The bar was its usual party and it was packed like every night. Gwen was spinning bottles on her fingers and tossing them in the air and catching them. The crowd was loving it. She caught a bottle behind her back when she noticed AJ clapping with the crowd in the corner of her eyes. She placed the bottles down.

"That's all for now," she shouted. She walked over to him.

"Hey," he greeted.

"Hi."

"You're really good," he commented.

"Thanks," she felt herself get nervous. His huge brown eyes made her heart beat faster.

"Want a drink?" she asked, over the music and noise.

"You can't date customers, remember?" he said, smiling. She shook her head and he saw a smile creep upon her face. She went over and served a couple more customers.

"Hey Gwen, how many drinks has that guy had?" a co-worker asked her, pointing to a young looking frat boy.

"I just served him one, why?" Gwen asked.

"Because he's already had three," she answered.

"Oh crap," Gwen said. She walked over to him. Gwen knew younger guys tend to get drunk faster than older guys.

"Uh...sir, you've already had 3 drinks tonight. It's a bar rule.." she said but was interrupted.

"Hey baby!!" he hollered that got AJ's attention. He looked over at Gwen trying to talk to him.

"Sir, you've had too much," she said, grabbing his shot glass he was about to pick up. Gwen was tough and never took BS from people. He grabbed her wrist with a tight grip.

"Hey, get off," she yelled.

"Come here baby, you know you want it," he tried to grab her other hand but she grabbed a cup of water and splashed him with it. He let go and shook the water off. He was furious and went to grab her when someone had grabbed his collar.

"Listen here you jackass, keep you damn filthy hands off of her!!" AJ screamed, shoving him against the wall. George rushed over and Gwen jumped over the counter and pulled AJ off of him. George called the police over and they took the kid off.

"You didn't have to do that!" she shouted over the loud music.

"What?!" he cried. They were right next to the speaker. She grabbed his hand and took him out back. When they were alone and could be heard, she spoke.

"You didn't have to do that," Gwen said.

"Gwen, that guy could have killed you. He was 10 times your size," he said.

"I know what I'm doing AJ. I didn't need your help before," she said.

"I was not gonna sit there and watch him hit on you and try to hurt you," AJ defended himself.

"You do NOT own me AJ. Yes, it's been nice hanging out with you but I don't need you," she said.

"I realize that. I know how independent you are," he said.

"You don't know shit about me!" she cried.

"What do you think I have been doing the past 2 days? Do you think I'm being forced to hang out with you?!" he said back.

"I am NOTHING like you and my lifestyle is NOTHING like yours," she said.

"You are EXACTLY like me," he shot back.

"Oh I am? Okay then AJ...let's see...how old was I when I lost my virginity?" she asked him. He smiled to himself.

"17," he guessed. She shook her head. "Higher or lower?" he asked. She pointed her finger up. "Okay...18?...19?..." she shook her head. "20?...21?! I don't understand," he said.

"I'm a virgin, AJ. I am a bartender who doesn't drink or sleep around. Isn't that amazing?!" she shouted, sarcastly. "There is no reason you would want me or want to be around me. I am not what you think I am. I have morals," and with that, she turned around and started to walk back. AJ stood there dumbfounded. He didn't know what to say.

"I have morals," he said back. She turned around.

"Oh yeah AJ. I know how you are. You like to go to bars, pick up girls, get wasted and then you wake up the next morning and have no idea where you are, who you're with or how you got there," she said. His heart sank. She was right and they both knew it. "I am not like that AJ. I never will be. Sorry to burst your bubble," she said. She turned around and walked back into the bar. He stood there, jaw open. He was in complete shock. He felt like he was slapped in the face with reality. He just stood there and watched her walk into the bar. He wanted to go after her but what would he say? He slowly walked to the curb and hailed a taxi. He climbed in and went into deep thought. What was about her that he loved so much? Was it because she was so beautiful and different? Or was it because she knew his plan and stopped it? He wasn't after her for one reason, but it came off as he was. He didn't know was to say.

"Sir? Your hotel," the cab driver announced. AJ paid him and got out. He walked in and got in the elevator. He felt something warm flow into his eyes and he quickly wiped them away. Was he sad that he got yelled at and embarrassed? Or was he sad that he lost her? He got to his floor and walked down the hall to his suite. He got in and locked the door behind him. He automatically looked at the mini-bar in his room but turned away from it. "No, I can't," he told himself. He climbed into his bed, and fell asleep. Heartbroken.

~~~~~~~

3 days past and Gwen was stacking sweaters on shelves at GAP. She wasn't herself lately and she knew why. Was it because she missed having AJ's company? Or was she mad at herself because she opened her big mouth and ruined something wonderful that could have happened? She hadn't heard a word from him and she didn't blame him. She was probably never going to hear from him again and she began to have seconds thoughts. "No! It's for the better. It would never work out," she told herself. She checked her watch and her shift was over. She walked over to her boss.

"I have tomorrow off, so I'll see you Saturday," she reminded.

"Okay. Have a happy birthday," her boss said. Gwen managed to smile.

"Thanks," she uttered.

~~~~~~~

It was the first break he had in 3 days and he was in the middle of a card shop. He had thought non-stop about Gwen and what happened. He knew Gwen was special and he couldn't loose her. He had to do something to convince her that he wasn't what she thought. He looked through a bunch of cards and caught a look at a card that stuck out of the rows. He picked it up and read it. Perfect.

~~~~~~~

AJ walked into GAP and looked around. He knew she'd be working but couldn't find her. He walked up to the desk and asked an employee.

"Excuse me, is Gwen Matthews working today?" he asked.

"No sir, she has today off," the worker informed him.

"Really?" he asked, surprised. The worker looked at him like he was the dumbest idiot in the world.

"Yeah...it's her birthday," she told him. His eyes widened. This was the perfect time. He thanked her and rushed out of the store. He had to get her something and he knew exactly what.

~~~~~~~~

chapter 3
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