It was smoky. The lights were dim. Amelia squinted her eyes at the bartender who was serving another customer. His dark eyes fell upon Amelia seconds later. A warm smile graced his lips.
Amelia raised her brow and tried hard not to scoff. Bartenders weren't always friendly people. She was just in shock. He leaned on his elbows, coming down to eye level with her.
"What's your name?" He was American, she noted.
She managed to get a few words out. It was odd to speak. She hadn't said a peep in a few days. It was like her mouth had been sewn shut. "Vodka and cranberry juice. I'll take that."
His question was ignored and the guy didn't seem phased. He worked up what she'd asked for, "I'm Luke." Her brows raised again and she nodded with an unimpressed expression. "Any reason why you're here?"
"Boy, you sure do talk a lot."
"You don't." He retorted. "What's eating at you? Your eyes tell all. Green eyes should tell happy stories, not sad ones."
This time she didn't hold her scoff back. Amelia sipped through the straw. Too much juice. "Are you running low on vodka?"
"You're cute."
"You are an arse." She sighed, crossing her arms. She gave in. "What is it you'd like to know?"
Luke grinned. He'd gotten through to her. "What's wrong?"
"That's really vague."
"Still a question."
"Life sucks, Luke." She gnawed on the pink bendy straw. Amelia laughed in her head, laughing at the green umbrella that decorated her drink.
Luke mocked her, "That's vague."
He only made her giggle, "My name's Amelia and I've got more problems than you can count on your fingers and toes times four."
"You're not happy. You're just not a happy person." He pointed out the obvious, though it wasn't a regularly stated fact like it should have been.
"I'm not." She finished off the drink.
"But you'll make it through whatever it is." The stranger's hope for her own fate was unnerving. She bit at her lip.
Another man walked behind the counter, patting Luke on the back. "And that's my cue." He nodded his head towards Amelia, smirk on his lips. "Oh, and don't serve her any alcohol. She's underage."
Amelia shook her head, laughing to herself.