Disclaimer : I own nothing except my own fictional characters and receive no payments of any sort. This story is for simple entertainment and fun only.
Hey DC Family :) Thanks to everyone for all the awesome reviews and support . Glad that you've been able to stay happy with me so far. Hopefully as the story continues everyone stays satisfied. Guess there's only one way to find out! Here's the next chapter :)
"Alright everyone. The offload isn't going to be finished for another few hours, five tops. So go to St. Paulie's pub and enjoy yourselves. But not too much. You still got work in the morning. Okay?"
"Yes Sig." The crew replied in a tone that suggested they'd heard this speech more than once before.
Sig grimanced at his crew "There's no need for the sarcastic tone."
Everyone chuckled, one by one making their way out of the wheelhouse. The only one to hang back was Norman, who was talking to his older brother about one thing or another. Natalia noticed and hung back to watch them. Both Hansens sensed her presence at the same time.
"You need something Nat?" Sig asked.
"No. I was just wondering why you guys aren't coming with us to the bar?"
"Well somebody's gotta watch the boat."
"Yeah. And I'm gonna keep watch on the brailers and weights. The proccessors like to cheat you sometimes." Norman said.
"Okay. Just checking." Natalia said with a smile.
"Don't worry about us kid. Go and have some fun." Sig said, ruffling her hair as he'd done to her many times in her youth.
Natalia shot him a dirty look and both he and Norman laughed.
"She never liked that." Norman said chuckling.
"Sorry, forgot." Sig said, humor in his voice.
Natalia rolled her eyes at him and exited the wheelhouse from the door that led directly to the deck, Norman following close behind. They chatted for a few moments before she decided it was time to head over to the pub. She noticed a figure standing over the rail and when she squinted her eyes, she was able to make out exactly who it was.
"Hey Jake, what are you doing here?" she asked as she hopped over the rail and onto the dock.
"I noticed that you weren't with the group and I didn't think it was safe for you to walk to the bar by yourself. 'Specially since you never been here before."
" Aww, thank you Jake. Now who said chivalry was dead?" she asked rhetorically.
"Certainly not me."
Jake and Natalia laughed and made their way to St. Paulie's, arm in arm, laughing and joking all the way. They'd just made it to the bar when Natalia stopped and turned to face Jake. He looked at her, confused as to why she'd suddenly stopped walking.
"Jake, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"You know the other day..when I kissed you. You know that it didn't mean anything more than us being friends right? I mean, you saved my life and everything, and I was just so relieved and my nerves were all over the place that I just kissed you spontaniously. But it didn't mean anything...atleast nothing more than that I appreciate you for saving my life and that you're a good friend."
The look of confusion on Jake's face soon turned to one of amusement. He started to laugh and it was Natalia's turn to be confused.
"Umm...so I take it you never even considered me that way, huh?"
"Not in the least bit." Jake said, still laughing.
"Gee, thanks." Natalia muttered.
"No, no. Dont take it the wrong way. I mean you're beautiful and a real great girl and everything. But I never thought that the kiss was anything more than a simple kiss between two friends who shared a near death experience."
"Well that's good to know. Except now I feel like an asshole."
"Don't worry about it. In fact, I thought if anyone got the wrong idea about the kiss it would be you."
"Me?" she asked incredulously.
"Well sure. It's so easy for a girl to fall for me once she's got even the tiniest taste. I mean, for one thing I'm gorgeous. Drop-dead gorgeous, you might even say. I've got the blue eyes to make a woman melt on the spot and let's be honest, my body is killer. I've got a good job, I'm hard working and I'm sensitive to the ladies."
"And humble. Let's not forget humble." Natalia said through laughter.
"That too." Jake said smiling "Now are you ready to go inside or what?"
"Ready."
With that, the two friends once again locked arms and stepped into the somewhat crowded St. Paulies pub and made their way over to their crew. Everyone already had their choice of drink and Jake offered to get Natalia her's while he also went to order his.
"I'll take a root beer."
Everyone at the table stopped what they were doing and stared at her.
"Are you serious?" Matt was the first to speak.
"What?" Natalia asked confused.
"A root beer? You're going to drink a root beer?"
"What's wrong with that?"
"We're in a bar and you're asking for a fountain drink?"
"I don't drink alcohol, so yeah I'm getting a root beer." Natalia said defensively and that was all it took. Everyone burst out laughing and even Natalia had to join in.
"Kiss my ass." She said with mock offense
"Big words coming from the root beer girl." Nick said jokingly
"Would you like a straw with that?" Matt chimed in.
"Maybe we should put it in a sippy cup" Nick said, laughing harder.
"Alright, alright guys. Leave her alone." Jake said, though it was obvious he'd found the situation just as funny.
"We're just messin' with her." Matt said, giving Natalia a playful noogie.
