Chapter 3: Drink Me Sane
Haylie's pov:
"Keep 'em coming!" Jason yelled to the waitress as she brought him another beer. "Shit man I'm gunna be leavin' this place HAMMEEEERED. No exceptions," ugh, Cory hammered is so annoying, he likes to get right in your face and wave around like a lunatic. Plus it was karaoke night that meant Cory was going to be even more obnoxious. So far I've had 3 beers and a porn star shot. Not sure I like them they're too sweet, but some guy down the bar sent it over and how dyou say no to free booze?!
Arthur's pov:
I followed Eames and Yusuf into the pub, 'goodie, karaoke night' I thought to myself. We took a table near the patio, Eames said it was so he could go for smokes without going far, but I knew better. Right beside us was a table of rowdy drunk girls and you could tell he had made them his mark. I scanned around the pub as the waitress walked over, "Hello boys what can I get for you?" "Hello hello," he was looking her up and down, "I'd like a pint of your house beer thanks," "Same," copied Yusuf, then she turned to me, "I'll just have a glass of wine, red, whichever one's best." "Alrighty, are we starting a tab tonight? Separate? Together?" "A tab yes and together please," Eames said with a flirtatious smirk. "Can I get a name?" "Yusuf." Eames grinned, "Hey!?" Yusuf threw a glare at Eames, clearly peeved he had been volunteered to pay, "Fine," he grumbled. The waitress laughed as she wrote down Yusuf's name on a paper and left back to the bar to get the drinks.
Haylie's pov:
"Rock, Paper, Scissors!" "Dammit! Aaaugh, I ALWAYS lose! Kay, I'll buy the next round then." It's true, Nicole always lost. I don't know how to be bad at a game of chance but she really is terrible. "We'll take another round please!" She called to the bartender who lifted a mug to assure he'd heard her. "Yooouuuu suck," Cory taunted her relentlessly for the next 2 hours as she continually lost the game and ordered round after round of beers. Jason finally jumped off his barstool, I guess he just couldn't contain himself any longer, "I'm doin' it. I'm singin'. Y'cant stop me." He ran up to the karaoke machine and grabbed the mic and the book of songs. We all knew what he was gunna pick, he picks it every time. "Oh dear god I am SO sick of this song!" Shawna grabbed her water and chugged it back in frustration, slammed it down and demanded a new one. She's behaving like she's drinking, it's rather amusing actually. Then we all heard it, the music. As the first few notes of 'More Than a Feeling' by Boston began to boom through the pub we all spun on our stools to watch the magic that is Jason singing.
Arthur's pov:
Karaoke drives me nuts in the first place and especially when the singer sucks, but the drunker I got the better it became. Eames got me started on beer by telling me it was a man's drink and that every chick in the bar thought I was a tool for drinking wine. I gotta admit though, I was likin' it. After he finished his drink Yusuf was trying to flag the waitress but having zero success. Eames tried with no success either (which damaged his ego somewhat, not being able to get a girls attention). "I'm just gunna go up and get it, this is stupid." They all looked at me as I got up, "any requests?" "Um a round of tequila please darling, thank you" I turned to Yusuf, "just the beer thanks". "Alright, round of beer n a round of tequila." Heading towards the bar I kept repeating the order in my head, it was such a simple order but I didn't want to screw it up somehow. I squeezed myself between some people talking at the bar and forced a hand in, "Can I get ya somethin buddy?" Hearing his gruff voice I looked up at the bartender, "Ya 3 beers, 3 tequila thanks," "Alright," as he was bringin' up the shots and beers I turned looking to the side n let my eyes wander around the place. The pub was packed, people everywhere. I had wanted to play pool but I'd have to win the table to play n I don't think I'm good enough to beat those guys. I turned back to the bartender as he was pouring the last shot. "Thanks," I said with a nod as I grabbed the tray of drinks which I almost dropped when I noticed her. She was just down the bar about 10 people away from me. I stood stunned for a moment then stumbled off back to the table with my mouth hanging open like an idiot. "Alright Fishface, what's got your panties in a bunch?" I looked up at Eames, "She's at the bar... Haylie's here." Yusuf's eyes darted around the pub quickly sitting straight up in his seat while Eames, caring much less, simply reached for the tequila and his beer. As I sat I slowly reached for mine and took a swig I thought to myself, 'what do I do now?'
