Nothing A Few Drinks Can't Fix (III)

Justin quickly circled an arm through Chang's arm, and pulled her through the slowly dissipating crowd to the front door. Once they outside Justin quickly told her that their boss, Eric, had given the two of them an early leave for her first day if she wanted.

"Eric, Brandy, and Andre are gonna hold down the fort for us, but this is for only one night, so we'd better make the most of it!" Chang was touched but shook her head and declined. She would rather keep busy, it kept her mind off the thoughts, which inevitably kept swirling back to him.

"Girl, you don't get it. We only got one night, let's go!" Shaking his head at her, and without a further word, Justin took Chang's arm and led her away from the neon pink glow of La Vie En Rose's sign. Sighing Chang acquiesced helplessly, curious as to where he would be taking her.

Luckily it was still warm even though it was almost September, so Chang wasn't chilly in the slightest, even in the tiny spaghetti strap top and shorts.

Even with the earlier events weighing down on her heart, she was thrilled to have made a wonderful first impression on her new boss. Chang loved the energy, and high paced action of her new job. She had been a waitress before, but this was more like cocktail hostessing, something she had never done before.

She loved her new coworkers, even Brandy, who was a little overly clingy and made her slightly uncomfortable. Chang was so glad to have got the job, the extra money would help her mother immensely. The tips alone she had stuffed into the front pockets of the shorts would be enough to party tonight, and be groceries for the week. Things were finally looking up in her life.

When she had first arrived in L.A., Chang only had the clothes on her back, a backpack with a change of clothes inside, and a few thousand dollars cash.

Chang had not known where else to go at the time, only knowing that she certainly did not want to turn to her mother with all her burdens.

She had met Justin Che in a bar a few hours after she had left the airplane terminal, looking for a stiff drink after her previous 36 hours. After chatting with him for around 20 minutes, she had felt a kinship to him. He, like her was 22, and was new to the area.

Justin had also come looking for a fresh start, though a couple months prior to her. It had already come up in their conversation that he was gay, so when he brought up that he had a couple of rooms that he needed to rent out, Chang had immediaty inquired as to how much the rent would be.

It was about a third of the money that she had, but without hesitation Chang had drawn the amount from the backpack and put it on the counter in front of him.

"Roomies?" Turning, she had inquired with a smile, doing her best to work her charms.

"Well, damn! Didn't expect that! Let's get out of here, get some champagne or something to celebrate, and take you to your new place!" Crying out, Justin had settled both their tabs, then strung his arm over her shoulder and together they walked out. He became her solace in her darkest hour, and the best friend she had ever known in her life. Chang was thankful to have met a friend like him.

In the beginning when she had nothing and struggled so much, Justin did everything to help her, even pulling strings to help get her into different jobs, including this latest one.

Chang had originally worked as a traveling magazine writer. She would write different exposés, usually analytical pieces regarding business and technology. Her trip to Shanghai last year was her last. During that trip her life changed unexpectedly and dramatically.

It had never been unusual for her to be unable to see her mother for long periods of time due to her job, so she called and talked to her frequently. Chang had not known at the time how to tell her mother what had happened in Shangai. Now she could not tell her and could not go home carrying all her shame. So she lied constantly to her on the phone and supported her, far from home and anyone that she had known.

After several blocks they walked in front of a giant building which looked like a converted warehouse. In front of the building hung a sign with a bright orange bird and flamboyant writing that read Canary Sue's.

Chang was completely surprised to see that Justin had led them there. Chang often came here she was thinking about Jian to the point it clogged her brain up. Usually she would come here alone to rent a personal karaoke room, after a couple hours and a good cry, Chang would find that she would be ready to face the world again.

She had told Justin before about this place, but as he did not really like karaoke, she would come by herself. And as she felt uncomfortable singing in front of others, she had not ever rented a room with someone she did not know or gone to the open mic.

"Are you surprised to see where we're at?" Obediently Chang nodded back to his toothy grin.

"Good, then my mission was accomplished! Let's get some drinks and party to your success! I'll try not to blow you out of the water with my angelic voice." Giving her a flirtatious wink Chang could not help but to giggle at him. "I know this is your special spot, so let's make tonight special!"