Leo's Gold

Two | Tears and Acquaintances

Sage was on the verge of grabbing her purse and fishing out another ten dollar bill to pay for another drink she so desperately wanted at the time. Possibly needed, as she saw what a great time she was having when Parker didn't come to her mind, until of course she began thinking about him once again. He was an all consuming thought that would bound her, destroy her every time she got the image of him snuggled up with another woman other than her. Why he done it, she would never know. Frankly, she could care less about why, but 'how' was the question that rang in her ear endlessly. How could he easily just fall into adultery when he knew that she was deeply in love with him? How could he leave her to be with that woman, leave her nothing but the house she saw the shoes and clothes sprawled out on the stairs in? How?

At a time, she wondered if she wasn't good enough for him. Maybe that the sex wasn't good, and he just couldn't help himself. But after a month of her good sister and only friend, Albany, she learned that it wasn't her fault at all. What she had done was love him, and even though that wasn't enough to make him love her back, that was enough on her part. Sage couldn't do anymore than what she had done, she just wish she could.

Parker Bancroft was the splitting image of James Dean in highschool and throughout college. The leather jacket and denim jeans were enough to make any girl feel she was lucky to even talk to him. Besides that, Parker was gorgeous, and his looks were a spell cast upon Sage, she just didn't know it at the time. From the special dinners, to the motorcycle rides at midnight, Sage had fallen head over heels for a man that had been hooking up with other girls since they started dating. It was all a lie, all of it from the beginning.

"Fuck." She mumbled to herself, feeling her eyes glisten with tears that would soon threaten to fall from her own hazel eyes. She didn't want to come to the bar and cry in front of all the bartenders and men and women that were having fun. Sage wanted to have fun, and while it was good for ten minutes, a headache had already hit her and she was debating on picking her things and going home where she cry as much as she wanted. "Fuck, fuck, fuck." She shrugged her shoulders to herself and then felt the tear that fell from her eye, run down her cheek and hit her lips. The familiar slaty taste exploded on her tastebuds and burned as more and more fell without question.

Leo laughed with the middle aged man that was ordering another BudLight to watch the game with his co-workers. His hands were at work, and in a matter of seconds he had pulled a tall glass from under the counter and poured the beer from the dispenser into the cup and handed it swiftly to the man. The man handed him seven dollars and nodded towards him with a smile, "For the next one too." Leo looked down and nodded, placing the money with the man's growing check that he would receive later that night. For a few moments, Leo looked over at the game, then deciding he doesn't know why he has never gotten into football like other men do. He's more of a soccer man.

Wiping at the counters, he cleaned off the spilled beer and leftover food before throwing the cloth down and pouring himself a beer that he much needed. After a long day of struggling at the store, then cutting his finger and leaving his coke to bust on the ground, he had already served over one hundred men and women and he had been there just an hour and a half. The man could very easily turn into an alcoholic if he stayed in the bar from open to closing time.

Wincing at the strong taste of the beer, he sat the glass down on the counter and let the liquid burn his throat, before he threw his head back, closed his eyes and groaned. As he opened his eyes and turned his head he caught a glimpse of a very sad looking woman sitting at the end of the bar. His head cocked to the side, studying her as she sniffled. 'Shit, she's crying.' Leo questioned himself for a few minutes, going back and forth on asking her what's wrong or leaving her be. Slowly, before he could stop himself though, he had already walked over to the woman and leaned down on the wooden counter. 'Dumbass, you don't even know what to say.'

He cleared his throat, getting her attention. She raised her head in panic, her eyes swollen and red. Leo's mouth hung open as he stared at her, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in the small bar. His green eyes widened and he could simply not stop staring at the golden beauty that sat in front of him.

Sage was frozen in place. She didn't mean to cry in the bar, and now that she did this man was in front of her staring her down like she's meat. And for Christ sakes' he's a bartender. 'What did I do to get this kind of punishment, God? What did I do?' She do desperately wanted to get up and run away, but she simply couldn't because the man that was dangerously close to her would probably question her and she didn't feel like talking to anybody. So, she slowly put her head down and pretended she hadn't seen and waited for him to move away from her.

"Not in the mood for talking?" His voice caught her by surprise. She would have easily thought he'd have a higher voice, but it was rather low and musky sounding. If he was dressed as a biker she would almost pounce on him to get rid of Parker who was still consuming her everyday thoughts. But he was definitely not her type, he was dressed too simply and his hair was light brown. Sage liked black sleek hair, and he didn't have it. So, she shrugged her shoulders and decided to keep her head down. "Alright, well a bar is usually for people to have fun and let loose. Both of which you aren't doing."

Again, Sage shrugged her shoulders. The bartender was not going to give up though, because that was simply not in his nature. "I'm Leo, by the way. You can tell me your name if you want." Sage almost laughed out loud at his weak game he had with girls. "I'd rather have your name so I can put a name to the face." Sighing Sage sat up and looked at him for just a brief moment.

"And I'd rather not tell you my name."

Leo was not giving up. He was a very persistent, stubborn man that knew no boundaries when it came to introducing himself. Even if the woman is not interested once whatsoever. "Well, I could give you a free drink if you rod me your name. I'd pay for it myself." He could hear a light laugh, followed by the girl sitting herself up and glaring at him. He was so fascinated in her beauty, he had not realized she was getting up from the bar stool and walking out the door. "Wait!" He called out, jumping over the counter and almost falling.

He walked outside where she had went, finding her getting into her car. He quickly ran to the car, stopped her in her tracks and let out a breath of relief. The girl just glared at him, "Look, I don't want to hook up with you, or let you get into my pants buddy. So please leave me alone." 'Get in her pants?' Leo shook his head and his eyebrows furrowed, while his breathing was still uneasy from the hasty run he had to do.

"No, no. That's not what I want. I just thought you were beautiful, insanely beautiful," He cleared his throat, "You just looked like you needed a friend that's all." The woman's features softened, and she sighed, holding out a hand.

"I'm Sage, and I'm sorry, I thought you wanted more than that."

••••

Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! And like I said in chapter one, this is only the beginning of a long, confusing and cute love story!