Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice…sadly…and I'm quite forgetful so just in case I'm going to say this is the only disclaimer I'm going to put…
So, I hope you like it…the idea for this story popped up while I was reading this random article…
Please Read and Review…reviews fuel my passion for writing…!!!
I crossed my arms over the counter and laid my head over them, trying to relax. It was probably one of the toughest weeks in my life, and I'm not usually one to complain. I'm also not one to drink my problems away but today is a day of firsts. Including the first time I walked aimlessly into the back streets and into a bar where I was using their counter as a pillow.
"Looks like you've had it rough," I heard someone tell me. I cracked open an eye and saw the bartender smile and put a glass of wine in front of me. "Don't see you in these parts, you new?"
I straightened myself up and picked the glass up, "Thanks," I muttered appreciatively as I sloshed the deep red wine around the glass.
"It's not poisoned, you know," the bartender chuckled at me and I took a weary look at her. She was stunning, young, - a bit younger than me- and vibrant. I tipped my head and poured the entire glass of wine down my throat. "Well, you're not quite dead yet, are you?" She took the glass and put it away. Then, she twirled around to face me and propped her head on her elbow resting on the counter. "Well, as it seems you have had it rough, stranger, want to talk about it?"
I gave her an icy stare that would've scared off most people. But she just kept on staring at me with her deep chocolate-brown eyes; it felt like she saw straight through me. "Why would I tell you and why would you even want to listen?" I asked her dully.
"Well, on account myself, I'm a bartender. I do two things in this job: serve drinks and be a free psychiatrist. And for you, I was just kind of hoping you'd tell me, after all you're practically the last person in here and I got nothing to do," she told me playfully, and something in her voice made me believe that she was being sincere about it.
My stare turned blank and I sighed, "Give me another glass of that stuff," if today was going to be the first time I spilled my guts to a person I just met, today might as well be the first time I blame everything on alcohol.
"All right, then," the ever-mysteriously-benevolent bartender's smile widened as she went to get me another glass.
The next day, I woke up to a strong wave of nausea and a painful hang over. I knew I could hold my alcohol well so it lead me to wonder how many glasses of that wine did I really down that night…last night…I still can't believe what happened! I told her everything and now I'm beating myself up over it!
I dragged my sore and aching body into the bathroom and shut the door firmly behind me. I turned the water on and reveled in the feeling of the water pouring over me as I rested my forehead on the cool tiles of the bathroom wall. I sighed deeply. If I was going to get over it sometime, it'd be best to be right now. And it's not like I'm ever going to meet her again and it's not like she knows who I am…I think…Hell, I'm acting as if I'd just had a one-night stand with the woman…and I can rest assured that that is one thing that I have never done and never plan to do – one first I'll never have a first of.
Today, I'd managed to push that girl from last night and focus on work. The load at work was starting to lighten up and I was starting to get more breathing room. And I was planning to meet Ruka this afternoon, that best friend of mind just got back from a month long business trip yesterday. And Imai – that slave-driver fiancée – was coming, too; she kind of annoys me. It really made me wonder why in the right mind would Ruka ever propose to that Ice-queen. But when I'd asked him about him he just laughed and said that he supposed love worked that way. I sighed – I've been doing that a lot lately – and picked up the folders I would read in the car. It was almost three in the afternoon and he told me he'd be at the lobby by three.
It was easy enough to spot him and his – urg- fiancée Imai. They were sitting in the café by the entrance, talking to each other. As he was walking towards them, Ruka saw him and stood up. "Yo, Natsume. Ready to go?"
"Ah," I deadpanned.
Imai smirked at me, "You never change," she told me when we started walking towards the car. I scowled at her and turned away. I have to be extra careful with what I do around her, because I if wasn't I might just end up as the center of her blackmail schemes.
We got into the car and Ruka revved the engine, turning to him I asked, "Where are we headed?"
The car exited the parking lot and onto the busy streets, "This place Hotaru and I go to often."
"Hm, all right," I shrugged and stared out the window. And for the umpteenth time today the chocolate-brown-eyed girl made her way back into my mind. I groaned inwardly and promptly shook the image out of my head. Bringing out the documents I had brought with me, I tried my best to fill my head with numbers, notes and Ruka's blabbering.
It took about half an hour before we got there and Ruka found a place to park. The three of us got off and Ruka was still animatedly discussing with me what happened in his one month absence when we stepped into the restaurant. "Wel-ahh! Hotaru-chan! Ruka-pyon!" …I gulped…that voice was way too familiar…I thought when I saw a toffee-haired girl pounce on Imai.
"Let go, baka," Imai deadpanned at the ever-so-familiar girl.
"Don't be so mean, Hotaru-chan, it's been such a long time since you two have stopped by!" The girl took a step back and I saw her face clearly.
Ruka pulled me towards them. "Natsume, come on I'll introduce you."
"You," I breathed out in shock. Ruka looked at me quizzically and the girl inclined her head towards me.
"You know each other, Natsume?" I vaguely heard Ruka ask me.
The toffee-haired girl smirked at me, "Welcome back, how are you doing today, stanger?"
I felt like I was just hit by a train.
Hope you liked it! I for one think I didn't do very well on this…
PLEASE REVIEW!!! Reviews fuel my passion for writing…they really do…