Chapter 4 – Perceptions

Tris's POV:

"Um…." My throat is so dry. I swallow like I have a hairball and just say, "Well yeah. We're going out after our shift. I'm sure it would fine if you tagged along. I mean not that you're the 'tag along' type."

"The what?" He asks smiling. I could lose myself in the sexiness of that smile.

"You know…like someone who has nothing better to do, so they just jump on the band wagon and 'tag along'."

"Tag along on the band wagon? Are you a country singer?" He's funny. Huh….doesn't look like the funny type.

"Okay, ha..ha..ha.. " I say as I pour him another Jack and Coke while putting some Jack aside for myself. "All I mean is that I would imagine women….I mean people (idiot!) tag along with you….not vice versa. "

"Well, I'm not that outgoing so I don't usually have people tagging along," he says shyly.

His smile is so damned cute! Agh! I toss back the Jack Daniels in my glass out of pure nerves.

"So….." he adds after a moment, looking very uncomfortable.…Oh my God, I've been staring at his lips. "I can tag along?"

"Yep," I say as I notice him looking down the bar right at Christina.

She is facing away from us leaning onto the end of the bar, giving us a great shot of her ass.

"Is she going to want to tag along too?" he asks pointing at Christina.

"Yeah we were thinking about heading to…" Did he ask me to hang out, knowing that Christina would most likely join us? Well played.

"Heading to….?" he asks while trying to make eye contact.

I think I have had my fill of staring contests and awkward conversations. I am not going to be the girl he decides he needs to befriend in order to get the other one's attention.

I look him in the eye with as blank of an expression as I can conjure. "We usually head to The West after work on Fridays. Her name is Christina."

I am biting the inside of my cheek raw. I don't know why. He showed minimal interest in the first place. Get back to work Tris.

I see three new customers sitting at the bar: two guys and a girl, and the Bourbon guys have been replaced as well. I look at the clock. 8:40. 20 minutes left Tris.

"You guys ready to order?" I ask the three people who just sat down.

"Yeah, two Blue Moons and….what do you want babe?" He asks who I assume is his girlfriend.

"Ummmmmm…..I don't know…" Then she addresses me. "How about you just make me something fruity?"

"Sure, no problem."

I grab three Blue Moons out of the cooler, uncap them and slide them over the bar while adding a slice of orange to the girl's beer.

"Something fruity for you."

The two guys laugh, but she doesn't. She elbows her boyfriend in the side for laughing too much and gives me a nasty look.

"Did you want something else?" I ask her. She's really pretty, in a sex kitten kind of way.

"Not if you're making it." she answers coldly.

"Fair enough," I say as if I care who makes her a damned drink.

The guy who seems to be kind of a 3rd wheel gestures for me to lean over the bar and as I do he takes one of the tendrils of my hair that had fallen out and tucks it behind my ear.

"Thanks," I say as I feel my cheeks warm.

"Wait. Don't go yet!" he says in mock desperation. Then he tucks another one behind my ear.

"You know that was actually pretty funny," he says. "I'm Matthew."

He holds out his hand to shake mine but we are too close and he hits me in the boob. His look of mortification is priceless and I can't help but laugh.

"Wow." I say. "Is that how you greet everyone?"

"Yes. I'm from Awkwardville." he says without missing a beat. "It's a small town outside the city of What-The-Fuck-Did-I-Just-Do ." 2 funny guys in one night. I like the other one better. Why?

"I'm Tris. Nice to meet you." I say as I hold my hand out for another try.

"This is David," he says and gestures to his friend who has a pissed off expression on his face as he looks down the bar at the girl who was sitting with them, but who now has her arms wrapped around Four. "And that is Nita."

"Hmph." I say. Get the fuck away from him. "She seems…..friendly."

I watch her as she is attempting to insert herself between the bar and Four. She maneuvers herself in between his legs as he sits completely upright and stiff. Is he uncomfortable?

I grab her beer and walk down to them and hand it to her. She yanks it from my hands sloshing it all over my arms and then gives me an "Oops…sorry…."

"Your boyfriend looks pretty unhappy." I tell her while making Four a refill. I see some bills on the counter. Was he leaving? Why do I care?

"Well, then it's a good thing he's not my boyfriend…right, Four?" She is addressing Four while looking at me.

"I have no interest either way," he says flatly while trying to make eye contact with me. Do not look at him!

"You were certainly interested when you had me pinned to the bed …let's see…when was it…" This just keeps getting better and better.

"Nita," he says in a warning-like tone.

He is interrupted by David, her not-boyfriend, who despite her protests, pulls her away from Four looking not too happy…as if Four was asking for Nita's attention. Hell, maybe he was. He obviously had "asked" for attention before.

