New update. A chapter about one of Foggy's girls rather than Matt's because why not. Hope you enjoy it Bg.97 xx
Amongst the bright, neon lights, and the pounding of music through the speakers- the dive bar was alive and kicking. It had only just gone midnight so for all of the students dancing around and mingling amongst the masses; the night was still young. Alice laughed loudly as her friend next to her pointed out yet another drunkard's hilarious dance moves. She tucked a hair behind her ear and took a swig of her beer, as the two of them leaned against the bar. Charlie smirked as her eyes flicked down along the bar, and she chuckled as her eyes fell back to the floor. Alice looked at her dazedly trying to figure out her friend's weird actions.
"What are you smirking about?"
"Hot guy, at your 3 o clock. Definitely on his way to come talk to you."
Alice slowly drew in another sip of her beer, avoiding turning her eyes to her right.
"How hot?" she asked, trying to remain casual in her tone and body language.
Her friend blew out a breath and shook her head. "Like insanely hot. 9.5 minimum."
"Minimum?"
"Yep."
"Well shit."
"How close?"
Charlie nudged her making her stand up straight, and from that action rather than a response, she guessed that the mysterious hottie was approaching fast.
"Hi, excuse me," the guy said apprehensively, as Alice finally turned to face him. Her face immediately reddened. He was definitely gorgeous. He was a couple inches taller than she was, and had brunette hair that was settled in a way that seemed effortless. His jaw was chiselled and he had the stubble of someone who hadn't shaved in the last few days purely because he was too busy doing something more important. His lips, which looked pretty damn appealing, were curved into a subtle smile. His eyes were covered by sunglasses, which Alice thought strange until she noticed the cane in the guy's hand. Shit. He was blind. When she realised that she had stared too long and left an awkward silence hanging in the air as the guy waited, she quickly responded.
"Hi, yes, sorry. Can I help you?"
The response shook him back to the bar as if he was reminded of a mission, and he licked his lips before a dimple appeared on his face. "I hope this isn't too abrupt, but I just wanted to tell you how beautiful you are."
Alice and Charlie shared a baffled look, before Alice awkwardly laughed. "I hope this isn't too abrupt but I don't know how much of a compliment that is coming from a blind guy?"
The beautiful man laughed and the sound made her stomach do something weird. "Haha, well the comment isn't actually from the blind guy, I'm afraid. My friend"- he paused to point over at a guy sat at a booth across from the pair wearing a t-shirt under a plaid shirt, a beanie, and a shy smile. "Foggy- he's not been able to shut up about you since we walked in here."
Alice glanced over to the person this guy gestured towards. He wasn't really her type, and nothing in the league of the Adonis in front of her, but she smiled at the flattery. "Really?"
"Yeah. So I'm assuming you're blonde?"
Alice chuckled, a blush rising to her face. "No, I'm not, I'm a brunette. Your friend, Foggy? has a thing for blondes then?"
The man shrugged. "I don't know. I think he just has a thing for women. So you're not blonde… but judging by the accent, I'm guessing that you're British?"
"That one you've got right."
"So what brings you to New York?"
"I'm an exchange student at Columbia. Majoring in Religious Studies."
That brought a smile to the man's face. "How interesting. I happen to be Catholic."
"That's great." Alice commented, hoping she didn't sound too rude as she tried to move the conversation along. "So this friend of yours, what does he do?"
"Law. We're both studying law." He nodded, a sense of pride in what he did shining through.
"Lawyers… Nice!" Charlie whispered into her ear.
Alice's eyes flicked over the booth again and she sighed. She could see that the guy waiting there, Foggy, was starting to get anxious.
His friend caught her sigh, and stepped forward. "Look, umm…" he paused, realising he didn't know her name. Alice didn't fill the gap but Charlie coughed and told the man that her friend's name is Alice.
"Alice. I can't tell you if Foggy is good looking, or a typical catch, because I have no idea what the hell he looks like, but there's plenty more that I can tell you. Like the fact that he is the kindest soul I've ever met, and he has a laugh that is the physical embodiment of sunshine and that he puts the needs of everyone else above his own. He's pretty damn smart too. He's been my best friend since the day I met him and I'd love for you to get to know him. He was too awkward to come over here himself, and insisted that he needed to use my apparent good looks and charm to convince you to meet him but I can say with complete honesty that he is a far, far better man than I am."
Alice's eyes widened as his little speech went on and her heart beat a little bit faster at the passion with which he spoke. She wasn't sure why, but she was compelled to trust the man in front of her, and if the guy sat in the booth was half as amazing as his friend made out- he didn't sound like the worst company in the world. She sighed as her bottle clinked against the bar and she stood up straight crossing her arms against her chest.
"Your friend has 10 minutes to win me over, and if it's not worth my time- I'm expecting you to buy me a drink."
The man smiled. "Okay. I'll accept that."
Alice took a deep breath before leaving Foggy's friend with Charlie and striding towards the booth and sliding into the seat opposite Foggy.
"I hear you think I'm beautiful." She said bluntly, leaning her elbows on the table in front of her.
