Chapter Text
I sit behind the bar playing with shot glasses, questioning my choice on accompanying my aunt to her job. She works at Cardinal stadium, manager of hospitality or some shit like that. Either way she's abandoned me for meetings, leaving me with her coworker and rows of beer and liquor. I shouldn't even be in the bar area yet here I am instead of doing better things. `
Said coworker is FaceTiming her boyfriend. Blonde hair pulled back, shirt pulled down low. I vaguely remember her name being Nicki. I watch her through a shot glass, bored out of my mind. She catches me staring and casually flips me off. I pout before taking out my phone, I guess scrolling through Instagram will have to sate my boredom.
"Jessie!" I hear my name being called. I turn towards the noise and see a short figure running towards me, black hair streaming behind.
"Jade!", I halfheartedly yell out. Who the hell let the twelve year old into the bar? Oh yea my aunt. And yeah I might have supposed to have been babysitting her.
I stare at my niece as she comes to a halt. We couldn't be more different: she's short at 5'4 while I'm taller than my whole family at 5'10, she's into photography and, well I'm into books and comics. I'm nineteen, she's twelve. Her hair is the color onyx while mines been dyed so many times I don't remember it's natural state. She's my only girl cousin so I protect and treat her like a little sister. The only thing we share in common is our blood basically. That and our love for a certain Australian band.
"Jessica! Are you even listening to me?" My niece says snapping her fingers in front of my face. Whoa, when did she get on top of the bar stool.
"No, what's going on?" I ask, curious as to what would get my niece so worked up.
Nicki shoots us a look, grabbing a bottle of wine before moving to a back room. Jade sticks her tongue out at Nicki's retreating figure, making me smile. I guess we share that in common too.
"As I was saying, there's like crazy security. Even more then when the teams here. I had to show them the badge mom gave me just so they could let me in," Jade says in one breath, holding out the security pass my aunt had given both Jade and I so we can walk around the stadium as we please.
"Why are you even here Jade?" I question, not to be rude but I distinctly remember Jade's dad is supposed to have her for the weekend.
"Dad got called in to a job. Said mom should understand 'bout having to keep a job." I realize I asked the wrong question as my niece's eyes begin to water. I forget sometimes that her parents recent divorce has been hard on her. My aunts new boyfriend didn't help Jade either.
It was why I was in Phoenix in the first place. My aunt had called asking to help out with my niece and nephews. I remember her saying,"Your moving over for college in two months anyways, might as well make it a month sooner. I'll pay you $75 a week to take of them."
It had been easy in the end. The two boys usually spent their days with their other cousins or playing video games. I truly only had to watch after Jade. Even that was easy at times. After three weeks of her whining and attitude though my sanity has run thin, and I'm about this close to locking her up in one of the restaurants.
Still, I didn't like seeing her cry. I walk around, out of the bar and towards where she's sitting. I sit next to her trying to come up with something to take her mind off her mom and dad.
I notice she has her fancy camera that her dad had gotten her last Christmas and I have my grand plan set.
"Hey can I see your camera?"
"Yea," Jade sulks, sliding her camera towards me. Too easy.
I grab the camera taking rapid fire pictures of her. I twirl in the seat and take more before hopping off the stool. "Bet you can't catch me!" I yell, turning on my heel.
"What? Jessie! That's not fair, give me my camera back."
"Catch me and I will!" I throw back. I know it's childish, but it'll probably cheer her up. Or at the very least get her mad at me.
I pick up speed and start running down the halls. I can hear her screaming my name further down behind me. I'm faintly aware of the other workers giving us dirty looks, even the ones that are nice to us. I wonder why they're all so uptight today. Jade's right, there are security at almost every corner, even when the football players are here they only guard the exits and entrances.
After a couple more twists and turns and a short trip down a flight of stairs, I don't hear Jade anymore. I figured I've lost her. I slow down now, aware that I'm out of breath and sweaty. Gross.
I should probably find those shower rooms the players use, I think to myself. I walk down a hallway, noticing how empty it is. There's usually mangers or sports officials down here, what the hell? My confusion grows as I try one of the doors to a locker room and find it locked. That's weird, these things are never locked during the summer.
I'm about halfway down the hall when I hear," Jessica, if you don't give me my camera right now, so help me...!"
I turn my head and see Jade at the other end, hands on hips and a scowl on her face. Oh shit, she's mad. Is all my brains registers before I'm running again.
I run down the hall, hearing curses I never thought a twelve year old could say. I turn right and attempt to look back, I don't hear her anymore, but that could mean she just stopped yelling. I press on lowering my head.
I'm just about to look forward again when I hear someone shout out,"Hey watch out -"
And I crash into something.
Hard.