Bright

one

I sat on the floor of me and Michael’s apartment as he played guitar on the couch. “Michael, pleeeeeease!” I begged. I had spent the last twenty minutes pleading my best friend to go out for drinks with me. I don’t ask Michael to go out much but today was special. I got hired for my first teaching job! Since graduating with my degree, I have been a substitute teacher at three schools and a teacher’s aide but now it was MY time to have a classroom of my own and teach the way I want to. When I told Michael, he was thrilled for me. Mikey has always been the person to cheer me on and support me when I need it most. My last semester of college, I became very discouraged. The teaching jobs in our area had become really scarce and I was scared about my ability to find a job with the degree I had been working so hard for. Suddenly, I lost all motivation. But Michael made sure to encourage me every single day. He helped me manage my stress and because of him, I ended the semester with a 4.0 GPA. And now here I am, trying to convince him to go out and celebrate with me. “Please, Mikey! It will be fun. Aren’t you excited for me?” I peered up at him focused on his guitar. He didn’t move his eyes but only said, “Stella… You know I’m excited for you! I just don’t understand why we can’t celebrate here with a few drinks?” I smiled. Typical Michael never wants to leave our comfy apartment. I shook my head. “You never do anything fun! Come on, just one night,” I placed my hand on the neck of the guitar, “as your roommate and best friend, you owe me.” He smiled with his teeth and moved the guitar onto the bed. “Okay.” He said in a fit of defeat. I jumped up and yelped, “Yes!” I scurried off to my room.

I was ready within thirty minutes. I wore dark skinny jeans and a turquoise blouse and Mike wore a black tee shirt and black jeans. We ordered our drinks and found a spot right outside of the bar with umbrellas over the tables (even though they were totally not needed at this time of night considering it was eleven but whatever). Michael held up his drink to me, “Cheers, to Miss Campbell.” I beamed a smile from ear to ear and knocked back my drink. We talked about our week and how nice it feels to relax for a bit before getting to work in a few days. After our third drink, we reminisced about college and crazy antics we got into. I started feeling warmer the more we drank and better the more we laughed. Michael stopped drinking after his third drink. Even though he has always handled his liquor better than I have, he wanted to “be responsible for getting us home safely”. I, on the other hand, continued to celebrate. The drinks must have gone through my system quickly because after a while, I had to excuse myself to the “little girl’s room”. I stood up and felt a little dizzy. Michael reached for my hand, “Are you okay? Want me to help you?” I shook my head. I was fuzzy but I could make it to the freaking bathroom on my own. “If you’re not back in five minutes, I’m coming for you.” He warned. I placed my hands up in surrender, “Okay, Papa Bear!” He gave a small smile but his eyes remained serious.

I ventured inside the loud pub and leaned against the bar for support. Wow, there are a lot of people here tonight. A large portion of the crowd was positioned around the stage where there was karaoke. A younger looking Asian girl approached the microphone and “Call Me Maybe” started pouring from the speakers. Everyone cheered as the groovy beat started playing. The verse hit and MAN this girl is good. Her voice filled every note and flowed so perfectly. She was so good she made everyone else want to sing along. I started bobbing to the beat when some college student in a baseball cap appeared next to me and started singing too. He had an invisible microphone in front of him and he was making motions for me to make my own. I laughed and joined in. When the chorus hit, the entire pub erupted with “SO CALL ME MAYBE!” I moved from person to person with my invisible microphone. Laughter bubbled from my throat with each stranger who sang along with me. I felt really dizzy and wandered back to the bar for support. I needed to focus on getting to the bathroom but I was only focused on the young girl’s singing. She captivated everyone in the pub. The chorus was roaring up again and I geared up my invisible microphone. There was a guy sitting at a bar stool who was about five feet from me. His head was down but that didn’t stop me from sliding across to him and laying an elbow on his shoulder. I sang along loudly into my mic and danced right next to the stranger’s body. He stood still and unenthused. Then, he glared up at me. I stopped dancing and singing. He turned his entire face up to me. Jesus Christ, he is beautiful. His hair stuck up in the front and his pink lips pursed together in frustration. His blue eyes pierced into me. His large hands were wrapped around a small glass and his broad shoulders tensed. I took a fraction of a step back but didn’t stop staring back at him. I didn’t want to miss a single part of his face. His lips were wet from his drink and I felt the stinging sensation to taste them. His eyes looked tired. I wanted to know this strangers story. “Hi.” I spoke.

He turned his broad shoulders to me, “don’t you have self respect?” My mouth went dry. Oh. What exactly did I do to make him so mad? Did I disrupt him? I mean, did this man seriously think he would get peace and quiet in a pub? “S-sorry?” I asked. He lowered his eyebrows at me, “You don’t even know me and you were practically rubbing your body on me. And now you are ogling at me.” My mouth drops and I take a step back. “I am not ogling you!” But he’s right. I can’t stop staring at him but there was no way I will let him know that. The stranger smirked and slammed back his drink. I watched his Adam’s apple work to swallow the liquid.

Suddenly, I felt a hand grab mine from behind. Michael’s voice was in my ear, “There you are! I was getting worried.” I kept my eyes on the stranger with bright eyes. Michael laid a hand on my back. The stranger spoke, “Is this your boyfriend? Geeze, you really have no respect.” My heart tugged. I didn’t know a stranger could make me feel so sad yet so intrigued. Michael shrugged my jacket on my shoulders and led me away. “Come on, Stella. Let’s go.” Before reaching the door, I looked back one more time to see a smirk on the strangers face.

“What was that all about?” Michael asked as he protectively wrapped his arm around my shoulder. I shook my head, “No one.”

We made it back to the apartment safely but considering I was practically useless, Mikey helped me get ready for bed. As he folded back the covers for me, I settled in but felt a stinging ache of loneliness. The stranger’s words were stuck in my head. Michael told me goodnight and closed the door. That night I dreamt of singing crowds and bright blue eyes.