"Matt didn't have to be so forward," he mumbled embarrassed, his face going red.
"Matt. Is that the name of your pet male model?" Alice smiled.
Foggy chuckled, his hand going up to his head to adjust his hat. "That would be him."
Her eyes met Foggy's. "Well he speaks very very highly of you. If you're anything of the man your friend Matt just described you as to me, I'm quite interested in getting to know you. So should we get some introductions underway?"
He looked startled for a moment at her confidence which so clearly highlighted his awkwardness, before reaching across the table to shake her hand. "Foggy Nelson."
"Alice Roland."
"Great to meet you Alice. So what brings you to this mess of a bar this fine evening?"
"I'm a student, exams are over. Thought I'd come by with a friend and celebrate," she answered with a noncommittal shrug. "You?"
"The same."
"Yeah, your friend said you guys are law students?"
"Yeah that's right." He said, the smile on his face mirroring the one on Matt's when he told her.
"What made you want to be a lawyer?"
Foggy paused for a moment as he came up with an answer. "From your accent, I'm guessing you're not from around these parts, but I grew up in Hell's Kitchen. It was a rough neighbourhood as a kid, and I don't know- constantly seeing people getting smacked around both mentally and physically… After seeing that for so many years, you get sick of it. You want to be able to help and make a difference, you know?"
Alice smiled, leaving a silence floating in the air.
"My mom wanted me to be a butcher." Foggy states, alleviating the serious tone. Alice laughs so hard at the randomness of it that she snorts.
"A butcher? Really?"
He shrugs, his hands flamboyantly waving around.
"I think I can imagine you in the little apron." Foggy blushes slightly at the comment. "You'd probably have to cut your hair though, wouldn't want it getting in the meat."
"True. Though I'm probably going to have to cut it anyway, to look like a big, fancy lawyer. Just enjoying it while I can."
She paused, before replying with a cheeky smile- "Do you just like the wind running through your hair?"
"Well, of course!" he says as if it is the most obvious thing in the entire world.
She smiles, and things continue like this. A comfortable tone is found and an easy banter seems to flow readily between them. The topics vary: they discuss Star Wars, comic books, alcohol, Abba, Rolling Stones, ice skating, dancing, childhood dreams, the difference between home and New York… She doesn't even need any alcohol to keep the conversation flowing, and though she had her initial reservations, she has to agree with Matt and say that Foggy Nelson is a pretty wonderful guy- and that's just scratching the surface.
After about an hour, Matt sidles over to Foggy and announces that he's heading home. As soon as he does, Foggy stands up, "Do you need me to walk you back?"
Matt waves it off. "Don't be silly Foggy. We live 5 minutes away, I can get there myself. You stay and have fun."
A crease settles on Foggy's brow. "You sure?"
"Of course I am. Have a good one, buddy." He leans around Foggy to wave at Alice. "It was nice to meet you Alice."
"You too, Matt." And with that the other man wandered off, Foggy's eyes following him apprehensively as he settled back into the booth. "You really care for him, don't you?"
This shakes his attention back to her. "What, Matt?"
She nods.
"Well, he's my best friend. Also, he has a tendency to get himself into trouble, so someone has to fish him out every so often."
Her eyes sought his, an admiration in them for his caring nature. "Is it hard?"
"What, because of the…" Foggy's voice trails off, but he points towards his eyes. "No, not really. You fall into a pattern of leading and narrating pretty easily. And occasionally it's nice to have someone need you, you know?"
"Yeah. I think I do."
"How about you? Who was that friend if yours that was eyeing up my best friend all night?"
"Charlie? She's something else. Lives across the hall from me, and has always known how to have a good time. She's the one who helped me get to grips with the city when I first got here."
Foggy smiled. "Maybe we should hang out sometime: the four of us."
Alice heard the implication in his tone that this wasn't just for tonight, and although that would usually terrify her- today she found that she didn't mind. "That sounds great, Foggy."
She grabbed a napkin from the table and a pen from her pocket and jotted down her number, sliding towards Foggy. "Here you go. I hate to have to say this, but I really need to get back."
"I'll walk you home." Foggy said immediately without thinking.
"Yeah, that would be great, thanks."
The two of them got up and found their way out of the bar as Alice walked back her usual route, but with a warmth beside her she didn't always have. When they got to the front of her building she turned to look at Foggy. Would he shake her hand? Go for a hug? A kiss even? He smiled gently and leaned forward to place a soft kiss on her cheek. "I'm glad I met you tonight, Alice."
She blushed, her eyes cast towards the ground. "Yeah, me too."
She waved one final time before heading up the stairs to her room.
Just before she was about to go to sleep, her phone bleeped.
Thanks again for tonight. I know I'm not as hot as Matt, but I hope it wasn't disappointing. Foggy.
When the reply came through on Foggy's phone, he smiled like an idiot.
Something tells me I got the better end of the bargain. A xx
Hope this was okay! Sorry it took so long to get to you. Please drop a review and tell me what you think! Bg.97 xx
