No Job, No Car, No Problem!

Trail of Passion

I developed a crush on Cliff almost instantly.  I met him nearly a year ago, when he moved into my apartment complex.  Over the last year we have become unusually close friends.  Who said a man and woman can’t have a platonic relationship?  We go for walks together, to concerts, share secrets and moan to each other about our latest heart breaks.    This everlasting “friendship” with Cliff serves me right.  I never take chances or voice my feelings, fearful I will be rejected.  It’s time to turn my fears around.  Not with Cliff necessarily, but with the men I come to care about in the future.

Tonight is our friend Taylor’s birthday.  Our usual group meets to pre-party at Cliff’s house where we sing Led Zeppelin out loud, throwing back shots.  By the time it’s nearly 10pm, the group gathers to walk to the local bar, the Sunshine Company.  We are all too familiar with this bar.  It’s a two story, open roof saloon with pool tables, video arcade games and high definition televisions.  The most random sing along songs play on the juke box and the place is sure to be filled with local beach goers.  Strutting down the sidewalk, the eight of us laugh obnoxiously and step over each other, trying to avoid tripping over the cement that has been pushed up from years of no weeding.  We are all in party mode, but aren’t we always?

We arrive at the Sunshine Company working to keep our eyes in focus, despite our already being hammered.  Once let thru the door, we each prance in like we own the place.  Someone orders a pitcher and puts some music in the juke box.  “Happy Birthday Taylor!” we yell in unison, toasting our frosty mugs.  The girls hug everyone while the men throw out high fives.  “Let’s go shoot some pool!” one recommends. 

Shooting pool I notice Cliff standing closer to me than usual.  I remind myself that the two of us have been hanging out quite a bit more lately.  And I did notice a change towards me when we went to our last concert together.  It was as if he may have seen me differently than just a friend.  But I’m not one to jump to conclusions.  Still, tonight Cliff is definitely flirting with me more than usual.  It is my turn to shoot and there is a very clear shot that I quite obviously do not see.  Cliff stroll over, pressing his body against my back while I lean over the table, eyeing a shot.  Assisting me with my pool queue, he whispers, “Now nice and easy.  Don’t hit it too hard, k?”  I can feel his breath on my ear as I strive to concentrate.  He steps back while I pocket the purple ball.  “Yay!!!” I cheer, jumping up and down. 

“Let’s go get another pitcher,” Cliff tells me after my lucky shot.  He grabs my wrist and I quickly follow, turning back to wave to our friends. 

“We’ll be right back!  We’re grabbing another pitcher!” I say, making drinking motions with my one free hand. 

“Come on dork!” Cliff laughs out.  “That was a good shot you just made there Jenny.”

“Nu uh, it was just lucky because you told me what to do.  But I did make it!” I clap my hands excitedly.  Cliff and I grab stools at the bar.  We await the pitcher, rocking our heads to the music, lip syncing the words.  We take turns pushing away and pulling towards one another, touching and flirting.  We are always like this!  Like two kids playing during recess. 

“Let’s get out of here after this pitcher. This place is just too predictable,” he says.

“Totally,” I say naively.  “What should we do next?  Want to round up the troops?”

“Sure!  But let’s sit and drink this first.”  Happily I agree and we drink, keeping up with our song and dance routine.  Once done we walk back over to the group.  “Where’s the brew?” one asks.

Cliff answers before I can speak up, “Let’s all get out of here.  We can go check out another bar, huh?”  Next thing I know, we are stumbling down the street again, a happy drunken group.  Interestingly Cliff doesn’t break away to talk to the guys up ahead, who are currently leading our pack.  Who on earth put those drunks in charge?  Instead he stays at my side the entire walk, where we proceed to laugh and knock into each other playfully.  One in the group says, “Hey, let’s just go back to the house and party together!  Who needs to be spending money in a bar?”