Night Shift

"Will you get out of there Hazel? We're running out of time here!"

Hazel took another glance at her reflection. She was in her uniform; white shirt, black waistcoat and an unbelievably short skirt.

She was glad to see the tiny thing had a pair of shorts attached to it on the inside.

She would have found her way around it if it didn't.

"I'll be right out" Hazel tied her hair up in a bun and hurried straight out.

She took a glance at her surroundings; there was no one out the door which only means one thing; Fred left for the bar already.

The loud music from the ground floor shook the tiles underneath her feet. The club has never in a million years been a quiet place.

And it never will be.

"Zel?" Greg called jogging towards her with a cute smile on his face.

He is the most good looking guy she'd ever been friends with.

Nice, sweet…he even threw her a birthday party last year….

Though she barely knew the people that showed up at the party anyways. So far so good he's been the most amazing guy she's ever met.

And no, she doesn't have any feelings for him. I mean, come on. Don't you want to have a cute friend so you can make some cash off some ladies who would do anything in exchange for his number?

No refunds though.

"You're a bit early. Should I be worried?" Greg asked scanning Hazel for any injuries.

"I wanted to get out of the ears of my nagging neighbour. She's been so mad since her boyfriend trashed her apartment " Hazel admits

Greg nods in understanding.

"I had to wake up midway through my nap to make it here on time" he yawned

"I thought you were with Rina today? Aren't you two having an afternoon chill or something?" Hazel asked

"We were and I slept off"

Hazel nudges him hard in the side.

"You're a terrible boyfriend. If I had my way, I would have told her to end things with you" she said glaring at him as the music got even louder.

"Reasons why you shouldn't date your bestie's ex-roomie" Greg muttered massaging his side. Hazel is surprisingly strong for a girl…way too strong. If they were going to get attacked, he wouldn't be surprised if Zel knocks them all out.

Not that he'd seen her beat anyone up but…she had the tendency to do such…

"Reasons why you shouldn't be a jerk," Zel adds. "Let's hurry, you wouldn't want Fred stabbing us dead with that dreadful look of his.."

"You mean that look?" Greg asked as they arrived at the bar. Fred had his arms folded and his eyes….a murderous red.

"Whatever you do, just apology" Hazel advised

"As long as he keeps those hands to himself…yeah, sure no problem" Greg assured with a sarcastic smile.

Fred was known for hitting people when he was mad and no one dared to report him to the manager; the manager happened to be his uncle…

No one can get in between family right?

"I called you over five minutes ago" Fred yelled as soon as they came closer.

The music here was deafening and Hazel was more than glad not to hear Fred very clearly.

He was loud enough to make her ears ring on a quiet day…

"Yeah, you did. " Greg muttered

"What do you say, busboy?" Fred threatened

Greg clenched his jaw and Hazel had to block his path before he did something that could get them both fired.

"We're sorry. We'll get right to the drinks" Hazel offered with a smile.

"You better keep your plaything in check Hazel. Or he's as good as gone. Got that?" Fred threatened.

Hazel nods.

Fred glances at Greg in annoyance one more time and makes his way to his office.

"That piece of junk" Greg muttered under his breath

"That piece of junk holds your pay for the night. You need to be more reasonable Greg. You know Fred has the upper hand if it comes down to a fight?" Hazel reminded.

"I wouldn't mind beating his sorry a** if he would fight fair" Greg, winked at Hazel as they each carried two trays with several wine glasses of champagne.

"Stay safe Hazel. Buzz me if anything happens okay?"Greg pleaded

Hazel nods.

Of course, he would be worried! Just two days back, some weirdo tried to grab her offensively and Greg was really mad he wasn't on sight to beat that pervert up.

Why wouldn't that happen?

Hazel had to be honest. In this uniform, she would make even a married man turn and check her out.

That is one of the things that kept the club running; its female attendants were as pretty as heck.

She had a long day, juggling four different part-time jobs together. She had to stay alive right?

She has bills to pay and no one is willing to help her. Not that she wanted anyone to.

Her problem, her business.

End of discussion.

Hazel wiggled her way to the dance floor parading the floor while dancing herself; it was a way to avoid getting swollen feet at the end of the night.

A few customers took a glass from her and once she was done, she would go back to the bar for a refill.

Hazel wished her life was as carefree as the women dancing right now…

Free and cheerful.

It was a Friday night.. a night that was meant for anyone and everyone to unwind.

Not her.

She had a load of work tomorrow….

The ruckus at the VIP section caught her attention. What on earth was going on?

Everyone around that section made a run for the exit in fear, alarming the guests on the ground floor as well…

What is it this time?

It was normal for fights to break out at the club. If a month goes by without a fight, it would be the same as saying the club didn't make any profit.

It was that bad.

