Tegan POV
"You know what?" I said as calmly as my raging nerves would let me. "I don't need this shit right now. It's late. I have to go." I hung up on Lindsey before she could respond. We had just broken up a month before, and she was still trying to make everything into a fight. No, I shouldn't put all the blame on her. I know I haven't been making things easy on her, either, but tonight's fight was all her doing. I looked around my hotel room, restless now due to the energy of my anger. Time for a walk. Hopefully the cold air will cool me off some, I thought as I grabbed my coat.
I wandered around the streets without direction, not paying attention to the turns I made or the street signs. Fuck, I could use a cigarette, I pondered to myself. I quit smoking years ago, mostly at the request of Sara and Lindsey. Now with Lindsey being the one to piss me off, and Sara being passed out in her hotel room, I doubted there would be anyone who would hassle me about one smoke to calm myself.
Thoroughly unaware of where I was anymore, I turned another corner, this time walking uphill. A woman walked out of the front door of an apartment building about a block ahead of me. As luck would have it, she lit a cigarette. I kept walking until I reached the stairs and went up.
"Hey, do you mind if I bum a smoke?" I asked the woman, tightly bundled in her coat.
"Sure," she replies. She reached into her coat pocket and fished out a cigarette, offering it to me. I put it to my lips, as she tries to light it for me. I notice her movements stutter as she looks at me in the eye for the first time. Heh, either she just recognized me, or I just wowed her with my gorgeous 'pissed off at the ex' looks, I joked to myself. She lights my cigarette and finally speaks.0
"A pretty lady never lights her own cigarette," she says, although her voice seems to carry less confidence than it is used to.
"Heh, I'm no lady," I reply back with a grin, trying to ease her subtle nervousness. I wonder if she realizes how pretty she is with the snow falling around her like that…Stop! You just met this woman. You're in rebound territory. Just make friendly conversation and stop thinking about how her full lips move when she speaks…
"So what brings you out to wander the streets at two in the morning in January?" she asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.
"I needed to go for a walk. Sadly, I'm not really sure where I am anymore. I didn't really keep track of where I was going," I said, trying not to make myself sound as lame as I thought I was for wandering around an unknown city at all hours of the night.
She nodded, and said, "Yeah. This city is a bit messed up with the streets and lack of labeling them."
I laughed a little, realizing that I hadn't really seen any street signs. I wasn't looking for them, but none seemed to fill my memory at all.
"So what way are you trying to go? I could perhaps help you get a little un-lost, if you'd like," she continued, seeming more sure of herself by this point in the conversation.
"Well I'm staying at the Hilton downtown. I'm not sure which way that even is, at this point," I said, grimacing at myself for being stupid enough to get so turned around.
The woman pointed across the street, "Downtown is that way. The Hilton is actually just up the road. You're not too lost. I can give you a ride, if you'd like, though. It's freezing out here, and it's a short drive but a long walk."
I couldn't help but be more than pleased by the idea of spending a bit more time with this woman. She was quite a pleasant sight.
I smiled at her and offered a hand shake, "I don't like to get in cars with strangers, so I'm Tegan."
"Well, not to be creepy, but I knew that. I'm Aurelia. Aura for short," she, Aura, said shyly. I knew it. She did recognize me. Not to be egotistical, but sometimes the little bit of fame I have can come in handy, especially around pretty women.
"Aw not a fan. Now I'm going to have to change hotels, because all fans are creepy stalkers," I joked, winking at Aura. She looked down quickly, and I was afraid I had offended her. Good job Tegan, try to hit on a chick, but insult her instead.
"Hey, I'm just kidding. I was wondering why you were hesitant to light my cigarette earlier," I tried to mend the damage I had done.
"Well, I just…you know…singers shouldn't smoke and all…" she spoke in the slightly nervous voice again.
"Oops," I smiled, hoping she would loosen back up. "But I could probably use that ride, actually. If the offer still stands."
She finally looked back up at me. "Of course. I'm always a woman of my word," she said. Did she just wink at me? No. She was nervous, right? A woman that can swing back around so quick is kind of hot…Shut up Tegan! I berated myself for going back into that train of thought.
After we both put out our cigarettes, she took mine and put the butts back into the pack.
"Saving for a rainy day?" I ask, thoroughly unsure of why she did that.
"Nah, I just don't like to litter when I can help it," Aura shrugged. I narrowed my eyes at her. The chick is a little green, too. Can the flaws please start? Stop it.
"Cool," I responded, trying to keep from letting the thoughts become words. I wasn't sure if I could say much more without trying to add a compliment or two. Aura broke our gaze to turn and walk into the building. I followed, checking out her ass on the way up the inside stairs.
"I just have to get my wallet," Aura explained, as she glanced back at me. I shifted my eyes upward to meet hers just in time. Great, now I'm going to get caught checking her out before I can even get the ride back to the hotel. Let's make this even more awkward. I nodded and smiled, again afraid that words would fail me if I tried to make a sentence. She looked forward again, to my relief. Now I can go back to staring at the back of her neck without seeming like the creepy one myself. At this point, I wasn't even trying to stop the thoughts. As long as they didn't become words, I was happy.
