Granite City; A Manaverse Novel, Book 1

1.02 - The First Wave

The Stoney Jigger
11:30 am
Granite City

Kyle was intoxicated and feeling good. He had more fun that night than he had in nearly two years. He was sitting on a bar stool in their regular joint, The Stony Jigger.

The dive bar was tucked into an alleyway just off of fifteenth street. A passerby would miss it if they didn't know it was there. Decked out in a retro-style, or maybe it was just never renovated, it always gave the crew a fun and secure place to unwind after slinging groceries for eight to ten hours.

Another mug of beer slid down the bar and stopped in front of Kyle. He looked up drunkenly and smiled. "Derrick, I don't think I can drink another. Thanks though, man."

The tall, black barkeep stepped up to Kyle across the bar. He was that kind of well muscled where people would know he was dangerous, but he wasn't overly intimidating once you get to know him.

"Sure you can, man. I haven't seen you in over a year. Are you going to tell me hitting thirty did you in?" Derrick chuckled.

"Challenge accepted." Kyle cheered and clinked his mug into Marvin's, the only crew member still at the bar.

"Geez boss, he's right. You've lost your tolerance. What have you been doing for the last year?" Martin teased Kyle.

"Cassie worked here. It was too awkward." Kyle said flatly.

"You know I fired her over you, right?" Derrick said, handwashing a glass. Kyle was pretty sure Derrick did so only because of the stereotype as the glass appeared pretty clean.

"What? I didn't know that." Martin gasped dramatically.

"I tried to avoid that by not coming in. What happened?" Kyle asked, his fun mood evaporating. He really had wanted to avoid the breakup drama. As he was the one who ended things, he didn't want to cause Cassie more pain by infiltrating her work environment.

"She started telling blatant lies about you. I've known you long enough to catch many of them. After I asked her about it and told her to stop, she continued anyway. I gave her one more warning and she didn't listen. I don't tolerate that behavior in my bar." Derrick's tone had spiked into anger near the end.

"What did she say?" Kyle asked. He wasn't sure he wanted to know but part of him was burning and had to know.

"There's too many to remember them all, but let me just ask you this. Did you ask her to roleplay as an underage boy?"

Martin jumped to his feet, his mug tipping over and spilling beer everywhere. "What? I never heard that. That bitch really said that? Kyle would never!"

Martin's words killed all the anger Kyle felt building up. Despite his intoxication, he was able to let it all flow away. He shook his head, only looking sad.

"No way, Derrick. Maybe an Elf girl, or something along those lines. Never any age difference though. I prefer older women anyway. Damn, just the thought is making me sick." Kyle shuddered, looking as sick as he felt.

After he was able to get control of his stomach, he looked up at Derrick. The bartender was nodding.

"Just as I expected. There are a few others that I already knew were lies, or suspected they were." The bartender placed a hand on Kyle's shoulder across the bar. "I'm sorry she said anything in my bar and I want you to know I stopped it as best I could."

Kyle patted Derrick's arm and the bartender pulled it back. Kyle smiled and nodded. "I'm just sorry she feels she has to do that. She must have been hurt pretty badly." He took a long drink off his beer and set it down, leaving his hand on the handle. "You know, I should be pissed and worried, but I'm not. That might change when I'm sober, but for now, I understand. She wasn't expecting it to go like that."