Quiet Confessions

Moscow Mule

The music from the bar thudded loudly, even outside, rattling Ember's ribcage with every thump, thuthumthump. Her palms were sweaty, gripping onto her phone that had just sent a text to Arlo. Ping.

"I'm inside."

Ping

"Got us a booth near the back. Aaaaand it's close to the TouchTunes :)"

Ember locks her phone and escapes from the tiny death trap that is Iris' car. She'd nearly hit a large doe on the way there, and Ember's nerves were still a wreck and her heart rate still hadn't slowed. She wasn't paying attention in the moment, too busy in her own head to look ahead. She got an earful from Iris, teasing mostly.

Ember takes a deep breath before entering the bar. It was adorned with neon lights and various signs and stickers plastered the walls. Every surface seemed to have writing on it too. It was the most chaotic, clean looking bar she'd ever seen. It was lively and inviting. The atmosphere made her want a drink. The place even smelled good- house specialty burgers were being cooked in the back and a couple of guys at a table nearby Ahmad tasty looking nachos. Ember was already full or she'd be all over an order for her own. This wasn't her first time here, either. Iris had invited her out a couple times before during Ember's visits home. This is the only bar in town that played good music and had a mostly friendly crowd. It was nice to have something so different from the rest of the town available for Ember. She felt almost comforted knowing there was a space for people like her to grab a drink and talk to like-minded individuals.

"Hey, I'm going to the bathroom, lover boy is back there," Iris points to the booth where Arlo is sat, scrolling on his phone. Ember's heart races when he notices her looking at him.

She makes her way to him, looking around at other patrons, some she knew from high school, others she'd never seen before. She got a few smiles and "hey"s on her way to the back to the booth, keeping things friendly but not committing to any other conversation. She was already half-dreading talking to Arlo. The other half of her was thrilled. Anyone else who stopped her felt like she was swatting away annoying mosquitoes.

Just stay calm, cool and collected. As much as I don't want anything from him-I think- I don't want to scare him off.

"Hey, you made it! Glad to see ya," Arlo says, arms wide open.

Is that an invitation to a hug? I think I'll pass. Although..

The smell of Arlo's cologne fills the booth in the best way possible. He smells expensive, sweet, clean. The scent filled Ember's body and tickled her brain in just the right way. The moment passed, and Ember takes her seat across the table from him. He smiles a wide, happy smile and the creases around his eyes peeked out once again. She'd noticed her shirt for the first time- a black Pierce the Veil tshirt that fit snug, but not too snug around his muscular arms and torso. Ember held back the urge to drool.

"It's good to see you, too. It's been what- 6, 7 years now?" Crossing her arms on the table, she traces the wood of the table with a finger at a time. She was nervous, but didn't want him to see. She thought about Evan, what he would say or think if he knew what she was doing right now. Her bruises seemed to throb when she thought about it.

"Something like that, yeah. How've you been, how's your trip so far?"

Great! I just broke up with my fiancée of three years after her turned into a cheating, drunk woman beater! How's Los Angeles?

Ember hadn't realized it had been a moment since anyone said anything until she felt Arlo's gaze staring into her, concerned.

Ember smiles quickly, "Uh, sorry. Just been a bit out of it today. I've- it's been okay so far. I've been back a week, but I wasn't feeling too well so I've been house bound at my mom's until tonight."