Haylie's pov:
"Oh. My. God. Cory shuttup, ugh why do we even drink with you?!" Shawna got up furiously and stormed off for the bathroom in a huff, "Way to go Cory." Nicole took off after her, "What? It was just a joke! She'll get over it," Cory downed his beer, grabbed the next one he had ready and left for the patio pulling his smokes out from his pocket which left me n Jason at the bar. "Shots?" He turned to me, "aiight, bring it," "jäger bombs?" He said with a mischievous grin, "Jäger bombs," I confirmed looking at him with a slow gangsta-like nod of my head. "Hey! 6 jäger bombs!" The bartender again lifted an arm to confirm he heard Jason's order. He was a regular here so the bartender didn't mind his rude and obnoxious behaviour. After 3 jäger bombs each in a row we started to get a little giddy. When Cory got back from his smoke he noticed the empty glasses in front of us and right away ordered 3 jägers for himself to catch up.
Nicole and Shawna eventually emerged from the bathroom to see Cory and Jason up on the stage belting out Journeys 'Don't Stop Believing' and acting like retards. "I'm sick of this. I'm heading out. If you guys want rides I'm going now. If not, you're cabbing." Nicole and I looked at each other, "I'll come with, I have to work in the morning anyways." That was a lie, Nicole didn't work in the morning, she just wanted to stay with Shawna to keep her calm. Shawna had just been dumped harshly by her boyfriend through a text message and Cory chose not to understand that it was a touchy subject for her. Shawna is a very sensitive person, one bad joke and she could fly off the handle. "Where's Nicole at? And where's Shawna?" I looked at Jason, "they left while you guys were up there. She's pissed." Cory pulled out his smokes again, "We'll I'm going for another smoke. Anyone care to join?" "Eh, why not," I got up n grabbed my sweater n scarf off the back of the chair. Jason shrugged n got up too and Cory led the way over to the patio door with me n Jason giggling like children and shoving each other playfully behind him. Finally I gave Jason one good solid shove in front of me that made him hit the door; I laughed and looked down and to my left. I froze, and not from the cold open door... there he was, Arthur.
Arthur's pov:
As I continued to drink my drinks, round after round, racking up Yusuf's tab I also continued to glance at her. She is so frickin' cute. I heard her laugh and looked to see her sitting with only one guy now. The others had all left; I think one of them was just on the patio though. I wonder if this one's her boyfriend, they seem really close. My heart sunk a little and I looked away. "Just take a shot Arthur, let her go", I think Eames reads minds or something. Although, being a Forger, he can probably read expressions and body language better than any of us. He passed me a muddy looking shot, "It's a Burt Reynolds, cheers" he lifted his shot and clinked with Yusuf, they both waited for me until I picked up mine with a sigh and clinked theirs, "Cheers" I said dully and downed my drink.
Eames was trying his best with those 10 girls at the table beside us. He sent a round of Bubblegum shots over to them and waved coolly when they turned to him giggling. Eames watched as a tall blonde girl from their table went outside for a smoke, "Excuse me gentlemen," and he got up and followed her calmly. "That guy, eh," said Yusuf shaking his head with jealousy, "How does he do it". I looked towards the door, "I know eh... Any girl any time... I wish I had that," "You mean 'had her' ya?" Yusuf added giggling. I sighed looking down at my beer in hand. I looked up as the guy on the patio went back to Haylie and downed some drinks. My life got worse when two guys started singing (or whatever it is they call it). It was the guys that are with Haylie. I downed my drink and ordered another, I thought I would be drunker than I am now considering how much I've had but I really wasn't feeling a thing. Yusuf got up with a jump, "Nature calls, be right back," and he darted off to the washroom. Left to my own thoughts I couldn't help but think about her. I glanced up when I heard a bunch of commotion between Haylie and two other girls, one of them was freaking out. Finally the two girls left and left her on her own. I thought about getting up to talk to her but just as I made up my mind to do so the two guys she was with came back from the stage. One of them, not the potential boyfriend one, pulled out some smokes and they all headed for the patio. I wish I'd gone out there with Eames, I don't smoke but she'd be there. I thought about that for a moment...that's on the patio... I'm at the patio door... That means she's walking right over here... do I say something? I wonder if she'll notice me, or remember me... ok be cool. I took a swig of my beer n relaxed in my chair trying to channel a little bit of a 'James Dean' type feel to the situation. The first guy swung the patio door open and stepped outside while lighting a smoke leaving her behind with the other guy. They were walking side by side pushing each other laughing. They were getting closer and closer and I was getting more and more nervous, she gave him one final shove and he hit the door bursting into a laugh as it opened with the impact and sent him flying outside which left only her inside. She took a few steps closer towards the door still laughing quietly. I adjusted myself in my seat n grabbed my beer again trying to keep my hands busy so I wasn't fidgeting so much. When I looked back up she was looking straight at me, "Hey... I know you," she said softly with a smile, my heart flew, "Ya... I know you too" I replied smiling.
