Happy new years

Trigger warning: De*th, blood, fighting, cursing, alcohol, cigarette.

The thief dropped his knife as he slammed onto the concrete and slid across the sidewalk unconscious, his nose beginning to bleed. Donny stood under the streetlight gasping, his breath like smoke in the cold air. His fists were raised and ready for round two but the fight was over. His chest spurted a little blood with every breath he took, but Donny could only think of Valerie. He just had to tell her how he felt before it was all over, and he had a feeling that it wasn’t that long before it was.

“Cops‘ll be ‘round soon enough to scrape the other bum off the curb” he thought, “and don’t nobody swing at Diamond Donny and NOT get knocked the hell out.” He chuckled and stepped over the unconscious kid “Son of a bitch cut me good though…” Stuffing his last few blood splattered dollar bills back into his pocket, Donny closed his coat over the leaking wound and buttoned up tight. Soft quiet snowflakes began to fall. He stumbled his way out of the dark alley and across the parking lot to the Lady Luck Tavern. “Hope there's enough time left for a couple a cigs and an ice cold whisky soda” he coughed.

—

“Eve’nin Champ!” said the guard at the door, whacking Donny on his shoulder jovially, “Happy new years!”

“Ey Joe, how’s the night treating ya?” Donny winced then quickly hid his pain the best he could.

“Don ya nose is bleedin’ man, you alright?”

Donny swiped at his nose in surprise. “Ah, some little punk tried t’ grab my earnings as I left the check cashin’ place, I whooped his ass good tho.” The two men chuckled.

”Ah, you know what they say, you can take the champ out the ring…” Joe handed Donny a cigarette and put one in his own mouth, “Ain’t been too bad tonight, honestly kinda quiet for what it is, how ‘bout you Don?”, he lit up both cigarettes.

“Tonight’s the night Joe, I’m gonna do it,” said Donny as he let out a thick cloud of smoke, “Gonna finally tell Val everythin’.”

“Bull fuckin shit!” said Joe chuckling, “The night the Heavyweight champ Diamond Donny tells Valerie he’s in love with her, well that’s the same night I’ll pay for ya drinks! Hell, I'll pay the whole damn bar tab!” Both men laughed.

“Better get ya wallet ready than!” Donny headed for the entrance and Joe pulled it open, letting out a blast of warm air.

Joe didn’t notice the couple of blood drops that hit the snow under Donny’s as he walked into the tavern. “It’s my last chance” Donny mumbled under his breath, but Joe didn’t hear it.

—

The air inside was thick. The moodiness just made you want to climb into a liquor bottle and spend the night. Donny darkly thought that it might make a comfy casket. He put his cigarette in his mouth, shook the snowflakes off and swiped at his coat before walking around the tables to the bar. Dimly lit corners held empty tables. Cigarette smoke swirled towards the ceiling in wisps, hiding under tamp shades and hanging on to the neon signs. A few dusty tv’s played New Year fireworks on mute. One of the old pool tables with heavy hanging lights had a firm grip on two local boys playing for quarters. Not many folks left but locals and friends. An old bassy jazz tune growled low under the cracking thunder of pool balls being sent home. The Lucky Lady tavern may have been old but the owner's daughter Valerie kept it warm, welcoming, and clean.

Donny sat up front on one of the old beaten barstools, slid an ashtray over and put his cigarette out before immediately reaching for another from his coat pocket. He began to watch the fireworks show with Dick Clark and pretended to not notice the beautiful woman on the other end or the bar that had been eyeing him ever since he walked in. He lit his second cigarette with shaky hands. Valerie swayed as she walked over.

“Happy new years Donny. I was wondering when you’d get here.” she said in a sultry voice.

Donny tried to hide his smile, “you were waitin’ for me?”

”Wouldn’t be a happy one without ya,” she flirted.

Valerie winked at him and pulled a heavy glass out from under the bar placing it in front of Donny, “the usual, or somethin’ special tonight?”

Donny smiling like a man in love looked deeply in her eyes. She made the drink before he could answer.

As Valerie slid the glass towards Donny, he reached out and touched her hand.

“Val, I’m in love wit’ ya.”

“Oh shut up ya old buzzard,” she giggled.

Donny didn't move or change his expression.

Valerie softly gasped and began to turn red but didn’t say anything or move her hand. She looked around the bar to see if anyone was looking at them. The two pool players were bickering about stripes and solids.

“I’ve wanted to tell ya every time I’ve come in here for the past 2 years Val.”

Valerie's eyes widened ”Donny whada ‘ya talkin’ ‘bout? You-your in love with me?”

Donny continued to look into her eyes, he could feel his damp shirt under the coat sticking to his chest. His eyes began to water. ”I just had to tell you tonight Val, it was my last chance.”

Donny picked up the cigarette, took one last long drag and stubbed it out.

A small look of confusion spread across Valerie’s eyebrows, “ya last chance? What do ya mean last chance Donny?”

Donny scooped up the whisky soda and emptied the glass in two hard heavy swallows. When he put the glass down Valerie saw bloody finger prints on the side of the cup.

“The hell?” She picked up the glass to inspect it better, “Donny, you bleedin’?”

Donny leaned over the bar and stole his first, his last kiss from Valerie, “Happy new years, baby.”

As she reached out to touch his face, Donny slid off the barstool and into the puddle of blood that had collected beneath his feet.

—