Sway

Célébrer

Why was I inside of Sidewalk? The smell of musty men and booze, the sound of Journeys 'Don't stop believing' playing through the speakers, and the sting of liquor rolling down my throat. It was the bar where I first laid eyes on Charlotte Bixby. However, she wasn't here right now and considering that it was Monday night, she probably wasn't going to be singing any originals either.

So why was I here?

I had no idea, but according to Phineous, we were here to celebrate. The only thing he kept blabbering about on the walk to the bar was my, how did he phrase it... my 'new found courage'. He had been glowing ever since this morning. It was as if he was more excited about the JDRecords teaching gig than I was. Which, I guess made sense. After all, Phineous was always rooting for me to grow a pair and take a risk. Even though this potential gig would only last for the summer, it was far more than I ever pictured myself doing while still being a law student. It just always seemed like I needed to finish one chapter of my life before beginning a new one. Now I was somehow hoping to blend both parts of myself, in an attempt to please everyone.

The cosmopolitan in front of me was running low and I was all alone at the end of the bar. Phineous promised he'd be right back, but he found Tristen and now they were chatting it up somewhere that I wasn't aware of. A huge sigh escaped my lips and I swung back the remainder of the cosmo.

"Looks like you could use another?" My throat burned a little as my dilated pupils took in a tall woman standing beside me.

Her strong jaw line and loose black curls gave her a powerful presence, "I um, probably shouldn't have anymore actually."

The right corner of her full lips perked up a little, "Why's that?"

I shrugged, causing the tight red dress I was wearing to further crush my organs. "Honestly, I don't even know why I'm here."

She decided to sit on the bar stool beside me and also motioned for a bartender to give me another cosmo. "That sounds like you absolutely need another round."

I laughed a little, glancing in her beady hazel eyes. "I don't think it's fair that you order me one and not yourself." I then took it upon myself to order her a whiskey sour.

"Is that what your first impression of me is? Strong and sour?"

I wasn't sure what was happening right now. I mean, obviously this women was flirting with me. Which, wasn't a problem. It's not like I was seeing anyone, right?

"You have a strong presence," I shrugged and sipped the cosmo, "there's nothing wrong with that."

"I'm Riley," she reached out her hand and I shook it.

"Talia, nice to meet you."

She smiled a little, and I exhaled because her teeth were so white. "So if you don't want to be here right now, how'd you get here?"

"My best friend drug me along with him," I thought about Phineous, "I thought it was to celebrate, but now I'm starting to think that it was just so that he could come visit his hot bartender boyfriend."

This caused her to laugh, and for some reason an image of a familiar blonde lifted into my mind. I quickly brushed away the thought of Charlotte, she and I would most likely never be a thing. Friends maybe.

"Celebrate what?" She tucked a strand of her wavy black hair behind her ear.

I shrugged for the second time, "Nothing really," she looked at me with curiosity, "I just may be starting a part time gig teaching kids how to produce music."

My eyes unintentionally fell on her full lips as she sipped her whiskey sour, "that sure as hell doesn't sound like nothing."

I could feel my cheeks heat up at the slight compliment. It always felt better when people recognized me for my talents rather than my looks. "I guess, it's honestly just a passion of mine."