The Girl Who Likes it Neat

Chapter 3: Hallelujah, She Knows My Name

A week had gone by and Jessica had not been to the bar and I couldn't get the image of her out of my mind. I didn't know what it was but, it was like I was instantly drawn to her and she didn't even know my name. I tried flirting with other girls, tried pushing her to the back of my mind but, none of that was working. As I was turned around I heard someone say in a memorably recognizable voice from behind me,

"Can I get two Jim Beam's neat please?" I knew it was Jessica so I turned around to see the girl who was running through my thoughts all day long in glasses and her hair tied up and I was about to die, even when she didn't try she was just drop dead beautiful.

"So Ms. I can take care of myself I see you are back, seeking my assistance to get served drinks."

"Well Mr. wanna be hero, you aren't completely useless. You have access to liquor, I just don't need you to fight my battles for me. I do just fine on my own."

"Well I promise to no longer fight your battles. Scouts honor." I looked at her in the eyes and raised up my hand like I was pledging. I then stuck out my hand.

"I know your name but, you don't know mine, so I am going to formally introduce myself. My name is Jake." I set her whiskeys on the table and I saw Jessica crack the most beautiful smile.

"Nice to meet you, Jake." She then smiled and pulled out a book and started sipping her whiskeys. She was reading a book in a bar, drinking whiskey. I couldn't believe it. She was perfect. And she wasn't reading a boring book everyone has read before. Oh no. She was reading Forty Years a Gambler by George Devol. Heard of it? I bet you haven't. It's one of the greatest adventure books I had ever read. I left Jessica alone to read and I looked at her all night. Of course I tended to customers, but my main concern was her. My bar normally closes at 3:30 AM but I stayed open until 4 AM because Jessica was finishing up her book and I wanted her to be able to read in peace and honestly I wanted to look at her some more. The way she was so confident with herself was what interested me the most. Jessica finished her book and looked up at me and saw me staring. I was caught red-handed.

"So Jake, enjoying the view? Were you just going to look at me all night or were you going to open your mouth and converse with me?"

I turned crimson red with embarrassment.

"You looked really into your book and I didn't want to disrupt you."

"Well that was sweet of you. And thank you for leaving your bar open for me to finish my book. It was a great read." She picked up one of her whiskey glasses and realized it was empty and she laughed. I then poured her a glass.

"It's on the house."

"Really Jake.. you don't have to I can take care of myself." She pulled out her wallet and I put it back in her purse.

"Don't worry it's on me. Every once in awhile let someone do something nice for you."

She sipped on her drink and she looked around my bar and spotted my piano. She pointed at it and asked,

"Do you play?"

"I dabble."

"Play me something!"

I walked over to the piano and started playing one of my favorites, Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen. I started playing and I opened my mouth to sing but I was interrupted by Jessica's velvety singing voice instead.

"I've heard there was a secret chord, that David played and it pleased the lord. But you don't really care for music do you? It goes like this the fourth, the fifth. The minor fall, the major lift. The baffle king composing, Hallelujah." It was so attractive that she knew Leonard Cohen. I then harmonized with her on the chorus and I sang the next verse and I looked directly in her eyes and in this moment we were having a deep connection.

"Your faith was strong but you needed proof. You saw her bathing on the roof. Her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you. She tied you to a kitchen chair, she broke your throne, she cut your hair and from your lips she drew the hallelujah." As I finished I let her take over the rest of the song just harmonizing with her on the chorus's and admiring her voice and how technical and beautiful it was. Hallelujah was speaking to me, because when I saw Jessica in the moonlight it overthrew me.