Rogers, I soon find out, is a bar. I guess even after four years here, I still haven't been to every building in town.

I'm standing outside the front of the bar, staring at my phone like one does when they want to avoid the gaze of other people and appear like they're texting the person they're waiting for.

So I'm scrolling through Facebook, updating my feed every once in a while even though nothing changes, trying to look busy. I'm cursing myself for always being early when I feel a tap on my shoulder.

"Hello, Swan."

I turn around quickly, seeing the pleasantly disheveled Killian Jones smiling down at me. I nod, "Killian."

"Apologies if I kept you waiting." He strides ahead of me, pulling open the door and holding it for me to pass through. "I work Tuesdays and got held up today."

"that's alright, I wasn't waiting long." He leads us to a booth close to a juke box and hands me slightly sticky menu.

Bar and grille, I was wrong.

"Where do you work?" I skim the menu. Not a bad selection. Bar food of course, but burgers and seafood too.

He doesn't even glance at a menu. Maybe he's here a lot. "Grumpy's on 2nd street."

"Isn't that a bar?"

"Aye, it is."

"You frequent a lot of bars do you?" I glance at him, an eyebrow raised.

He smirks, "my fair share." The waitress sets a dark beer in front of Killian. "This one is my favorite though."

"Oh he's just saying that so I charge him less for shots." The girl swats his arm playfully. She's the pretty girl from the party the other night. I try not to dislike her. "What can I get you to drink, dear?"

I scan the beers on tap and pick a local favorite of mine.

"Do you work? Outside of being an RA and a tutor, I mean."

Setting my menu down, I give him a sceptical look. "With all of the free time those obligations leave me?" He grins at my sarcasm. "Can't say that I do. They're enough though. The RA gig gives me free room and board and goes toward tuition while the tutoring is my spending money." I shrug. "But money is not interesting to talk about soooo you work at a bar?"

"Aye, it's actually my favorite bar but we don't serve food so I frequent here a lot since it's close to my apartment and their fish sandwich is the best in town."

"The best, huh? Guess we'll see."

When the waitress, Ulla, (what kind of name is Ulla, really) comes back, we order the fish sandwiches. Killian tells me funny stories from his bar while we wait. After a particularly funny one about a girl screaming the lyrics to Singing in the Rain and falling flat on her face after trying to dance with an umbrella, I'm genuinely laughing hard. Something that doesn't happen too often.

I quiet eventually and drink the rest of my beer.

"Want another?" Killian inclines his head to my glass.

"No, thanks, I'm good."

He smirks, "are you worried you'll find me even more irresistible after a few more libations?" Then he rests his chin against the hand propped on the table, giving me this smoldering look.

I'm kind of mad that it pulls me up short for a second. He's too good looking for his own good. "Nooo," I drawl, closing my eyes and shading my head, "I'm driving and I don't like to drink and drive."

He gives me this look that clearly says 'sure, love, whatever you say' but doesn't say anything since our food is arriving. I pointedly ask for a glass of water.

Then I take a bite of the sandwich.

"Oh my god," I mutter around my next huge bite. "This is perfect." The breading is flaky and slightly spicy with juicy meat inside.

"I told you."

We're quiet for a few minutes after that, enjoying the food.

"So why marine biology?" I've genuinely been curious since that first tutoring session.

His face softens, "I've loved the sea my whole life. My brother... my brother, Liam, was in the royal navy so I grew up around the water. Even before the navy, we lived near the coast and learned to sail from our father. Nearly all of my happy memories from childhood are on the water." He pauses, taking a sip of beer, "so I want to save it. Ocean conservation is the life for me."

That's actually really sweet. I wasn't expecting that. Killian Jones definitely has much more going on than everyone thinks. But instead of saying something like that, I lamely say, "wow, that's pretty cool."

He waves me off, "it's just something I enjoy. What about you, Swan, what's your major?"

"Criminal justice... I want to be a homicide investigator."

His eyebrows raise, impressed, I think. Then a thoughtful expression crosses his features, "you know, I can see that. You like to help people and what better way to help people then becoming a cop."

And now I'm surprised. He's done it again, seen right through me. How can someone I barely know know me better than almost everyone in my life? Because that's exactly why I want to be a criminal investigator. I want to help people. Maybe he doesn't know why that's so important to me, but he's gathered enough to know it's important.

I feel too exposed. His ocean eyes see too much. Ugh, and I still can't stop thinking stupid, sappy things about his eyes. I have to go, now.

I push myself to the edge of the booth, preparing to leave, and register the hurt on his face before he smoothes it out again. I feel bad but not enough to stay. "Sorry, it's getting late. I have some work to do before I go to sleep." I stand up, pulling out a few bills. "Thanks for dinner, here's for the tip." I tell him to text me as I back away from the table before fast walking to the door.

Once I'm in my car, I take a few deep breaths.

Okay, Emma, I chide myself, you knew before this that he understands you in some weird, deep way.

It takes me the couple minutes drive back to my dorm to figure out why I'm really upset. Killian Jones is sweet and he makes me laugh and we connect. Not to mention, I'm attracted to the guy. Killian Jones is someone I could love and that is dangerous.

A/n sorry it's been a while. Hope you guys like this not date date. Lol as always thanks for reading. You guys keep me writing