I sat on the floor of my trailer with my back against the front of the couch and my chin on my knees. Why do I do this to myself? Maybe i should become one of those bitches who just doesn't give a shit. It wasn't me but would make my life far easier.

My phone vibrated for the countless time today since I woke up. Probably Joann or my boss to fire me, neither of which I wanted to deal with. Turns out, I didn't feel like dealing with anything today aside from sitting here in the clothes I wore last night.

"You going to answer that?" Joann asked poking her head in from outside causing me to sigh in disgust. Why did I leave the door open?

"I haven't returned any of your calls because I didn't want to talk to you. That's not an invitation to come by now so leave me alone." I got up and headed towards my kitchen to get away from her.

"Crystal! Will you stop and talk to me?" She asked following me. I didn't need this right now!

I turned around to face her my blood already boiling. "No! I don't want to talk, Joann. Get the damn hint!"

"I'm sorry about what happened. Dad is too. He had a bit too much to drink and-"

I ran my hand through my hair trying to get a grip on my anger. It was so typical of her to think all this was just because of our father and of course, making excuses for him. Will she ever change? I just grabbed my beer and headed outside.

What the hell you doing drinking? You got work soon don't you? She asked following me out. I figured there was no avoiding this so I just let it out.

"I got fired."

"What? Why?" She asked with her mouth open in shock. She knew I really enjoyed working there.

I took several gulps of the beer as I tried to think of a way to tell her without telling her about... well the stuff she couldn't know about.

"Nancy found out about me and Jake. You can imagine she wasn't happy and had some words for him. For some reason he thinks I had something to do with her finding out and came into the store last night..."

She wrapped her arms around me and as much as I hated to admit it, it felt good. I have been dealing with a lot.

"I know! Let's go to Lakeside and hit the mall. Maybe get a real drink..." she grabbed my beer from me "How many of these have you had today?"

"Relax. It my first." I said grabbing it back from her. "Thanks but I really don't need you feeling sorry for me." This causes her to laugh a little shaking her head. "Oh I'm not feeling sorry for you. On the contrary, I'm actually thrilled and think we need to celebrate." She sat down on the step beside me taking the beer from me again. This time she took a large drink of it and put her arm around me "Look! I get you're upset about the job but you'll find a better one or I'll get everyone I know to boycott that place till they take you back. You my little mistress-in-training need to look at the bigger picture. That asshole is gone and" She held her finger up beside her "with a little luck, Nancy or whoever she is will also wise up and dump his ass. Two for one." She beamed proudly at me and I couldn't help but laugh. So much for me staying mad at her. "You really hated him, didn't you?"

"Mmmmm yeaaah. I'll see him every so often in town yet I've never seen his wife. Does he keep her locked away in a dungeon or something? It's not fucking normal, Crystal! Then he gives you the same treatment. Do I really need to go in about the bruises I've seen you with?"

She was right of course. Besides moping around here wasn't going to do me any good so I decided to meet her over in Lakeside. She took off to change and I needed to myself after hopping into the shower.

I decided to put on a blue floral dress with some white sandals and a minimum of makeup. I also wanted to swing by the department of Labor wich was just across the street from the mall and see what was being offered and figured this look would work both in job hunting and hanging out with Joann.

It took about forty minutes to drive there. The DoL parking lot was filled but I just parked across the street at the mall and walked over.

I filled out applications for a couple of places that I didn't have high hopes for when Joann messaged me saying she was in front of Macy's at the mall so I walked over.

We ended up getting our hair done at Bombshell a new salon Joann's friends had been raving about apparently. It was fun and they did a great job but seriously was too expensive. I had nothing really done and it was almost fifty dollars. Joann insisted on paying for.

Afterwards we looked around some more before getting supper at Applebee's. "See isn't this much better than feeling sorry for yourself?" She asked patting her hair softly pleased on the job they did. Unlike me she had her hair layered down and colored a chestnut brown. She definitely rocked it.

"You look great. Trying to impress anyone?" I asked taking a sip of my margarita.

"Nooo." She said as if she wasn't entirely sure. I raised my eyebrow letting her know I wasn't fully convinced. "Well there might be a new guy at the office who's kinda hot but I don't know... I'm really not sure if I want to start seeing anyone. My focus is on work, not guys. But if a one night stand was to happen...

We both busted up laughing just as the waiter brought us our food. We ate and talked some more for about an hour when Joann headed home. It was already after eight and she needed to work tomorrow. I told her I would be heading back soon myself but I had enjoyed the margarita so much I decided to swing by Pumps. This city's only LGBTQ bar.

I was sitting at a light on my way to Pumps when a small bar called The Wolves Den caught my eye. There was a large muscular guy standing in front of the entrance that made no sense. This wasn't NYC and people certainly wasn't lining up to get in. However the wolf on the logo was familiar... just as it hit me I heard cars honking behind me and a few derogatory words. "Sorry!" I yelled as i hit my signal.

I parked on the side of the building. That had a great painting of some wolves and a full moon. It was fading a bit but overall the place didn't seem as bad as I first thought when waiting for the light.

I got out of the car and looked at the sign again and was positive I had seen that in the paperwork The Council had given me. It mentioned bars but never listed any perhaps this was how you were supposed to find them.

As soon as I got near the door the guy stood blocking my path. "Members only."

He said in a deep stern voice.

They require a membership? I looked around hoping to see something that told me how to get one but saw nothing. "How do i become one?"

"Let's Just say you must know someone." He answered annoyed as if he'd gotten this before. "Now I'll have to ask you to leave the property ma'am."

All of a sudden I got nervous even though the guy hadn't said or done anything threatening. Taking several deep breaths I reached into my bag pulling out my Black Card and handed it to him. He spent a couple seconds looking at it before handing it back. He then opened the door for me stepping to the side. "Go on in."

The place was dark inside. So much so I had to just stand near the door for a bit to let my eyes adjust. Once they did I noticed the place was actually much larger than it appeared. It had the normal things you would expect like a few billiard tables scattered around and dart machines against the far wall but there was also a large square painted on the floor in the center that I couldn't figure out.

I made my way to one of the barstools feeling each of the five or so customers here eye me. I tried to ignore it.

"What you want?" The bartender asked as if upset by something as I sat down. She had her back turned cleaning a glass but the strange thing was she seemed so familiar to me. "Ummm could I get a margarita please?" I answered in a weak voice looking around feeling unwelcome. Everyone was still staring at me except for the bartender who still hadn't faced me. She threw down the towel she had been using and began making the drink. I was starting to think this was a bad idea and figured I better just down the drink as fast as i could and get the hell out of here. Still... I did want answers and this was probably the best place to get them.

"I'm crystal." I said turning back to her "I was attacked the other night by a werewolf."

She turned and faced me instantly halting my breath. She was beautiful despite not trying to be. The tattoos that covered both her arms and a fair amount of her chest told of someone who didn't care what Cosmo recommended. She wore tan colored cargo pants with a black tank top. Her dark (brown or black) hair was in a tight ponytail but nothing captured me more than her eyes that was dark golden brown. I had never seen anything like them.

"And you figured you would just walk in here and I'd tell you who did it, is that it?"

She glared her lips pressed tightly together.

"You wouldn't know who did it by chance, would you? I wasn't sure my voice could get any weaker sounding but that confirmed it.

A dark smile formed in her lips as she sat the drink down next to me. She leaned over towards me till our faces were inches apart. "Of course I do... Me."