Inside Aura's apartment, I just stood by the front door, as to not pry too far. I did look around the main room, pleased with what I saw. Aura's living room seemed to consist of dark wood furniture, some paintings I liked but had never seen before, and a cozy looking sofa set in a slate blue color.
Reaching for what I assumed to be her purse, Aura spoke again, "It's not much, but it's home."
"I like it. I like your style of decorating," I said, letting the first compliment pass my lips that I didn't think would seem weird. She blushed at my words.
"Thank you. Uh, we should probably get you back to your hotel," Aura replied slowly. Damn it. She's weirded out. I just know it, I thought to myself. Feeling slightly defeated, I walked back out to the hallway and waited for Aura to lock up. We walked down a flight of stairs to the garage of the building. We got in her car, and she turned off the radio immediately.
"So why were you needing to take a walk this late at night?" she asked, filling the silence quickly.
"My ex-girlfriend was being a bitch, and I needed to burn off some steam," I stated, completely sure that it no longer mattered if I mentioned something like a fight with an ex. I wasn't too optimistic that Aura was wanting to do more than just drive me to the hotel, anymore.
"Aren't they all?" she joked.
"Pretty much. We just broke up over Christmas, so it's not quite into that 'we're good friends now' part, yet," I divulged, fidgeting nervously. Ha, now I'm the shy one. Go fucking figure. I would be the one to manage that.
"Hey, it'll be okay. You know that. Anyone who has dated anyone knows that. It sucks, I mean royally sucks for a little while, but you'll get through. Some alcohol, some chocolate, some rebounding, some crying, some yelling, lots of thinking. It doesn't usually deviate too far from that list. But one day, you'll just be doing something completely inconsequential, and you'll realize: wow, I'm okay again," Aura said. Okay, let's make a list. She's beautiful, kind, generous, friendly, funny, and now wise? I smiled at her, because it was all I could do when I looked at her.
"Yeah, I know. It's just usually easier when you don't have to work with the ex. She's not even trying to be civil about stuff that has nothing to do with our relationship, or lack thereof," I said, turning to look out the window. At this point, I didn't think anything I said could make this meeting last. I was sure that too much talk about the ex-girlfriend and my own awkwardness had blown any chance I had with Aura.
"I have an idea, if you don't mind. How about we get your mind off of it for now? Distraction works wonders for a few hours. I can take you to a great diner that's close. There's always the alcohol option, too. Wandering around Walmart at this hour usually makes me feel better about anything going on in my life," Aura offered.
"Why Walmart?" I asked, confused. I really didn't expect her to offer to hang out longer, nor did I have any clue what Walmart would have for me at this hour.
"Have you ever been to Walmart at two in the morning? No matter what is going on in your life, I guarantee there will be someone you'll see who will make you feel skinnier, smarter, more stylish, and just generally better about yourself," she joked.
I laughed, "I suppose that is true. I don't have anything going on tomorrow. I guess Walmart it is!"
I smiled out the window, watching the houses as we passed them. Perhaps I didn't mess this up. Score one for awkward charm! I thought to myself.
At Walmart, we made the usual round, ending on the $5 movie bin. I looked up when I heard a noise than I've only heard from 12 year old girls.
"Sweet! I love this movie, but I can never find it!" Aura exclaimed, holding the movie Empire Records in her hands.
"Seriously? I love that movie, too! I could quote the whole thing," I joined her in her thrill over the movie.
"Me too! It was meant to be. Distraction awaits in the form of gluing quarters to the floor!" Aura joked confidently. Alright, add great movie taste to the list.
After picking out some candy in the checkout aisle, I grabbed the candy and movie from Aura.
"I got it," I stated.
"But-" Aura started, but I cut her off
"Nope. Consider it payment for getting me 'un-lost', as you put it," I smiled at her. I was hoping to regain some of my confidence in our encounter, even if it was confidence that cost less than $10. Thankfully, Aura didn't argue.
Back in the car, Aura asked, "To the hotel?"
"Only if you'll come up and watch Empire Records with me. You don't know how long it's been since I've watched it with someone who appreciates and understands the fine quality that is this move," I invited, adding a joke to make it seem like I wasn't just trying to get her into my hotel room. Although, that wouldn't be the worst case senario…Seriously, Tegan. Stop.
"But of course! One must watch it with another to properly quote and discuss it," Aura joked back and smiled.
After parking, we got out of the car, and Aura gestured for me to lead, "Lead the way."
"This way, m'lady," I smirked, pleased to have gotten the chance to spend more time getting to know Aura. We went through the front lobby and into the elevator. At my floor, I lead her down the hallway to my room. I reached for the keycard in my back pocket. She didn't just…check out my ass…did she? I opened the door, and we entered the room.
