The girls from work and I are at a bachelorette party for one of the clerks. I am hot and need a drink so I break from the group. I head to the bar. The place is busy, jam packed wall to wall. I prefer those small out of the way bars that you can sit for hours talking to the bartender and no one bothers you. I guess a little bit of home hasn't left me. Not that I was in a lot bars before leaving home, but in a small town you could get in without the drinking part. Everyone knew if you did and your parents knew right away. I just always enjoyed talking to Old Joe and watching sports on the tv with him. And Jake, I think. I always went there with Jake.
I get my drink and turn, to see Eric here. That is so weird. Why would he be in this bar? And where he is, is Jake. I turn all the way around scanning the bar area. I don't see him anywhere. My heart is racing. Please don't be here, please don't be here. I don't want Eric to see me, even though I don't think he will with the blonde sitting there. He always did like blondes. I quickly turn to go back out to the floor when I run into a wall of man. I tilt my head up to apologize and those eyes. Those dark brown eyes that always did kill me. His hands are wrapped around both of my arms steadying me. "Jake." I really don't know what to say. My heart is pounding so loud I can hear it in my ears. I wonder if he can hear it. All the music and noise is drowned out by my heart. The universe really isn't funny. I got to side step to get out of his way, but he doesn't budge. His grip doesn't budge. I'm stuck.
"Emma. I thought you were in Bama." His eyebrows go up. He really looked confused to see me here. I guess my planned worked. That small town didn't win. Well until now, now they won. He's here.
"Yea, well, I got a job here. I've been back for a while." I don't want to lie or be hateful. I couldn't be hateful if i tried with him. He has always held that spot. That spot that wont allow me to truly just be a bitch. I never could, even when I didn't agree with his actions in high school. I just love him so much I would forgive him so easily. God he looks good. His hair is shorter. He's filled out, bigger than he was in high school. Suddenly I am self-conscious, I must look a mess, I have been sweating and dancing for hours. I don't know why I care but I don't want to look horrible seeing him.
"Yea, well, I got a job here. I've been back for a while." I don't want to lie or be hateful. I couldn't be hateful if i tried with him. He has always held that spot. That spot that wont allow me to truly just be a bitch. I never could, even when I didn't agree with his actions in high school. I just love him so much I would forgive him so easily. God he looks good. His hair is shorter. He's filled out, bigger than he was in high school. Suddenly I am self-conscious, I must look a mess, I have been sweating and dancing for hours. I don't know why I care but I don't want to look horrible seeing him.
His hands move from my biceps to my hands. I automatically intertwine mine with his. Old habits die hard, even 5 years later I guess.