Zach walked into a dimly lit bar, his head was hung low, strands of hair falling into his eyes. He walked to the end of the bar, avoiding the eye contact of the drunk middle aged men scattered around the room. Zach took a seat at the end of the bar, and glanced towards the bartender, who approached him slowly.
Zach: Whisky.
The man eyed Zach, and reached under the bar, pulling out a bottle. He set it on the bar in front of Zach.
Bartender: Shot or glass?
Zach: Glass.
The bartender reached under the bar once again, this time pulling out a short, but wide glass and set it next to the bottle. He poured the whisky a little less than half way, and took a step back, bottle in hand.
Zach: Leave it.
The bartender hesitated, but then plunked the bottle down in front of Zach. He turned and walked back to the middle of the bar, busying himself with washing glasses and straightening the bar. Zach's fingers wrapped around the cold glass of liquor, his index finger running along the rim slowly; he slid the glass towards him on the bar, and looked down at the dark liquid. Zach brought the glass to his face, inhaling the aroma of the liquor.
A tall blonde strolled up to the bar taking a seat at the edge of a barstool, two seats down from Zach. She glanced to her right, eyeing Zach up and down, as he moved his glass in a circular motion, swirling the liquor inside. Zach let out a deep breath and brought the glass to his lips, letting the harsh liquid roll down his throat. He set the glass down on the bar with a slight thud, and let his eyes close, the corners of his mouth curling up from the whisky.
Zach opened his eyes slowly, immediately reaching for the whisky bottle. He brought the bottle to the glass letting the whisky flow freely into it. The tall blonde, who hadn't peeled her eyes off of Zach since she sat down, brought her hand to her mouth and cleared her throat rather loudly. Zach turned his head to the left, and sat frozen for a second as he took in the sight of the woman sitting next to him.
Tall Blonde: Think you could pour me one of those?
The woman motioned towards Zach's glass and he turned his head, staring dumbly at it for a second. His fingers wrapped around the glass and he slid it across the bar towards the blonde. She smiled brightly and Zach brought his elbows up to the bar, crossing his arms in front of him.
Tall Blonde: So…what are you doing here?
The woman brought Zach's glass to her lips, and Zach turned his head, watching her gulp down the dark liquid quickly.
Zach: What's your name?
The blonde stared at him for a few seconds and then finished her drink. She set the glass back on the bar and slid it to Zach.
Tall Blonde: Michelle.
Zach continued to eye the woman, but reached over, picking the bottle up once again and refilling his glass. He brought his glass to his lips, taking another long sip.
Zach: Well, Michelle…if you'd care for another drink, ask the bartender…
Zach set his glass on the bar and looked away from her.
Zach: …and I'm not really in the mood to talk.
The right side of Michelle's mouth curled up in a half smile and she stood up, obviously amused. She stepped around her barstool and walked the few steps towards Zach, leaning against the bar next to him.
Michelle: We don't have to talk…
Zach looked sideways at the woman who was now hovering over him.
Michelle: …honestly…you look like you could use a friend.
Zach: Maybe I don't need a friend.
Michelle leaned in close to Zach, each of them smelling the whisky on the others breath.
Michelle: I didn't say I was yours…
Seth's head was uncomfortably propped up on the armrest of a couch in Zach's family room. He lay on his back, with Summer on her side, wedged into the back of the couch, and her head resting on Seth's shoulder. A small muted TV sat in the corner, playing a movie in English with Spanish subtitles running across the bottom of the screen.
The front door of the house flung open smacking loudly against the adjacent wall. Seth and Summer's eyes both shot open and looked to the door just in time to see a scruffy looking Zach shuffle through the threshold. Summer practically jumped off of Seth and walked towards Zach as he turned slowly, closing the front door behind him.
Summer: Are you just getting home?
Summer's voice was high pitched, and Zach cringed at the sound of it; he turned around again and found Summer standing a few feet in front of him. He blinked a few times and looked her up and down.
Summer: Are you okay?
Zach nodded his head slowly and brought one hand to his face, rubbing some sleep out of his eye. Seth moved from the couch, stopping behind Summer and peering over her shoulder at Zach.
Summer: Are you sure? You look like crap…
Seth: Yeah, man…you smell like…like Marissa…
Zach: I'm fine.
Zach looked back and forth between an unconvinced Seth and Summer.
Summer: So…where were you?
Zach shrugged and stepped around Summer walking towards the kitchen. She turned immediately, following him down the hallway. Seth trailed a little farther behind.
Summer: We waited up almost all night…we were both worried about you.
Zach stepped into the kitchen with Summer trailing closely behind him. He made his way to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. He twisted the cap off, letting it fall from his hand and roll onto the countertop. He took a few large gulps and swallowed hard, setting the bottle on the counter. He turned his head, looking at an impatient Summer awaiting some sort of explanation, and a confused Seth lingering in the threshold.