"Uh..., Tris. I'm sorry. She and I, really—"

"Not my business." I say as I give him a small close-mouthed smile and attempt to walk away.

He grabs my wrist and looks at me intently. "Can we still hang out after your shift?"

He is literally looking at me like there is no one else in the room. My heart rate accelerates. God, this guy is good. He's a fucking professional. I break off the stare when I feel a shiver go through my body. I am not interested in being a buffer between him and Christina. He is welcome to come out with us afterwards, but I'm keeping my distance.

"Sure," I say nonchalantly. "Just meet us at the end of the bar in about 20 minutes. I'll introduce you to Christina and we'll head out from there."

Then I walk away. I did notice he had a confused look on his face. He knows I'm on to him.

I see that the other two customers who took the Bourbon guys' seats had already been taken care of by Lynn. So I head back over to David, Nita (yuck) and Matthew. When I approach, David is leading Nita away but Matthew is still there. I hand him another Blue Moon.

"This one's on the house, you probably deserve it after spending time with her," I say honestly.

"Yeah. She pretty much sucks. But, David is really into her so I'm being a supportive friend."

"Ha! I know all about being the "supportive friend," I say using air quotes.

Christina must have heard that because she chimes in, "Ain't that the truth! Tris here…best wing-woman ever!"

I roll my eyes. "Sad but true," I say.

"I don't think it's sad," Matthew says pondering. "It's endearing. The both of us…we are endearing!" He's sweet.

"Tris! 15 red-headed sluts please!" Lynn yells from her station.

"Is that your latest preference?" I yell back.

"You're fucking hilarious! Make the damned shots so we can get the hell out of here!"

I smile at her as she flicks me off.

The song "Beg for It," by Iggy Azalea comes on and Christina throws a lime at my face laughing.

"What?!" I say even though I know what she wants.

"Come on! You taught me and said I was good! " she pleads.

In the blink of an eye she is passing me a shot of Jack Daniels.

"God! Fine! But, not full out, keep your lower body movements compact and not facing customers. No level changes and no hip thrusting!" I laugh as I take the shot. I'm a sucker.

Christina loves this song so I taught her a very simplified version of the choreography we use at The Studio. No upper body and very controlled lower body so we can do it together at the bar and still make drinks. It's things like this that make this job bearable. Also, the customers are usually so caught up in themselves that they don't even notice we are doing it.

"Yeeeeeeeeeeee!" She shrieks as she starts the song over on her TouchTunes App.

"Oh my God, Chris…..5,6,7,8."

(Pulled up lookin' picture perfect baby…..high price, but I'm worth it baby)

As I'm getting the ingredients out for the shots, Christina asks (as we both heel toe hip swishes to the left in synch), "So what's up with Mr. Dark-and-Mysterious? That was the guy that was in here the other night by the way. The one who took a shot and then just stood there the rest of the time." Huh.

I turn to look at him and notice that he is staring.

"Well, you'll find out soon enough. He wants to hang out after our shift is over," I say.

"Really?! That's awesome! That guy I've been talking to tonight," she says as she points over her shoulder (as we both do a minimal left, right, double left bounce on our toes) "wants to join us too! He's sooooo cute…and puppy dog eyes to boot." Good. Some competition for Mr. Sex-on-a-Stick.

"And Lynn said something about her sister wanting to meet up with us at some point too. Shana? Shannon? Shauna?" I ponder.

"Shauna. Definitely Shauna." Christina replies as we finish out our little routine with two left and then two right super subtle booty shakes. "And did you know she manages the gym?"

Christina and I take yoga classes at a gym called Dauntless. After I finally had the guts to tell her about Eric she also made me take self-defense classes there as well. They were amazing and made me actually feel powerful for once in my life.

"No, I didn't. But, I've probably seen her there."

"Lynn is giving you the stink eye…better deliver those shots," Christina says while giving an evil little wave to Lynn. "I'm closing out and going to freshen up. I'll see you in back."

"Sounds good," I answer as I load the shots onto a tray and walk down to the end of the bar to pass them off to Lynn.

"Shauna is meeting us at The West in ½ hour so hurry up," Lynn says once I hand her the tray. "Hey Four," she says as she walks away.

"Lynn," He responds. "Well, this was meant to be." Fucking love his voice.

"And why do you say that? Because from my perspective, you had this all planned out," I say bluntly. I really didn't want to do this.

He furrows his eyebrows. "What exactly do you think I had planned out? Because from my perspective, I seem to have no clue what the hell I'm doing," he says as he looks down the bar.

