I groaned, leaning against the bar as I watched everyone rush outside to watch the fireworks that were booming and shimmering in the night sky. I turned as a bottle of beer was set down on the glass bar beside me. "It's on the house," the bartender said. I smiled gratefully and took a swig. The place was almost nearly empty for the moment.
I had never been one to celebrate the fourth. I was glad we had our independence and everything, but… eh, I don't know. My family had never done while I was a kid and I hadn't kept up anything as I gotten older and moved out on my own. It was just a lot of hullaboo for a day and then everything went back to normal. I sighed, taking another pull from my bottle.
"What a pretty gal like you doin' in here while all the excitement's out there?" I turned and saw a tall, handsome man looking at me with a twinkle in his eye. I shrugged and set my beer down. "Heh, come on." I was being dragged outside before I could protest. I looked up and saw all the fireworks going off and saw everyone waving sparklers or little American flags and everyone was screaming and shouting.
"Why did you bring me out here?" I yelled over all the noise. He grinned and shrugged, quite similarly to the way I had inside.
"You can't just sit inside while everyone else is outside celebrating my birthday!" he cried. My eyes narrowed at this but the large grin never left his face. "The name's Alfred F. Jones." I shook his outstretched hand and he pulled me in quickly.
"Wha-!" I was cut off as a pair of warm, welcoming lips pushed against mine. My eyes widened for a moment as I processed the thought of kissing a total stranger. What the heck? I kissed back a moment before he pulled back. "What… was that for?" I asked, slightly breathless.
"I told you. It's my birthday." I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.
"Do you know how many other people have birthdays on the fourth of July and don't force themselves on women." He chuckled like he knew some sort of inside joke.
"Nah uh, not like that. It's my independence day. I was given independence today two hundred and thirty-seven years ago," he told me. My eyebrows shot up and he laughed. "I bet you could find England, my old brother, around here drunk some place."
"What… what are you?" I asked, looking him up and down. He looked perfectly human to me. Blonde hair, blue eyes, glasses. Jeans and a T-shirt and an old bomber jacket. But… what was he saying? That… that he was… America? He grinned and kissed me quickly again.
"If we ever meet again, then I'll tell you!" And with that, he was gone. Lost in the masses of people around us. Vanished like a wisp of smoke. I looked up once more at the fireworks fading in the sky. Maybe, just maybe, I could have reason to celebrate July fourth from now on.
Gosh dang it! I honestly had absolutely no plans to write anything for Al, and this is the second story tonight darn it! Well, I walked outside to let the dog pee and heard the fireworks going off and this popped into my head. Kinda short, but I sorta liked it.
We don't really do anything for the fourth at my house, I went grocery shoppin' with my mom if that counts XD but I really wish I could celebrate somehow and this just sorta formed outta those feels. Do enjoy! I swear dudes, next year for Mattie, there will be a beautiful wonderful story for him! I feel so guilty