Posturing

-Erin-

“So, how are things with you lately, really?”

The easy reply - ‘things are fine’ - died on Erin’s lips. The way Gillian asked the question, the honest curiosity in her eyes, made Erin treat it as a real desire to know, rather than a coworker just making idle conversation and not really caring about the answer.

“It’s been… not great I guess,” Erin said with a frown, “I suppose I’ve been more down about Phillip than I realized.”

Gillian nodded encouragingly, “You were with him for a couple of years, and he left you and it hurts. You’re a modern woman, Erin, you know not to bottle your emotions up and pretend they don’t exist. You’re not made of stone!”

With a laugh, Erin tilts her drink towards the middle-aged accountant. “Thank you, Gillian. I’m not ranting and raving, but my place is quiet and I’m sad. I mean, I’m still furious he started sleeping with my old roommate like immediately after he left, but that’s mainly at her. The fucking hypocrite.”

“Honestly, I guess he’s a handsome young man, objectively I can see he was attractive, but his personality never struck me as a fit for you Erin. Not that I’m an expert in men in any way!”

Snickering, Erin shakes her head, “Yeah I guess. I just feel like a dumb cliché, you know? Working long hours to buy nice things for the cute guy at home I assumed I’d marry one day. Only I wasn’t home enough to see him drifting away I guess.” The self-deprecating laugh fades and Erin grimaces as she takes another swig.

Her coworker is looking at her thoughtfully, “You know Erin you may have dodged a bullet. That boy wasn’t the marrying kind, if you ask me. He liked his parties and expensive things, but was he ever going to settle down?”

“You’re probably right.”

Gillian smiled, “Always nice to have my advice accepted, you know us gays, we may know nothing about straight relationships but damn do we still have opinions!” Erin gave a loud laugh and nodded.

The party was settling in now. The older clerks had left a while back, as had Chelsea. Derrick and his wife Monique were still talking with Kathleen and seemingly enjoying his goodbye celebration while Ashley, Chelsea, and Sam listened in.

“What do you think about Aiden?” Gillian asked suddenly.

“Uh, what?” Erin was thrown off, “How do you mean? He’s… fine. I’ve barely spoken to the boy, honestly. I guess he’ll do a good job. Seems bright? Very quiet, but thoughtful and diligent. You can tell that already, for sure, and he's trying so hard.”

Gillian was looking at her with a strangely thoughtful expression, “He’s very sweet, isn’t he?”

Shrugging, Erin looked away, “Ah, well, I guess. He seems very… shy. But yeah, sweet. I guess.”

Looking around the room, Gillian frowned, “Where is he at, anyway? I thought he was going to get another beer... this place is big but it’s not that much of a maze.”

Aiden froze, his mouth open. The Asian woman looked around, confidently, then simply took another step to the side so Aiden instinctively shied back until his shoulder was touching the wall.

“Yeah, just talk to us sexy,” the blonde woman said it not quite as a command, but more with the expectation of someone used to getting her way. She leaned her hand against the hall, preventing Aiden from continuing towards the private room.

“I need to get back,” he said, his voice high pitched and unsure in his own ears as he held up the two glasses of beer in his hands like passes.

“No you don’t, you little cinnamon bun!” The blonde woman laughed, her confidence undimmed. “You need to party with some women who know how to treat sexy boys right. Come with us, you’ll have the time of your life I guarantee.” Her voice was loud and almost merry, but her eyes were flat.

Aiden started sweating. These women couldn’t just… take him away. Right? Back in his old hometown, the boys would whisper about the sorts of women who would just pull and push you into their trucks, ignoring your protests, and how if you told the old sheriff what happened to you in that barn at best she would just tell you to be more careful next time. If she didn’t accuse you of lying, of trying to wreck some woman’s life.

“I should really go,” Aiden tried a tremulous smile. ‘Make her think you’re flattered, but you just can’t!’

The Asian woman frowned, taking a half step closer to Aiden. She was thicker set but still an inch taller than Aiden was and she crossed her arms, making the large muscles bulge in her black blouse. “Why are you being so difficult? Janice just wants to buy you a drink, don’t be such a kid about it! You should be nicer, maybe smile a little. You’re a cute boy but with those cheap, ugly clothes on don’t act like you’re too good to party with some real women.”

His eyes widening, Aiden felt his face burn with shame at hearing a stranger casually talk about his inexpensive, plain clothes. He felt a surge of anger at her rudeness, but he bit back a reply as she looked him up and down.

