broom. She looked beyond annoyed by this point.

"Start cleaning," I demanded. "I'm gonna go check on Mariah and then come and help."

"She's on something," Sara stated.

I narrowed my brows.

"She's not sober right now."

I clenched my jaw and nodded, realizing this was a situation I hadn't been prepared for. I knew Mariah was a party girl, but showing up under the influence was another thing. She knew better.

I rushed to the back and found Mariah in the bathroom, attempting to clean her hand, but was having trouble considering one wasn't of use.

"Here," I offered, taking the alcohol wipe packet from her.

I cleaned her hand off with a wet towel before dabbing it with alcohol. She smelled like cigarette smoke and possibly the night before. Had she even washed her clothes?

"Mariah what the hell is going on?" I asked.

She didn't say anything, but by the looks of her I already knew. She was responding slow, her eyes were droopy, and the look on her face was practically blank.

"Are you on Xan?" I asked.

The word struck a nerve somewhere because her eyes twitched. I remember many trips on that. I didn't even need her to answer me, because I already knew the truth.

"Jesus." I patched her up quickly. "What the hell were you thinking?"

"I don't fucking know," she huffed.

"I need a better answer than that."

"Well, I don't have one."

I rolled my eyes. There was nothing I could do that would resonate with her because she was practically a zombie. All I knew was Sara was pissed and knew Mariah wasn't sober, which then left the responsibility up to me to do something about it.

"Go sit in the office," I demanded.

She didn't say anything.

I left the bathroom and rejoined Sara in the front. The place was starting to get crowded, and we were down a bartender. I knew what was expected of me as a manager, but as a friend... that was different.

"So, can she be functional under the influence or...?" Sara said condescendingly as she dumbed glass in a bin.

"I don't know," I said. "I'm trying to figure out what to do."

"She was an hour late Sam." Sara saved the broom. "She just broke over a dozen pint glasses because she's tripping on something!"

I understood Sara was mad. It wasn't her responsibility to pick up her co-worker's slack. She was here to do one job, and that was to bartend. And she was relying on Mariah, who was currently disappointing.

"I know," I comforted. "I will help you tonight. We're not gonna be as busy as we usually are. I'll help you with your closing work. It'll be fine."

She seemed appreciative that I was stepping up and doing my job, but I knew I had to do something about Mariah. I didn't want to fire her, but there needed to be some sort of consequence.

After I helped Sara settle into a rhythm without Mariah, I returned to the office. She was sitting there in silence, practically asleep in the chair across from the desk.

"You gonna fire me?" she asked.

"No." I sighed. "But I have to write you up."

She didn't seem happy, but relieved it wasn't a firing situation.

I wrote up a pink slip, had her sign, and then I stood to head to the bar. Mariah did as well, not as gracefully, but I knew she wouldn't be of use tonight.

"You can go home," I said. "It's best that our customers don't see you like this."

"W-What?" she stammered.

"You can't work like this, Mariah."

"But I have bills to pay!"

She was angry, but this was me turning off friend-mode and turning on manager-mode.

"Look..." I faced her. "Go home. Pick up Sara's shift tomorrow and call it even."

"I have rent, Sam." Mariah ran her hands through her hair. "It's already overdue."

"Get another extension then," I finalized.

Then I left and rejoined Sara at the bar, watching Mariah storm out of Jinx.

"You fired her?" Sara asked.

"No," I answered. "Wrote her up and told her to go home. Let me know if she doesn't offer to pick up your shift tomorrow, alright?"

"Okay."

Then the rest of the night proceeded, but I couldn't help but wonder if I had severed any friendship I had with Mariah.

And how this would affect us in the long run.

* * *

I got home beat and tired, ready to run as far away from Columbia as possible. Tonight had been rough on Sara and I, even though we made quite a bit of money in the process. Sometimes, the money wasn't worth how physically and mentally taxing the job could be, in my opinion.

"Babe?" Megan called from our bedroom.

I walked in. "Hey."

"Hey..." She sat up. "You're home late."

"Long story."

Megan tilted her head, but decided not to bother. She could tell I was done for the night.

I stripped, climbed into bed, and curled up next to her, wishing that sleep would engulf me immediately. Her arms wrapped around me, and I felt my body giving in.

Tomorrow I would mention Shawn's offer, and hopefully get me, my girlfriend, and my friends far away from here, even if it was for a week.

***A/N***

Another update! And if any of you read the old version of AMA, I think you know what's coming in the next few chapters! *wink wink*

Vote and Comment if you enjoyed! Can't wait to get back into a writing groove. Thanks for being patient.

Lauryn