ILLUSIONS

ASHER WOOD

Wood had spent days in the Adna silently hoping his mystery damsel would return and so far all his hopes had been dashed.

Imagine his surprise therefore, when Ingrid walked into the club. His excitement knew no bounds.

Ingrid stepped into the club and looked around. Her eyes swept the length and breadth of the hall and she didn't miss the young man who had pestered her on her previous visit. Well, she could use a distraction but this time she wasn't leaving without Blood.

She walked to the bar and ordered a soda. Again. She still wasn't used to alcohol. Asher found himself walking over to her and sat on the stool by her. This time just to impress her he just asked for water.

Ingrid couldn't help but smile. All this just to impress a lady and word on the street was he was a lady's man. Well, she was to see how the evening would turn out.

She took a sip of her drink. She could see he was struggling to find the right words to say and couldn't help but stifle a laughter.

Asher had never been this speechless. For once in his life time he was lost for words and to think he had always been eloquent. This particular girl was having an effect on him no other girl had and it was surprising.

'We meet again, Miss...?' Asher left the question hanging in the air awaiting a response.

'I thought the last time we met I made it quite obvious, we weren't going to be friends. One would have thought you'd have given up by now.'

Asher smiled. 'You know, you remind me of my mum. Strong willed, confident, beautiful, eloquent and very caring. Now caring is what draws me to you.'

Grid was intrigued. 'And what makes you think I possess all those qualities.'

Asher could see he now had her attention. 'Let's make a deal,' he begun with a smile. 'I'll tell you three things about yourself which are very true and in return you give me your attention just for this night. If you still remain bored after tonight, I give you my word, I won't disturb you again. So, do we have a deal?' Wood ended his little speech whilst leaning towards her expecting an answer.

Grid was impressed and wanted to find out more about this guy who was so cocksure of himself.

She laughed. And suddenly she realised something. This was the first time in a long while she had laughed so heartily.

Now she really wanted to know this guy. There was just something about him.

'Okay, Mr Wood, you have my full attention.'

Wood clapped his hands in apparent glee. 'Okay, let's see. You have been through a lot of pain and you hide behind a wall shutting everyone out because you don't want to be hurt again. Two, you really want to experience love like never before and desire some inner peace and contentment and are at loss as to where you'll experience that. Last observation, 'Asher looked closely at her and continued quietly , 'beneath that calm and  composed lady you portray, is a very scared and troubled young lady. It's all just a front you put up to deceive everyone that you are alright.'

Wood looked thoughtfully at her. She was good at hiding her emotions and was doing a good job of it .

'Seems like you got me. You have my attention.'

Grid finally spoke up.

And that was how Wood and Grid spent the whole night getting to know each other. They spoke at length and Grid forgot all about the reason she was there. Grid enjoyed his company immensely and when she realised time was far spent and had to leave, she found herself making plans with him to meet again. Well, considering the fact that Blood had not showed up, Grid reasoned that the night hadn't been wasted.

As she rose to leave she realised she hadn't still told him her name.

'I'm sorry I have to run...'

'Aaaaaaarrrhhh...,' Asher suddenly held his head in his palms in pain. He looked up  at Grid and a minute later he was alright.

'I'm sorry, I don't know what happened just then.' Asher said with a confused expression on his face.

'I hope this hasn't ruined anything between us.'

'No, no, but I think you should get home. Maybe you just had too much to drink. You really looked scared for a minute. I could swear I saw pure fear and pain in your eyes. You should really get home.'

'Alright if you say so. I guess maybe I had too much to drink.'

With that they both left the club with the promise to meet again sometime during the week. They exchanged numbers and each went their way.

Grid was baffled by what had happened. For that brief moment she could swear she saw immense fear in his eyes and so much vulnerability as well.

Her intuition was telling her there was more to his behaviour within that minute, than met the eye.

She however brushed it aside. She had had too much of a good time to let something as fleeting as this mar her otherwise perfect night.

She leaned back in the car seat and dreamt of their next meeting.
She already knew she liked the guy and she smiled to herself in the darkness.