I was at a loss as to what to do next. The snow showed no sign of stopping anytime soon and I doubted I would be making it home for the new year.
This didn't upset me, however, because unlike most people I didn't get all worked up about new years. I never did anything to celebrate. No parties, no watching of the ball drop; zero, zilch, nada. And even though I wouldn't be kissing anyone at midnight or even popping champagne with friends, I would much rather be safe and warm at home than this dingy diner.
I sucked it up though because no matter how much I moped about being trapped here, I knew there was no getting out.
I traipsed around the diner until I stumbled upon a small deserted bar in the back. Deserted except for one guy, that is. Sighing, I climbed up on the bar stool next him. The man appeared to be distressed about something; there was a distant look in his eyes as he stared off at his empty bottle.
Okay, maybe not distressed, just drunk.
I gave out a meek cough to let him know I was there, coughing a little louder and more irritably the second time when he didn't respond immediately. "Do you mind if I sit here?" I asked after he finally lifted his head, revealing a pair of warm brown eyes. "Not at all," he slurred quietly and wistfully.
I awkwardly swung my legs back and forth from my seat on the stool, not quite sure how to strike up a conversation. Also unsure of if I even wanted to speak to him at all. I didn't normally make small talk with strangers, or even try engaging in a lengthened talk. But the man I had found myself situated next to intrigued me for a reason I was unsure of. We had barely said anything to one another yet I caught myself glancing over at him more than I probably should have. The stranger was attractive yes, but I was more attracted to the seemingly worrisome look that overtook his slightly stubbled face. I couldn't decipher whether he had consumed a profuse amount of alcohol or if an event had occurred that plastered a frown to his appearance, perhaps it was a mixture of both.
But I decided I wouldn't know unless I tried, so I chose to learn the basics. "What's your name?" As the question came out my voice cracked and I instantly wished I could have a do over, a second chance to make myself look like less of a fool. I also established that I was coming on to forcefully, and I needed to assure that the stranger knew I wouldn't make him tell me things he didn't want to. "Actually, never mind. You don't have to tell me yours, but I'll tell you mine. Hi, I'm Sally," I restarted, nodding to myself in approval. He gave out a chuckle and sat up straighter, "That's ironic." I slanted my head to the side, quirking an eyebrow at him, "What do you mean?" He ran his fingers through his skunked hair as he swiveled in his chair to look at me more directly, "Well, you're Sally. And I'm Jack, by the way. I don't know what I'm implying honestly, I'm upset and slightly tipsy."
"Ah so you're a Nightmare Before Christmas fan huh?" I questioned. Maybe talking to this new 'Jack' fellow wouldn't be so terrible after all. He nodded enthusiastically. I giggled nervously and unzipped my jacket, revealing the Jack Skellington t-shirt I had hesitantly thrown on that morning. His eyes lit up and I shrugged, "What can I say, I'm a die hard fan." He raised his arm with his palm flat open, suggesting that I should give him high-five.
After we had smacked hands I focused my attention back to his previous statement. "So Jack, if I'm not asking to much, what is it that has caused you to be so...glum?" My question seemed to bring him back to reality and the smile that had formed vanished as quickly as it had appeared. "Oh, right. Well Sally, it's not often that I vent my problems to such a stranger like yourself but I feel like you're a good listener," I nodded and he proceeded.
"I was recently dating this girl, Holly Madison. Super hot, nice boobs, typical things I look for in a girl. But we broke up last night and this is where I've been since then, and not just because of the snow," he let out a small halfhearted laugh and took a swig of a new bottle that I hadn't noticed was placed in front of him. "I don't normally stay in steady relationships. Fuck and go, that's my motto. But Holly and I took it slow and kept our relationship for nearly a year. Ten months to be exact. But she out of the blue decides that the distance between the two of us was too much and yada yada yada I'm pretty sure she was just making up an excuse to break up because she was cheating on me with that Pasquale guy."
"I don't mean to be rude but um, the distance?" Jack sighed, "Yeah well with her being a playboy bunny and all. And I'm in a band, All Time Low. I'm always touring and she's always on her show Holly's World."
I nodded, allowing him to continue.
"Ten months is the longest lasting relationship I've been in, that I can remember. It meant a lot to me ya know? I never saw another woman while I was with her, not once. And then just like that, we're over. And on top of that, this stupid snow storm has gotten me stuck here and my phone is dead so I can't call the guys," Jack angrily sat his bottle down, making the amount of empty glasses total to two.
I gently placed my hand on his shoulder, "Hey it's okay, you can borrow mine." I felt his shoulders rise and fall slower, his breathing becoming calmed. "Can I really?" He looked at me with eyes like a lost puppy. I pushed my phone into his open hand and nodded, "Go ahead." Jack jumped from his seat and hugged me, the scent of his cologne enveloping me. "Thank you! I'll be back in a second!" He yelled before half wobbly running to an unoccupied space.
