The New Prince

Chapter 4

The Academy's bar and grill filled with a large amount of Alliance officers talking and enjoying the coming of the weekend. Many danced to the rhythm of the music the rock band performed from the stage, while others played billiards, darts or virtual reality war games from the medium sized playroom located in the corner of the venue. At the bar, a young woman sat whispering something to a young man seated next to her.

"I think it's for the best, Jake."

The man stared at her incredulously then ran his hands through his cropped short hair. "You're kidding me Erin! I swear you..."

The girl nervously tucked her sandy hair behind one ear as she interrupted him. "Jake, please understand. Why continue something that's not going to go anywhere? We only dated for two months. I'm sure from the beginning you knew we had no chemistry."

"There's no chemistry because you won't allow any! Damn it Erin. You have a history of doing this with every guy you date. How stupid of me to think our relationship would be any different!"

Erin sighed in frustration. "Why are you making this harder?"

"Why? Why? You really are something else Erin! When will you realize that he's gone?"

At that question, Erin's body went rigid.

Nodding harshly, Jake continued. "He's gone Erin. I'm pretty sure he's moved on with his life. You should too. When you realize that that part of your life is over, maybe then you will move on and hopefully give some other schmuck a decent chance with you."

She looked down, unable to face him…unable to face his words.

He finished, "Goodbye Erin." The young man stood up and left her abruptly.

Sighing with relief and frustration, Erin turned around to face the bartender. "Jesse, can you bring me a beer?"

"Sure thing, Erin." Replied the older man as he grabbed a bottle from below the counter and opened it before he offered it to her. "To your sorrows!" He stated half laughing.

"Whatever, Jessie," she answered him with a smug smile as she rolled her eyes. She took a sip of her bottle when she heard a female voice speak to her.

"I'm sorry," she heard the female voice state.

She turned to find a young woman, about her age, maybe a bit older, with long blonde wavy hair and blue eyes smiling at her. Again, she repeated what she said, "I apologize, I didn't mean to listen in on your conversation, but I'm sorry for what happened."

Erin shrugged her shoulders, "It happens. What can I say? We didn't have any chemistry."

The blonde laughed. "I know what you mean!"

Erin smiled back. "You don't look like an officer. I mean, I've never seen you around campus."

"Well, I'm not," the blonde answered with a giggle. "Actually, I'm with the guy over there," she gestured to the area where a bunch of men played virtual darts, drinking and laughing loudly. "The other blonde with the wavy hair."

"Adam brought you?" Erin asked curiously. "Man, he's worse than me. I heard he broke up with Sheila just yesterday."

"Ahh," The girl answered. "So that explains why I'm here and he's there!"

Erin laughed "Don't take it personally. Adam is just Adam...great soldier, awful with the ladies. My name is Erin by the way."

"Angie," she answered extending her hand to shake Erin's. "Nice to meet you. I really didn't mean to barge in on your business. I have been sitting here for about a half hour and I'm bored out of my mind!"