"She went back to the lounge to change," I answer his unspoken question.

"Who did?" he asks.

"Christina."

"Okay, well…..great. Are you going to do the same?" he asks me impatiently. "Wait! Not that you need to…I mean, you look great. Your hair, your pants—"

"My pants?"

He is bright fucking red! "Yeah…well. Apparently, the best compliment I can come up with tonight is that your hair and your pants are great."

"Well, I've never been one to inspire compliments."

"Fuck." He huffs. "Ok. What I really want to say is….." He leans toward me and I can't physically stop by body from migrating toward him as well.

I take in his amazing scent. My pheromones are blazing. He brushes the right side of his lips against my right ear, "…you're perfect."

I back away reluctantly. As amazing as that was…..I'm confused. Is he sincere or just that good? I feel like that was 100% sincerity. But, what the hell did Tori call me? Oblivious. I do the math. He is the most perfect man I have ever seen. He should be with Helen of Troy for God's sake. How could he ever be interested in me? He's not.

"Look. Can I be honest?" I ask abruptly.

"That would be appreciated."

"So you do appreciate honesty?

"Yesssss….."

"Well, I would have appreciated you being more honest with me about why it is you really asked me to hang out tonight," I boldly say.

"Did you think there was any other motive than to get to know you?" He asks.

"Yes."

"Then, please clue me in on my motive." He looks like he's getting mad.

"You talk to me. I get excited because you have beautiful eyes, and your sexy, and have this voice…ugh! And then I see you looking down the bar at Christina. So, I figure, okay I get it. Then you start having these weird semi-awkward conversations and (Mouth vomit! Mouth vomit!) it's really endearing—"

"Geez…you're way better at the compliment thing then I am…"

I pause because I now know that I am acting like a fool and taking this way too seriously. I can feel tears forming from embarrassment. I can't believe I told him he had beautiful eyes, is sexy, has a nice voice, is endearing….God.

"Just grow a pair and ask her out before that guy with the puppy dog eyes does. You don't need to go through me!" Then I turn on my heel and book it to the lounge straight past Christina and Lynn and into the bathroom.

I let a couple tears spill over to relieve the pressure building behind me eyes.

"You okay, Trissy?" Christina tentatively asks through the door. She must have followed me.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just have something in my eye."

She pauses. "You're lying…but whatever. We're heading out front. See you out there, then maybe you'll tell me what's wrong."

I don't answer.

Four's POV:

I just sit there and watch her reaction with bated breath. She looks unsure.

"Um…" she says as she swallows thickly. Mind out of the gutter. Mind out of the gutter. "Well yeah." Awesome. "We're going out after our shift." We. Bummer. "I'm sure it would be fine if you tagged along. " It would be 'fine'? "I mean not that you're the tag along type."

"The what?" I ask. She seems nervous.

"You know…like someone who has nothing better to do, so they just jump on the band wagon and tag along."

"Tag along on the band wagon?" She's adorable. "Are you a country singer?" I ask.

"Okay, ha..ha..ha." she says as she pours me another Jack and Coke.

She really is an excellent bartender. It's the perfect balance of the two ingredients. I didn't ask for a refill though. Is she pouring me another because she likes me? Or does she do that for all customers?

"All I mean is that I would imagine women…I mean people…tag along with you…not vice versa." What about women? She thinks I'm a player. Fucking Uriah!

"Well, I'm not that outgoing so I don't usually have people tagging along," I say. Maybe she would prefer someone more social.

Wait? Did she just drink Jack straight up? When did she even pour that? I wasn't lying when I said I would take her on the bar…right now. I'm twitching in my pants.

"So….I can tag along?" Got words out. Good.

I look down the bar to see what Will is up to. He seems to be hitting it off with Christina. Way to go buddy.

"Yep."

"Is she going to want to tag along too? I ask pointing towards Christina.

"Yeah we were thinking about heading to…." Good. At least then maybe the four of us can hang out. Now how to go about ditching Uriah…

While I'm pondering the ways to bury Uriah's body, I see that Tris has paused almost in realization of something.

What was the last thing we were talking about?….oh yeah.

"Heading to…?" Tris is not making eye contact with me. She actually looks kind of pissed.

"We usually head to The West after work on Fridays," she says with a mass amount of indifference.

Her beautiful grey-blue eyes look almost blank. She then quickly follows that with, "Her name is Christina." And then she walks away. I already knew her name. What the hell just happened?

Let's review. Initially she seemed nervous to talk to me which I took as a good sign. She was pouring me drinks without even asking me: a sign she feels comfortable. Did I ask Christina's name? No. I already knew her name because I overheard it. Maybe I was too fucking busy imagining myself being an exhibitionist with Tris on the bar…..holy shit did I say something out loud?

