Tacenda ~Owen Joyner~

Chapter 16

Instead of just me getting ID'd as we enter the bar, Owen does too. Earning teasing from the other three who I guess look more their age.

"Do you want me to hold your phone for you? I can put it in my pocket since you don't have any." Owen offers.

"Yes please, bless your soul." I smile and hand him my phone which he slips into his back pocket. I only brought my bank card, my ID and my phone with me. But I just put my bank card and my ID in my bra because they're safe in there.

"There's a table." Carolynn points out.

We slowly work through the crowded bar over to an empty booth, Owen walks slightly behind me with his hand on my lower back to keep me with the group.

Jeremy doesn't sit down immediately when we get to the booth, "I'll get the first round, be right back."

I sit next to Owen with Charlie and Carolynn across from us, leaving a spot for Jeremy on which ever side he wants but I assume he'll sit next to his wife.

"Callie." Carolynn says, grabbing my attention, "Once we have a few more drinks in us, I expect you to join me on the dance floor."

I smile, "I was hoping you'd say that."

Jeremy comes back with a tray of five shots and sits down next to Carolynn, "Cheers."

We each take one of the small glasses and quickly swallow the contents. I cringe at the burn in my throat and shake it off.

"They're doing karaoke for another half hour, who wants to sing with me?" I ask.

Owen laughs, "I'll sing with you after a few more shots."

"Let's get to the bar then." I grab his hand and pull him out of the booth with me, the other three wish us good luck.

"Two shots please!" I tell the bartender once we manage to get to the counter.

He slides two over to us and I clink mine against Owen's before we drink them.

"Gosh that's bad." Owen winces, "You know, you didn't strike me as the karaoke type."

"You didn't strike me as the karaoke type either." I chuckle.

"I'm not usually. But alcohol and you have a certain effect on me." He replies.

"Well that's exactly how I feel." I agree.

"Let's get some more alcohol in us then and get up there before it's over." Owen gets us two more shots and the alcohol from Jeremy's apartment is really hitting me now, the shots are just pushing it along.

We get up on the stage and Carolynn, Jeremy, and Charlie start cheering wildly with cocktails in their hands.

The music plays and Owen starts singing, "Just a small town girl living in a lonely world, she took the midnight train going anywhere."

Charlie cheers even louder as Owen finishes the lyrics and Owen looks at me for my turn to sing.

"Just a city boy, born and raised in south Detroit, he took the midnight train going anywhere." I sing.

Owen turns to face me and grabs my free hand with his while he bobs his head along with the music. We sing together for the rest of the song, occasionally forgetting the lyrics and laughing while the other carry's on. By the end of the song Owen has arm slung over my shoulders and mine is around his waist, we sway back and forth slightly off beat. The song is longer than I remember but I don't mind. I'm having an awesome time just doing whatever on stage with Owen. The music dies out and Owen grabs my hand to pull me into a bow which makes me giggle way too much. People in the bar clap as we exit the stage and Charlie is cheering so much louder than what's necessary.