"It's a long story, Johnny." "Yah made me think yous was dead, Elaine," Johnny leaned against the desk, refusing to look her in the eyes, "I think I deserve an explanation." Elaine sighed, clutching onto the hem of her dress. She huffed. "Fine. Me and Aaron were working at the Cat's Gambit.."

•••

Makes me sick just thinking 'bout it. I was singing at the Cat's Gambit, a coffee-and-doughnut joint to earn some extra cash. Nothin' much. But it was home, yknow?

Aaron was workin' over at the gin mill. Watching' me perform from time to time. He was the sweetest cat I'd ever known..But Rico often came in, actin' a patsy of himself. I never did like how he treated Aaron, but Aaron said he didn't mean no harm. So, I didn't Gum-up.

One day, Rico came in. Smoked as ever. Not from anythin' legal I know that. I refused to go near him but Aaron insisted. Said it was good for business. So, I asked Rico what he wanted, but the sap put his flippers all over me! Aaron sailed across the bar, smashin' a chair across Rico's map. But.. when I looked, Aaron was the one on the floor.

***
A/N: hey guys! This is just some sort of preview. I dunno man, I just started working on this. Tell me how I can make it better, and here are the words you might not have known.

Coffee and Doughnut— cheap
Joint— a place
Gin mill— bar
Patsy— a fool
'Gum up' — basically interfere or stop
Smoked—Drunk
Sap— not the tree sap, but an idiot
Flippers— yeah, hands
'Map'— not the paper, a face

Tell me if there's any words I missed or if you need me to elaborate. Thank you!

300 words