I look down the bar trying to catch her eye, or at least get some sort of a sign of emotion on her face, but she is taking their drink order. Tris pulls out and uncaps three Blue Moons and adds an orange on the lip of one of them. She has an amused look on her face and the customers seem to be laughing at something she said. What I wouldn't give to hear that laugh again.

Then I watch as a guy signals her to come closer and I can feel my cheeks heating up again. He tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear and she looks down timidly. Good. Maybe she didn't like it. But then the guy puts his hands up and beckons her again to tuck another strand of hair behind her other ear. Apparently she was okay with it. He reaches, in an apparent attempt to shake her hand, but touches his fingers to her breast. Well played man. You are 3 inches away from her face and you go to shake her hand and "miss"? I need to get the fuck out of here.

I toss some bills on the counter and get up to leave. I don't understand why this girl, who I don't even know, is having this effect on me. I turn around and a hand on my chest pushes me back onto the barstool. Fucking Nita.

"You've been staring at her for so long you didn't even notice me," Nita pouts. "Are you trying to make me jealous?"

I glance down the bar hoping Tris doesn't see the shit show that I know is about to go down. Why do I care if she sees? I was leaving anyway. But I see that she is still talking to Mr. Handsy and she seems to be having an engaging conversation with him. Fuck it.

I attempt to push past Nita, but she has her hands on my upper thighs and she pushes me down on the barstool again. I really do not want to make a scene so I try to stay calm.

"Did you need something?" I ask. Wrong question.

"I'm pretty sure you know what I need." she purrs as she migrates her hands from my thighs slowly up to my chest and wraps her arms around me.

I keep my arms at my sides but I don't push her away because I don't want to draw unnecessary attention. My bar stool is scooted out in my earlier attempt to leave so she easily slides in between myself and the bar. This is my out. I attempt to flee again but she grabs my cock and I clamp my legs shut and sit up straight to stop her. That sent the wrong message. She gets a look of excitement on her face but I quickly grab her wrist and yank it aside, probably too roughly, but I need her to understand that there is no way in hell anything will happen between us.

Seeing that the universe hates me, Tris appears. She thrusts a Blue Moon at Nita with that same blank look on her face. Nita grabs it and purposefully spills it on Tris's arms while saying, "Oops…sorry…" She sucks so bad.

Tris doesn't even flinch at that. She starts to pour me another drink. I fuckin' love that! "Your boyfriend looks pretty unhappy."

"Well, then it's a good thing he's not my boyfriend…right, Four?" She is looking at Tris while she says this.

I give her my most honest answer. "I have no interest either way."

I feel the need for Tris to know this since she is standing right here possibly trying to intercept Nita. I attempt to make eye contact with her beautiful piercing eyes…to no avail.

"You were certainly interested when you had me pinned to the bed (Abort! Abort!)…let's see…when was it…"

"Nita," I say angrily. I'm officially fucked. And I hate the look of sadness and disappointment on Tris's face.

The guy whom she must be here with is pulling her away as she pouts saying, "I'm not ready to go yet!"

He is looking at me as if I asked for this. I don't blame him. I would be none to happy if I were seeing this situation from his vantage point. I try to communicate with my eyes that this is not my doing. I can only imagine what Tris is thinking.

Immediately after they leave I try to get some words out in explanation to which she says, "Not my business," accompanied by a fake smile.

As she tries to walk away I grasp her wrist in my hand. She looks at me stubbornly for a moment, but then her face softens and time stops for the second time tonight. My heart starts to beat faster and faster. My hand is pulsing where I am holding her small wrist and I know she feels it too because I can feel her shiver slightly.

"Can we still hang out after your shift?"

Five minutes ago I was ready to leave and not look back, now I feel like I am begging to be able to stay.

"Sure," she deadpans. "Just meet us at the end of the bar in about 20 minutes. I'll introduce you to Christina and we'll head out from there." That was way too easy. Apparently she really wants me to meet Christina.

She abruptly walks away…too abruptly. Hmm. She goes back over to the innocent boob-grabber and hands him a beer the same way she has been pouring me refills: without even asking. Why am I jealous of that? They seem to be having a comfortable and lively conversation. Way more comfortable than her and I have had tonight. That blows.

Christina chimes in and all I hear is "….best wing-woman ever!" Tris looks down and doesn't seem to love that comment. I don't love that comment. But she laughs it off and goes back to talking to the boob grabber.

Lynn yells, "Tris! 15-red-headed sluts please!" I think that's a shot.

