Love Fiction

Chapter 2: September 10th (When We Were Young)

Shot! Shot! Shot! Shot! Shot! Shot!" the party goers yelled pumping their fists up and down. Jay sat on the bar gulping little shot glasses of vodka and then quickly setting them to her left side. "Is that all you got for me?!" Jay screamed. They brought out two more trays.
"Ok Jay give it a rest I think you proved your point." Some people in the crowd looked at me like I was skinned potato.
"Hey no need to be a party pooper." One guy in a Golden State Jersey scowled as he took another gulp of his beer.
"Yah well she's my ride and I don't feel like trying to learn how to ride a motorcycle sooo." I stepped away from him. I looked up at Jay for support but she seemed too enthralled in her vodka fan club. I just rolled my eyes. I love Jay to death but she has a suckish way of dealing with her problems. We both told each other no more than one drink but for Jay one drink had to turn into two drinks and two turned into a drink off which Jay was undoubtedly winning. I walked away in disgust I couldn't deal with this right now. I sighed as I sat on the other side of the bar away from the crowd.
"Need a drink?" asked a scruffy, stout tattooed bar tender. I looked up and smiled. Eh what the hell. Jay had more than one drink so why shouldn't I?
"Yah thank you." I shyly replied. I pushed part of my red curly hair behind my ear. I still wasn't quite used to this whole ordering drinks at a bar thing.
He held out his hand "I'll need to see ID."
"Of course." I dug into my purse. Crap. I forgot Jay still had my ID. "Uhh I um left it with a friend." I looked back at Jay. She was twerking on some guy on top of the bar.
The bartender looked at me suspiciously. "How old are you anyway?"
"I'm-" I tried to remember what age Jay had put on my ID. "I'm 21."
"You don't sound sure." I started to sweat.
"No yah I am just let me um get it from my friend, the one dancing on top of that bar. It's in her purse beside her." I tried to hide my shaky voice as best as I could.
"No need. How many drinks did you have?" He asked.
I gulped. "Just one."
He sighed and walked over to a telephone hanging behind the bar. "I'm calling the police."
"What!?" I screamed. "That seems a little rash."
"Sorry but I ain't risking my job." He picked up the phone.
I felt tears coming to my eyes. "Wait I-"
"Sam hey there you are!"
The bartender lowered the phone and looked at me.
A stranger that was a tall grown man maybe in his mid twenties walked over to me. He looked at me with a knowingly grin on his face, his brown piercing eyes kinda grew as he slightly leaned towards me as if he expected me to answer him. I just stared at him. I wanted to answer him but I'm embarrassed to admit that I was a bit frozen and awe struck. This honestly had to be the hottest guy I had ever seen in my entire life. Imagine Brant Daugherty but darker and more rugged. He had dark brown hair that was slightly spiked out, and his hair matched perfectly with his tan complexion. His lips were the perfect shaped, and when he smiled he had slightly indented dimples that screamed charisma. And even though he was wearing a black blazer over a black button up I could tell he was built. To describe it all in one word he was the pure definition of a MAN.
I cleared my voice. "Hey where have you been!?" I played along.
He put his hands up. "I was looking for you silly! You left your ID in our friend's purse but obviously she's too drunk to do anything about it." He handed me my fake ID.
"Oh my gosh thank you this guy was about to call the police." I looked back at the bartender as he hung up the phone.
"Haha it's not his fault you look like you're 12." I wasn't sure to be offended or thankful that he was trying to help.
"Don't worry I got this." Mr. Hottie gave me a smirk and walked up to the bar.
"You know this girl?" Mr. Gruff voice asked nodding at me.
"Yah she's a bit of a ditz when it comes to things like this but she is who she says she."
Gruffy looked at me. "Give it here." I handed it to him. He eyed it for a few seconds then flipped it over. He didn't look completely convinced.
