Chapter 2 - Already Taken

Jenna

Last night I dreamt about my parents. I have told no one about them, but there is a reason I don't keep in touch with them. They thought consuming alcohol and screaming at each other day and night was more important than taking care of their daughter.

On the outside, we looked like the exemplary family, wealthy with a beautiful house and a splendid garden, picture-perfect family members always smiling at the neighbors. Still, inside our walls, I was always unhappy.

When other kids came to school with home-cooked meals or lunch money, I sat empty-handed with my eyes still on the floor, reminiscing about my parents sleeping on the floor, drunk and unconscious.

Call me an idiot, but I never cried or dared tell anyone about my parents. I survived with a heavy heart, constantly crying, desperately begging for someone to notice me. The younger me needed a hug, help, or anything to make her feel alive. She was alone and lost to suffering.

But the past is in the past. It's a tragic story, yet I don't let that hard, consuming pain of not having parents who love me drive me mad today.

These days I try always to smile and be kind. I wear bright colors, bracelets, and pins to lighten up my day, but sometimes when I let my guard down, the inner pain gets too intense, and I take it out by being mean, even though it was never my intention.

But everyone got their flaws, right?

My thoughts are all over the place as I stress my way through the crowded street. Angry voices are everywhere, and I have to tackle my way through a herd of women with placards in their hands to get anywhere.

I hate my life right now. I don't want to be late for my first day at work, but fuck, I overslept, and people jam the road. Everyone is fighting for equal rights for everybody, regardless of their species.

I've never given much thought to how different the world is today. Ten years ago, humans didn't know about pixies, werewolves, vampires, trolls, or witches existing. Or maybe we had forgotten? Either way, the streets are full of them now.

When I walk down the stairs leading to the trains, I see pixies messing with an old lady. They are playfully flying around her head while holding her glasses, snickering at the old lady who can't catch them.

And when I turn to my left, I instantly spot a man wearing a tuxedo. His glasses are way too thick for the grey clouds circling the sky, and there is a golden ring shimmering around his finger as he reads the newspaper. He is, without a doubt, a vampire.

I plug in my headphones and try my hardest to keep my eyes straight on the train tracks while two men, both swollen with muscles, are fighting each other next to a vending machine.

If I had to make a guess, I would say they are both werewolves. They are now fighting to the death over the last Mars chocolate bar in the vending machine.

"I saw it first! Back off!"

"Fuck you, Tony! You know I need my daily dose of sugar to function. Mac craves his chocolate like a girl on her period,"

I turn up my volume with an eye roll. I think Tony should give the chocolate to Mac.

Mac might look like a barbarian, a stupid guy with muscles that easily place him in the gorilla category, but his eyes overflow with love as he looks down at the tiny chocolate bar in the palm of his massive hand.

"Don't you dare eat it, you big moron!" Tony roars.

I resist the urge to sigh when Tony lunges for Mac's throat. I don't know what he was thinking, honestly. Mac barely has to apply any effort to sucker-punch Tony and send him flying, which he does without even looking up from the chocolate bar still in his hand.

"I'm sorry, Tony, but Mac is hungry,"

I can only laugh at the scene taking place right before my eyes. Tony is on the ground. Mac almost knocked out the light from his eyes, but Tony survived by the skin of his teeth. He is groaning in pain; muttering swear words to himself while Mac is feasting on his reward.

I get on the train with a smile. Mac deserved that victory. His appreciation for chocolate could easily rival my own. Gosh, I'm so delighted to see a fellow sugar-tooth achieve happiness in this very, very cruel world.

I stare out the window during the entire ride to work. Images of the past are playing on repeat in my head, awakening sadness in my chest.

In my memory, my parents are smiling at me as we sit together around the dinner table. Everything is sweet and perfect until my mum takes out her flask and pours the content into her glass. She happily drinks the alcohol, and not a second later, my dad takes the flask from her hand, and just like that, the dream turns dark and painful.

I close my eyes and try to think about flowers, butterflies, anything to erase my sad childhood memories from my mind. Unfortunately, it's easier said than done.

Even when I'm thinking about something else, the sadness is still there, squeezing my chest like a heavy rock. I hate this; I hate this so much.

I don't have the energy to be cheerful today, but as soon as the train doors open, I plaster a smile on my face.

There are demonstrators everywhere. They crowded the streets at home; they fill the road here. I walk past the demonstrators and grimace when a man, most likely a vampire, bumps into my shoulder without even caring to give me an apology.

