Friday 14th October
"I win! Ten bucks, fucker."
"You won by default, Jon."
"Yeah, so what if you don't know the difference between the six ball and the eight ball! Pay up."
Alexa snorted, watching as Colby pulled out his wallet with a huff and handed over ten dollars to the other man. A small group of them had decided to head to the Tapper Pub to start the evening off, planning on meeting everybody else later.
Jon frowned as Colby set his cue against the table. "What, you don't want another round?"
"No thanks, I don't want to lose all my money." He stated, taking up a seat beside Darren at the small table that overlooked the pool table.
"What about you Darren?"
"I'm quite happy just sitting and watching, thank you very much.''
''I bet.'' Alexa wiggled her eyebrows, laughing as he tutted at her.
"Lex! Come show me your skills." Jon challenged. "You know how to play right?"
''Of course.''
''Then get up here.''
"And lose my money?"
"You're a rookie so I'll be nice, no bets."
"You didn't let me get off that easy." Colby whined.
"You get off easy enough on your own Lopez." Alexa quipped, taking a sip of her coke.
He flipped her the bird as the other two men let out barks of laughter.
"You shouldn't be so cocky, Jon." She said, rising from her chair. "A couple of years ago, Chris and I hustled a guy out of six hundred bucks in a game of pool."
''Chris and you?'' Jon raised an eyebrow, not looking at all convinced. "Or just Chris?"
Her eyes narrowed and she grabbed the discarded cue, looking over at him indignantly. ''Guess you'll just have to find out the hard way.''
Jon let out a laugh. "Somebody's getting feisty. Lets see you put your mouth where your cue is.''
She just smirked, chalking up her cue. ''You're on, Jonny boy. I'm going to teach you how to play with your balls like a pro."
"You sure you want to do that here?" He asked before taking a drink of his beer.
''Are they always like this?'' Darren asked the man beside him, his lips spreading into a small smile.
Colby nodded. ''Yeah, you get used to it...''
Alexa pulled some cash out of her pocket before slamming it down on the table. "Just to make it a little more interesting."
He chuckled, throwing his own money down beside hers before racking up the balls. Alexa broke, sinking three solids straight off the bat and sending Jon a wink.
Ten minutes later, the table was almost cleared; all that remained was the eight ball, while Jon was about to line up a shot for.
''Your money's mine, Torres!"
''Your fly's open, Good!" She shot back.
Jon quickly glanced down, only to find she was just joking as she let out a chuckle. He sent her a glare before bending over, angling himself perfectly in front of the cue ball. The eight was in his sight, or at least it was until Alexa bent over in front of the pocket he was aiming for, revealing an ample amount of cleavage, and threw off his line of vision. He hit the ball and sent it soaring in the wrong direction completely missing the eight ball. A devilish grin appeared on her face and she effortlessly sunk the eight ball, Jon watching on in disbelief.
''Way to go, Lex!" Colby cried from the table, reaching out to give her a high-five.
She grinned, moving around the table to stand beside Jon as she gently placed the cue on top of the felt.
''You cheated.''
''I did.''
Their eyes met and a slow smile spread across his face. ''That's my girl.''
Alexa's heart hammered in her chest at his words, biting her lip as her eyes followed his form to the bar. It hadn't been long since they had embarked on their 'relationship' and her feelings for him were growing deeper than she had anticipated... and it scared the hell out of her.
''You know, it is nice not being the only sober one for once.''
Alexa turned, giving the man who had just slipped into the seat opposite her a smile. It was common knowledge that Darren had his issues with both alcohol and drugs in the past, but had been living a totally clean lifestyle for a few years now.
''It means we can share the responsibility of keeping an eye on our drunken friends.''
''Joy.'' She muttered sarcastically, turning her gaze to the dance floor, where Shaul and Ariane were jumping up and down to the music like idiots.
''How's the lip?''
''It's okay.'' She pouted, sticking her swollen bottom lip out. ''It kind of looks like a botox-job gone wrong though...''
''It's not that bad, dear.'' Darren laughed and gave her a hearty pat on the back.
''I really don't know why Irena hates me so much.''
''Jealousy.'' He said simply. ''Steve's spoken to her and she's on her final warning. Try not to worry yourself over it.''
''I won't.'' She promised, raising the glass of coke to her lips and taking a quick sip.
''Irena aside, you seem to be getting on well with everyone else?''
She nodded a confirmation, a happy smile curling at her lips. ''Everyone's great. I don't even know why I cut myself off from everybody at first... but I'm glad you helped put a stop to my anti-social ways.''
''What do you make of Jon? He's a rather unique young man, isn't he?''
She snorted. ''That's one way to put it.''
Darren chuckled, eyeing her over the top of his glass for a moment before speaking. ''Is there something going on between the two of you?''
Alexa nearly choked on the sip of coke she'd just taken, glancing across at him with curious eyes. ''What makes you say that?''
''Just an inkling.''
''We're just friends.'' She said evenly, suprising herself at how easily the lie slipped through her lips.
He arched an eyebrow but wisely kept his thoughts to himself as the man in question suddenly appeared, dropping into the seat beside Darren.
''What are you two gossiping about over here?'' Jon drawled, glancing between the pair.
''Nothing that concerns you, Jonny boy.'' Alexa sniped quickly.
''I'm just going to pop to the loo.'' Darren rose from his seat, eyeing her as he did so. ''Try not to cause any trouble while I'm gone.''
Alexa's face took on an expression of outrage. ''Me?''
''Yes, you, my dear.''
''Darren, I'm offended you thin-''
''You seem to forget that I've been present during some of your more memorable escapades.'' He cut her off with an arched brow.
''Care to share?'' Jon prompted.
The Englishman just laughed as he walked away from the table, leaving the two alone. Alexa waited until he was out of earshot before meeting Jon's eyes. ''He thinks there's something going on between us.''
"Well, he's kind of right...'' He sighed when she rolled her eyes. ''Listen, we're both adults, we can do whatever the fuck we want. Who gives a shit what anyone else thinks?''
''Yeah, you're right.''
''Don't sound so surprised.''