Stolen Innocence (Evergreen) [Student/Teacher Love Story]

forty two

After my next therapy session, Rory surprises me by asking for my number and if I want to hang out sometime. I'm reminded of what Aubrey said last week and that talking out my situation with other girls my age could be helpful and I give her my number. I'm aware that Aubrey was referring to me talking to Adaline, but that'll come eventually. Maybe.

Later that evening, Rory texts me asking if I want to hang out. I immediately respond yes, needing to get out of this house for a while. She asks if I want her to skate over to me but I tell her to meet me at that bar I went to a lifetime ago.

When I see her leaning against the wall, I'm nearly out of breath, having biked here really fast trying to get here before her.

"Damn, you're fast," I laugh, locking my bike up at a nearby rack.

"Yeah...and I also live down the street," She chuckles and I laugh with her.

"So...what the hell are we doing here?" She gestures toward the run-down bar, its neon sign blinking dimly.

"Honestly...I don't know,"

"Have you been in there before? If I'm not mistaken, that's a bar," She chuckles and I'm actually pleasantly surprised by her innocence. Reminds me of how I was before I met Fiona and them. Shaking off that memory, I shrug.

"Maybe," She drops her mouth open in mock surprise.

"Iris. Tsk tsk," She laughs and then we're both doubled over laughing about nothing. I spot the same bouncer from before and I smile at him as we walk through the doorway. I glance back to see him shaking his head. As soon as we're inside, all eyes are on us. Multiple men from the bar have halted their conversations and a few guys from the pool table are now staring.

I smirk at one of the older dudes playing pool.

"Wanna play a round?" I ask Rory and her gaze shifts from the guy staring at us to me. She looks startled. I try to ignore it.

"Um..."

"Hey, cute thing," The guy sidles up next to us and I glance up, my eyes catching on his crow's eyes and wrinkled forehead. His eyes are glinting with what looks like either curiosity or lust. Probably both.

"Hey," I greet back and I hear Rory scoff before crossing her arms.

"Game's not over yet but we can take a pause. Want me to get you a drink?"

"Sure. For me," I glance at Rory, "and my friend?" He eyes her, almost as if he didn't even notice she was there before nodding and making his way to the bar.

"Iris, in case you didn't notice...we're at a bar," I nod, grabbing one of the pool table sticks and chalking it. The other guys have resumed their conversations, glancing over every once in a while.

"You already said that," I note and she scowls at me, "And, in case you haven't noticed, have we been kicked out yet?" She glances around at this, seemingly just now realizing no bouncer was coming to check our IDs.

"Why has no one kicked us out yet?" She questions as she reaches for the last remaining pool stick. I smirk.

"I may or may not know the bouncer," Her eyes nearly bug out of her head but she says nothing as I pass the chalk to her.

"And my mom thinks I'm rebellious," I'm a bit hurt by her words but when I glance up to see her smirking, I feel warmth in my chest.

"Here ya go," The guy shows up again, placing two drinks on the table nearest us and I just nod at him.

We play a few rounds with the guys, Rory and I mostly ignoring the leering idiots. By the end of the second game, the guy who bought our drinks is back as he sits himself way too close to me on the bench as we take a break.