The Shitshow

-Aiden-

The cruel blonde woman had slapped his bum as hard as she could, hard enough that it had hurt and would probably be tender for a while, but it was the shame that really got him. For a split second, as it seemed Gillian and Erin had saved him, he had let himself think it would be ok. Then the shock of her smacking his tush, and the way she had laughed at him, and her friends joining in. It had all been too much, and Aiden knew he was going to cry and run away, run until he got back to his crappy apartment and his coworkers wouldn’t see how pathetic he was. How ugly boys were only good for one thing.

But then Erin, her face stone, had stepped up and tugged him away. He had seen her right arm moving but hadn’t really understood what was happening until he turned and saw the blonde woman stagger backwards, and he realized that Erin had punched her right in her dumb face. After that, things got hectic fast. People had started shouting, and Gillian had pulled Aiden further away and out of the fracas.

When Aiden turned around again, he saw the woman, Janice, stagger back against the wall, holding her face. The bigger Asian woman reached out to grab Erin, but she did a quick shuffle and her left hand snapped out in a jab. The large woman took the blow on her forearm, but it caused her to pull back for a moment.

One of the snickering women jumped in and approached, but Gillian intercepted her. They did not fight, or rather not in the same way that Aiden would recognize from the sort of choreographed fight scene of a barfight on TV, this was two women alternating yelling at each other to back off and shoving.

Frozen, Aiden couldn’t help but stare agape. He had no idea what to do, but his first instinct was to run before he got involved. Memories of growing up, of having a female classmate grabbing his arm as a ‘joke’ and laughing as he simply couldn’t pull free no matter how he struggled, flooded in.

Erin, unlike the older Gillian, was fighting like someone who grew up taking lessons in how to do it. The bigger woman kept trying to grab on, but even in the narrow hallway Erin moved quickly and kept her back with some well-aimed punches.

Then, the blonde woman got to her feet again. With a murderous look, she lunged at Erin from behind, getting a hand on her shoulder and pulling, trying only to get her opponent turned around or distracted so her brute of a friend could land a blow. Aiden could see it happening, could tell Gillian wasn’t looking, could tell Erin, for all her surprising skill, had no real chance surrounded as she was.

“No!” Even as Aiden moved, he was shocked to realize it was his voice yelling. He had already spilled most of the beers in his hands but now just dropped the glasses. He had no illusion - he knew even the normal sized blonde woman would be stronger and faster than he was, and Aiden was not one of those boys who took self-defense or thought they had a chance in a fight against an attacking woman. But he couldn’t just watch, so as Janice the ringleader grabbed a handful of Erin’s mid length hair Aiden found himself jumping on her back.

She was almost as surprised as Aiden was. For a split second, she paused, then realizing it was merely the boy grabbing at her ineffectively she turned abruptly. Aiden tried to hang on, but the cruel woman slapped a hand away as if his grip meant nothing. As she grabbed Aiden by the arms, he could see her eyes shift from furious to almost gleeful, a woman who perhaps enjoyed hurting people and saw a chance to indulge.

He tried to pull away, but she had both of his shoulders in her hands now, squeezing tightly. With a feral grin, she simply pushed him, slamming his back against the wall. Aiden could hear people crying out, the spectators who had been cheerfully hooting for a good scrap suddenly conflicted as they watched a woman shaking a young boy like a ragdoll. Aiden tried to push her away but couldn’t, and he thought about slapping at her face but couldn’t muster the courage.

“Let him go!” Dizzy from being slammed against the wall, Aiden initially couldn’t see who yelled. The blonde woman held him, trapped, but he could see that Gillian was basically being held several feet away by one of the other women. Then Erin was there, tackling Aiden’s attacker and freeing the boy. He fell to the ground, on the puddle of spilled beer but luckily not on the discarded glassware, but he was able to see Erin punch the woman again before the strong Asian woman got back in the fight.

A flash of movement from down the hall and Aiden almost sobbed in relief. Kathleen and the rest of the accountants had pushed through the crowd, and without pause the older Ashley surged in. She grabbed the woman wrestling with Gillian and bodily pulled her off before advancing on the other two women fighting Erin. The Asian woman recognized a fighter when she saw one, and Ashley - with her long gray military styled hair and flinty eyes - clearly fit the bill. Ashley blocked a wide roundhouse punch and seemed to simply chop the woman in the throat before stepping past her to land a viscous kidney punch to the blonde woman, who instantly crumbled.

