Unexpected Love

Present

Ari put her bag behind the bar and began her vocal warm-ups, singing through the vocal scale loosening her voice, before taking the stage. while she jumped at a low, rugged voice.

"You know, you have a really good singing voice." Ari turned to see Tobias and she blushed, she started to fall for him. 

It was wrong and she knew better because they work together and the fact that they just met, but she couldn't help but fall for him. There was something about Tobias that just drew Ari to him, and Tobias felt the same for her. Tobias wanted her to be his, wanting to take her from whatever seemed to be hurting her. Throughout the day Ari and Tobias  stole glances at each other, wishing that they had the guts to ask out the other. Ari worked the floor giving orders to Larry, Tobias watching her work, and Larry watching them both silently laughing at the both of them.

Later that night as she took the stage, Ari sang her heart out, as she did every night, and lost herself in the lyrics. Music was what helped Ari through her day. With her mother being sick, and her father always stressed out. Ari tried to help her family as much as possible, but her mother's medical bills just kept coming. Only Larry knew about her mother, and some of the bar patrons that knew her family, but no one said a word. Tobias only knew what he had overheard from Larry and those patrons that knew but never said a word, he feared that he would upset Ari.

Ari's alarm clock goes off the next morning and she looks at the time."Crap! I'm gonna be late!" She rolls off her bed, well more like a mattress on the floor in the attic, and runs down the stairs into the bathroom. She hurries up to shower and gets dressed and runs to the bus stop. She reaches the bus just as it leaves, she misses it again.

"I'm missing class again this week, I need to pass this class!" She kicks the trashcan in frustration, knowing that she needs to pass to get out of the horrible life she has now. Ari turns around to go back home mentally kicking herself for not waking up on time.

She's studying to be a child psychologist so she can hopefully get a job offer out in New York. Being in Oregon doesn't bring a lot of opportunities, and the fact that she couldn't pay off her mother's medical bills right as they arrive. Not months later when five more show up in the mail.

Instead of going home Ari goes to Larry's bar, to avoid the looks of disappointment from her mother and father. They put so much pressure on her but Ari never complained, it would just make things worse. The bar isn't busy during the day so it should be quiet enough for her to continue to write her novel. She gets to the bar and opens the door. Larry and some guy are at the bar talking, Larry behind the counter and the guy at a stool in front of him.

"Ari," Larry says, " I thought you'd be in class?"

"Oh, I missed the bus again this morning so I'm probably going to be even more behind. I didn't mean to interrupt, I'm just going to go in the backroom, y'all can finish your conversation."

Ari goes to the back nodding to Larry and the stranger. She almost stops as she turns to the backroom from looking at the stranger. He's tan, seemingly tall, jet black hair, piercing green eyes, dazzling teeth. She blushes and almost runs to the backroom, to keep Larry and the stranger from seeing her apple-red face.

God, Ari thinks, he's gorgeous. Model gorgeous and, he probably is a model but still, ohmygod he's looking back at me. Be cool Ari, jeez, he's just a guy. Oh, but he's not just a guy. He's the guy in my books, the guy in the magazines, they guy on the posters, the guy in the movies, the guy that other guys wish they could be, the guy that girls wish they could have. Ohmygod can he be mine? Okay Ari get a flippin' grip. This guy probably doesn't even remember what you look like, so he's most likely not going to ask you out. I can still hope he will, even if he doesn't even remember my name. I wonder what he's doing here this early at the bar... Larry didn't seem to really know him or they would be laughing at some bar story memory that they have together. Larry is looking for someone to help out on game nights...

Ari shakes her head and takes out her notebook, she can't be thinking like this right now. Not with her mother being sick and her dad possibly losing his job. A boyfriend would just add to the drama and stress to her life right now. Ari sighs and takes out her notebook where she's writing her novel.

"Alright, where was I in writing this mosh posh of a story..." Ari finds where she left off and continues to write about a girl, who's only wish is to travel the world. It's like she's writing about herself, but doesn't realize it. The door to the backroom opens and Ari keeps writing.

"It's not done yet Larry, you can't read it." Ari says smiling.

"I'm not Larry, I'm Tobias, does that rule apply to me? It's Ari right?"

Ari nods, unable to speak. He remembered my name! Ohmygod! Okay Ari, chill, get a grip. 

"Yeah sadly it does, and yes it is. Nice to meet you Tobias." she shakes his hand firmly trying not to melt at his touch but surprised by her coyness.

"Nice to meet you too. I just wanted to come back here and introduce myself since we will be co workers. I can't wait to hear you sing, Larry said that you're really good." Tobias smiles at her and Ari's face turns red.

"W-well I-I'm not really good. I'm alright. I mean, I love singing here and everything, it's just that I don't think that I'm super good at it." Tobias nods in understanding.

"Well.... I guess I'll have to be the judge of that now won't I?" He winks at Ari and walks away.

Oh god, he's going to really pay attention to me sing, I hope I don't mess up...