Before The Angels Fell

Rileys POV

I was dead. I was so dead. I had run myself into the ground.
I have been the new owner of The Roof for the last three months and I have never been more tired.
Eli showed me all the basics before he left, but I was barely making it. Most the other staff members left with him while others stayed and helped me out. Luckily the bar was still doing well and I was getting to know the music scene, so I knew what bands were good to play. Other than me being completely fucked, everything was good.
I was at the bar during the day, just catching up on paper work. I was so tired, my sleep was suffering and coffee was my best friend.
"Hey Riley, someone just came in with a resume. Do you wanna check her out?" Sabrina, one of the other bartender's said from my office doorway.
"Huh? Uhh, yeah sure. I'll come out" I said leaving my office chair.
I come out to the bar and see this beautiful, tall, blonde, wearing a black skirt and a pale pink peplum top. A black and grey tattoo showed from under her top just over her left shoulder.
"Hi, I'm Riley, the new owner of The Roof" I said, trying to be friendly, but I was so tired.
"Oh, when the other girl said Riley, I pictured a guy" she said, extending her hand to shake mine.
"Well, I'm a chick. So you got a resume?" I asked.
She handed me her papers and I looked over them. Her name was Kimber.
She had done a few odd jobs here and there. Recently moved to LA.
"So, Kimber, anything you wanted to do out here in LA?" I asked curiously.
"Umm, nothing in particular. Just wanting a fresh start. I feel like that's such a clique thing to say, but everyone has a past."
I chuckled. "You remind me of myself. I wanted a fresh start when I came here. I was lucky enough to get it. Someone took a chance on me. I think I can do the same for you" I said smiling.
"Really?" She said surprised.
"Hey, I knew nothing coming here. I'm fresh out of college, that and I need staff since most of them walked out on me" I said leaning on the bar.
"Why'd they walk out?" She asked.
"There was a change over in the ownership and some didn't agree that it fell to me" I explained.
She shrugged "Everyone has their opinion."
"Exactly, besides, I can always get new staff. Welcome aboard" I said.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" She gushed.

Over the night I chatted to Kimber and we connected. She was 22 and was trying to find a new life out here.
"What about you? Why did you want a fresh start?" She asked as I cleaned up after the last customer left.
"Well I was born and raised in Vegas and some stuff happened that I'm not proud of. Then a few months ago I decided I'd had enough. I had nothing left, so nothing to lose. Coming to LA was the best decision I ever made."
"You ran from something?"
"Why does everyone keep asking?" I whined. "I didn't run from anything, I'd just had enough. I so easily could be dead in a gutter somewhere or be living in fear, but I didn't want that."
"Fair enough. I kinda got pushed to leave and better my life, but I don't know what I'm meant to do."
"Just live. It's what I've been trying to do" I shrugged.
We were silent for a moment, but that's when I noticed what song was playing through the bar.
"Oh my God, I love this song! 'We are the inbetween, cast down as sons of war, struck to the Earth like lightening on this world we're torn'" she sung.
"'We won't cause the pain, of living out their law, take joy in who you are, we know our wings are flawed'" I sung.
"You know Black Veil Brides!" Kimber said.
"Of course! Their new album is amazing! Oh, I didn't tell you. The night that I arrived in LA, I came into this bar and I met Ashley Purdy!" I screamed.
"What! No way! They were here?!"
"Why do you think I asked for a job here in the first place?" I said stating the obvious.
"Smart" she giggled. "Do you know that They are playing in LA in June?"
"What?! I didn't know this!"
"We should go!"
"We have to go! I'll kill myself if I don't! Oh just in time! I'll be 21 by then" I mused.
"You're not 21?" Kimber asked, completely shocked.
I shouldn't have let that slip.
"Technically no, but my ID says otherwise. Please don't tell anyone. I'll lose everything" I pleaded with her.
"I won't tell. You're doing alright for a 20 year old."
"Yeah, I suppose. Well, I think I'm done for tonight. I'm so glad I have to tomorrow off. I need t catch up on sleep. You got a place?" I asked.
"Yeah, I've been jumping to different hotels and motels."
"That must be costing you a fortune!"
"Yep. Thank God I now have a job that I can afford a place."
"Well, if you're really stuck. I have a couch if you want to sleep on it?" I asked.
"What? Oh no, I can't. That's way too much!"
"I don't mind. I honestly hate living alone and someone did it for me. Karma" I said heading into the office to grab my stuff.
"Well, uh okay. Thank you. I'll just follow you in my car."
"Okay, see you at mine" I said as exited the back door with me and I locked up.

Notes