isla, alex's bar in sydney

"Looking good tonight, Isla," Alex comments as he walks past me.

I feel the goosebumps running down my arms and back. If I wasn't squeezed between him and the bar, I'd swiftly move away. There's something in the way he talks.

I just can't help but notice how different he's treating me.

There hasn't been a night where Alex hasn't complimented his bartenders. I'm used to it. Or I should be. But for the past hour, I've been really on edge.

This is why my stomach clenches in disgust the moment I feel his hand brush my backside. "Keep up the good work, darling."

The drink I'm pouring goes everywhere - the table, my dress, the floor and my shoes. "Shit."

I'm such a mess.

The guy whose drink I've just managed to spill looks at me, unimpressed. As I start cleaning the mess up, wiping at the tabletop, his eyes wander down to my boobs. When he realises I've caught him, he smirks.

"Aren't you that bloke's girl? The famous one?"

I roll my eyes at him, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"You wanna have a good time?"

"No," I say, and keep wiping at the table. It's clean by now, but I pretend to be busy.

"How much did he pay you, then?" the guy asks, his voice coming closer to me. His breath fans my face. "I asked you a question."

Looking up at him, I feel the sudden urge to push the dirty cleaning cloth into his face. But then I remember Alex is watching and I don't want to get into any more trouble.

When I don't respond, the creep speaks again.

"You're not a talker, are you, sweetheart? I guess that mouth of yours is better at other things."

I grab my phone and run. I'm still out of breath, squeezing into one of the store rooms behind the bar.

No way am I going back out there.

I unlock my phone, ready to tell Lydia to come get me. That's when I see the list of missed calls and voicemails. I press the button, putting the phone to my ear.

Am I ready to hear whatever Luke has to say this time?

My heart beats louder than the tones coming through the phone. And then, his voice is heard, muffled as if he's got a hand over his mouth; still, it's so clear, almost like he's in the store room with me.

"Hey, it's me," he says. I can't decide if he sounds sad or just drunk and lonely. Maybe a mix of all three. "I cheated again."

His confession shouldn't break my heart the way it does. I think he's forgotten about the fact that we aren't together.

You can't cheat on someone if you're both single.

"Isla, I miss you. Baby, I miss you so much. I've messed up."

When the voicemail ends, I've already had enough. But for some reason, I put myself through listening to the next one.

"I wish I could go back to how we were before tour."

Me too.

"I know I can't undo the things I've done, but–"

"Give me the phone."

"Mikey, no. I–"

The voices fade. A mix of different voices, groans, loud thuds and noises. They're fighting.

"Delete it!"

"Get off of me!"

"Guys stop!"

It all makes me cry. Here I am, hiding from creepy guys at work, and they're fighting over a phone. When what I need the most is to hear a friendly voice, Luke only cares about confessing to his nightly mistakes.

The door opens. Shit.

"Why the tears, darlin'?"

I almost cringe away when Alex's fingers stroke over my cheek.

-

why is everyone being creepy towards her

the girl needs some love

alex fuck off please

~lauren