"Is that your latest preference?" she yells back. She's funny. Sexy, sweet and funny. She's a god-damned trifecta.

"You're fucking hilarious! Make the damned shots so we can get the hell out of here!" Lynn yells again while flicking Tris off.

She just smiles at that. I love how she just lets things roll off her back.

So they are friends with Lynn, who is Shauna's sister, Shauna is dating Zeke, Zeke is my best friend. Will likes Christina, who seems to be good friends with Tris, and I like Tris. This is kind of perfect. God I hope she likes me back.

I watch Tris take another shot. I've never been jealous of a shot glass before.

She seems to be giving Christina some kind of instruction while Christina shrieks. You sure about this one Will? Will is laughing at her so he must be.

The two of them start doing this small dance in perfect synch. You wouldn't even notice they were doing it unless you were really paying attention, and I seem to be doing a crazy amount of that this evening.

The slight way she is swinging her hips and moving her ass is seriously affecting my groin, making my pants increasingly uncomfortable. I sit up quickly to relieve some pressure. Is this the song, "Beg for It?" Pretty sure there isn't a more ironic song.

I see inappropriate boob guy is watching her as intently as I am and he just sat up as quickly as I did. I hate him and don't even know him. But I catch her looking my way briefly and not his so I feel slightly relieved.

Christina points over her shoulder at Will and smiles widely at Tris. The two girls keep chatting while Tris efficiently get the shots ready for Lynn. How she can dance, have a conversation and pour shots without missing a beat is beyond me.

"What the fuck Tris…." Lynn mumbles. Then Tris appears with the tray of shots.

"Shauna is meeting us at The West in ½ hour so hurry up." Lynn has always seemed like kind of a bitch. "Hey Four," she says as if she has just noticed me.

"Lynn."

I pause for a second hoping I can get Tris's attention. "Well, this was meant to be."

"And why do you say that? Because from my perspective, you had this all planned out." Is she serious?

While trying to process this I ask," What exactly do you think I had planned out?" Seriously, I'm so fucking confused right now. "Because from my perspective, I seem to have no clue what the hell I'm doing." And that is embarrassingly the God's honest truth.

"She went back to the lounge to change."

"Who did?" Seriously who?

"Christina." Great. One down one to go.

"Okay, well…..great. Are you going to do the same?" I ask impatiently. Because I can't wait to make out, I mean hang out with you. "Wait!" Fuck! " Not that you need to…I mean, you look great. Your hair, your pants—"

"My pants?" Someone please get me a gun. And am I on fire?

"Yeah…well. Apparently, the best compliment I can come up with tonight is that your hair and your pants are great."

"Well, I've never been one to inspire compliments." I DID NOT mean it that way. And that can't be true.

"Fuck." Honesty. "Ok. What I really want to say is….."

I lean toward her and she mirrors my movement. I can't help but take in her amazing scent. I've never wanted to kiss someone so badly. Her lips are perfection.

I brush the right side of my lips against her right ear because I just can't fucking help myself and I whisper, "…you're perfect."

She slowly backs away and looks at me, seemingly pondering what I just said.

"Look. Can I be honest?" she asks abruptly. Oh shit.

"That would be appreciated."

"So you do appreciate honesty?

"Yesssss…." Who doesn't?

"Well, I would have appreciated you being more honest with me about why it is you really asked me to hang out tonight," she says boldly.

"Did you think there was any other motive than to get to know you?" I ask.

"Yes." What's happening?

"Then, please clue me in on my motive." I'm getting kind of pissed.

"You talk to me. I get excited because you have beautiful eyes, and your sexy, and have this voice…ugh! And then I see you looking down the bar at Christina. So, I figure, okay I get it. " Get what? "Then you start having these weird semi-awkward conversations and it's really endearing—"

"Geez…you're way better at the compliment thing than I am…" Thank God she thought that was endearing.

And now she's not talking. She looks seriously upset and I don't like it one bit. Can I please hop over the bar and kiss the frown off your face?

"Just grow a pair and ask her out before that guy with the puppy dog eyes does. You don't need to go through me!" Then she turns on her heel and she's gone.

I'm frozen to the bar stool trying to take in what she just said. Ask who out? How could she think I was interested in anyone but her? Have I talked to another soul tonight? Checked out another girl….Oh fuck. Puppy dog eyes is Will and "her" is Christina.

And it all comes together. I remember how she seemed upset after I looked down the bar at Will. Not at Christina! Then after I asked her to hang out, I immediately asked if Christina was coming for Will's sake. You fucking idiot! She thinks I am going through her to get to Christina.

So she does like me…..Oh man I am going to have so much fun with this tonight!