If We Ever Get an Hour Together (A Van McCann fanfiction)

Listen, the Distance

Lucia:

Van looked at me, confused. I took a deep breath and repeated my words. "Let's just sleep together already."

He raised his eyebrows. Gabi pushed against me, her nails digging into my skin. "Lucia."

The silence was too long. Van opened and closed his mouth. I answered for him. "Forget it." I shoved past Gabi and walked past the dance floor. I squeezed past bodies, smelling perfume and sweat. I made a beeline for the restrooms, thankful there wasn't a line. 

I stood against the sink, taking a deep breath. The bass resounded through the walls, and I could hear laughter and yelling from the outside. The door slammed open and I straightened up, expecting to see a girl coming in. But Van walked in, a vision all in black. I swallowed and looked at him through the mirror, ready for the telling off of a lifetime. 

He grabbed my wrist and yanked me around harshly. "What the hell is wrong with you? Who do you think you are Lucia?" He swallowed, stepping forward and forcing me back. "What kind of game are you playing really? Just sleep with me Van. Christ."

I swallowed. "God I get it. You don't want to sleep with me." Van's mouth shut. Finally he started to laugh. And kept laughing. My face warmed. Van took a step back and wiped his eyes. "Van, get out of here before I slap you."

He stopped laughing for a moment, and then leaned against the wall, breaking into another laugh. "I can't with you Lucia. I'm going to lose my fucking mind with you." He leaned forward and sighed. "Had you asked me to sleep with you the first night or two after we'd met, I would've done it without a single thought." 

My stomach twisted. "What changed?"

He looked at me. "I respect you too much to do that now." He straightened up and threw the door open, walking out and leaving me standing in the restroom. 

"Maybe I don't want to be respected." I muttered. I waited a minute and then finally left the restroom. 

The group had regathered at the bar now. Gabi was leaning against Hannah, who was leaning against Bondy. Bob and Benji were talking to some girls, and Van was nowhere to be found. He was probably outside smoking another cigarette. I listened to Gabi and Hannah's drunk rambling, looking around the club and suddenly wanting to go home. So Van respected me too much now, what did that even mean?

Someone fell against me to my right. "Megan, please stop." I turned to see the very close backside of a blonde girl. Next to her, a guy was trying to grab her, but she faltered. "Leave me alone Nick. Go sleep with one of your other bitches, but leave me alone." She finally turned to face me. "What are you looking at? Mind your own business."

"Excuse me?"

The guy shook his head, eyes going to me. "Megan. Wow, sorry about that I"-

The girl turned to the guy, raising her hands up. "I'm over it Nick! Have this bitch then!"

I opened my mouth. "Who do you"-

The girl walked away. The guy stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. Finally, he looked to me. "Whoa, sorry about that. She's a very recent ex of mine who...Well I'm sure you don't care about the details."

Someone stood next to me and I felt an arm brush lightly against mine. I could smell the faint cigarette on Van. I turned my back to him to face Nick. He was still looking at me, beginning to smile. "No yeah, don't worry about it. Nick right?"

He was kind of cute. "Right. And you're...?"

"Lucia." I smiled. 

Nick looked around the place. "Can I buy you a drink Lucia?"