I brush away my inner anger and quicken my pace. It doesn't take long to get to the Ariel Hotel, not when my head is up in the clouds.

As soon as I enter through the sliding doors, I'm approached by this blonde, tall woman who glares at me. Was it not for her resentful expression and burning eyes, then I would call her gorgeous.

"Are you Jenna?!"

The woman is up in my face, glaring into my eyes with no sense of personal space. She is wearing a ponytail and a black apron over her white chef's uniform that fits her curvy body like a glove. She is beautiful, probably Scandinavian, if I'm to judge by her blonde hair and bright green eyes.

"Yes..." I smile anxiously. "That would be me..."

"You're late!"

"I know there were a lot-..."

"I don't want to hear your excuses!" The blonde woman growls and drags me past guests who snicker at us. "You aren't the only one who is late. We don't have near enough people working in the kitchen right now. Can you chop vegetables?!"

I nod when the blonde turns to study me with her expressive and very intimidating eyes. The apparent signs of stress are visible on her face, dark circles under her eyes, and sweat glistening on her forehead.

"What was what?" She asks.

"I can chop vegetables," I stutter.

The blonde woman nods in satisfaction. "Good!"

I follow the blonde to an elevator, where she quickly taps the button for the basement and then turns around to offer me her hand.

"I'm Linda, your new boss. I don't like it when people show up late for work, but given the circumstances, I will excuse you."

As the elevator moves, I keep eye contact with Linda. I see her burning confidence and can immediately tell she is a driven woman. She looks healthy and confident, which makes me instantly admire her.

I smile. Ariel was right; I think Linda and I will get along.

Linda looks me up and down before we walk out of the elevator into a bustling kitchen. The chefs are cooking, starting fires, and throwing dishes on plates while someone is barking orders at them, cheering them on.

"I don't think your clothes have arrived yet. You are a medium, right?"

I nod.

"Right," Linda smiles at me. "Your pants are black, so those will do, but as for your t-shirt... Um, I can check, but I don't think we have any medium t-shirts..."

I hastily follow a stressed Linda into the girls' locker room. As expected, there are already girls standing by the mirrors. They brush their hair and talk shit about some random girl until Linda opens a cabinet to search for clothes.

Interesting.

Was it Linda they were talking about?

"Hmm... There are no clothes in here..." Linda growls in frustration. "Wait here. I'm going to check in the other locker room!"

Once Linda abandons me, the girl gang immediately starts gossiping. I can hear them too.

"Is she here to work?"

"I think so..."

"Why is she wearing so many bracelets around her arm?"

"I don't know."

"Her hair looks weird..."

The girls standing by the mirrors snickers, and an icy shiver run down my spine. Thousands of memories from my past flash before my eyes. Pictures of laughing bullies flash in my mind, and I remember that swindling fear I felt every day when I walked to school.

In the past, I didn't have many friends. I was the weird girl who got tackled on her way to class.

The memory gnaws at my self-confidence.

I have every reason to surrender once again and become the underdog right here, right now, but when the leader of this girl gang locks her eyes on mine, I refuse to back down.

Sudden courage makes me step forward and challenge the girl who must think she is so badass, standing in the middle of her gangster girl gang. She folds her arms under her chest, and I snort at seeing the pout on her face. I won't back down.

"Why not wear bracelets?" Pride swells in my chest. Finally, I grew a backbone. "I like the colors, and honestly, you could use some color too,"

The black-haired leader looks surprised before she slowly nods in approval.

"I like her," The black-haired leader says and returns to the mirror. She is dabbing something to her face with a hint of a smile on her lips. "Behave and give her a chance. Maybe she is nice."

What?

Isn't she going to fight me?

"I don't know, Bree..."

Aha. The black-haired leader is Bree.

"Dana..." Bree shakes her head. "Not now..."

Dana seems uncomfortable. "But she stinks like a human and something else..."

"DANA!"

"Fine... I won't speak anymore..."

I look up in time to catch the girl named Dana, smiling uneasily. Judging by her clothes, she is a server. And while I'm not a racist myself, I can see the lingering hatred in her eyes as she silently studies me.

Dana doesn't like me. I don't know why, but I'm guessing it's because I'm a human, and she is not. I can't tell what she is. Maybe a vampire? She is pale and beautiful, but I didn't know big companies hired them.

Does Ariel know she isn't human?

I've heard vampires are violent creatures who easily fall victim to their bloodlust.

