Kissing in the Rain

Page Three of Chapter One: The In Between

Reveling was a common and mostly normalized thing. It was something that most youthful people cheerfully and willfully participated in and even called the vacant vanity, "having fun." Gabriel did the same thing. After Julia's death and him piecing together that that enigmatic Francis Burdue must have been Julia's ex who she continued to confer with, he decided that he simply didn't want to dwell on it any longer, so he went out. Ironic how he went to the exact same club that he first encountered Julia in. He hadn't even realized until he got in, for he was already a little tipsy from drinking whilst driving. 

The club was renovated a little bit, but it was still pretty much the same. The same obnoxiously bright lights that could blind anyone, the same loud noise, the same lustful men sexualizing and objectifying women who were doing the exact same thing to them, and the same group of men getting terribly drunk off of cheap booze. Gabriel had a strange sense of home and yet an even stronger sense of discomfort.  He was wearing more casual clothing this time, just a loose, blue dad jean, white Air Force sneakers, and a dull gray sweater. There were no bouncers this time, they were perhaps trying to be all inclusive now. His hair was a ruffled mess that still somehow looked so handsome, and his stubble was now developing into a short beard. He stumbled over to the bar and smiled charmingly at the girl sitting to the right of him. 

"Hey there." This time he didn't say it in her ear, nor did he even attempt to look stable. The woman looked up at him with an amiable, close-lipped smile and then back at her Coca-Cola as she wondered why in the world she came here. She was wearing casual attire like Gabriel. Her long, thick, and curly hair was tied into a low bun that was parted in the middle. It was more so messy than neat. Her skin was a deep mahogany color, and her eyes were an endearing brown, like a smokey topaz jewel. Her eyebrows were thick and black and her lips were medium sized and naturally plump. She had on a purple sweatshirt that was oversized and she wore a pair of blue mom jeans. Despite her casual attire, she had pristine posture. On her feet were socks and sandals. Gabriel looked at her up and down and grinned. 

"You're different." 

"Thanks, man." 

The woman's lack of interest or flirtation turned Gabriel off. 

"A shot of vodka please." 

"Right up." Responded the bartender to Gabriel. Gabriel looked at the woman up and down one more time. 

"You wanna dance?" 

"Don't you have a vodka coming up?" 

"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that already." He chuckled. "After the vodka?" 

The woman still seemed very unintrigued by Gabriel. She shrugged and thinned her lips. "Sure." She got out of her stool, from which her short legs were dangling from, and she took Gabriel's hand. Although he was tipsy, he did take notice to the woman's cup having Coca-Cola in it instead of alcohol. They approached the dance floor, which was somewhat leveled, and Gabriel and the woman stepped on it. She put her arms around his waist, which he then redirected to be placed around his neck, which she then redirected to be simply laid on his shoulders, which caused him to roll his eyes and sigh lightly. 

"Are you into men?" Inquired Gabriel with his hands lightly pressed against the woman's waist. 

"Yes."

"That wasn't the most convincing."

"I am. I don't need to prove it. I know I am."

"Then why aren't you flirting with me?" 

"I didn't want to make you uncomfortable." 

"What? We're at a bar, you could literally show me your backside and I would not be uncomfortable." 

"That is a little odd, dude."

"I'm just saying, time and place. At bars, there is no such thing as getting uncomfortable." 

"Why do you say that?" 

"Most people here are just looking for a good time."

"Do you mean an easy time?" 

"Same difference." 

There was a pause of silence as Gabriel looked over the woman's head. 

"What are you doing here? You don't belong here." 

"Why do you say that?"

"Why do you ask so many queries?" 

"I want to understand what you are saying before I respond." 

"My question wasn't clear enough?" 

"Obviously not if I had to ask for you to clarify." 

Gabriel sighed and inadvertently tightened his hands around the woman's waist. The woman's eyes widened and diverted from Gabriel's general direction. 

"I mean, you seem to be... not easy." 

"Oh, thank you. I appreciate that." 

"No, it's not a compliment."

"Oh." 

"I mean, in a way it is but in the context of the conversation and the time and the place, it isn't, you know?" 

"I presume so." 

"So why are you here?" 

The woman sighed and pursed her lips. 

"I don't know. I came with a friend on a whim, and she left me and left with this other guy. I asked her where she was when I had called her and she said, 'Oh, my bad, I forgot to tell you but I'm leaving with Dustin', and I said, 'Who's Dustin?' and she says, 'Oh, the guy I'm leaving with,' and I said, 'But, Hannah, you are my ride,' and she said, with much remorse, 'Sorry.'"

"Oh, I'm sorry." 

"Thank you so much, Hannah." Said the woman peevishly. 

"So how are you going to get home?" 

"I called an Uber just before you came talking to me actually." 

"Oh, so this was very recent." 

"Yeah."

"Seems like I am a rather punctual man."

"Eh." She laughed. Seeing her smile and the sincerity within her dimples and the authenticity in her closed eyes made Gabriel swoon for a moment. He didn't want to hurt her or play with her. He let go of her.

"I have to go now." 

"Oh." Said the woman dejectedly. Another rejection, thought the woman.

"Sorry." Said Gabriel as he walked off of the dance floor.

"Sir, your vodka-"

"Not now." Said Gabriel hastily. The woman's smile was enough to make him sober up. He wished he had gotten her name as he opened and entered his car.