In a different time, and a different place...
Alex chewed on a piece of ice, and put her glass down on the side table. She was feeling much more awake now. Bobby sat on her couch, swirling the watery alcohol mix in his own glass.
"Thanks for the drink," He smiled.
"What better way to reward a hero than with alcohol?"
"That's a rhetorical question, right?"
"At this stage in our relationship?" She cocked her head, "Of course it's rhetorical."
"So you're a bartender? Dancer?"
"Dancer?"
"Well.." He shrugged. "You look like you could be. Except you're prettier than most girls."
She lit a cigarette, between dainty little fingers and blew smoke to her side. "I run the place. What about you?"
"What about me," He stood up, and she did too.
"What do you do?"
"Freelance." He moved towards her door, and she stood in front of him.
"Stay." She looked up at him, and he looked at her, puzzled. "For a while."
"It's four am."
"So you're really late or really early. Either way.."
He looked at her, then moved back towards the couch.
"Freelance what?"
"Freelance whatever. Look, I really appreciate the drink, and I like you.. despite the unusual circumstances. But I really have to go."
She didn't say anything, just frowned at him.
"What?"
"You're lying. And you're scared. I mean, I know I lay into that guy, but I can't believe you're scared of me."
He sighed. "I'm not. Scared of you." He looked up at her, then back at the couch.
"So what, you're like, the neighborhood loner? You get to help people and be friendly, but if anyone tries to get in your business, you run away? You've got some sort of superhero complex."
"Look, I'm sorry if I got in your business,"
"That's not what I mean and you know it."
"So what do you want? A life story?"
"I'm a bit tired right now for an entire life story, fascinating as I'm sure yours is," She raised an eyebrow, and he smiled. "But maybe a number, or idea of where you live or work. Maybe we could get drinks again. Under different circumstances."
"Right."
"Is that a lot to ask?"
"No.. it's not. I'd like that, actually."
"Great." She put down her glass and scribbled on a piece of paper. "Here's my number, and you obviously know where I live."
"Fuck," Lewis groped for his glasses, and looked up at Bobby. "Man, you know what time it is? What the fuck are you smiling about? I hate you."
"Go back to sleep."
"I can't, you're gloating too loudly. What'd you do, get laid?" Lewis sat up and squinted. "Seriously, what time is it?"
"Five? Six, maybe."
"There's something very wrong with you."
"You only just figured that out?" He grinned and plopped onto the sofa across from the futon. "I met a girl." He fiddled with the outer seam of his pants.
"No shit. Look, I have to be up in an hour, you think you could, I dunno, shut the hell up until then?"
"She's great, man. Great!" He jumped off the couch and disappeared into his bedroom.
Oh noes! I smell a plot! Please R&R, and stay tuned..