That aside, she needs to get out of here, before she gets hurt or worse someone runs her over and a stampede begins…

Where on earth is Greg?

She glanced over the chaotic crowd, searching for Greg.

Oh goodness, she hopes it isn't Greg and one of the customers this time.

Aside from getting fired, her friend could get hurt really badly!

It obvious the VIP is drunk which makes it even more dangerous if Greg is really involved..

"Greg!!!" She yelled, panicking.

A gun was shot.

Everyone screamed as people rushed towards the exit in panic. Between the music and the frantic noises of the already terrified crowd, she couldn't tell which was louder.

Her eyes rang terribly from all the noise. Where on earth is Greg?!

Goodness, she hopes he's safe…

Hazel froze at the spot on seeing a male attendant fall from the balcony on the second floor .

Her hands shook at this horrible sight before her, watching as the man hit the floor unconscious. There was a bloodstain on his coat…he was bleeding.

From a gunshot.

Hazel walked slowly towards the man…

Please don't be Greg. I can take anything right now except losing someone close to me…

It took all of her might to dare look up, to the height the man had fallen from.

She was trying to convince herself….the man couldn't have possibly died from that height, could he?

She locked eyes with a pair of greens that was nothing more than a shadow. She couldn't make out who it was but the thought that he'd shot the attendant….

Hazel took a step back in fear, unable to look away from the shadow she had her eyes on.

A pair of strong arms whisks her off her feet, gripping her tight by the waist and running towards the exit.

Hazel was yet to process what had just happened.

Or did that happen?

Did it happen?

No...you're overthinking things, Hazel.

No…it…it can't be…

"Are you out of your f****ng mind?! You could have been shot!"

Hazel turned to see Greg squatting in front of her.

She was seated by some stairway and the noise around no longer existed.

When did she get out of the club? She'd been so lost in thought that she didn't notice Greg carrying her out of the club to the building just across the street.

"I…I'm sorry" Hazel managed to reply.

She was more than happy to see that Greg was okay…

She wrapped her arms around him, her body still shaken by what she had just seen.

"I. I thought it was you. The man. Second floor. The gunshot. I was worried. I just.." Hazel went on, unable to sit still.

She had just witnessed a murder!!!

Right in her own eyes…

She'd seen the killer…At least, that was what she thought.

"HEY!"Greg yelled, startling Hazel.

"Breathe. It's okay. You're out of danger. And I am here with you. I'm fine. I wasn't involved in any fights and you are safe. Breathe'' Greg instructed.

Hazel fiddled with her side purse and took out her inhaler with trembling fingers.

"I'll do it" Greg took it from her and gave her two puffs of it.

It took Hazel five minutes to relax. To calm her nerves and reassure herself she's safe.

"Did that happen?" She asked, staring at the entrance to the club.

"Don't worry about it" Greg urged

"Who was it?" She asked quietly

"I said don't worry about it, okay? Come on I'll take you home" Greg stood on his feet.

"I said who was it?" Hazel demanded

Greg clenched his jaw. He hated it when Hazel had to go through all this. She's like a younger sister to him and to have her going through a panic attack…

He couldn't bear it.

"Matt"

Hazel exhaled with her eyes closed.

Matt…

He had offered to take her lunch once. And gave her her inhaler when she had that d*mn panic attack in the staff room.

"Wh..why?" She asked

Greg exhaled.

"I don't know what happened Hazel. I don't"

Greg was upset. Nobody wants to see their colleague die.

Not right in front of him.

NO

Hazel stood on her feet, her eyes still locked at the entrance to the club.

She was hoping the green-eyed man wouldn't show up.. She wasn't sure she would be able to make a run for it if he did.

"I want to go home Greg" Hazel muttered

"Of course "

Greg waved down a taxi and sent Hazel in gently.

"I'll try to stick around and see if I can find Fred. "

Hazel's eyes shot up in fear.

"W..why aren't you leaving? yo..you can't go in there!" Hazel pleaded.

"I'm going to get our pay Zel, you don't have to worry" he assured

"I..in there? A..are you crazy??" Hazel yelled

"Zel, this isn't the first time this has happened here. Fred will pay us. If we're going to quit working here, we deserve some compensation for our hard work"

If he was trying to lighten the mood, that certainly isn't working.

He's been working at this club longer than Hazel and he had seen way worse things in this part of the city.

Hazel stared at him in confusion; not the first? not the first time this had happened or not the first time he'd lost a colleague?

"You can't go in there, Greg. It's too dangerous!" Hazel exclaimed

"Hey, I'll be fine. Taxi, drop her off please?" Greg pleaded as he handed the old man some bills.

"Greg!" Hazel called.

He shuts the door and watches the taxi zoom off towards Hazel's apartment…

He exhaled; Zel is out of danger.

