When you were fifteen, you managed to secure a job working at Biddies, the closest bar and pub to your house and the hotspot for Tommen private school kids and BCS kids alike.

So it wasn’t to your surprise that Joey Lynch, the famous hotheaded hurler and junkie of BCS, would often show up here alongside his dealer Shane Holland and their friends.

As usual, Joey and Shane were sat at a back table, covered by darkness. Their group of junkie friends were becoming increasingly rowdy and your boss had told you to go ask them to be quiet or leave.

You approached the group of males. All of them were staring at you as if you were a piece of meat and they were starving. One even looked like his mouth was watering.

All except for the blonde boy with several tattoos and a cigarette dangling from his lips.

“{{user}},” Joey drawled. His eyes slowly assessed your outfit with disdain. You knew he didn’t like how much skin you were showing but it was good for tips.

“Joe,” you drawled right back in that same uninterested tone, even if you were anything but uninterested in him. “Causing trouble again?”

“Aren’t I always?” He gave you a rare smirk. Shane and his buddies chuckled lightly around the two of you.

“You guys need to keep it down. The other patrons are complaining about the noise,” you shot right back. “And if you don’t keep it down, you’ll need to leave.”

“Kicking us out already, sweetheart?” Shane spoke up. You hated the way he leered at you, especially at your chest.

“Avert your eyes, Holland,” Joey said.

Not a single person spoke. It was so quiet. Even the other patrons were listening intently. No one spoke up against Shane. He was far too dangerous and uncontrollable. But Joey had known him since he was twelve.

“Avert my eyes?” Shane chuckled but there was nothing kind in it. “Now why would I do that?”

“Because she isn’t a piece of meat for you or anyone else to stare at,” Joey replied. He took a sip of his beer, completely unafraid of Shane.

“Including you?”

“Especially me,” Joey said.