I jogged my way back home after a long run and jumped in the shower. I was anxious for tonight's game. It took me forever to find good pairs of tickets with good seats.
You about ready man? my phone vibrated in my pocket.
Almost. Give me two minutes. I quickly replied. I combed my hair to the side, making it look good. I quickly sprayed on cologne and spiked up a few hairs in the front. I whistled at myself in the mirror.
"Lookin' good." I whispered. I grabbed my keys and left my room.
"See you Ms. Brady. Thanks for the coffee."
"Your welcome. Have fun. But not too much." I gave a sarcastic laugh and followed my friend out the door.
"So, you looking to get some or what?"
"Really Chad?"
"What! I just asked you a question dude."
"Yeah, some question. I'm not telling you anything." We took the elevator down to the lobby and walked to his car.
"Yeah well too bad. Just in case things don't work your way, I'll find someone for myself and someone for you."
"Okay. I heard enough man." I laughed at him. Chad was crazy sometimes. I love the guy and all, but he just never knows his limits.
"Just saying." He laughed his head off as we got into his car. It was a silent ride on the way to the game.
"Wouldn't it be easier if we bought season tickets instead?" I asked breaking the silence.
"It would. But it's expensive." He stressed out.
"Yeah." I whispered. This was the fifth time going to a basketball game. It's just been just the two of us. I remember when I first met Chad a few years back. We were good friends in high school, and we always had each other back. And nothing got in the way of our friendship.
Until I found out, that my girlfriend Mia was going out with him behind my back. And nothing got in between us, yeah right. It was all so confusing the way she kept coming back to me, when she broke off with Chad; and leaving me and going to Chad. Let's just say it's a long story that I don't want to get into. We were angry at each other for days on end. But we ended up apologizing and now we're back to normal. Well almost, at least that's what I think.
"You picked awesome seats man."
"Thanks." We walked into the stadium after getting our tickets checked. Our seats were close to the front row. We were still about a half an hour early until it started and it was already crowded.
"Hey, I'm going to get something to drink. You want something?"
"Uh, sure. Drinks on me." He said as he pulled out his wallet.
"Don't worry, I got it."
"You sure?"
"Yeah." I left him for a while to get the drinks. I headed out to the washroom first. I splashed cold water on my face after washing my hands. I felt a little nervous actually, and I wasn't sure why. I dried my hands with a paper towel and left as I wiped off the remaining water on my pants.
"Um, can I get two bottles of beer?"
"Sure." I waited for a few minutes and looked around me. It was heavily crowded as people were making their way inside. Looking right across from me, I thought I saw the most handsome guy on this planet. I watched as he threw his head back in laughter as he stood next to someone. I felt like I was hypnotized as I stared at him and I couldn't move my legs.
"Excuse me sir?" The lady in front of me took me out of my trance as I had forgotten why I was there.
"Oh sorry. Keep the change."
"Thank you." After I paid, I grabbed both bottles and turned my head back in the direction I was looking at before. He was gone. I looked around and there was only a few people left, but I couldn't see him. I shrugged my shoulders knowing that I would probably forget him eventually. I went back in and sat next to Chad. I handed him his bottle.
"Thanks. What took you so long Will? The game is about to start."
"Oh. I had my mind on other things."
"Really? You found someone before me? And I thought I was a chick magnet."
"Ha ha. And no I didn't find anyone."
"Really the great Will Horton didn't find anyone?" He mockingly laughed at me.
"Shut up, jerk."
"Awe. I didn't realize that you were so sensitive. Mr. Sensitive." I just shook my head at him. One day I'll get him, one day.
"Now that, was a good game my friend. Whoooo." He screamed out happily in the parking lot; his arms raised above his head.
"It was." It was a good game I'll admit that. Everyone also happily cheered around as Chicago beat the crap out of Philadelphia 104-65.
"Why so glum, chum?" Chad laughed at his remark as we got in his car once again.
"What are you talking about?"
"It's still a bit early. Why don't we head out to a bar? I know a really good one. And I know you don't work tomorrow and neither do I." It would do some good for me. I mean, what's the harm in that.
"Sure." He cranked up the radio and swerved his way out of the full parking lot and out to find a place.
