𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓, mike schmidt

03. darts

It had been a long week at the wine store, which was my excuse for spending a girls night at Harry's with Aly. Her and Jackson had been going strong, so I was luckily able to peel her away from him for one night. Carter had insisted he wanted to stay home with Bear and play video games, so a girls night was born.

"There you are!" Aly said, as I took a seat beside her at the infamous bar. 

I hadn't been to Harry's in awhile and it had felt like just yesterday the boy with the denim coat had swept up the broken cocktail glass I dropped.

"Hey." I said, giving her a side hug as I ordered myself a tequila soda and watched her sip on what looked like a rum and coke.

"How's everything been? I've been so busy with work, I've barely made time to just check in." Aly admitted, as she made a pouty face. 

"You sure it hasn't been because you've been under Jackson all this time?" I teased, as I saw her let out a laugh and get blushed cheeks.

"Alright, alright. Sex with him has been great....but! I really have been working."

"I'm happy for you." I assured her, squeezing her hand. I was happy for her, she had always been such a loyal friend to me and to everyone in her life. It only made sense for her to find love with someone who would be loyal back.

Aly and I were on our third drink as we attempted to play darts. Every time I threw the dart, I was dangerously off. It was evident that the two of us were feeling the alcohol because every time we missed, laughter would erupt from us. It felt like nothing could kill my buzz, until it did.

My eyes caught sight of a denim jacket that was sitting at the bar. There was no fucking way. I knew Mike liked this place. It was the first place I had seen him, but I didn't assume he'd come again. On a Friday night. He was supposed to be working by this time. Did they hire someone else at Freddie's?

"I see what you're seeing." Aly said, after realizing I wasn't laughing at her miss. 

"You're kidding me." I said, as the both of us stared over at Mike's back as he took the beer he had ordered and brought it to his lips.

"That's Mike, right?" Aly asked, while squinting to make sure we weren't just imaging things.

"Yup." I muttered, hoping he wouldn't see me. I couldn't have him see me. Not like this. 

I waited to see if the brunette girl would appear by his side, but ten minutes passed by and she hadn't. Aly and I had continued to play darts, but our eyes would dart over to Mike every now and then to see if he had moved. 

By the end of our game, he was still sitting at the bar. I couldn't go up to him, I knew I had to leave. I had to leave the bar before the alcohol hit me and I confronted him. I was with Carter, there was no need to confront a ghost.

Before my thoughts could go on any longer, Mike's eyes caught mine as he made his way towards the bathroom. I saw his eyes widen a bit as he realized it was me standing by the dart boards in my black levi's and white crop top. 

Aly had made a friend a few feet beside us as she was chatting it up with her, so she had no idea that our eyes were meeting in this moment.

I waited to see if he'd approach or even make a facial expression, but he didn't. He continued walking towards the bathroom and I quickly turned my back, so that when he returned I wouldn't see him walking back.

"Let's go." I said to Aly, pulling at her arm away from the random friend she had made.

"Are you okay?" she asked, digging into her purse for her phone.

I nodded. 

"I'll call us a cab and we can go back to mine?"

"That works." I responded, as she took my hand and lead me out of the bar.

We waited outside of Harry's for the cab to show up that Aly had called. It had been about five minutes and the door to Harry's creaked open. We both turned and saw Mike standing there at the same time.

Was he out here to talk to me or was he leaving too?

Mike and I's eyes met again as he paused for a slight second. My mind wondered if he was going to speak up, but instead he walked in the direction of his familiar car.

"You're just going to avoid me?" I spoke up, seeing him turn around once he heard the first word leave my mouth. The alcohol was running rapid in my system, I couldn't help it.

I watched as Aly took a few steps away to give us the space we needed.

"What do you want me to say, Miles?"  Mike finally said, throwing up his hands as he held his keys in his right hand.

"I keep seeing you everywhere I go and you just stare at me...and say nothing."

"There's nothing to say to you." He responded with a cold tone in his voice. He seemed uninterested in what I had to say.

" Wow." I muttered, not sure if he could hear it or not. Before I could wonder even more, I looked up and saw him walking the other way and unlocking his car.

Had he really moved on that fast that he was just willing to treat me like I was nothing? To walk past me like I had meant nothing? He must've fallen out of love with me pretty damn hard.