Candid Kisses✔

10| fruit-flavored

We arrived at the bar, that I've just now learned is named Siren, about 10 minutes ago. We were all seated at a round booth. 'All' refers to the four of us girls and Noah, Reece, Caleb, and Theo. 

There wasn't much talking except from Caleb and Naomi and Lydia's occasional attempts at starting a conversation that would eventually die out. From the corner of my eye, I can see Reece poking at Maddison's side and she glaring daggers in return. 

"Well, my drink is finished," I said holding up my empty glass. "I'm going to get another."

"Yeah, I'll come with," Noah said getting up as well. 

We walked over to the counter where a bartender was serving drinks. "Vodka Cranberry," I yelled over the music. 

"Nothing for me," Noah said when the bartender looked at him.

"Why come to the bar and not get a drink?" I asked sitting on a barstool to wait for my drink. 

"I'm driving and the bar beats sitting at a booth with awkward silence." he had a good point. "You look nice."

His last comment caught me a bit off guard. "Thanks," I offered him a small smile as my drink arrived.

"Really though. What is it with girls and fruit-flavored alcohol." Noah said obviously trying to start a conversation. 

"It tastes better. Have you ever even tried it?" 

"Well. No, but---" He started.

I know I asked but I didn't think his answer would really be no. "You've really never tried it?" I asked him. 

"Nope. But maybe I will try Vodka Cranberry sometime." He answered referring to my drink.

"No. Not a vodka cranberry. If you're gonna try it then it should be really fruity. If your gonna do it, do it right."

He raised an eyebrow at me then started laughing and I just now realized how the last part of that might have sounded. 

"Shut up. You know what I meant," I said laughing along. "Maybe I should order one for Caleb. He did promise he'd do it." 

"I like the way you think angel." He said calling the bartender over. "Can I  get one of those fruit cocktail drinks please," he ordered, pointing to a lady a few stools down drinking a colorful fruit cocktail. 

After getting the drink, Noah and I walked back to the table with matching smiles. He placed the drink on the table, in front of Caleb. "A deal is a deal. Drink up, buddy." I  said, with-holding a grin. 

Naomi's grin widened, clearly loving the exchange. 

"Why isn't McCoy drinking too?" he asked.

"He's driving, you're not." I rebutted 

He looked between me and Noah, then to Naomi, then to the rest of the table who was clearly fascinated by the current event. "Fine." 

He took one small sip from the straw. Then without moving away from the drink he to look another longer sip. It was so subtle it was almost unrecognizable. Almost. I saw it. 

His face showed a mixture of emotions. But just as they appeared they left. He placed the drink back on the table and looked at me. By now I was wearing a smug grin. I know he liked it. There's no way he could deny liking that drink. 

"It was okay." he shrugged

"It was not just okay. You know you loved it. Admit it." Naomi took the words right out of my mouth. 

"I admit to nothing." It was his turn to grin at us. 

"It's okay. He doesn't have to say it. Actions speak louder than words right?" I smiled " Well, you still haven't taken your hands off the glass. I wonder why that might be?" I mocked. 

He hastily removed his and the entire table started laughing. 

After proving Caleb's newfound love for fruity cocktails, It wasn't very hard to make conversation. Even Theo opened up a bit and was joining in on the conversation.

"Sorry to interrupt." A girl interrupted our laughter. She seemed to work here given that she was wearing a black apron around her waist and her shirt read Siren with an anchor logo. 

She placed a drink in front of Lydia. "This is for you."

"Thank you, but I didn't order this," Lydia told her politely.

"It's from the guy in the grey shirt at the bar." She said, smiling at Noah seated beside me then leaving to return behind the bar. 

"That dick has some nerve," she exclaimed, pushing the drink away. I followed the direction that she was scowling at and surely, there sat creepy Gavin. 

"Is he even allowed to be this close to you? The restraining order clearly states maintain a distance of a hundred feet." Naomi questioned. 

Lydia looked away from his evil grin. "I don't even know. But I'm he's really pushing the terms of that restraining order with whatever the fuck this is." She said nodding at the drink still sitting out of place on the tabletop. 

"Who's Gavin?" Thoe asked folding his arms and glaring at Gavin from the bar. 

"A creep who Lydia dated last year. She told him she wanted to be friends after going out with him once but he never really liked the idea. The guy is a stalker. He would follow Liv and me around trying to get us to tell him where Lydia's class schedule. He even broke into her car once. So we filed a restraining order against him last August. He's done well at keeping it until now." Naomi explained. 

"Maybe we should go. We can go back to our place." Maddison suggested. "If that's okay with you." she addressed Noah.

"Yeah, I don't mind."

"You sure. I'm fine with going home so you don't have to." Lydia said

"It's fine. Let's just go." We gathered our stuff and made our way out of the bar. Thankfully not having to pass Gavin. 

Caleb and Reece drove in Reece's car and Theo rode a motorcycle

The rest of us hopped into Noah's car. I can say, I was slightly interested in knowing where Noah McCoy lived.