“Now now, don’t be so mean,” the blonde woman cut in smoothly, “he may not have nice clothes but he’s still half a child. Maybe he just needs an older woman to take care of him, buy him some nice things?” With a slow, unhurried movement, the woman lifted her hand and gently ran her index finger down his cheek. Aiden wanted to pull back, but he was against the wall now. His mind was screaming at him to run, to yell for help, but the words didn’t come out. What would people say if he made a scene? Would they just laugh at him? Would he get in trouble?

A door behind him opened and one of the male servers backed out of it into the hallway, carrying a tray of food. Aiden’s heart leapt as the other man glanced at the people a few yards down the hall. His eyes, indifferent, took in the scene and then he spun around and briskly left towards the main bar area.

His neck craned as he half turned to watch the waiter in his absurdly tight pants disappear around the corner, Aiden flinched as the blonde woman let her hand fall from his cheek in such a way that the back of it trailed down the front of his plain black sweatshirt. He felt the tears in his eyes building as she held her hand against his stomach, a place no one had ever touched him since he was a child. His whole body seemed to be drifting away, and he could feel his heart beating like a drum in his chest.

The Asian woman, still unsmiling, quietly said, “Just come sit with us. You know you want to, see how men behave in the real world. Adults who do what they want and don’t worry about their reputations…”

“What the hell - Aiden?” A loud voice snapped him out of his daze. Both women turned to face the newcomer.

“E-Erin!” he gasped in relief, his breath coming in a gust.

The young accountant had been walking down the hall with a curious Gillian at her heels. Walking towards the bar she had almost not noticed the skinny lad as he was crowded by the two women. Another three women were in a small group several feet away, smirking as they watched their friends ‘flirting’ with the young man. Aiden looked like he was going to cry, his hands shaking so badly he was spilling the beers he was holding.

Gillian Chan came up and stared, her eyes wide with outrage. “What the hell is going on here?”

The tall blonde woman was already turning back to face Aiden, saying, “Just talking, none of your business lady.” She stepped to block Aiden’s view of his coworkers, and her large, well-muscled friend crossed her arms and glared at the new arrivals.

“You’re just talking huh?” Erin said, her voice angry, “I can see that, with how you’ve pinned him up against the wall!”

Gillian took a step towards the boy, furious at how upset he looked. But the large woman stepped in front of her, saying, “Just mind your own business, bitch.” Gillian paused, seemingly flabbergasted that this woman was going to try to intimidate her physically. “Are you still in junior high? Get out of my way and stop crowding the boy!”

The blonde woman raised her hands in a mocking gesture at Gillian, “Chill out ladies, we were just talking, everyone’s here to have a good time! I’d say I didn’t realize the boy was taken but looking at you I doubt you’d know what to do with a sweet piece of ass anyway.” She looked Gillian up and down and smirked, making sure her comment about Gillian’s androgynous clothing, lack of makeup, and short hair were clearly understood. The other three women who had been watching started laughing.

The Asian woman chuckled, “Yeah dyke, just because you don’t know what to do with a dick don’t be all mad at real women who do!”

“Of course, you’re not just a rapey asshole, you’re a homophobe too. You’re why straight female culture is so toxic!” Gillian snarled.

Erin took in the scene in front of her. Aiden - the poor boy! - was clearly upset and scared, all but blocked by the two women crowding his space. Gillian was a step closer, staring down the bigger woman with the long black hair and the obvious desire to throw down. The snooty blonde didn’t look like much, more of a talker than a doer in Erin’s estimation, but the other women further back were acting like they all knew each other. If this went down, would they jump in? As much as she likes and appreciates her coworker, is Gillian any good in a fight?

With a final sneer, the blonde woman rolled her eyes and turned to the side, giving Aiden a path away, which he quickly took. His eyes downcast and his cheeks fire-red, he shuffled past the two women, his hands still shaking as they held the glasses of beer.

Gillian took a step back with him, instinctively escorting him away from danger, when suddenly Aiden’s head shot up and he gave a scared yelp. His eyes wide with surprise, he froze as the blonde woman pulled her hand back from where she had given his ass a firm slap, before laughing at her companions, “Haha just saying bye!”

Her smug expression at having the last laugh, perhaps simply making a point that she was in control or whatever kind of bullshit posturing women like that always engaged in when with their friends, was simply too much. Erin took two quick steps forward, using her left arm to pull on Aiden’s arm to gently get him clear, even as her right fist was flying.

As the blonde woman’s head snapped back, Erin thought about how stupid this all was. But fuck it, this bitch wasn’t going to just walk away laughing about being such a creepy asshole. And hey, the look of shock on her face as Erin’s fist caught her flush on the chin, as if in disbelief that someone dared stand up to her, was worth it.

But, damn, Erin was hoping Gillian did know how to fight, because this was going to be a shitshow.