I Want to Know Who You Are

Chapter One

The clock on the wall read 9:12. The Red Sparrow, a cozy bar on the outskirts of downtown, was surprisingly busy this early. Julien chalked it up to being due to the chaotic number of shoppers out so close to the holidays. The energy in the room was the type that only a Friday night could draw in. The small tables and booths were surrounded by people of all ages and backgrounds. A group of co-workers assembled in the corner furthest from the door, out to celebrate the huge success of a long-term project they had completed earlier that day. Seated in the middle of the long, black, granite topped bar was a young couple, presumably on their first date due to the excitement and anxiety that shown on both of their faces. Julien smiled at the sight of them nervously talking and laughing together. She loved love.

"Oh my god, don't look but I think the guy in the corner with the black jacket on is the same guy that I hooked up with on Halloween night. You guys remember? The one who cried when I left and I freaked when he asked for my number and accidentally blurted out Alex's?"

Hannah's startling revelation snapped Julien back to reality. She had been scanning the room, trying to get a feel for the people surrounding them. She had a habit of spacing out while trying to absorb her environment.

"Yea, I remember. Thanks for that," Alex retorted. "After 5 unanswered calls from him, I finally had to get a guy I work with to answer and scare him off."

"I'm sorry, you know that I'm not really known for my quick decision making," Hannah replied, sounding genuinely apologetic.

This was true. While the three friends were extremely close, almost emitting a somewhat codependent bond, they had never had an issue with acknowledging each other's flaws. Julien, the outwardly tough, confident, and sarcastic but inwardly soft and empathetic hipster, always had her head in the clouds. Hannah, the stereotypically beautiful, but also extremely intelligent aspiring musician, was a terrible decision maker. Alex, the athletic prodigy who could have taken one of a thousand offered scholarships to any college in the country but decided to go to a community college for a business degree, had self-esteem issues and was always worried that she'd never live up to everyone's expectations.

The group had been friends since Mr. King's 8th grade History class, where they became known as the inseparable, yet often troublesome, band of misfits that they still were to this day. The 15 years since their fateful meeting, due to being put together for a group project on the Great Depression, had been filled with adventures, heartbreaks, long nights exchanging secrets, and many, many laughs.

"You guys want to go see that new Quentin Tarantino movie tomorrow?" asked Hannah, "I somehow got the entire weekend off and I don't want to spend it stuck in my apartment binging Netflix, which seems to be how I spend most of my time off lately. There's only so much of Parks and Rec that you can watch in one week before your brain explodes."

"First off, blasphemy about Parks and Rec. Second, sorry Han, my mom will be in town and I've already promised my weekend to her. She wants to go shopping and I'm not complaining because I'm in desperate need of new shoes." Alex looked down at the Chucks she had been wearing for at least the last 3 years. She was sentimental and often kept clothes for an excessive amount of time.

Saddened by the reply, but understanding because she knew how close Alex was to her mom, Hannah turned her attention to Julien, looking at her questioningly and hoping for a different response.

Before Julien could say anything, the sound of glass shattering came from the front of the bar. A patron looked down at the mess he had caused, then around apologetically, but that was unseen by Julien. At the same time customers were observing his clumsiness, all she could focus on was what she knew was hands down the most beautiful girl she had ever seen walking through the door. She could feel her heart rate speed up as she studied the newest addition to the crowded bar. She was wearing a black pea coat with what looked like denim skinny jeans, but it was hard to tell due to the amount of people in between them. Her long, light brunette hair was braided and resting over her right shoulder with a few strands that had fallen to the sides. A strong jawline framed her face and her soft eyes were something that Julien was pretty sure she could happily get lost in. She watched as the gorgeous stranger looked around for a place to settle in.