Shouting from the crowd milling at both ends of the hallway swelled. A couple of large women, one of them the bouncer who worked the front door, another dressed as a kitchen staff, pushed their way in, shouting at everyone to stop

Aiden was on his butt, embarrassed and scared, as the women all started shouting at each other and the bar staff belatedly got the situation under control. Derrick squeezed through and ran up to Aiden, his concern clear as he helped the boy up. “Are you ok? What happened?” Aiden fought to not cry and just nodded, his head and back hurting already.

At one point, the red-haired bartender got in the middle and started pointing at people and telling them to leave. “Of course, it’s you troublemakers,” she said in disgust at the blonde woman and her group, “all of you, out!” As the bigger woman pushed at her cut lip with her tongue and rubbed her neck, glaring at an indifferent Ashley, Janice gingerly touched the side of her face where Erin had slugged her.

“That bitch attacked me!” the blonde claimed imperiously, pointing at Erin who was helping Gillian.

“I don’t care who did what, you’re all out,” the bartender replied, “you lot first.” The other group filed out, a few of the bystanders scowling at Janice for assaulting Aiden like she did. The bouncer, having missed the entire fight, was now scurrying back and forth trying to look tough and justify her salary.

Kathleen and Ashley checked in on Erin and Gillian to hear their story of what happened. Derricks wife, giving Aiden a suspicious look, went back to grab their things from the private room while Derrick patted the young man on the back, trying to sooth him. “I’m just so relieved you’re alright Aiden, that could have been so much worse! Did that woman, uh, attack you?”

“Not really. I mean, kinda, but I don’t know,” Aiden shrugged, embarrassed at the attention, “but Erin and Gillian saved me.” He looked at Erin, standing next to Gillian and frowning sternly as she watched the other group leaving. He blushed and looked away.

He was spared any follow up questions when Kathleen approached. He gave her a very abbreviated version of events, basically saying the other women had been blocking him and propositioned him aggressively when Gillian and Erin arrived. Kathleen seemed satisfied, and certainly was not at all bothered that Erin had thrown the first actual punch. “We aren’t a bunch of blue-collar gals or anything, but I won’t lie - I’m glad to see the ladies stepped up and protected our newest employee.” Kathleen looked almost tender as she smiled, “I hope this isn’t too upsetting to you, young man. I know you’re new to the city but believe me, overly aggressive women aren’t like that aren’t common in this day and age.”

Aiden wasn’t so sure that was the case, but he nodded more confidently than he felt. “Thank you ma’am. And, uh, I’m glad you’re not mad at Erin and Gillian.”

“Of course not. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find the manager of this establishment and let her know exactly what happened here, and then I suspect our night is over anyway. I’m sure the staff is making sure the other group is gone before we are asked to leave too, so there isn’t any further… unpleasantness.”

Aiden was left alone for a moment, which he appreciated. It seemed Derrick was bustling around getting his and Monique’s things, while she seemed perhaps somewhat annoyed at having her evening ended so abruptly. He glanced at Erin, remembering how she had reacted when the horrible woman had slapped his behind. How she hadn’t hesitated, but simply jumped into a fight despite being outnumbered! With a blush, Aiden swallowed. He didn’t want to be a damsel in distress, and he didn’t want to need rescuing but… she had rescued him. Gillian too! But… the way Erin had just acted. For him!

“Are you ok?” Gillian had seen Aiden standing by himself and walked over, “I’m so sorry about that Aiden! I didn’t realize you were gone until it was almost too late!”

“I’m ok Gill,” he tried a brave smile and mostly got it right, “and thank you for coming to find me. I truly appreciate it, it means a lot to me that you did.”

The woman’s mouth twisted in a grimace, “Thank god Erin was with me, I don’t know how to fight! Those sexist, homophobic, bullies! It makes me so mad that women like that still exist.” Aiden shook his head and smiled shyly at her and she seemed to accept he was alright. “Well, I’ll give you a ride, you are not walking home tonight, end of discussion!”

