𝐔𝐆𝐋𝐘 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇

ONE

"C'mon, I promise the food here is really good."
"There's only drunks here," I state, looking around at the diner.

It was late into the night when we entered the bar. There were men with red eyes and swollen bellies either saying incoherent things or falling asleep. I cringed, already begging to leave. I'd rather die than get caught in that kind of state. "Shut up, rich boy. Not everything that isn't shiny is bad."

I turn to look at Trey. He had a smug smirk on his lips, his eyes glistening. I sigh. Trey had been my friend since college. We met in our third year. I was in a frat, and we were throwing a party, and like a jackass, Trey was dared to jump off the roof of our house. And he did. Broke an arm and came back to another party a week later with a signed cast. In all honesty, I didn't exactly like him. But with time, I got to know him. I was a business major and he was an art student--- graphic design to be exact.

I used to believe liberal arts majors were for people who wanted everything handed on a silver platter. I thought that the arts could never provide a stable job for anyone. Skill and talent usually resided in business and STEM-like fields. Yet, Treyshawn proved me wrong. To this day, he's one of the smartest people I know. 

He has good qualities; he's hard working, and even though I hate to admit it, he's hilarious and usually right about stuff. Perhaps not right about tonight and this stinking bar, but right about other things.

A waitress comes over to us with a bright smile. "How many tonight?" She asks. The first thing I noticed about her was her hair. In length, it was barely touching her shoulders, each curl shiny and bouncy. The second thing I noticed was her skirt. I had to glance twice. It seemed quite small, revealing long shining legs. Her black button-up was tight around her torso as well. But besides her ill-fitting uniform, dare I say, she was gorgeous. 

I looked at her face, and God, she was beautiful. Soft brown eyes that tentatively looked at Trey and pink plump lips that gave me so much desire. Jesus.

"Two, darling," Trey says. I immediately know he's having the same thoughts I am. She grabs two menus from the counter and looks at me. "Follow me, please." She leads us further inside, revealing a dimly lit restaurant. The scene was much more intimate and tidier compared to the bar at the front. She led us to a table with two chairs. Trey and I sat down, facing each other.

"Thank you," I say as she hands us our menu. She looks at me and we make eye contact. She smiles and nods before she leaves. I look around and see a fair amount of people talking and eating. I look back at Trey and smile. "I know, brother."

"She's cute," I admit shyly. "Definitely. That's why she's going to be my wife." Trey says, looking at the entrance to the kitchen where she disappeared. I laugh. "You're delusional."

"As long as I got my game, I can do anything. Just give me tonight and a couple of weeks. You'll be calling her Mrs.Smith before you know it." He laughs. I shake my head. "You're incredibly desperate." I open my menu and start looking. Trey was desperate, but for her, it made sense.

We had finished our food when the waitress put down a small red tray with our receipt in it. I can't help but look at her as she leaves. I see as she pulls down her skirt. She's very self-aware of the shortness of it. I admire her as if I were looking at her for the first time, except she leaves me hungrier to know more than I did the first time. "Ay, filthy rich man. I'm your guest, so you pay." Trey gave me a childish smile. Some people are told they have a wise soul, unlike Trey. He had every ounce of a child in his inner soul. It's one of the things I liked about him.

"No, you told me to leave the wealthy act. Besides, you brought me here."
"I thought you was hungry! C'mon man, I'm broke!" He chuckles.

I sigh as I get my wallet out of the back pocket of my jeans.
"God bless," Trey says, sitting back and crossing his arms.

I reluctantly place the green paper slips on the tray and wait for the waitress. I look at Trey, and he seems deep in thought. "Thinking about how you're gonna ask that girl out?"

"Alex, you're a fucking mind reader," Trey says, shock on his face. "Doesn't take a mind reader to know that."

The waitress comes back to our table and takes the tray. She comes back in a matter of minutes with the change. "What's your name?" Trey starts. She smiles at him. "Ana." She says sweetly. Her voice was gentle. Ana raises her hand towards her forehead and slightly moves a strand of her curly hair out of her eyesight.

Her brown eyes glance at me before turning back to Trey. "I'm Trey. This is Alex."
"Nice to meet you."

Oh wow, this was awkward. I try my hardest not to tell Trey to shut up. I forgot how bad he was with girls.
"When do you get off work?" He asks.
I can see her hesitating.
"I should get going. Enjoy your night." She says before leaving us. I sighed hopelessly as Trey stared dumbfounded. "Did it work?"

"Doesn't take a genius to know how terrible you are at flirting. Hell no," I say, grabbing my money. At the bottom of the tray, I see our receipt. Below it, I see ink from a pen. I read it.

To the man who paid,
Call me xxx - xxx- xxxx
- Ana :)

I stare at the receipt and grin. "Trey, you're gonna hate me."