"And besides," Hottie continued. "Even if she was underage you were the one who offered her the drink so you would be the one in trouble not Sam."
Gruff scowled at him. "Whatever." He handed me back my ID and walked away. Then there was just me and Mr. Hottie. I looked up at him. He had to be almost a foot taller than me and I was 5'5.
"Thanks for helping me out I don't know what I would do if that guy would have called the police." I laughed.
"No problem." He chuckled. "Besides what's the worst that could happen? Your parents grounding you at 21."
I laughed. Awkward I forgot he didn't know that I was only 16.
"So." He smirked "Can I buy you a drink?"
I smiled "That's sweet but don't you think that after all that I owe you a drink?"
"No because I'm a gentlemen." He waved over a different bartender and asked what I wanted.
I only knew like two drink names so I asked for a Bloody Mary and he got one as well.
"Wow I completely forgot to ask." I put my hand to my head. "What's your name?"
"It's ok." He laughed "Nathan but most people call me Nate."
"Nate." I repeated. "I like that."
"You can thank my parents for that." He smirked. Ugh his dimples were so cute I could barely stand it. A girl bartender served us our drinks and then winked at me. I blushed. I could tell Nate saw her wink.
He raised his glass for a toast.
"Oh?" I teased. "What could we possibly be celebrating? Besides not getting grounded of course." He laughed.
"A toast to a beautiful girl such as yourself and that I got so lucky to buy her a drink."
"As cheesy as that was I'll take it." I beamed. "Thank you." *clink* I took a small sip and nearly choked. This definitely was not the electric lemonade I had earlier tonight.
"Are you ok?" He touched my shoulder even though I could tell he was trying not to laugh.
"Oh yah I'm fine." I cleared my throat. I could feel my cheeks blush.
"I'm guessing you don't drink much?"
"No I do I just took too big of a sip." Stupid, Stupid, Stupid. I wanted to scream.
"Gotcha." He watched me as he downed a gulp of his Bloody Mary.
I playfully rolled my eyes. "Show off." He smiled.
"I'll be right back." He said. I saw him head towards the men's room. That was a complete disaster. I thought to myself. I'll be lucky if he comes back from the bathroom. I looked over to my lefttwo seats down to see a cute little married couple drinking together. I figured they were married because of their rings. The way they talked was so smooth and natural I began to regret some of the things I said to Nate. Then the girl walked away and the guy was left sitting there. Just like me. I smiled at the thought. I guess I wasn't alone. I continued to watch him when I saw him slip a little packet with white powder into the girls drink.
I was so confused. What the heck? Then the girl came back and took a sip of her drink. I sort of blankly stared not sure what to do. They were married weren't they? Why would he drug her drink? Maybe they were meds or something. I looked away. A few minutes later the girl said she didn't feel too well. She got up from her seat walking towards the bathroom when she just collapsed. Everyone nearby gasped including myself. I looked back at the drugger and he was out the door. I was in complete shock. A fat old guy bent down next to the girl to check her pulse. He looked up and sadly and shook his head. By now pretty much half the room that was sober enough was gathered around the girl. One of the bartenders called the police. A little old lady searched the crowd until she found me.
"Weren't you next to them?" asked the lady.
"Me?" I replied pointing to myself.
"Yes you were next to that couple."
Another guy spoke up. "Did he poison her!"
"I- I" I was a lost for words. "I don't know I didn't see anything." I lied.
"There's no way you didn't see anything you were 5 feet away." The same guy yelled.
I felt tears well up in my eyes. Everyone was staring at me. I felt like I was going to faint. I started to back up when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Hey if she said she didn't see anything she didn't see anything. Now why don't you guys mind your own business and stop picking on the kid." His voice was so loud and full of authority that the room hushed. Slowly but surely the people drew back. Shortly after, the ambulance came to take the body. Apparently they were going to try to shock her.
I rushed to Jay to give her a hug. A rush a relief flew over me. Or alcohol, couldn't tell.
