The Female

Chapter I - A Handsome Stranger

Anastasia's P.O.V. -
"Another shot, please." I say to the bartender at the pub. "Yep." He says, taking my glass. "Here you go, free of charge. Must be quite tipsy by now, I feel bad for your purse." He says, handing me yet another shot. "Oh, thanks." I say. He nodded, huffs, and walks off.
I sit at the bar, glass in hand, thinking about everything that's happened. I just lost my dad, last night. He was in a fatal car crash yesterday morning, I got to the hospital as quickly as I could, but, I never made it in time.
I throw my shot down my throat, slamming the glass down on the bar as I swallowed. Thinking about everything, I can't help it anymore. Tears stream down my face, and I could feel eyes on me. I couldn't care anymore, if they knew my situation, they'd feel the same.
"Miss, you should go 'ome. Can't 'ave you 'ere in that state." The barman says. I don't even look up at him, I just nod my head no. "Suit yerself." He huffs and walks off again.
Less than a minute passes, tears still rolling down my face, and I hear the voices of two youngish men mumbling amongst themselves.
"Evening lads, what can I get ya?" The barman says. I look up slightly to see him looking at the spaces of the occupied barstools next to me. I tilt my head, only to lock eyes with the most gorgeous young man on the planet. I quickly wipe my tears with the cuffs of my oversized jumper, still glancing back at him after every wipe. "Uh, two pints of lager please." I hear a slightly deeper voice say, but I don't bother looking at him, my eyes are only focused on the handsome stranger sitting a space away from me.
"I-uh-s-sorry-I-" I manage to say.
"No no, it's okay, sorry, i didn't mean to antagonise you or anything." The handsome stranger says, his hands raised a little as if in an 'it's okay' sort of motion. I sniffle a little and give him a small smile, and he gives a bigger one in return.
I look down, grab my empty glass and play with it gently, turning it round and round. I stop turning it, look at it and see my red reflection. I quickly throw the glass, making it go flying off the counter and knock a bottle off the shelf. I gasp and frantically say sorry to the barman, who gives me a death stare. I hear a muffled laugh next to me, I look over and see the guy from before, looking at me with a sparkle in his eye, as if I'd cheered him up from a bad day. I look into his eyes and laugh sheepishly, playing with my fingers.
I hear someone clear their throat, and my eyes glance to the young man sat next to the handsome stranger. "Jonny, how long has it been since you've actually had a girlfriend? Three years? Four?" He says, grinning smugly at both me and the younger boy next to him, whose name I have now gathered to be Jonny. Jonny's eyes widen, he quickly looks away from me, and hits the other guys shoulder pretty hard. "Adam you shit!" He whisper yells. I snort at the insult, and Jonny looks back at me, grinning when he saw the smile he put on my face.
"Hello there miss, um, my little brother here is a bit shy to ask, but are you here alone?" The guy says, leaning to the side so he can see me. I've also gathered that his name is Adam, and he's the older brother to Jonny. "Um, yes, I am." I say, my voice still croaky from crying. I huff and smile a little, "This was my dad's favourite place. He and I would always come here, every Friday." My eyes burn, and I feel more tears coming on. "We'd always have such a good time, always find something to laugh about, and we'd always share a bowl of perfectly cooked chips, right at this very bar." I say, my voice cracking throughout the whole sentence. Tears stream down my face yet again, but this time, I have an audience.
Adam and Jonny quickly rush to my side, Adam on my left, Jonny to my right.
"Hey hey hey, don't cry, it's alright." Jonny says, his hand placed on my back. "Um, excuse me..." Adam says to the barman. "A bowl of chips please." I look at Adam and smile, and through tears I manage to say "thank you." Adam smiles and nods, and when I turn to look back at Jonny, I see him glaring at Adam, his eyebrows furrowed angrily. I let out a little chuckle and whisper "you're much more attractive." Jonny's face turns red, and he quickly rushes off to 'use the toilet'.
I turn back to Adam, and see him looking at his watch. "It's getting pretty late, you should head home once you're in a good state." He says. I sniffle and nod my head yes, then I look up at him, realisation spread across my face. "I- uh- I don't know how I'm gonna get home, I had enough money to get a taxi back but I- uh- I kinda spent it all... on drink..."
I hear a chuckle and when I look to the side, there's Jonny. "Not a problem, we'll give you a lift home." He smiles. "Oh, no, I can't let you do that, I really don't want to be a pain." I say with a croaky voice, my tears drained out. "A pain? Don't be silly." Adam says. "I- I mean- only if you're sure..." Jonny sits next to me, puts his hand on my back and looks me in the eyes. "Hey, it's alright. Look at you, you're a beautiful mess and you need to get home. I don't care whether it's a five minute drive or a fifty minute drive, we'll get you there. Look, I understand if you get funny about what I'm about to say, but it's only fair I tell you. I never believed in love at first sight. Not one bit. That was till I laid eyes on you. You're the most beautiful girl I've ever met, not even joking. I know we've only known each other about an hour, but I had to tell you." I sit there, mouth wide open. "Well done pissface." Adam says, a bit more exaggerated than necessary. "I- uh- I..." a wide smile slaps my face. "I thought I was the only one! I never believed in love at first sight till I saw you, either! I'm so glad you told me cause I wouldn't have had the guts to say it first." I say, shrugging my shoulders at the end. I see a sparkle in Jonny's eye, and he slowly leans in for a hug, but I throw myself into it, making him wobble on his seat, laughing at the same time. "Thank you, Jonny." I look the opposite way, "and you, Adam." I smile.
"Oh, no, that's not Adam, that's pusface." I burst out with laughter. "Right, thanks for that pissface." His jaw drops. "Oi!" Adam laughs, and walks towards the doors. "Come on, let's get you home." He says, "Oh! And forget about those chips!" He shouts to the bartender as he's leaving the pub.
Jonny stands up, and reaches his hands out. I smile, and place mine in his, as he lifts me to my feet. One of my hands disconnect his, but neither he or I disconnect the other. He looks and smiles at me, and I return it. "Oh yeah, my name, it's Anastasia." His fingers interlock mine. "Almost as beautiful as you." I blush, and we exit the pub, hand in hand.

A/N:
Hope you enjoyed the first chapter! I'm sorry the ending was a bit crappy but I'm rlly frikin tired and wanted to get this chapter finished tonight, so here you go! Don't forget to vote, and follow my Instagram @ x.fridayni._.dinner.x