She fought her way out of it and punched him in the arm. Everyone laughed and soon the entire crew was sitting around the table, drinking their drinks, talking shit, and having a good time. Even Edgar seemed to be in a better mood. Not exactly great, but definitely better. A few lady "fans" made their way to the crew's table and started situating theirselves on each crew members lap, Natalia excluded. She said nothing, but she couldn't deny that it hurt her to see how much Edgar was eating up the attention of the groupie on his lap. She was thin, blond, her eyes were blue and her name was Candice. She was the perfect stereo-type of the all-American girl. For the most part, girls like Candice didn't bother Natalia, but seeing her with Edgar definitely made Natalia feel self-concious. Natalia was a thick girl, filled out in all the right places, and she worked out constantly to keep herself in shape. Her hair was black, her eyes were brown and she'd never found herself to be a beauty queen. As a child and even to her later teens, Natalia had gone through a horrible development stage. Her mother called it the "awkward stage". Natalia called it the "ugly stage". Since she was about 6-16 years old, Natalia had eczema, so her skin would sometimes break out in a rash. She wore long sleeved shirts and jeans year-round, and her body hadn't developed until a little before she turned 17. When she was a child, the other children made fun of her and said she'd had cooties. As a teenager, though she'd actually had a lot of friends, boys & girls alike, none of the guys took special interest in her. She went to every school dance and holiday party and no one had ever asked her to dance. Not once.
Natalia thought she'd gotten over those insecurities a long time ago, but seeing Edgar with Candice, who preferred to be called "Candy", was a fast reminder of everything that made her feel bad about herself. She often envied girls like "Candy". Skinny, blonde, pretty. She didn't even have to be smart and yet she had every guy in the world at her dispense, asking her to dance. And now she had Edgar and they were standing in the middle of the bar, swaying back and forth to a slow song. The rest of the crew was also on the floor with their complementary bimbo and Natalia was once again left on the sidelines, waiting for a dance, specifically from Edgar. She'd even sought out his gaze once, but he'd barely glanced at her before he looked away.
She knocked back another root beer and sighed heavily. The bartender who'd been serving them drinks for the evening stopped by the table to ask Natalia if she wanted another drink.
"Sure, why not.." she said half-heartedly, giving a small smile.
"Hey, why aren't you out there dancing too honey?" the bartender asked, whose name tag read "Gigi".
"Nobody asked me." Natalia shrugged, sadness evident in her voice.
Gigi patted her on the back and said "That's okay honey. Sometimes you just have to dance with yourself, you know what I mean?"
With that she walked away, got Natalia another drink, set it on the table and walked away again smiling. As Natalia knocked back her drink, she began thinking about what Gigi had said to her and then suddenly she got an idea.
5 minutes later the slow song had ended and the crew drifted back to the table, their bimbos in tow. Matt signaled the bartender for another round, which she quickly supplied them with. The crew was so out of breath and so transfixed with their girls, that they'd barely noticed Natalia at the table. Nick was the first to realize she was still sitting there.
"What's a matter sweety? No one ask you to dance?"
"Nope." She said smiling and suddenly rose from the table. Everyone looked at her curiously but their attentions were once again consumed by the women on their laps.
Suddenly there were the sounds of guitars and drums blaring from the jukebox and Natalia swaying with the music. She was the only one on the dance floor as she began dance and sing along with Billy Idol.
"On the floor of Tokyo When there's no-one else in sight Oh dancing with myself If I looked all over the world So let's sink another drink Oh dancing with myself
Or down in London town to go, go
With the record selection
And the mirror's reflection
I'm dancing with myself
In the crowded lonely night
Well I wait so long
For my love vibration
And I'm dancing with myself
Oh dancing with myself
Well there's nothing to lose
And there's nothing to prove
I'll be dancing with myself
And there's every type of girl
But your empty eyes
Seem to pass me by
Leave me dancing with myself
'Cause it'll give me time to think
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
And I'll be dancing with myself
Oh dancing with myself
Well there's nothing to lose
And there's nothing to prove
I'll be dancing with myself "
Natalia was so lost in the music and her crazy dancing that she'd hardly realized that Gigi, the bartender, was dancing beside her. They smiled at each other and sang to the top of their lungs. "If I looked all over the world So let's sink another drink Oh dancing with myself "Dancing with myself
And there's every type of girl
But your empty eyes
Seem to pass me by
Leave me dancing with myself
'Cause it'll give me time to think
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
And I'll be dancing with myself
Oh dancing with myself
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance"
Dancing with myself
Dancing with myself
Dancing with myself"
"Come on! Everybody know!" Natalia screamed to the ladies on the floor and they all sang in unison. "If I looked all over the world So let's sink another drink Oh dancing with myself
And there's every type of girl
But your empty eyes
Seem to pass me by
Leave me dancing with myself
'Cause it'll give me time to think
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
And I'll be dancing with myself
Oh dancing with myself
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance"
Natalia smiled as she danced and looked around her, thinking of the years she'd been waiting for someone to dance with.
"Definitely worth the wait."
A/N: I hope everyone liked this chapter! I also seriously recommend listening to this song when you get a chance if you haven't heard it already. It's called "Dancing with myself" by Billy Idol .