"Let's go home Jay." I pleaded.
"We'll have to... have to um catch a cab or something." She slumped into a stool.
"Jay you just rest there I'll be right back." I went to get some water and noticed Nate coming towards me. I was sort of trying to avoid him since I felt like I embarrassed myself...twice.
"Hey." He smiled.
"Hey." I quickly smiled back. There was an awkward pause and he sort of looked around the room like he was looking for words to say.
So I instead I said something. "Thanks for helping me out...again." I timidly laughed.
"Anytime." He then sat there looking at me with those mysterious brown eyes as if he could see right through me and my lies. I looked down. I had never gotten this much attention from a hot guy let alone one who was almost 10 years older than me. I took the opportunity to ask him a favor; As if he hadn't done enough already.
"Hey would it be possible if you could take me and my friend home? She's not exactly in it at the moment and I cannot drive a motorcycle."  I pleaded looking up at him. I wouldn't normally ask someone I don't know very well for a favor like this but there was something about him that made me trust him. "It's not too far away, and if you can't do it that's completely fine." I quickly added.
"Yah of course." He gleamed. "But I do believe that would be my 3rd favor for you this evening."
"True." I thought. "But this is the only one I actually asked for."
He smirked looking down on me. Man he made me feel short.
"Touché." He finally said. He looked over at Jay with concern. "Are you sure she's even able to walk to the car?"
I also looked at Jay and sighed. "Hold on." I said moving towards her. "Jay!" I yelled. I shook her a little. Nothing. I felt my cheeks turn a little red. "Uh yah she's pretty knocked out." I sheepishly grinned.
Nate smiled at me and walked over to Jay. "That's ok I can carry her."
I looked at his muscles. "Whoo no kidding." I mumbled.
"What was that?" Nate looked back picking Jay up.
"Oh nothing." I coughed and grabbed my arm.
He looked at me puzzled and then with understanding. "Yah it's been a pretty crazy night. Terrible what happened to that girl." He said with pity.
"I know I still can hardly believe it." I gulped thinking about what had just happened not too long ago. But I tried to shove the thought out of my head. "I just really hope the girl is ok. I don't know what I would do if-" I bit my lip looking up trying to make my eyes stop watering.
"Hey it's ok, it's not your fault for what happened." His chocolate brown eyes melted into mine. "Everything happens for a reason and there was nothing you could have done about it." He assured.
I weakly smiled. "Thanks." We stood in silence until Nate readjusted Jay on his shoulder.
"Alright she's not as light as she looks I say we get to the car." He joked. We walked out the back door where we saw dozens of police cars and news reporters pulling in.
"Well that was fast." My breathing started to get a little heavier.
Nate didn't seem to be paying attention. "Damn it." He breathed.
"What is it?" I looked up at him.
"The police are going to want to do questioning for anyone who was in the bar."
My stomach dropped. "Oh." was all I could say.
He looked around. "Come on my car is right over here." We ran opposite from the chaos to an extremely nice looking white Lexus. Nate put Jay in the back seat in a seatbelt and opened the front door for me.
"Thankyou." I said as I closed the door. I sniffed the air. "Your car really smells like cinnamon."
He laughed. "I guess it sort of does doesn't?"
"I like it. It reminds me of Christmas." I grinned.
His smile quickly faded as he scoped what was ahead. "We're going to have to take the alley a few spaces down from Jade's Palace to get out without being stopped by the police." It seemed like he was talking to himself more than he was to me. All of a sudden I started to get a bad feeling about all of this. 'I barely even know this guy yet I'm letting him drive me and my friend home? How could you be so stupid Merida?' But I was desperate. If my mom knew where I was I would never see the light of day. The thought of being locked up and under tight supervision more than I already was seemed like a complete nightmare and I shuddered at the thought. Besides I couldn't let Jay go home like this, not with her dad anyway; she could come with me.