That was a relief, so Aiden nodded, “Thanks Gill, I would like a ride, honestly. I’m not that far away though.”

Derrick and his wife walked up, ready to leave. Monique looked annoyed still, and Aiden felt she gave him a frosty look and he wondered if she assumed he had done something wrong. But Derrick hugged him and gave him a quiet pep talk, telling him to email or call his cell if Aiden ever needed anything at all. Gillian said she would walk them to their car but return to get Aiden home safe and they trooped off.

Alone again, Aiden looked around. The bouncer was gone, as was the red-haired bartender. Kathleen was off to yell at the bar manager or owner, and Chelsea came out of the private room and handed Erin her handbag before saying goodnight and leaving without a glance at Aiden. Ashley remained, chatting with the burly kitchen worker who had remained, perhaps to keep an eye on things.

Erin was expressionless, looking out the end of the hall over the crowd that was finally drifting away. Aiden noticed how she clearly had a scratch on the side of her face, and what looked like the beginning of a bruise on her cheek. His breath caught. She was a handsome woman, in good shape and only a few years older than him - of course he noticed she was attractive. And very correct and proper in talking to him at work, treating him with respect, but still letting a tiny bit of humor show.

And… and she had saved him from who knows what.

Biting his lip, he blushed. It would be normal if he said thank you, right? He wasn’t being a fainting boy, fluttering his eyelashes at her or anything. He certainly needed to say something.

She noticed when he was next to her, and she turned to face him, her brown eyes impassive. With a start, Aiden looked down and blushed again, “Uh, your, shirt is…?” He waved and Erin frowned and looked. Her blouse had been ripped at the underarm, down the seam and to the side, and turning had revealed almost her entire left breast in its simple mauve bra.

With a grunt of annoyance, Erin pulled the flap of fabric closed and shook her head. “Sorry Aiden, you have those toxic women all over you like that and now I’m showing you my chest without a thought. I know guys don’t want to see that in public.”

“No!” he said, louder than he had intended, “I mean, I’m just sorry your blouse got ripped. I don’t, uh, mind? I know most boys say they don’t want women to be showing their… bodies all over like that and making us look but honestly it’s not so bad. Sometimes we kinda like it, like if some women are doing physical labor and stuff outside and it’s hot so they take their tops off we sneak peeks at their, uh, breasts. Besides, you’re in good shape?” With alarm he realized he was babbling, but Erin, looking out at the bar area, was not really paying much attention to what he said. Thank goddess.

“Thank you for saving me,” Aiden said softly, looking at Erin, feeling his heart pounding. What was wrong with him? His eyes felt like they were stinging, like he was about to cry, and his stomach felt all trembly.

She looked at him again, for a long moment. Then her face scrunched up in a scowl, “It was nothing. I didn’t save you, I might have just made things worse.”

“No! You were great, I just wanted to tell you that!”

Her voice thick with emotion, Erin shook her head as if angry and Aiden shrank back. “You need to be more careful, Aiden. There are a lot of predators out there, horrible women who look at sweet, innocent boys like you and see only prey. I know it’s not fair and I know the world sucks but it’s true! You should have asked one of us to go get those drinks with you.”

Aiden felt his lip tremble. Was she blaming him? Was it his fault? Erin saw his expression fall and she recoiled. “Fuck me now I’m scaring you. I… I’m sorry. I’m not much better than that asshole after all I guess. Look, I’m glad you weren’t hurt more than you were, and I’ll shut up before I make things worse yet again. Gillian is coming back, she’ll look out for you.” She opened her mouth as if to say more, but then shook her head angrily and left, holding her ripped shirt closed with one arm.

Gillian was about to say something, but Erin just shook her head and walked by. Seeing Aiden looking unhappy again, she came up and asked, “Hey, is something wrong?”

“I guess so, I made her mad but I don’t know what I did,” he replied slowly. Gillian frowned and turned to see Erin disappear into the crowd.

“Don’t worry Aiden, Erin is just all worked up I’m sure. I’ll talk to her but believe me you didn’t do anything. Now come on, let’s get you home.”