Kylie & Jack 1: Humble Beginnings

27. Cheers

Friday Mar 29th, 5:30 PM

Kate, Jack and Kylie went straight to the pub from the school, surprising Brenda as the first patrons of the evening. Kate perched herself at the bar chatting to Brenda while Kylie fussed over her purse, checking her loose change and Jack took in his surroundings. Even though it wasn't his first time at the modest pub, he still hadn't taken in the pub's features at all.

The front door swung open with a loud creak and in walked Charlie Pyke, a childhood friend of Kylie's. He nodded to Kylie and Jack and dropped himself onto the end bar stool and asked for a beer.

Brenda flitted from Kate to Charlie to Kylie and Jack at long last.

"Hiya! What can I get you two strangers?" Brenda giggled at them. Kylie tutted sarcastically at her, digging through her change – but Jack handed over a fifty dollar note.

"I'm buying – Kate and Kylz too –"

"– what – no, Jack –"

"– my shout, now stop arguing with me and get yourself something, mate!" Jack said playfully, asking Brenda for a beer. Kylie shook her head, giving in to him and asking for a double black.

As much as Kylie enjoyed a night out with friends, past experiences made her extremely cautious about letting just anyone be around her after any amount of alcohol passed her lips. If she knew she had an unshakeable trust in someone when she was completely sober, then and only then would she even consider drinking around them.

It never occurred to her – at least not consciously – that Jack Brookes was one such person. But now that it had clawed itself to the very forefront of her mind, she was utterly shocked at the realisation.

But why shouldn't he be? He's been there when the shit's hit the fan several times over ... or have you forgotten about Canberra already, Kylie? Hmm? Her subconscious mocked her while Brenda scratched about in the cool room for Kylie's drink. Jack was standing beside her, waiting for his beer and watching more locals drift inside.

Kate and Charlie were chatting at one end of the bar and Brenda finally returned from the cool room, a gin and tonic in one hand for Kate and Kylie's vodka in her other hand.

Kylie took a desperate sip of her drink, longing for the relief that came from knowing as the vodka passed her lips, that the day – the week – the term – was finally over, while Brenda finally poured Jack's beer.

Jack looked around, spying a few small tables, with mismatched chairs and gently elbowed Kylie in the ribs, nodding to one of the tables.

"Wanna take a seat somewhere?"

Kylie followed the jerk of his head and nodded, letting him lead her to the furthest table.

"So – here's to you making it to the end of term in one piece. Congrats." Jack said, toasting her with his beer.

Kylie chuckled and clinked her drink against his.

"Cheers to that!"

They both drank in silence, broken first by Jack asking, "how does it feel?"

"What?"

"Knowing that in a fortnight you'll just be a teacher? No more executive stuff, no more principal's conferences, finishing work an hour early –"

"– oh god, stop it Jack!" Kylie moaned happily, pretending to fan herself. Jack laughed at her – and this time she really did need to fan herself as her cheeks burned, his laughter catching her breath yet again.

"You're a dag." Jack quipped playfully, taking a smaller sip of his beer.

"But seriously – it is the best I've felt in a long time. Knowing that I can stress about behaviour management or assessment strategies ... spending hours going through the syllabus instead of reading the fine print in Department policies, it really is fabulous ... and I don't think there's much that could compare to how good this feels."