725 Days

Day 1

"Annie," I shouted over the loud music of the bar we had stepped in minutes earlier before we had been separated by the massive amount of people inside.

There was barely enough room to move through the crowd, it was not like you had to squirm through it just to get anywhere.

Having person after persons body writhe and wriggle up against me had me regretting my choice of accompanying Annie to the bar, but after being dumped days before her one year anniversary she need to get out and me being the good best friend of 20 years obliged.

Crowds didn't scare Annie. She just fit right in with anyone, was able to slip into the pack.

I on the other hand always felt uneasy, unsure of myself and others. Crowds were not my thing. Bars were not my things. I preferred the comfort of my own bed and my own things surrounding me as I relaxed after work, but that wasn't going to happen this Friday.

Annie had squirmed her way in, lost grip of my hand that she had held trying to bring me with her and now I was stuck.

I maneuvered my way further and further to the back of the bar trying to find a space that I could pull my phone and call her from the bag I was clinging onto against my side.

Finally, I reached a door that exited onto a patio that was still crowded, but had some movability where I did have to wade through the waves of people like I had inside.

"Excuse me," I said as I scooted around a couple making out against the railing. My eyes didn't miss the way he caressed her upper thigh as it slide up and disappeared under her skirt.

I averted my gaze and stood against the corner patio to look out onto the back alley below. I unzipped my bag and retrieved my phone from it and quickly pressed to call Annie.

"Hey it's Annie, can't talk right now, living my best life, leave a message," her voicemail immediately called out.

"Shit," I muttered. Either her phone was dead or off, which knowing her was highly likely or she had no service. Either way I now had to venture back inside to try and find her like a needle in a haystack.

I placed my phone back in my bag and begrudgingly stepped back into the bar. The pounding music electrifying my nerves make them bounce to its rhythm unwillingly. I could feel the music vibrations rise from my feet to my core throughout my hand and in my chest. I hated it. What I wouldn't give for the quiet solace of my bed.

My eyes scanned the horizon of the crowd, looking for her. It was a miracle that I spotted her by a pool table, beer in hand, as she chatted with some guy who's dark blonde hair and tall frame were the only things I could make out.

"Alanna," she called out, running to me and embracing me in a hug. "I couldn't find you!"

"It was the crowd," I told her. "I couldn't find you either."

"Well it's all good now and I met someone who's offered to buy us drinks," she said nodding her head in blondy's direction.

As if on cue, he turned around and smiled at me and I saw the slightest fall in Annie's face of worry, that he would take interest in me and not her, but I wasn't interested at all, even though he was probably single-handedly one of the most attractive men to cross my path. All I wanted was for Annie to have a goodnight and forget about Craig.

"Hey, I'm Pete," he said holding his hand out for me to shake.

"Alanna," I replied returning his shake, his hand dwarfed mine and I nearly had to pull my hand free of his deep grasp before I felt my fingers would explode.

"She's my friend I was telling you about," Annie cut in causing his hand to fall away from mine. I massaged it with my other hand to relieve the ache, a ball of discontent burrowing in my stomach.

Ignoring her comment he continued to look at me and nearly yelled over the music, "I'll get you girls a drink, what'll you have," he asked finally turning to Annie.

Annie smiled, taking his drink buying as flirtation and interest and replied, "Surprise me," I could see the joy radiating off her eyes has her hand reached up to play with a black curl that lay on her bare shoulder."

"And you, Alanna," he asked turning his attention back to me.

"I'm good, I can get my own. Thank you though," I replied as I fiddled with the strap of my bag. Something didn't feel right.

"I insist," he said stepping closer, "I own the bar, what'll it be? On the house of course,," he said, ending it with a tilted look and wink.

Annie nudged me, clearly not wanting this chance for a free drink, from a cute guy, the owner of the bar no less to pass.

"Amaretto sour," I feebly replied.

"Be back in a few girls, I'll line up the next pool game for us too," he called out as he pushed past me. I didn't take to notice how even though there was space to the left of him his right arm and shoulder pushing against me as he passed.

Annie squealed moments later and gripped my arm.

"I told you it was going to be a goodnight," she squealed.

I didn't want to burst her bubble. I didn't want want to push my overcautiousness onto her, but I wanted to leave.

Just one drink, I told myself. "Just one drink and then I'll convince her to leave to check out a different bar.

I wish I would've trusted my gut, because what she thought would be a goodnight only turned into a nightmare.

What do you think will happen next?

What do you think of that nonlinear format for this books? The last chapter was technically near the end of this story and now we've jumped back to the beginning! Be aware that this book will jump around quite a bit and chapters will vary in length as stated in the book's description.  There is a reason for it too!  You will see soon!!

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