Four Brandy's and five Genesees later, everything is so blurry and I'm laughing at everything. I haven't felt this good in a while. Mark was swaying side to side and he was just sitting. The world was slightly spinning, but was almost a fun spinning. Mark was talking but I wasn't even listening. He was talking something about "Drunk Minecraft," Whatever the hell that was. I was just laughing. 

Then Mark suddenly stopped and gripped my shoulder, rather hard if you ask me, "You know something, Legan?" 

I simply giggled and responded, "What?" 

"You are the prettiest, most beautiful I've ever seen before. Not only was I about helping you 'cause I see you all the time, but I also had a huge boner. Maybe I wanted to fuck you. But I wanted to help you. Because there should never be a pretty girl like you in the streets like that. I know you were about to rob that store. I was on the streets for a while. But then I turned back. I want you to do the same. I want you to be successful. Do whatever the hell you want. I want to see you, be the best you can be. You are not a charity for me. You're....you're....a beautiful girl who I'd hate to see give up." 

I listened to Mark and it was beautiful what he said. I've never had someone believe in me so much. I smiled and hugged Mark. My brother had told me something similar, but I thought he would say that because he was my brother. Now that I hear it from Mark. A stranger. I believe it. I believe that I'm pretty. I believe I can do what I want. I believe I can get away from this shit-hole life and be and down what I want. The question is: What do I wanna be? 

I didn't say anything back to Mark, mostly because I'm not really sure what to say. I simply kept drinking my fifth Brandy. "Who was that guy you always hung around anyway?" Mark asked me. 

Funny, this question wasn't exactly hitting me like a brick wall like it usually does. It must be the buzz taking over. I mean, I am just kinda drifting through everything. I took a deep breath and answered, "He's my brother." 

"Oh." Mark got the bartender once again and he was about to order another Genesee before I stopped him. 

"He'll take the tab." I told the bartender instead. 

Mark looked over at me and processed what had happened. He nodded and sat back in his chair. I finally got him to stop. "What happened to your brother then?" 

I sighed. Now was the story I never wanted to tell, but what choice did I have. If Mark's saying the truth, I have no point in leaving him. He's helping me. Plus, he's told me his biggest secret. "He died." I said as bluntly as I could. Funny, the pain didn't hurt as much when I said it now. 

"Oh...I-I-I'm sorry for you loss..." 

I shrugged and kept drinking, "It was bound to happen. We lived in the most dangerous part of town where there's guns, drugs, and gangs. It just happened that he was my only friend and was the only person to remember my birthday every year. One reason why I wasn't too crazy about celebrating." 

"Well, I'll probably never be as good as your brother, but I can be your best friend, and we will remember each other's birthdays and we can make the best out of anything. Right?" Mark held up his empty glass and I tapped it with mine. 

"Making the most of it?" Mark asked. I smiled. 

"Making the most of it." Mark put his drink back down and looked like he was tired and already hung over. The bartender stood above us and I handed Mark's credit card he gave me earlier. "Just put it in his hand. I'm going to the bathroom." 

I got up and made my way through people to get to the bathroom. I felt so small in this place, why did everyone have to be so big. I went down a hall and all the doors read "Staff only." Dammit. I must've gone to the wrong hall. Watch it be on the other side of the building. I have to go through everybody else once again. Great...

I turned around and I noticed three big guys in front of me. My first impression would be bikers. But they might be truck guys. Either way, I was weary of them. The one in the middle had a smirk on his face and he stepped closer to me. He had sunglasses on and a big rough beard. And when he smiled, he had a gold tooth. I had a really bad feeling, but they were blocking the entire hallway. "Looky here, boys." 

I wasn't gonna just stand by, I was gonna do something. But the problem was, they're so big. I'm so little. They could overpower me in a heartbeat. But I had to make it act like that I should've be messed with. Hopefully that could work. "Please let me get past." 

The men simply chuckled. What was so funny? I just wanted to get back to my seat. I wanted to go to the bathroom, but I suddenly just wanted to leave first. "No. Oh, baby, you know you're not suppose to be in here. Did you just flash your puppy dog eyes at the bouncer? Or did you sneak in at the back?" 

Dammit. How could he know? I tried not to show that he was right, but I think he could already tell. He stepped closer to me and I took a step back. My heart started beating and I was getting really dizzy, I looked at the floor to keep my balance. "Get the fuck away from me." I growled. I couldn't do much so I simply growled. Face it, I'm helpless right now. 

The man growled back and pinned me against the wall. I squealed from his strength and felt my knees gave way. "Bad girls have to take their consequences nice and quietly. Come on, boys." They all started to surround me. I was trying to struggle and get someone from the outside attention. How could no one see this? It's only ten feet away from them! This is bull! What was I gonna do? I simply closed my eyes and cried, waiting for it to be over already. I felt the mens' hands start groping my body.