cornerstone:: lrh

o n e

the bar was loud and crowded, rock music blaring from all angles.

i was drinking to forget her.

the lights were dim, the red exit sign lit up the joint.

i caught the attention of the bartender, asking for a corona, or just any beer they had really. all i wanted to do was drink, drink, drink.

"give me anything with alcohol. i don't care what it is." i smile wearily at him.

he laughs. "okay."

minutes later, he returns with that corona i suggested. i chug it, asking for another. he brings it.

i nurse this one for a while, not wanting to get ahead of myself. i raise my eyes from the carvings in the wood of the bar itself and they meet a girl's.

victoria?

no. it couldn't be her. she wouldn't come here.

she was just a look-a-like. nothing but a vision trick under the dim red lighting.

i smile to myself, looking down. just like her. exactly like her. i look back up, she's gone.

i stand up quickly, rushing around trying to find her. my eyes meet hers again. she was on the dancefloor, swaying sexily to the music. she was beckoning me with her body. i walk to her in a trance-like state.

"hey," she says. "saw you staring at me. what's up?"

"oh nothing, just grabbing a drink," i simply reply. "wasn't expecting to see a pretty number like you here."

she giggles, reaching her hand towards me. "stella."

my hand meets hers, and we shake hands. stella's hand even felt like hers. "luke."

"well, luke. i find you very attractive. what are you up to the rest of the night?"

"going home with you, i hope." we laugh. "but no, um, just drinking, drinking, and more drinking." she giggles again. "well, uh, what are you doing the rest of the night?"

"going home with you, i hope," she answers in a seductive voice, grabbing my hand and working her way towards the exit.

i stop her. "wait, seriously?"

she looks at me as if she can't believe what i'm saying, raising her eyebrows. "uh, yeah. you're, like, ridiculously hot."

"oh well thank y-" she cuts me off by continuing to pull me closer and closer to the exit.

this night is going well.

//

the taxi drops us off a couple blocks from my apartment, and we begin to walk.

after we walk a block, i finally work up the courage.

"hey, stella?" i ask, bracing myself.

"yeah?"

"can i call you her name?"

"what?"

"can i call you victoria?"

"no, what the fuck? she your girlfriend or something?" she goes to the curb and begins waving her arms for a cab.

"no, wait- i'm sorry-" a cab approaches her. i put my hand on her shoulder. she shudders it off.

"don't touch me."

"stella, i'm sorry! just forget it."

"no, you forget it. i'm going home. call me when you've got your issues sorted out." the door slams and the taxi speeds away.

//

first chapter? check. what do you think? let me know in the comments. fyi, these chapters will be relatively short, and there will probably be as many chapters as there are verses in the songs. and most of them will be in luke's pov, unless i say so. thanks for reading!!