Chris

It had been a long day. I'd been in the library for about four hours. Four long hours with just me and Mrs. O'Donnell the librarian, she was nice enough; she just liked to talk about her dog....a lot. I was surprised I got any work done at all. It was just my luck that the only female that ever took an interest in me smelled of mothballs and dog food. I gathered my things together including a collection of books; the history of Scotland, Italy and some on various superstitions around the world. The one I was looking at before I packed up was in Scotland where tying a red ribbon around one of your fingers would keep you safe from witchcraft. Odd, I know. I was the butt of the class's jokes over my taste in history. Not that it bothered me; I didn't really spend much time with my classmates. I was a bit of a loner and I preferred it that way. I had to juggle two subjects and it was taking its toll. I mostly hung out with Tony and jack, my two buddies I'd known since I started. When I thought about it, I hadn't gone out for a night out with them for weeks. I needed to get out, meet new people. I called them and arranged for us to meet in our usual hangout; a bar a few blocks away.

As I got home to my apartment, I put my keys in the door and rammed it open. I always got jammed when It was cold outside I usually had to almost break my shoulder to get it to budge, this time it seemed to open without much effort. Maybe carrying all those books over the weeks was giving me some strength. When I got to my inside, I got ready to go out. I checked my answering machine and took a note of who I would have to call back tomorrow. I turned on the TV to a music channel, turned the volume way up and went to take a shower. I walked to the couch, which was serving as a makeshift wardrobe. All my shirts and jeans were lying in a heap on the couch and I had to dig through them to find what I wanted. I should really have taken care of that last weekend. When I'd finished digging, I pulled out a few shirts that I thought were clean enough to wear out. I decided to go for my charcoal shirt with a dark pair of jeans and a pair of black shoes. I combed my hair, not that it made much of a difference to my permanent bed head. I splashed some aftershave on, grabbed my coat and headed for the door.

The place was busier than I'd ever seen it. People laughing, joking and having a good time. I spotted Tony wearing the same white shirt he thought was lucky, he'd wore it whenever he went out somewhere and he always ended up with a phone number, luck had nothing to do with it, it didn't exist, same as magic and anything else that can't be proven, it was all in the mind. Jack looked up from his beer and called me over. Ordering a new round of drinks, Tony slapped my back as I sat down.

"Well if it isn't the ladies man himself" he passed me a beer.

"The one and only" I joked back.

"So how's uni treating ya?" Jack asked

"Any hotties?" Tony chimed in. As usual, he had a one-track mind.

"You know me" was all I managed to say they could take whatever they wanted from that. We talked for hours with Tony going off to dance with practically every girl there; it wasn't half as awkward as I thought it would be. I hadn't seen either of them for three months since I-well, since I ran away from home.  I made a mental note to call them again next time the two of them were in town. I went up to get another round, glancing around. Most of the crowd were people slightly older than me. In the centre of the crowd were two girls about my age, most of the guys in the club were looking at them, it was like something from America's next top model. They were clearly enjoying the attention. One was blonde wearing a black strappy dress. The other was a girl slightly older with dark brown hair; this one was slightly more reserved in a white blouse with a pair of pale skinny jeans and a long necklace. She looked elegant while the other looked like something from the cover of a magazine. There was a third with her back to me; she was wearing a silver camisole with a pair of dark skinny jeans. I looked at them and then around the room again, all eyes continued to centre on them.  I continued to stare wondering what all the fuss was about.

The older girl caught my gaze, the other looked up with her and their eyes locked mine for a split second before they turned away again. The blonde one whispered in the other one's ear. The girl with her back to me leaned over to hear what they were saying. She started to turn around and I though there was something familiar about her; I felt like I knew her. I caught her eyes, the same bright green eyes from before, the ones that flicked to orange almost for a second before they returned to their normal state; I guessed it was the light from the lamps above her that caused it. I was dead right, I'd seen her somewhere before but I couldn't place her. As she turned around, I wished I hadn't bothered. It was her, Alsyn or something like that looking at me with a sour look on her face. She was clearly not happy to see me. Her eyes were directly focused on me; a panicked expression crossed her face before it turned to annoyance. I felt my stomach hit the floor. She was looking right at me, her now dark eyes blazing, which was odd because her eyes were usually bright green...Not that I had been looking at her eyes or anything.

