Author's Note: Here we go again with the entire review thing. So far, my story has had 204 visitors, and TWO reviews. It's discouraging to see so many people who have read my story and didn't bother to send me any feedback. Please, take the time to send me a review at the end of this chapter. The button is right at the bottom.
Inside of the bar the lights were beyond dim. A blanket of cigarette smoke weaved in and out of each corner, casting the black atmosphere with a haze. This was the type of environment that Scarlett thrived in. Unfortunately, it was the contrary for Melanie. Her lungs were starved for air and began to wheeze and spit, making a ghastly noise. Scarlett turned to glare at her. As much as it would please her to see the girl choke and writhe, she was responsible for her.
"Are you all right?" She questioned, annoyed. A few pink and yellow lights flicked on, illuminating the dance floor. It was nearly calling Scarlett's name.
"Yes, go ahead, I'm her-" Her voice was cut short by more throat constriction and heaving coughs. Scarlett nodded softly and told her to go get some water. As soon as the pale silhouette was out of sight, Scarlett began to hunt for Ashley. Every tall, blond man made her heart begin to stutter and skip, but when he turned around it was often a stranger who did not resemble Ashley in the least. Again and again she would think a tall frame was her knight, but it never failed to be another. Her spirits were beginning to dip as fifteen minutes rolled by, until the most beautiful voice in the world called her name.
"Scarlett! Get over here!" Ashley Wilkes called, only slightly drunk. Scarlett jumped and turned to see him near a table with a few men who were self-consciously sipping at their alcohol. Her face split into a wide grin. Scarlett pushed through the bodies in her way, running to Ashley, her high-heels slapping against the ground. Even her raven hair fell from the tidy pony tail it was twisted into.
"Ashley!" She called when she arrived at his table, his strong arms wrapping about her waist in a brief hug. It was too short an embrace for Scarlett's liking. All of her anger could be lost when she looked at the face she had melted into so easily in past years. Twenty was a young age, but the two had known each other since infancy. Her eyes darted down to his table, noticing a tall glass of bright green liquid. He had ordered her very favorite beverage-an apple martini. "Why didn't you order me one?" She pushed his arm playfully, and reached down to claim the glass. Her lips took down the alcohol like a professional, green droplets slipping into her lip gloss. A dark figure seated at Ashley's table chuckled softly, taking a large swig of his own beverage. From her position it looked like a combination of whiskey and vodka. Scarlett could not see the man who was laughing in her presence, he was too hidden by a combination of smoke and shadows. But she could see the two black eyes that bore into hers. They drifted down and devoured her body with the same intensity of a careless, but hungry lion. It was rather annoying, and it made Scarlett conscious of her body. It was intended for Ashley and no one else. Through the years, she had run endless miles of meandering roads, done an entire list of curl-ups, all with Ashley in mind. Not with this stranger. Quickly, she pulled the rest of her drink down and gazed up at Ashley. He was perfect in every way. His lazy gray eyes, bronzed skin and breathtaking smile. Even his mystifying words and books and the like were beautiful. Whatever he took an interest in, oddly interested Scarlett. She believed it was fate.
"You are so pretty," He drunkenly slurred, guzzling down another shot of whatever he was drinking. The guys around him laughed and tipped their glasses down as well, mumbling agreement. Scarlett giggled demurely, turning her head away.
"You shouldn't lie like that," She continued to giggle, as the effects of alcohol began to mix within her bloodstream.
"I swear to God it's true. You're so cute," He laughed at his own words, not realizing how unpoetical they sounded. With the last bit of his speech, he pinched Scarlett's cheek. Very slowly he was crossing the lines into inebriation. Scarlett loved Ashley when he was drunk, though she had only seen him in this state three or four times. Instead of becoming a drunken buffoon like other men, he was complimenting, and always touching her. It was great.
"You're not so bad," She shrugged, still grinning. They could say whatever they wanted, and neither would remember in the morning.
"Not so bad? Now you're the one lying," He thought that one was a gem, and began to rumble with laughter again. More laughter came from the figure behind in the table, succeeding with the scraping of a moving chair.
"Did you bring me down here just to tease me?" Her eyes were soft and glittering under the wavering lights.
"Oh shit, that's right! Are you still holding my girlfriend hostage, or can I reclaim her?" His eyes went out over the crowd, trying to single out the small girl. What he could not hear was the air catching against Scarlett's throat.
So it was true! He was dating that sniveling little urchin. All the blood rushed from Scarlett's body, and she was beginning to sober up very quickly. Her stomach clenched into a dangerous fist, shortening the air coming into her lungs. Ashley had no idea how high she had hopes for a possible relationship between them. The only times he had shown her intimacy was in a drunken state but when sobered, he was nothing more than a friendly counterpart in the workforce. When taking the job of his secretary, she had hoped for some blooming office passion. No, only distant relations. Still, why had he lead her on so? She had driven herself crazy over him, only to be crushed down like a soda can. Damn, how could she have been so stupid? Scarlett dragged her eyes back up to Ashley, unable to come to terms with the fact he belonged to another girl. Did he really belong to Melanie? Maybe—maybe if she could just speak with him, Ashley would understand and realize she loved him. That was the answer! Ashley didn't know she loved him! Surely he could not be with Melanie with that sort of information on his mind.