Zach: Look, I don't want to talk about it…
Summer: You don't want --
Seth took an immediate step into the kitchen, interrupting Summer.
Seth: Summer, he said he was fine.
Summer's head snapped towards Seth, and he took a quick step back.
Summer: He's obviously not!
Seth: How do you know?
Summer: Seth! –
Zach: Guys!
Seth and Summer both turned towards Zach, who let out a groan and brought his hands to his head.
Zach: Do you think you can stop the yelling?
Seth and Summer both glanced down at the floor, looking equally embarrassed. Seth's head popped up first; he immediately looked over at Zach.
Seth: Look, maybe…maybe we should just go…
Summer looked over at Seth whose eyes were glued on Zach. Zach's hands, which had remained on his head, dropped to his sides.
Zach: Yeah…
Summer's head immediately snapped towards Zach.
Zach: …maybe that'd be best…
Seth: Yeah…
An awkward silence filled the room as the three of them darted glances at each other.
Summer: Wait, what just happened here?
Zach stood frozen, his eyes locking onto Summer.
Seth: Summer…let's just go.
Ryan rolled over in bed, letting his arms and legs drape across Marissa's body. Marissa brought her arm up, letting her fingers run up and down Ryan's neck, and tangle in his hair.
Marissa: Are we going to do this all day?
Ryan: Sounds good to me.
Marissa: We can spend all day in bed in Newport…
Ryan brought his head up with a look of amusement on his face.
Ryan: Are you kidding? No we can't…
Ryan settled back into the bed and the two lay in silence for a few minutes. Eventually, Ryan turned his head and looked up at Marissa.
Ryan: What do you want to do?
Marissa (smiling): Hmm…shopping?
Ryan: Now that, we can do in Newport.
Ryan returned his head to the pillow, and closed his eyes.
Ryan: How about lunch?
Marissa: I'm not really hungry…
Ryan opened his eyes and looked up at Marissa.
Ryan: So…I guess we're staying in bed…
Marissa laughed and let her head rest on the pillow next to Ryan's.
Marissa: Guess so.
Ryan smiled and slid his body towards Marissa in bed.
Ryan: Still sounds good…
He leaned in, placing a soft kiss on Marissa's lips. She smiled as Ryan pulled away.
Marissa: I can't figure out if you're really romantic or just really lazy…
Ryan laughed, and leaned in, kissing Marissa again.
Ryan: Me either…
A few hours later, Ryan and Marissa were still in bed. A large pizza box sat open on the floor next to the bed. Marissa let out a groan and put her hand on her stomach.
Marissa: Mmm…I ate too much…
Ryan: Me too…
Marissa laughed and turned onto her side, moving closer to Ryan.
Marissa: Well, at least we succeeded in not getting out of bed…
Ryan: Who would have ever thought we'd be so good at this?
Marissa laughed, and Ryan smiled as they both leaned in for a kiss. Marissa slid her body on top of Ryan's and let her head lay on his chest. She ran her fingers up and down Ryan's bare arm and closed her eyes, a small smile creeping onto her face. About ten minutes had passed, before either spoke again.
Marissa: Ryan…
Ryan: Hmm…
Marissa: You wanna marry me?
Marissa's eyes remained closed and she felt Ryan's body tense underneath her.
Ryan: Uh…wa- …wha- …um…
A smile appeared on Marissa's face as her eyes sprung open. She turned her head, letting her chin rest on Ryan's chest and looked up at him. In a matter of moments, Ryan had turned a hazy shade of pale, and had a somewhat shocked look etched into his face.
Ryan: …uh…now!
Marissa giggled and slid her body up Ryan's, catching his lips with her own. She pulled away, immediately noticing that Ryan had relaxed. Marissa shook her head slightly, but her smile remained.
Marissa: Not now…
She smiled a little brighter and let her head rest on Ryan's chest once again.
Marissa: …I don't know…
Marissa brought one of her shoulders up in a small shrug.
Marissa: …someday…
Silence crept into the room along with the smile on Ryan's face. He brought his hand up, letting his fingers run through Marissa's hair.
Ryan: (Quietly) I do…
Marissa looked up at Ryan quickly, a large smile appearing on her face, to match the one on Ryan's.
Marissa: You said I do…
Ryan let out a small laugh.
Marissa: So do I…
They both stared at each other for a few seconds, their smiles never disappearing from their faces. Suddenly, Ryan looked up at the ceiling and then back to Marissa again.
Ryan: So…does this mean we're engaged?
Marissa let out a laugh and slid her body up Ryan's.
Marissa: I'm not sure…
Ryan: Me either…
Marissa laughed and caught Ryan's lips with hers once again. Ryan's hands trailed up Marissa body, eventually stopping at her face, cupping her cheeks in his hands.
Ryan: I love you.
Marissa: I love you.
Ryan smiled, and Marissa let out a soft giggle before they met in a kiss once again.