Our eyes met for a split second before she turned back around to talk to them. A few seconds later the older girl looked up at me or, through me, well, at least that's what it looked like. She had a strange kind of knowing smile. It was like looking at the Mona Lisa. She nodded before she turned back to her friends. I stared after them, making a complete idiot of myself. The world's biggest moron award would have gone to me that night. I decided to make a quick exit back to the table. But, before I could, the blonde girl walked towards me. She locked her eyes onto mine, I was stunned thinking I was going get abuse for staring, but she just leaned on the side of the bar.

"What's your name sweetie?" she said batting her eyelashes at me. I was momentarily caught off guard.

"Chris" I said

"Well Chris do you want to sit with us. I'm Sarah and that's Mary and Alsyn, but I think you've met before. Am I right? My sister there saw you looking at the table and I thought you could use a drink." She inclined her head towards the table where the older girl, Mary was sipping a cocktail while the girl I knew from class, Alsyn was talking animatedly at her, but she was clearly not listening. She was looking directly at me instead. Alsyn leaned back in her chair, apparently having given up.

"I would." I said "but the guy's wouldn't be too happy" I didn't want to make small talk to a girl that had decided to take a disliking to me for no reason. I couldn't have thought of a more pathetic excuse if I tried. She looked at me, almost surprised and then looked over at Tony and Jack who were at that moment challenging each other to a beer chugging contest. She raised her eyebrows at them; Tony looked over at us as he downed his pint, when he saw her looking over at him he almost chocked on his beer before he tried to act all casual and failed miserably. She quickly turned away from them.

"They can come too, we don't bite, well, not all of us" she grinned looking back at Alsyn who scowled at her as she made her way towards the guy's. Tony spewed some more beer as she spoke to him. Tony, always the smoothie I laughed into myself. They looked over at me for approval before I shrugged. Tony continued to stare at the blonde girl. He looked like something out of a cartoon; he followed her around like a puppy. It was funny to watch. They took their seats. Tony sitting beside his new conquest, Jack sat beside the older girl. The only chair left was beside Alsyn, I sat down rather reluctantly. I didn't dare look at her; I could feel her eyes boring into me when I was looking in the opposite direction. I felt like I should try to explain myself, but I couldn't, not with everybody listening in.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" I asked. She looked up at me without saying a word and beckoned me to follow her. She took us to a quiet corner.

"Make it quick," she said leaning her back against the bar.

"I just wanted to, uh, apologize about before. You know in class- I"

"Please don't mention that again," she said looking almost embarrassed.

"Sorry, I-I, just...sorry" I said as I walked us back to the table. I never knew it would be this hard to speak to her. I felt like the world's biggest idiot.

 It was nice to see everybody else was having a good time. Jack was having what looked like a deep conversation with the one with the dark hair, and Tony, was of course staring at Sarah with glazed eyes while she flirted with a large group of men who continued to buy her and her friends drinks throughout the night. The only one who didn't seem to have a good time was Alsyn. She sat quietly with a row of shots that were supposed to be for her, untouched. Instead, she looked at the brown haired one as if she was trying to tell her something. It was almost as the two were talking but their lips never moved once. A look registered across her face and the two of them headed towards the bathroom, dragging Sarah with them. She made a playful pout towards the men and blew a kiss before she was yanked through the doors.
 

When they reappeared, they looked slightly more reserved than they had before. Whatever it was they were talking about, Sarah was clearly not pleased. She sat at the table with her arms folded like a small child until Alsyn handed her jacket to her; she grabbed it and went to get up. Mary was still chatting with Jack, saying their goodbyes. The three of them left in a line with Mary at the front followed by Sarah who was still in a mood. A third pair of eyes met mine. Alsyn looked right at me as though she was seeing me for the first time. She looked like she was about to say something, before an arm pulled her away and the three of them left. 

After that, the atmosphere in the bar started to dampen. It all went quiet. I decided to call it a night. Tony and Jack decided they were going to give it another hour. We swapped numbers and set up another night out next month.

It was cold by the time I got out of the club. I put my hands in my jean pockets to keep warm. My mind went over tonight, mostly, much to my surprise was the ‘mind reading' conversation Alsyn and Mary seemed to be having I also though a lot about Alsyn. What must she think of me? I decided that I would try at least to not look like the colossal prat I had managed to make myself.