When Alex arrived at The Zone the floors were still shiny from being mopped and the music hadn’t even been turned on yet. It was the very beginning of the night and technically, the place wasn’t even open yet, and the only people allowed inside were staff, but + Rolando Piazzi-Rossi♂

+ Alex weaseled her way through the doors by flirting with a one of the bartenders. He’d been trying to get in between her legs almost every night for the past four years and now, finally, he was of some use to her. Alone with the bartenders and + Rolando Piazzi-Rossi♂

+ he bouncers, Alex sat herself at the bar, which, at this point, had become something of a second home to her. She ordered a drink, sipping at it slowly until no one was looking. She reached into a purse for one her pills and slipped it between her lips + Rolando Piazzi-Rossi♂

+ lips, downing it with whatever liquid was left in the glass before promptly asking for another vodka soda. Her conversation with the bartender started out as pleasant small talk; a few drinks in, she was onto moaning about her recent breakup, and + Rolando Piazzi-Rossi♂

+ by the time the pill fully kicked in Alex could hardly construct a sentence. Most nights they’d stop serving her altogether and tonight was no exception. Just as Alex was getting ready to make a scene about being denied another drink, she noticed + Rolando Piazzi-Rossi♂

+ the owner approaching. “Sean!” Curling her arms around his neck, she squealed his name like she had never, ever been happier to see anyone in her entire existence. However, her demeanor quickly shifted into one that was equally as wobbly, yet + Rolando Piazzi-Rossi♂

+ far more serious. “Sean. I have to talk to you about something.” Rolando Piazzi-Rossi♂