Jane Fisher found herself at another bar. Despite being too young to drink and not even wanting to drink, her friends, if they could even be called that, had once again convinced her to be the designated driver on their traipse around to every bar in Locust City. it wasn’t enough that they had forced her to go shopping with them and carry all their bags earlier today nor that Jane had to pay for all of it with her hard earned money working two jobs because Janice, Felica, and Karren had all conveniently forgotten their credit cards in one of their other brand name purses.

Now here she was sitting at the bar, a glass of orange soda in her hands, watching Janice dance with three guys at once. Felicia had already disappeared into the bathroom with some dark haired muscular figure. Jane had lost track of Karen a few minutes ago but didn’t really care. If her father wasn’t so insistent that Jane make friends with the rich kids at her college then she probably would have left the ladies without a ride home ages ago.

Jane took another sip of her orange soda and felt a presence by her side.

“Hey, so what is a beautiful girl like you doing by yourself on a night such as tonight.” said a slightly slurred voice next to Jane

“I’m not by myself. I am talking to the bartender, '' Jane said, trying to dissuade the man from any further flirting attempts. Jane was unsuccessful in her diversion as the bartender was across the room talking to some young blondes showing way too much skin.

Oh there is Karen Jane thought to herself

“There’s no need to be like that, honey, here let me buy you a drink” the voice next to Jane said. Jane finally turned towards the voice and discovered that yes his face did match his voice, curly red hair in a complete mess, beer stains on his shirt and a look on his face that said he was not interested in her personality.

“No thanks” Jane said, showing Mister Messy the back of her hand with the X on it. “I am under aged”

It took Mister Messy a full five seconds to process what Jane had just said, but it seemed as though he wasn’t too far in his drinks as he quickly apologized and left towards a group of guys in the corner who all looked the same.

Must have been a family party or something Jane thought.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

After several straight weeks of bar hopping by the triple threat she drove here Jane had had her fill of bars, beer, and boys. The music in the bars was never good; it was always that same unce unce sound with slightly different accompanying instrumentals that did not help one bit. Not to mention how loud it was. Here at the bar was the only place she could hear herself think much less speak. The floor of the bar was sticky with who knows what.

The people were just as bad. In the last couple weeks Jane had met every single version of the sleazy drunk and could identify them around the room. There was the businessman relieving stress in the corner.

Gross

On the dance floor there were the frat boys doing some kind of movement that looked like an african tribal ritual. Over on the couches were the playboys whispering fake promises into the ears of hopeful women. Then there was Mister Messy’s group, the desperate virgins.

Jane was about to turn back toward the bar and her orange soda when she felt a pair of eyes on her. This was different from the feel of the regular crowd of eyes looking her up and down; this felt less sleazy and more focused. Now Jane did not have any special talent to know when a person was looking at her and what their intentions were. What she did have though was intuition and someone in this bar was giving her the heebee geebees. Looking around trying to act casual, and failing, Jane finally spotted the eyes on her. They were connected to a handsome individual on the upper floor, the VIP balcony. His short dark hair was immaculately combed with a slight curl in the front. He had a beard that could have been a week of just letting it grow or trimmed to look like that. He wore a navy blue suit and held a dark red drink in his hands.

His eyes seemed to bore into Jane holding her in place. She tried to look away, and yet could not escape his piercing gaze. Jane’s breath caught in her throat and her heart started to beat faster. Her thoughts turned to snails as she stared at the dark blue eyes of the fascinatingly beautiful individual on the balcony.

Suddenly another face filled her view, one with wild red hair and an angry look on her face.

“Jane! Hello?! I am talking to you!”

Jane’s breath came back to her as she startled alert, her heart calmed down and she could move once again.

“Huh? What?” Jane said, shaking the snails out of her head.

“Very Eloquent Jane,” Janice said “ I told you to go home without us, me and the ladies found an alternative ride, If you know what I mean” she gestured behind her to where the blonde Karen and the brunet Felicia were hanging on to the three men that Janice had been dancing with earlier. Janice looked Jane up and down meaningfully “Which now that I think about it, you probably don’t” Janice started to turn away, then looked back at Jane “Oh, and make sure you pay the tab, don’t worry I will pay you back, promise. Bye” Janice turned into the crowd and flitted away.

Right Like she’d paid her back the last three times they “forgot” their purses Jane thought to herself as she called the bartender over to pay the tab.

$400!!! What did they buy?! Well there goes my paycheck for the week.

Jane paid the $400 because what else was she going to do? Leave without paying and force it upon the three bimbos that dragged her here? No she couldn’t do that, she was a good girl she was. Plus her father would be furious that she hadn’t helped out his business partner’s daughters.

After getting her card back Jane glanced up at the balcony seeing no navy blue mystery man, and left the bar wondering about her life.