Birds of Paradise

January 13th, 2008

Birds of Paradise

 

 

January 13th, 2008

  

That weekend, Elea visited Cassandra. A lot of shopping and late night movie watching was in store. And part of Elea was giddy about the fact that she would be barely fifteen minutes away from Liam. Elea’s house was easily two hours away from the boy. Because of that, she barely ever saw him. Of course, every time it was always as perfect as the last.

            They shopped all day at the mall and then came back to Cassandra’s house and watched Sabrina, not the bad version, no, the one with Audrey Hepburn.

            And then Cassandra offered to go out to a little pub.

            At first, Elea was reluctant. There were still many movies that could be watched and she barely ever went out at night. But she quickly changed her mind when her friend mentioned the fact that Liam and his friend would meet them there.

            The shy brunette snuck into her friend’s make-up and put on mascara and took off her glasses ready to lose a bit of her sight to try to make a good impression. She felt silly putting her glasses in their case but wasn’t going to change her mind. She liked the boy. Surely, he’d realize she liked him if she started to put on make-up?

            The two friends drove to the pub and walked in the streets, freezing in the cold winter weather. Elea was especially cold seeing she had opted for a cuter coat that wasn’t exactly the best to keep her warmth.

            When they arrived, the boys still weren’t there, so Cassandra went to wait for them at the door while she left Elea at the bar. The poor girl sat on the stool and denied the bartender’s offer for beer. She looked around herself, self-conscious. She didn’t like being alone, waiting, unable to clearly see.

            She hid behind her hair and took her phone out, playing with it. She had no one to text, but she pretended she did, for the sake of doing something.

            Finally, a red head appeared, with a tall boy following her. Elea’s heart sped up and her whole face light up.

            They smiled at each other and Liam sat beside her, ordering drinks for the whole gang—that’s something he always did, he always paid for everyone. 

            “Wasn’t Marilyn supposed to come too?” he inquired before taking a gulp from his buck of beer.

            Elea only held tightly to her own, not much of a beer fan. “Oh yeah, but she had to stay home and study for a big test,” she explained.

            Liam nodded over his drink and then smiled at the three friends. “You guys want to play pool?”

            Everyone agreed.

            “Do you know how to play?” he asked Elea.

            “Of course not. My brother has a pool table in the basement and he always makes me play with him, but no I have no clue how to play.”

            The boy frowned at her for a second. Elea wanted to slap her forehead. Why couldn’t she have just shut up? Why did her stupid sarcastic comments have to come out, now?

            “I was joking,” she explained. “I know how to play.”

            “Oh,” he chuckled and then the four started to play. Elea still wanted to slap herself though.

            All night long, an old man tried hitting on Liam. They laughed about it. They played four games of pool. Every time someone was teamed up with Elea, they’d win. She was happy that her brother’s pastime was useful for once. Elea never paid for one drink, Liam always did. And all night long he stood, right beside her, leaning against the bar, exchanging smiles from now and then.

            When it was finally time to part, Elea got on her tip toes and hugged Liam, for a little longer than necessary.

            She still smelled like him after he left.