"Did you go to college?" Matt asked shaking the drink and giving quick look at August, who wore plain black long sleeve top, black trousers and black shoes.
"Yep" he replied with long P, back at making everything ready for the next shift, in the counter.
It was around four at the evening, two bartenders, two waitress and one waiter got out changing their outfits from dresser room together with talks and laughs. They were all young workers from the day shift.
"Sup Aug? Long time" one bartender gave quick bro shake to August leaning from outside of the counter bar followed by next two. They knew each other even though they were in different shifts while other two girls said 'hi' and walked out giggling. The boys exited saying bye to Matt and flipped the sign hanging on glass door to 'OPEN' .
[After a while]
Matt did a back and forth look at August with smile plastered on his face.
"Would you please stop ?" August chuckled at his behavior after controlling for so long. Matt had forgotten changing to his all black bartender wear that day even though he was an owner. August gestured him with eyes as Matt went to dresser room cursing at himself and came back in all black.
"They are nice girls if you ask me" he said after resuming what he did before.
[silence]
"I know but I am not the nice guy" August had a serious tone.
Matt gave half-closed eye look at him and went back shaking his head. For the evening shift, Sophie was on her way while four waiters were setting tables and cleaning the area added by two chefs inside the kitchen doing same.
'The Vamps' bar was opeaned ten years ago by Matt. At entrance, there was glowing neon signage of bar's name having full wine glass with straw, placed beside it in red, blue and green lights. The door was made of glass surrounded by wooden edges. (not a good choice and risky). The place was almost like a restaurant with bar.
On the right side from the entrance were huge space with circular black wooden tables and adjustable chairs. The interior were almost wooden themed just like of Titanic and walls sculpted with designs filled by paintings alligned perfectly.
On left from the door was long black couch fixed with walls for resting, followed by a wooden door that led to store and counter from inside. The tall chairs were in a row with long semi rectangular bar decorated with shelves for bottles and beverage, a classic design in the wall. At the end of bar was way to kitchen, bathroom, dresser room, back exit door and stairs for second floor, where sometime Matt lived.
The dark red wall far most had a small stage to be filled with live music on friday to sunday or sports match shown in projector. The overall look of the place was classy and public. It was a cool environment with young workers. The bouncers were not neccessary since one would be enough for any group of humans. The place was famous almost full at most evenings. Even Matt's followers from social media would visit the place including Sophie's.
For August, his YouTube channel was growing with his vlogs and bike rides with college friends. He would get some pocket change from the channel and had only about thousand followers on Instagram unlike Matt and Sophie, the insta celebrities. He had his own mountain bike parked at Charles house after saving for a six months, excluding other expenses.
August still had two more days off from the work but came back early after realizing he had nothing to do. He instead asked to replace the off days for some other day which Matt agreed instantly.
About Matt, he would mostly be on 'The Vamps Bar' in the evenings and somewhere else in daytime doing side hustle.
Even though Matt was about thirty in human age, he didn't age mentally. He was friendly, extremely cunning and do anything to help his fellow friends. After getting good profit from 'The Vamps', the pay was extremely high and he got employers selected by himself not by them. He insisted August to live in vacant place upstairs but got refused. Instead, he modified for himself and allowed his workers who wanted to rest or spend the night when they needed. Once in a while, they all would do a sleepover with unlimited food supplies and held party for themselves.
August was a lucky guy after he met Matt. The nine workers including himself that worked till ten at night were all vampires secretly living their peaceful lives.
"Today around ten in the morning I got an unknown call from who was it?.. oh yea Hunter something like rapper name ? It was from Lil. Hunter."
"SO ?"
Matt moved placing his left hand on August's shoulder who pausing at what he was doing,
"Come on August, I thought that it was a spam call but guess what he asked ?"
August raised his eyebrows shaking his head a little questioning Matt with his dark black orbs.
"He said if anyone working in this place had short white hair. At first, I knew no one had. I mean you had all black before you took days off then yesterday I saw you with all white and it just matched, you know". He tapped at August's shoulder pursing his lips. "Was it coincidence ? I don't know". He added.
"What did you say ?" August slided glass away from his grip and rested his hand on the desk.
"Well, nothing. I said no one had until I remembered you after the call ended".
"Well ?"
"What well ? Were they from Skull Gang? What's going on ? Who were you with that day ? Why's your hair white...I am sorry that's personal but can you tell me the rest? "
"No one, Matt. Just some friend. I will take care of it. I swear".
Matt took a long breath and retreated from him with serious sad face,
" If you have any problems. I am here". He gave small smile.
"I know" he sadly smiled back him and tried to change the topic. "Does it look good on me? I mean I dyed all white. It's unique isn't it ?" His happy self came back in instant.
Matt's eyes became wide at how fast his friend can change the whole mood. "It suits you" he chuckled back at August rubbing his head, messing with it.
"Chill bro. You don't know how expensive my hair is. Stop already " he pushed Matt's arm laughing. "And give me that guy's number".
"Ho Ho Ho" Sophie stood with her hand covering her mouth having evil smile on her face. She wore white mid-heels, pink short onepiece and leather brown side bag hanging on her left arm.
"When did you get here ? Don't show me that expression" August's face and ears turned red at Sophie who saw them in weird position. Matt stood and watched not knowing what was happening while three waiters were greeting Sophie from far with their wide smile.
Sophie was in her early twenties having curly brown hair and beautiful amber eyes with thick lashes. She was short with very curvy figure and thick bottom, August's type of girl. August never followed her on social media because of having alot of bikini pictures.
She went towards dresser room to change and freshen up. "Don't tell me you have crush on her ?" Matt whispered in August's ear whose eyes followed Sophie's back.
"NO" he yelled. "She looks preety today" he passed through Matt towards store asking help from him. Matt nodded taking a clip board and pen from last drawer. He then followed August thinking Sophie would be back at counter within five minutes.
~~~
[In morning]
"I know you never ate with us but just gave company and Charles never asked because he respected your decision"
"I don't have appetite around this time and I hate fast foods" August pursed his lips lying at Liam.
Liam was unwrapping one hamburger and he brought three of them. "But today, you gotta eat cause no one's here to save you". He stretched his arms at August after finished unwrapping.
"Hey, I don't like them. Please" August gave fake smile tossing Liam's hand away.
"I've got two of them here look. I know you're not vegetarian. This is an order, B.R.O."
August opeaned his mouth to say something before Liam silenced him adding" I am one of your partner for history assignment. I know, you'll need my help. Oh, and that hot chick from before is in it too but I don't know who the fourth one is. Maybe some nerd? " he blinked at August giving no choice to reject.
"FINE" he snached the burger and ate in front of Liam, who gave the satisfied reaction turning to his own food. "I'll be right back" August's face had turned red like he couldn't breath and walked out from the table in cafeteria taking his backpack with his right hand.
He rushed inside opeaning the bathroom door tossing his bag beside the basin and taking it all out. He cleaned his mouth as much as he could with water looking at mirror, which almost felt like he got an extreme allergic reaction. It was very hard for him.
Looking around, the place was empty and he flew in his unhuman speed with his bag to one the of stall closing the door. Taking out blood bag, he sipped one right after with long relieved breath.
His face, hair and hoodie were all wet. He got angry at Liam for seconds but it wasn't his fault. Taking out phone from his pocket, he texted Liam [ I think I'll call it a day, see you around my d*ck FRIEND] exiting the college and went to his apartment skipping extra two lectures.