Guerriero

Chapter One || Emma

Emma's POV

The wind blew past me, caressing my flushed skin. It was dark outside and the streets were deserted, causing me to scoff at my carelessness with time.

My long brunette hair covered my face as if it were a hat, except it would tangle in big knots and blind me for seconds at a time. Brushing it from my face for the tenth time I sighed, and resisted the urge to cut it all off.

I looked up at the black sky and trillions of twinkling stars stared back at me. They reminded me of when I was younger and wished for my own prince charming. Chuckling to myself at the memory from my child hood I pondered what younger me would think of how our life turned out. 

Prince Charming never came

It was getting colder each minute, and i'm sure it was well past ten. I lost track of time at the library again for the third day in a row, but it was Friday and I needed a break. There was a bar not too far away from where I stood, shivering from the cold.

Laughter echoed from the seemingly warm building, and so I decided it wouldn't cause any harm if I were to pop in for a drink, or two.

As I walked through the entrance the smell of liquor and desperation greeted me immediately.

"What would you like to drink?" A flirty male voice asked me as I took a seat at the bar shimming my coat off. 

Smiling, I looked up at the bar tender, "surprise me." I said after handing my ID over feeling the need to change something about myself; hoping that a new drink would fix all my problems. Lately it seemed that's all my life consisted of.  

He handed my ID back to me with a wink, and went to fetch me a glass of what he swears is the best of the best, I had laughed at that because he seemed so sure of himself.

At least someone was

Someone tapped my shoulder and I turned slightly in my seat, "yes, may I help you?"

"You should let me buy you a drink." He stated confidently as if he already knew my answer, eyeing me with breathe that reeked of one too many shots. 

"I'm fine, thank you but I'm sure that she—" I paused to point at a lonely blonde a few seats away from me, "would love for you to buy her a drink." I said turning back to face the bar, impatiently tapping my fingernails against the weathered mahogany wood the bar was made of. 

A few minutes later the bar tender returned and with a smile handed me a drink that looked way more intricate than my usual, "if you don't love it let me know and we'll fix that." he continued to flirt as he walked towards his next costumer. 

The music here wasn't necessarily bad, however, there was definitely room for improvement I'd thought to myself swirling my drink in my hand. The later it got the more lively the bar became, and honestly it was a great distraction. 

Looking around I quickly decided that dancing was not in my best interest for the night. Growing up I always had two left feet, and well the drinks weren't helping my case, but that didn't stop my hips from slightly swaying to the beat of the music.

I needed this

My drink was watered down, and I decided it was time for another as I quickly pivoted in the direction of the bar ready to navigate the swarm of people to get another when I was jolted backwards by a hard body. 

"I'm so sorry, how clumsy of me," I said, blushing while catching myself against his forearm. 

"It's fine Bella," he laughed, and I almost swooned at his thick Italian accent. "My name's Angelo," he greeted me with a breath taking smile.

"My name's Emma," I smiled back, "it's nice to meet you."

"I see you've met my friend Nick," he chuckled and pointed to the man who had offered to buy me a drink. Except he was sulking a bit, as he talked to the blonde from earlier.

"I think I hurt his ego a bit," I laughed wondering how long he had been watching me to know about that encounter. 

"I think you have too," he agreed while chuckling.

"Have a drink with me, Emma?" He asked testing my name out. 

"I would love to, but I have to get home soon. Another time maybe?" I asked suddenly ready to be home.

"Certainly bella—" he paused to write his number on a napkin, while I did the same. "Next time then." He said while we exchanged numbers.

"Next time." I said while walking toward the exit of the bar.

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