We walked into one that was very popular. Some of the people that were at the game, came here. The heavy aroma of cigarettes being smoked and the beer and whatever else drifted around the place.
"You really know your place around here." I shouted out to Chad over the music.
"Keep with me and I will get you to all the good places. Two bottles of beer." We walked towards the bar. We sat there looking around. I turned around in my seat, looking out to the dance floor. Looking out at the dancers; that were either heavily grinding against each other to the beat of the music or were just dancing alone.
"Hey man those chicks over there just bought us drinks." Chad replied pointing in their direction with a smile and a wink.
"Cool." But I wasn't really looking right at them. I looked past them, staring at that dark haired beauty that caught my eyes earlier.
I felt a light tap on my shoulder, but I dismissed it with a drink as my eyes followed him. This time it was a little harder to keep my eyes away.
"You know Chad-" I turned around to see that it was someone else.
"I think your friend Chad left with my friend." The girl in front of me answered back.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I feel so stupid."
"That's okay. It's not everyday a girl gets called by a guys name." Her laughter sounds beautiful. Even her dark wavy hair and her high cheek bones accented her beauty even more.
"My name is Gabriella. Or Gabi. My friends call me Gabi."
"That is a beautiful name. My name is Will."
"Thanks. I like yours too."
"Thank you. So Gabi, you said my friend left with yours?"
"They did. They high tailed it out of here. Oh and I remember him telling me in having some good luck."
"Oh god." I ran my hands in my face and squeezed my eyes shut.
"Was that not okay that I said that. I'm so sorry."
"It's okay. It's not your fault. My friend can be a dork sometimes."
"Really? Try meeting mine. They're worse." We both laughed. I soon forgot about the guy and tried to forget about him and have fun.
"You want to get out of here?"
"Yeah. It's getting late anyway." When we went outside, I nearly fell flat on my face. I only stumbled and found myself hugging Gabi to keep myself from falling, and not looking like a jerk.
"So what brings you here to a bar like this?"
"Well my friends insisted on taking me to one to forget about a bad breakup."
"Oh. I'm sorry about that."
"That's okay. Some guys can be assholes sometimes. They treat you like a princess one day and then the next, they dump you like yesterday's
garbage." She angrily kicked a bottle out of the way.
"Sorry to hear that."
"I'm sorry Will. I didn't want to be a drama queen this evening."
"No. It's fine. My friends think of me as one when I'm cranky. And that's hardly ever." We laughed. We stopped in mid stride.
"So, I was thinking, maybe we could be friends?" Her gaze went to the ground as she fidgeted with her hair and came back to look back at me.
"I'd like that. Would it be okay if I walked you home?"
"Of course." We walked in silence as we headed to her place. It wasn't that long of a walk. We stood in front of a twenty story building.
"This is me."
"Okay." I was about to turn around and make my way home.
"Will, wait." I turned back and saw her fumbling in her purse.
"Yeah."
"Call me sometime. Maybe we could get coffee or something." She handed me a piece of paper with her phone number.
"Do you usually carry this around you?"
"Only when I meet someone as sweet and charming as you."
"Thank you. I will take you up on the offer. Goodnight Gabi."
"Goodnight Will." I watched her walk inside until she turned a corner. What the hell just happened? Chad was probably somewhere getting some. And here I am, just told that I was sweet and charming. And not only that, but wanting to be my friend. I usually don't do friends after what happened a while back. But maybe I could turn my life around somehow. Maybe I could forget about the guy that I met at the basketball game, and the bar. Just maybe something good can come out of tonight. I felt like I scored some points myself.
I turned around in the opposite direction of the building and walked home. This wasn't really I was looking for. But at least I had fun, which what I was going for. I quietly made my way inside the apartment. Careful not to wake up my mom and my siblings. I took off my shoes, shirt, and pants and just threw myself on the bed. Exhausted from all of today's activities. I was hoping I could finally get some sleep which I have been looking forward to all week.
I bolted out of my sleep in seconds. I could still feel the whisper of a touch on my lips. I traced my fingers on my lips where the ghost lips have touched mine. It wasn't the dream I was hoping for. The mysterious lips belonging to someone I dared not to think of. The mysterious person that I know will be haunting my dreams.
To be continued...