Nate began to pull away and I started to get nervous again. "Maybe we should stick around." I blurted out.
"What do you mean?" He stated stopping the car.
"Just to answer some of the police's questions is all." I explained. "Maybe you or I have something that can add to their case."
He thought about it. "That would be the right thing to do but I honestly don't think either of us saw anything more than anyone else in that bar did."
"Yah I guess you're right. I need to get home soon anyway."
He started the car again.
"Work in the morning?" He asked.
"Church actually."
"Church, huh?" He grinned.
"What's so funny?" I protested.
"Nothing it's just I didn't expect a "church girl" to be out past midnight at a bar. But hey but no judgement. Everyone deserves a drink every once in awhile, right?" He questioned with a cute sly smile across his lips that made his dimples surface.
I blushed. "Exactly." I said matter-of-factly. "And if Jesus can drink wine then why can't I?"
He burst out a laugh. "Oh God Sam."
We drove out of the alley and into an intersection. "So where do you live?" He questioned checking the rearview mirror.
"In Palmdale. It's a few blocks down from PalmDale high school."
"Palmdale High school?" He asked excitedly. "I used to go to school there my freshmen year. Until my dad stopped forcing me I then transferred."
"That's so cool I used to go there too!" I froze. I should've thought through that one.
"No, really?" He smiled.
"Go Tigers..." I awkwardly laughed.
After a while I gave him more specific instructions until we finally pulled in front of my house. All of the lights were off so I guess that was a good sign.
"This is it!" I chirped. Nate peaked his head out the window looking at my house.
"You don't live by yourself do you?"
I swallowed hard. "No I still live with my mom, why?" I questioned.
"I was going to say you live in a pretty nice house for being so young. Especially in this area of California."
"Well I wish I had my own place but thanks anyway." I looked back at Jay. "Do you think you could-?"
"Way ahead of you." He said getting out of the car. I watched him pick up Jay the same way he did before. He stood there waiting for my lead.
"Right this way." I took him to the front door and got out the spare key underneath the mat and started to unlock it. 'Please don't be awake please don't be awake.' I kept repeating in my head. I did a quick glance around the house before continuing walking. "You can just set her on the couch." He listened setting her gently on the white plush couch.
We walked back outside between my door way and I leaned on one side while he stood on the other.
"Thank you so much for everything tonight." I smiled. "I still don't know why a complete stranger such as yourself would do something like this for me but thanks anyway." I was slightly teasing but I was a bit curious.
He looked tucked a piece of my hair that was now starting to frizz behind my ear.
My heart started to pound.
"I'm just being a gentleman." He simply said. "Thank you for allowing me to accompany you on this-" he paused. "Adventurous night."
I chuckled looking down. "That's one word for it." We stood in silence for a moment
I could tell Nate was looking at me which made me feel a bit embarrassed. I couldn't help but run though some of the scenes that happened tonight.
"You really are something." He smirked.
I blushed. "Is that a good something?"
This time he showed his teeth. "Well I guess we'll find out won't we?"
I just smiled not sure what to say. But I did know that I didn't want Nate to leave without me knowing if I'll ever see him again. "Well you know my name, you know where I live, heck you know where my spare key is!" I exclaimed. "Yet you don't know my number..." I pretended to look out at the stars hoping he would say something.
In the corner of my eye I could see him grinning. "We can definitely change that." He took out an IPhone 6s from his pocket and handed it to me. I guessed that meant he wanted me to put in my number. I then gave it back to him and smiled. I had so many butterflies, and for a moment everything felt so right. It was hard to explain.
"Well I'll let you get some sleep before church in the morning." He did a little head bow and started to walk away.
"What about you?" I quietly shouted. He looked behind him at me.
"Church?" I asked.
He put his hands in the air. "I've got work!" He yelled. I slouched on the door frame and bit my lip. I then turned around and laughed out loud. 'What the heck would my mother say?'