yours {h.s.} | {b1.5}

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

September 17, 2019

Saw most peculiar thing tonight at bar.

Most nights, I see Cox here. Hell, that's a lie: every night, I see Cox here. I've come to observe her. She has a very particular routine, regardless of who she comes in with. She comes in, she sits at her favorite table—or, right at the bar if she is alone—and she'll order her tequila neat. Out of curiosity, I copied the order tonight. I'd never had it before—shocking—but I have to admit that she has some level of taste about her. She'll get her drink and she'll nurse it if she's had a good day. If she's had a bad day, all bets are off.

Tonight she came in alone and I could feel her eyes on me from the second that she walked in. Mutually and silently we agreed never to acknowledge the other's presence; a rather fortunate arrangement. Though tonight, something felt different. I pulled over this girl and talked to her in that way that was giving her just enough attention, but neither of us was stupid. My eyes weren't on her. Something was different about Cox tonight.

So I listened.

She was talked about ortho. Seemed to like it. At least, such was the case until Fletch interrupted her. That is another thing that I hate about the nights when she comes in alone: she monopolizes Fletch. He's never told me the extent of their relationship, but I know they go way back. He regards her in a sort of fucked up paternal way. Though I don't suppose there isn't any paternal relationship that isn't inherently fucked up. At least, none that I can see.

Out of no where, that guy appeared. Foster, I think his name is. His voice was low and it was so painfully obvious that he was flirting with her. I just leaned back and watched in amusement. She was flirting back! Odder still? Weird revelation that she is quite pretty. I don't think I had realized that before. They flirted and the pretty girl that was talking to me left when she realized I was more interested in observing this odd meld of people than I was in her boobs. Retrospectively: I suppose I am equally as concerned by that revelation.

I left to go to the bathroom, and when I came back, the guy was gone. Cox was still there. She still had her drink but she was smiling to herself. She was proud. She paid for the tequila neat and left it, half full and just left the bar without another word. Quite strange.