The light streamed into Tylia's closed eyelids, signaling it was way past the time to wake up. She opened her eyes, blinking at the sudden brightness. She had that moment that tends to happen, where you wake up somewhere other than your own bed and it takes a moment to remember the night before.
Flashed came back to her quickly, getting gradually blurrier. She remembered drowning her sorrows and the last bit of money in her bank account at a bar. Considering the fact that her sorrows were due to her financial situation, or lack of, it probably wasn't the best idea. When she moved to New Orleans she expect, well more. But she's was struggling even worse than she was in Virginia. She could barely afford the rent on her studio apartment, and she can't remember the last time she cooked something that didn't come in a box.
Then she remembered meeting a man at the bar, a gentleman if there was any. It wasn't so often that she met a man at the bar she worked at who didn't try to cop a feel after the initial conversation. Ironic that not trying to would actually turn her on. Or it could have been all the whiskey she injected on shift. The man actually listened to her, and she actually spilled her heart out. If she wasn't, well impaired, she probably wouldn't have spilled her guts to him. But instead he showed concern when she told him about how hard it was for her to make ends meet, and how much she secretly stressed herself out.
Being the bartender had it's perks, and she had poured them both shots frequently. By the time closing came, her inebriated self decided that it would be the best idea to go home with him. At least then she wouldn't have to spend the night in an apartment without air condition. And now there she was, in bed next to someone who she didn't even know his last name. At least she remembered his first name. Elijah. It was a pretty name.
She moved to gather her clothes. Not wanting to go through the awkward hungover conversation. But as she lifted herself off the bed, she felt him shift. Shit. She swore outloud.