Now, back to the mess in the club…

*****

Hazel couldn't stop staring at her phone screen; how is she supposed to go to bed when Greg is back at the club, in possible danger?

She tried to call but he wouldn't pick up her calls. He later sent a message to her, assuring them that he was safe and that she had nothing to worry about.

Could she not worry, it's been over an hour and yet, no calls, no text from him.

Should she go back to the club? Try to find out if he's okay?

Should she call the cops?

What if he's already left the club? What if she meets that green-eyed man again?

Hazel felt shivers run down her spine at the very thought of the man….

There was something about him that made chills run down her spine…

Every time she recalled those eyes, her brain screamed danger and she felt very uncomfortable.

Hazel ran her hands over her shoulders as though to soothe herself…

She couldn't call Rina either; she couldn't make her friend worry so late at night.

For all she knew, Rina could march right straight to the club without giving her actions any thought.

Hazel didn't want any of that.

She settled on her mova right by her window, staring out at the busy streets in pure silence. She felt her tensed nerves slow down and she could think properly again.

She's yet to have dinner and she's starving. She took one glance at her organised kitchen and shook her head; she's way too lazy to cook anything tonight.

She decided to order some pizza and ice cream. Those were comfort food and she sure should have been sued for abusing them. She made her order, tossed her phone to the side and laid on her back, staring at the ceiling.

Her life is sad, isn't it? All she never does is work…and her work wasn't even safe. She barely had time for relationships and the last one that could have led to something ended in a brutal slate.

He was a married man, looking for some side chick.

Classic right?

Her phone beeped; it was Greg.

Hazel sits up in a hurry and grabs her phone.

"Thank goodness you called! I was starting to get worried" she said in relief.

/Yeah. I got our pay. Rina is heading to your apartment right now. I should be there in five minutes/

Hazel frowned

"What did you do Greg" She asked

Rina wouldn't leave her job so early if Greg didn't make it seem like some sort of emergency.

/I told Rina what happened and she thought it would be okay to stay at your apartment for the night. She was really worried/

Of course, she would be worried. She's seen Hazel during her panic attacks and she couldn't imagine her roomie being all alone in that apartment….

"I'm not a kid Greg. You two don't have to play babysitter tonight"

/We're worried about you,Zel. You don't think we would go to bed knowing that you need us by your side tonight/ Greg points out.

She couldn't deny that fact.

/You're not even denying it. You need us/

"What am I supposed to do? Tell Rina who's on her way here to go back to her apartment?" Hazel said in her defence.

/I'll grab some fries and chicken on my way. And Rina is craving ice cream so I might take a bit longer than expected/ Greg informs

"Just be safe okay? And pick up your calls." Hazel pleaded

/Yeah sure. Rina should be at your place by now/

"I'll give her a call" Hazel assured

/Zel?/

"Yeah?"

Greg exhaled

/You're not alone okay? You've got us. If you ever need us,please don't ever hesitate to give us a call/

Hazel smiled.

Of course, she would call them whenever she got a hundred panic attacks in one day!

Rina and Greg were her only family for God knows how many years. She loves those two so dearly…And she was more than happy for them when they started dating.

Though she couldn't deny it sucked being the third wheel.

Her doorbell chimed and she dragged herself off the mova to check out who it was.

It was either the pizza guy or Rina. She pulled open the door to meet a worried set of eyes, with arms pulling a paper bag from a well-known ice cream store.

"You look pale," Rina said with worry

"I just took a glance at the mirror Rina and I look absolutely fine" Hazel pointed out as she stepped aside for her friend to walk in.

"I see you baby girl, but you don't see you Zel" Rina pointed out as she found her way into the tiny apartment.

"Yeah. Of course" Hazel said, slamming the door shut.

Rina places the bag on the table and turns to face Hazel.

"Come here," Rina said, pulling her old roomie in a warm embrace.

Hazel realised she needed her friends over here more than she thought.

"Thanks for coming over," Hazel said, taking a step back with a smile on her face.

"Hey, it is nothing. I am always here for you and that's a promise" Rina smiled

"Okay. Guess what?" Rina asked as she pulled Hazel into a seat beside her in pure excitement.

"Someone's happy. What's the occasion?" Hazel asked, smiling.

"I created a profile for you on this dating site and you would not believe how many matches you got"

Hazel rolled her eyes; here we go again. Rina playing matchmaker.

"Can I have the ice cream now?" Hazel asked, eyeing the white paper bag. The store had the best flavours…it was nothing compared to what she took on a regular day.

"Right after you pay attention Zel!" Rina scolded.

"What more do I need to hear? I had several matches. Yay! Now ice cream" Hazel leans towards the table only for Rina to push back the ice cream, away from Hazel's reach.

"You have a date to prepare for Hazel" Rina announced

This had to be some kind of a joke….

WHAT?!

Chapter Two