Quickly, Scarlett took Ashley by the arm, yanking him after her like a puppy. They needed to talk, and somewhere private. The first place that came to mind was a private booth, but all of them were occupied with kissing couples. Next was a corner, but all of them were crammed with dancers. The only really quiet place left was a restroom. Gross, but it would have to do. Naturally, Scarlett charged into the women's room first, only to find it was pact with women, all reapplying mascara and gossiping about which guys they had flirted with that evening. Scarlett quickly retreated from that scene. There was no way she could speak over the squealing blond bimbo's. Oh God, there was only one haven left. The men's room. A sudden realization of this hit Scarlett, and she sucked in her breath, squaring both shoulders. The door was pushed open, and to her surprise, all of it was empty. Not a soul stood at a urinal or splashed their face with water. All clear. Scarlett nearly jumped with joy. Ashley brought her buzz down and roughly grabbed her arms, searching both of her eyes.
"What's all this about?" He questioned, unhappy at being tugged away from a waiting drink. Scarlett opened her mouth to speak, but floundered for words. There was so much to say! A thousand incoherent thoughts raced through her mind, but she could not catch one of them to shape into words. It didn't help she would have to declare her love to this man in a bar bathroom-particularly a men's room.
"Ashley, there's something I have to tell you, something you should have known a long time ago." Her eyes looked up to his as the pressure against her arms lessened. Ashley looked stunned and drowsy.
"What is it? A secret?" His spine sank back against a wall. Scarlett noticed how much more intoxicated he looked under bright lights... and how much more miserable.
"No. Ashley, stop laughing! Oh, you bastard, shut up! I-I love you!" Instead of feeling frightened or upset, her mind raced with pleasure. This was so easy! She should have told him this years ago. If only Ashley would wipe that sickened look off his face...
"No, Scarlett," He replied, sounding as exhausted as if he had just sprinted for forty miles. Scarlett stared into he paled face, searching for a clue, any clue as to why he was acting like this. He loved her! Couldn't he admit it?
"Yes, Ashley! I love you more than anything-"
"Scarlett, I said stop it!" He cried out, though it wasn't with violence. A lump buried in his throat was swallowed down. Scarlett felt the blow as if it was a slap in the face. He wasn't making any sense at all. She didn't want to believe a word he was saying.
"What are you talking about? I thought you loved me, I thought you always have!" Scarlett was nearing desperation. Her hands sought his, holding his large fingers tightly. Their warmth was keeping her alive as the tears were springing against her eyes.
"I'm going to marry Melanie." He stated it like a fact, like the date was already set in stone. Her eyes widened in shock, hands releasing him. Marriage? At age twenty-five? To Melanie? The very name sent Scarlett on a horse galloping about with rage. Melanie! The girl with zero curves, zero personality, zero appeal. The one girl in the world who Scarlett did not find as competition, stealing her love away? It was too much. Melanie had eyes like dead leaves under water, while Scarlett's were shimmering green leaves at the bottom of a pool. How could he be choosing her?
"You're joking! Aren't you?" The look on his face did not give her an answer. Scarlett plucked at his sleeve, swallowing roughly. "Don't you love me?" The words were hardly a whisper. For a moment Ashley looked down at her with a sort of pity, than understanding. His eyes changed from burning warmth, to the slow freezing of ice.
"I love Melanie," Scarlett could contain it no longer. The tears came flooding from her eyes in stinging torrents. Oh God, oh God, her mind repeated. She felt as if she was going to vomit all over the restroom tiles, or on Ashley. The tears were a mixture of despair, humiliation, and fury. Per usual, the rage dominated everything else. Violent blood was always lurking beneath her tongue.
"Why didn't you tell me? What were all the kisses for than, hm?" Questions generated in her mind and poured from her mouth like waterfalls.
"Scarlett, be fair. I was drunk and it was only at a few parties-"
"What was I to you, a silly little whore?" Her breath was coming in indignant gasps, chest heaving back and forth.
"No! You're so beautiful and strong, something I could never be."
"You're always talking like this! Talk, talk, talk about fine things...but when it comes down to it you're a bastard! You led me on-you made me believe you loved me!" Scarlett's face was as red as her name, flaring along with her temper. Everything she felt was coming out, and she wasn't bothering to hold her voice below a scream.
"I never did any of that!" He was past pale now. More like a sheet in color. Ashley had never been talked to this way.
"Just get out! I hate you, just get the hell out of here!" Like a whip, here hand crashed against his cheek. Ashley did not flinch, only closed his eyes for a brief moment. When they opened, all of the ice build-up was gone.
"Scarlett, I'm sorry." He murmured without passion. Without looking back, he left the restroom with tremors shooting down his spine. Scarlett felt every burning emotion that had occupied her body only a moment before drain through her eyes. Tears were sprinkling down her cheeks like a rain storm. She gasped and choked for air as the tears cut her lungs from their supply. She reeled back against a sink, leaning on the marble counter at the side. Scarlett pulled her eyes to the mirror and swatted at her wet cheeks, her eyes red and swollen. She quickly began to touch up at her smeared make-up before another man came into the restroom.
"You'll be fine," She whispered to herself, pinching at her cheeks to add some color. As she brushed a lock of black hair behind her ear and prepared to leave, a loud creaking sound filled the silent air. A stall door was opened. Scarlett instantly froze and stared back into the mirror, watching as her reflection was joined by another.
Review button, don't forget. Chapter three is already complete, tell me if you would like it posted.