"the black haired girl"

iv

william was soon on the sidewalks of the small american town where his college was near. his thumbs were hooked onto the belt loops of his slightly baggy blue jeans, and he let his hands hang there at his waist. a cool autumn breeze flowed through the streets, and in between the many buildings. as william walked on, he looked up at the night sky. he liked the stars, but he never took time to truly admire their delicacy.

he liked how the night felt on his skin. in his hair. around his eyes. he almost got chilly, however, with the temperatures constantly getting colder and autumn passing by.

soon enough, william approached the club. he ran a hand back through his hair, and took a deep breath before walking inside.

his id was checked, and he was let past the second door.

and there he was, back in the club. where he'd been the previous night. the same pink and purple lights tinted all the same reds, blacks, whites and blues. the same white lights moved around the room constantly. the ladies and the men danced in the same moderation. the same music blasted over the same unorganized yelling. william hoped that, if one thing wasn't the same as the previous night, it was his overall experience.

he saw an open spot at the bar, and he walked over to take it before someone else did. sitting up on the round chair, he laid his arms on the counter. he called the bartender over- that night it was a woman. she dirty blonde hair up in a ponytail, and she looked quite tired. he ordered two beers.

after the two pre-opened bottles were slid his way, he spun his chair around. he nervously did his same, slow survey of the room, looking for the black haired girl.

when he reached a certain point, the far end of the dance floor, there was a section with high tables. the high tables had two high chairs, nailed the the ground. sitting in one of the high chairs, was the black haired girl. and, as if it was fate, she was sitting alone, reading a magazine.

william spun back around in his chair. as he grabbed the two bottles of beer, he mustered up all his courage before sliding out of his seat.

he walked over to the far side of the dance floor, drinks in hand. he was nervous, but he was determined not to let it show. as he neared the table where the black haired girl sat, he ran over the first thing he was to say to her in his head.

william approached the table, on the side of the empty chair. the black haired girl still looked down at her magazine. william shook his head before speaking.

"excuse me, miss," he said at first. the black haired girl looked up, eyeing him confusedly. william's heart felt like it was under fire seeing her face, it was so much prettier up close. her freckles were most prominent along her cheeks, and he still couldn't make out her eye color with the bright lights flashing. but, he concluded they were too light to be brown. without hesitating for too long, william went on: "is this seat taken?"

"oh, no, it's not," she answered rather awkwardly. "but, do i know you?" she raised an eyebrow.

"not necessarily," william boosted himself up into the chair. "but, would you like to?" he questioned back in the same tone, setting the beers down on the table.

"depends. are those both for you?" she pointed to the bottles.

"oh, no, of course not. who would i be, if i didn't offer you one?" he had slightly hesitated. "if you drink, of course." william nudged one of the bottles forward, and to his relief, she took it. his smooth talking was doing him well.

"i'd barely call this drinking," she said as she looked at the label. "ooh.. i admire your taste, though."

william smiled as she took a sip of it. things were going a whole lot better than he had planned, and he prayed it would stay that way.