It's a Small, Small World
Natalie and Owen walked into the pub heading straight to the bar for a few shots. Grabbing their drinks they headed over to a vacant table. "So things are going really well between I think." Owen said to her.
"I agree. How long till you think we mess it up?" Natalie asked. "Sorry was that too pessimistic?"
"Natalie you have to start looking at the world as if it's a glass-half-full. I'm not going anywhere." Owen reached across the table for her hand. "Do you want to dance?" The couple stood to dance to the music coming through the very loud speakers. As the song changed to something slow Natalie rested her head on his shoulder. 'This is the textbook definition of a perfect moment' Natalie thought to herself. She was happy and safe, and nothing seemed like it could go wrong, and then Richard walked through the door. And he wasn't alone. It was that girl. The same one that he had been with earlier.
Lifting her head, Owen noticed how tense her body became. Looking around Owen saw Richard, and knew why. "Why don't we go say hi?" he suggested leading Natalie over to the two who had just sat down. "Richard hey man how are you doing?" Owen said pulling a chair over pulling Natalie onto his lap in the process.
"Hey Owen, Natalie" Richard acknowledged. "This is Haley Carlton." He introduced.
"Yeah, we've met." Haley said. "Owen and I have an English class together."
"Hi I'm Natalie." She said extending her hand.
"Nice to meet you," Haley said. "So I'm guessing you too already know each other."
"Yea we go way back." Natalie answered.
"Well isn't this a small, small world." Haley joked.
"And on this awkward moment, I'm going to get something to drink, Haley what do you want?"
"A soda's fine." Haley answered wishing that Richard weren't leaving the table. "So Natalie how do you and Richard know each other?"
"We used to date, a really long time ago. Seems like it's almost a lifetime." Natalie said sipping her drink.
"So Haley, Richard Thorne. Never pegged you for the type?"
"The type to do what. Impulsively go out with a senior?" Haley joked.
"Well I was thinking more of going out with that senior. But also you in a bar, what would the dean of students say about his star student being in a bar?"
"It's not like I'm drinking. Plus this is probably the only place that would let me in." Haley joked. Owen knew how old she was, but Natalie still made her nervous.
"Did you use an old library card?" Owen joked. "Oh Natalie you must be confused. Haley here is a genius. She's still a little baby."
"It's not like I'm 2 Owen." Haley laughed back.
"How old are you?" Natalie asked intrigued by this. What had Richard gotten himself into.
"She's 17," Richard said choosing that moment to return. "Here's your drink."
"Thanks," Haley said giving Richard a killer stare for leaving her alone so long. "We've all just been getting to know each other."
"Sounds like I've missed out on a lot of fun." Richard said moving his chair closer to Haley's, resting his arm on the back of her chair. "So Natalie, you and Owen, never would have guessed it."
"Well I'm happy," Natalie baited him. Haley was starting to get uncomfortable. Not going un-noticed by everyone at the table.
"Do you wanna play darts?" Richard asked Haley. Haley readily excepted, and the two moved over to the dart boards leaving Natalie and Owen to themselves.
"So don't make fun of me, but I've never played darts before." Haley said twirling the darts in her hand.
"Do you want a few pointers?" Richard asked standing next to her. "Okay stand as if you were going to throw it." Haley wound her arm back as if she were getting ready to heave it forward.
"Am I doing this wrong?" Haley laughed knowing that she was.
"Yes," he said bluntly. Standing behind her Richard placed her feet shoulder width apart. "Okay now you don't have to bring your arm back that far. Just a little bit then aim and throw." The dart hit the board and then fell to the floor. "Okay maybe a little bit harder." This time the dart stuck. Haley jumped with excitement and turned to hug Richard. The hug didn't go unnoticed by Natalie, or Owen.
"You enjoying yourself?" Owen said turning his attention to Natalie.
"Huh? Oh sorry what did you say Owen." Natalie shaking the moment out of her head.
"You haven't stopped looking at Richard and Haley since they got here." Owen said annoyed, and standing up. "Look Natalie before we started anything I asked you if things were done with you and Richard and you told me they were. So what do you want from me. I'm done trying. Call me when you figure out what you want."
Natalie took a minute to figure out what was happening. Looking towards the door where Owen had left, and back in the direction of Haley and Richard were. Again he headed to the bar and began taking shot after shot, until the room was spinning. Haley was the first person to approach her though.
"Natalie are you okay?" Haley said rubbing small circles on her back. "Lets us get you home." Natalie shakily stood, using the support of Richard to hold herself up. Once Natalie was safely in Richard's back seat, he moved towards Haley who was standing by the door.
"So this isn't exactly how I thought this would go. I'm sorry." Richard said moving a stray piece of hair out of her eyes. "But you know- that's the adventure of something new."
"It's okay lets just get her home." Haley said, she leaned into Richard's chest leaving the option of a kiss up to him. Haley was only mildly disappointed when Richard kissed the top of her head before moving around to the drivers side. Slow was good, but Haley wanted a kiss. She at least knew that much.