"I'm back!" Linda strides into the room and throws me an oversized t-shirt. "Take this,"

Phew. For a second there, I was afraid Linda wouldn't return.

"Thanks."

Linda looks like she might bite her nails while I pull the t-shirt over my head. She takes her job very seriously.

"Please tell me it fits."

I smile at the blonde woman. "It's rather big, but I can work with this,"

"Great!" Linda claps her hands. "So I will station you by the vegetables... I know you came here to be a server, but I need your hands in the kitchen!"

I nod in agreement. "I don't mind helping where I can."

I regret those words pretty quickly.

After what feels like an eternity of cutting onions and peeling potatoes, I'm finally given time to eat breakfast and breathe. It seems most of the workers are taking part in the demonstrations outside, so I've been cutting vegetables all freaking day. I deserve a treat.

I dig into my beef like an animal, thrilled that I got to choose what I wanted from the menu without having to pay a penny. Free food is the best, and there is nothing better than a medium-rare. The beef is delicious!

"Ahh, there is nothing better than free food!"

I'm sitting on the second floor of the underground restaurant. No guests are eating up here; neither is the bar open, so there isn't any bartender, yet I can hear voices coming from behind the corner.

I shrug. I guess other staff members come up here to eat as well.

"Catherine!"

"No, I've had enough of your lies, Ariel!"

I bounce to the sound of drama, almost choking on my food when I detect a tall woman wearing heels and an elegant red dress. Oh my gosh, she is beautiful!

Her lipstick is red like roses, and her silver earrings look very expensive behind her perfectly styled blonde locks. She looks like a doll, and she is storming away from Ariel towards the stairs.

"Of course, he is dating a supermodel..." I mumble bitterly.

"Catherine..."

Ariel is massaging the temples of his head with his fingers. I think he is running a severe headache. The young billionaire looks terrible, or at least he should if you examine the dark circles around his eyes, and yet, I still find him annoyingly attractive.

"No!" Catherine holds up her finger to hush the taller man. "I'm leaving, and don't pretend that you care because I know you don't care about anyone but yourself! You're such a dick, and honestly, fuck you, fuck you, Ariel!"

Ariel sighs but doesn't say another word.

He silently stands there like stone even as Catherine hurries down the stairs with tears in her eyes.

I feel so awkward having watched that, and when Ariel turns around, I immediately return to my food.

I mash beef into my mouth, determined to pretend I didn't hear or see any of that drama. I load my fork and eat quicker to hide. I've just eavesdropped.

Unfortunately, the man is already approaching me.

Fuck.

"How much of that did you hear, Miss Ellis?" Ariel asks in amusement.

I lift my chin, and Jesus Christ! I could examine him forever and never get tired!

Ariel is tall and in perfect shape. Without his formal clothes, you can see the muscles ripple in his arm, and the tattoos that snake around them make me want to touch him, see what his skin would feel like beneath my fingertips.

I need to get a grip.

"Most of it... I'm sorry," I bite my bottom lip, hoping it will offer me control of my racing heart.

"I see..." Ariel paces with his eyes stuck on the floor. "Well, then its no secret I screwed up,"

I don't think this a conversation I should have with my boss, but I believe Ariel has been drinking. His accent is rougher, and his movements lack that earlier class I witnessed during our first meeting. The urge to dissolve into thin air has never been stronger.

I grimace. "Mmm, your girlfriend seemed furious..."

"I'm sorry you had to witness that," Ariel is running his hand through his smooth, dark hair while keeping his head hanging low. His eyes are red, as if he has been crying. "Catherine is a wonderful person, but..."

I look at the floor with silent eyes. "Why was Catherine so angry? If you don't mind me asking..."

Ariel laughs, but it's not a cheerful sound. "Well, I gave her the classic 'it's not you, it's me' speech, and she didn't like it, but honestly? It was the truth. I love her more than anything. I was ready to go down on my knees, but something came in the way..."

"That sounds rough,"

My heart goes out to Ariel in sympathy. I don't know what made him change his plans to go down on his knees, but his eyes tell me his decision conflicts with his emotions. It's hard getting rejected, but it's also tough to be the one who leaves someone behind.

Ariel is undoubtedly still in love with Catherine, and that knowledge hurts, even though it's none of my business.

"I hurt her feelings..."

I dare to curl my lips a little. I want to cheer Ariel for some screwed-up reason, even if I don't like him together with Catherine.

"Well, even if her feelings got hurt, you were at least honest," I say.

