Chapter 13: Drag It Out

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Noah pushed open the heavy door to the bar, the faint sound of clinking glasses and a murmur of low conversation spilled out into the dimly lit street. I glanced around, scanning the room as the rest of the guys piled in behind us, shaking off the fresh rain of the night. My eyes lingered on the shadowy corners of the room, the memory of Jake now flickering in my mind, wondering if there would be another opportunity to have a moment alone together.

I smirked at the thought, already craving another cigarette. So much for quitting.

"Alright, what are we all drinking?" Josh called out, looking around at us, but not before shooting Jake a look, motioning his head towards me.

What was that?

"Don't worry, I'll get ours." Noah said nonchalantly, heading towards the bar, but not before Jake could step forward, waving him off.
"Oh, no it's okay, I got it." He said, turning to me, now leaning in close. "Martini?" My heart jumped. I managed a nod as a smile escaped my lips.
"Y-yeah. Thanks." He nodded, his smile growing as he followed Josh to the bar. I instantly felt Noah's grip get tighter on me.

"What was that about?" He asked. I shrugged, keeping my eyes on them as they leaned in close to each other, whispering amongst themselves. I wondered what they talked about, and how it felt to be so close with your sibling, or really how it felt to have a sibling at all. As an only child, that was something I always hated missing out on, so I knew there was nothing that compared to having a twin.

We didn't have to wait long before they came back, drinks in hand. Jake quickly handed a glass off to Noah before turning back to me.
"Thank you." I mouthed to him over the loud music. He nodded a 'you're welcome' before following the guys over to a booth on the other side of the bar. I grabbed Noah's hand, following closely.

"Since when do you like that?" He asked, looking down at my drink.
"Always."

The guys grabbed a table further back, lit only by the small candles in the center. Danny, Sam and Josh slid into one side, where Noah didn't hesitate to slide in first on the other. I slid in after him, only to then feel Jake follow close behind, my heart jumping at the feeling of his leg now brushing against mine.

The warmth of the candlelight flickered across their faces, casting a soft glow that made the night feel that much more intimate and less real. With every round, their voices grew louder, their stories more animated, and I could feel the newfound intoxicating haze weaving its way through me.

This was what I lived for; the chaotic camaraderie, the steady rhythm of the night, and the undeniable buzz that made everything feel just a little bit more.. personal.

"So, when's the wedding?" Sam eventually asked. My body went cold. I instantly saw Josh's face drop, to which he tried to save it with a forced grin, no doubt thinking of a way to change the subject, especially considering our conversation last night.

"Great question." Noah chimed in, downing the rest of his drink. I peeked up at him with a doubtful expression. He had always gone out of his way to avoid the "wedding" talk.
"Is it?" I asked. He nodded, staring back down at me with dazed eyes, now bloodshot and tired.
"I mean, we aren't getting any younger, are we?" He said, leaning in closer.

Why was he finally ready to have this conversation now?

"When would you want to get married, Jewel?" Danny asked. I looked around, now feeling my heart beat faster. I had never really thought about this before. It was getting to the point where I didn't think I'd ever get the opportunity to.

"Um.. I.. I think.. Fall would be ni-"
"Summer would be great." Noah said, a little too loudly. I could tell the drinks had finally gotten to him. "My parents had a Summer wedding, so, they always said that would be best." Josh nodded, staying quiet as he peeked over at Jake again who had since turned away, now looking out at the bar, seemingly having already checked out of the conversation.

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