"Do you think that's an important quality in a partner? Honesty?" Ariel asks.

"Yes, I need to know I can trust the other person."

"Interesting," Ariel looks sad and curious at the same time. "Do you also think they should tell you everything about them?"

The glint in his eye makes me shiver, and for some inexplicable reason, I hesitate before giving him my answer that usually would be as clear as crystal.

"Yes," I don't regret my answer, but his expression frightens me. "Without knowing everything about them, how could I possibly truly love them?"

There is a ghost of a smile on Ariel's lips. "Good answer."

Ariel drags out a chair next to mine and sits down by my table. I'm slow to react, caught in my shocked reverie of having his bare skin so close to mine, but once the handsome man chuckles at me in this knowing and seductive way, I drop my fork.

Holy cheese.

I checked him out, and he knows! That smile can't be mistaken! He knows, goddamnit!

"Do you like what you see?" Ariel is leaning his cheek against the knuckles of his hand while his lips form a secretive smirk.

I gulp.

In the dim light, it feels like we are the only ones who exist. Right now, the atmosphere is intense and zapping with sparks and lightning right here in this room. I'm nervous, and I take a while to find my voice.

"Um, well, you see..." I don't know what to say! This is so embarrassing!

Humiliation finds my cheeks when Ariel laughs at me. He looks massively entertained, and I loathe how I should hate him for laughing at me, but it feels like such a treat to hear him laugh.

Gosh, did I just think that? I'm one hundred percent pathetic.

"I was joking with you," Ariel speaks softly. "I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable,"

I look into his eyes, expecting to find dishonesty, and instead, I find desire.

What?

I freeze at sight and grow suspicious and uneasy. I'm used to people giving me the dirty eye because of my bright clothes and weird personality. Still, I'm not used to this, someone looking at me with hopeful eyes almost as if they were interested in me, like really, interested in me.

And I hate how happy it makes me feel, having Ariel look at me. Because I know Ariel would never date someone like me.

I am many things, funny, unique, not afraid to be myself, clumsy, great at baking, loyal, and robust when needed, but I'm not beautiful enough to date a billionaire with the face of an angel.

And Ariel is in love with Catherine.

It sucks, but that's the truth.

"Don't look at me..." I mumble.

Ariel lifts his eyebrows in surprise. "What?"

The butterflies swarming my belly are so wrong. I have a boyfriend and shouldn't be looking at any other man.

"I don't want you to look at me..." And I shouldn't be looking at him either.

"Why not?"

I can feel myself crumbling to dust. I've said too much, but there is no holding back the river. Ariel tends to make me think these strange things, and I can't breathe around him!

"You make me nervous when you look at me like that..."

Ariel blinks and gives me an uncertain skim over. I want to hide from his intense eyes, extinguish the flames burning in the depths of my stomach, and most of all, I want to figure out why I feel like this whenever he is around. I want all of that, but I can't control any of it.

"But what if I enjoy looking at you?"

Stunned, I stare at Ariel and watch his lips slowly curl into an insecure smile. It's such an innocent thing, yet I get up from my seat like a frightened animal, desperate to get away from him. One minute longer, and I will go up in flames!

Ariel chuckles. "Where are you going?"

My lips turn into a thin stretch. Ariel is such a tease to look at with his curious eyes and that sunny smile. He is gorgeous and perfect, and...

Damn it! I can't handle the thoughts and emotions shooting through me like fireworks whenever I'm around Ariel!

I never believed in soulmates, or in love at first sight, or in what people call mates, but seriously, I turn into mush around this man!

He is the flame while I'm the moth, and it frightens me! I want what everyone wants; I want love, passion, danger, and everlasting emotions, but this thing swirling within me is nothing I've ever felt before!

This thing grows stronger every time I see Ariel. It burns brighter, turns a little more painful, and I'm terrified that one day, the unfamiliar emotion will burn me to the ground because I don't understand what it is!

All I know is that it's frustrating and probably one-sided.

"My lunch break is over!" I exclaim. "I should head back into the kitchen!"

Ariel slowly nods his head. Sorrow briefly flickers in his eyes, and I inhale.

Without needing to ask, I know he is thinking about Catherine, and it hurts. I don't understand how his love for her can cause me this kind of physical, destructive pain, but there is no hiding the fact that it's there, tearing me apart.

Tears prickle behind my eyes as I run for the stairs, desperate to get away from Ariel and the constraining feeling in my chest.