My time with Derek could only be described with one word: awkward.
It was hard, because I could clearly see he was putting a lot of effort in, he never did anything without putting his all in. That was one if the things I loved about him.
It was obvious there was something he wanted to ask me, I assumed it was about Chris so I always tried to bring up something to distract him.
Chris had been in a mood ever since Derek's arrival. He seemed to be the one avoiding me now. I tried to speak with him a few times, to appologise, to hear his voice, to see his smile. But he was never around long enough for me too, always off to help the sisters vanquish some evil or another.
"Cassidy?"
Sometimes I would catch a glimpse of him in the club. Usually sitting by himself, but women would always approach him and it made my heart clench each time. Once, I even thought I saw him take one into his room out the back.
Every now and then I would be lucky enough to catch his eye and there would be a plethora of emotions. Sometimes a burning anger, frustration - at what or who I wondered. Other times there was such deep sadness combined a swarm of guilt. What did he have to be so guilty about?
"Cassidy!"
I jump at the sudden noise, looking around completely lost. I soon remember, I'm having lunch in an extravagant restaurant with my boyfriend; who is currently staring at me with exasperation.
Here I am with a wonderful guy I've been with for almost four years, yet I can't stop thinking about another guy I've barely known for four weeks. It really wasn't fair.
"Where were you, ocean eyes?" He asks me fondly.
I blush at the reference to my spacing out and respond automatically, "Nowhere, I'm right here with you."
His smile falters, clearly a little upset I won't share.my thoughts. But it is quickly regained as he leans forward to capture my hand in his own. "Cassidy, there's something I really want to discuss with you."
I frown distracted by his touch, and want to slide my hand out from under his. Why doesnt he ever make me feel sparks?
--
I pick up an extra shift that night, wanting to avoid going home for as long as possible.
We always tried have at least two bartenders on, but with Rachael gone, Maleck off for his birthday and Rex calling in sick last minute - it was all up to me. Ordinarily the mere thought would overwhelm me, but tonight I found myself relishing in the distraction it would provide.
"Just think about it, please."
Shaking the memory from my mind, I keep focusing on the task at hand, letting the work consume me. Smiling politely as I take their money and give them the receipt, make the drink and check their receipt if needed to make sure it's correct, before I hand it to them.
It goes on like this for a while, progressively getting busier. As the hours wear on I struggle to keep up the pace, and being to start sneaking sips of my personal beverage between customer requests. Shh, don't tell Piper! I'll be leaving money in the till to make up any loses that go to me in this time of need.
Doing this helps me keep up the pace for a while longer, and I always use the measuring glass to make sure I don't waste any of our stock. Generally I would trust my own mental measurements but not in this state.
It's getting harder to remember who ordered what, and I rely entirely on checking receipts. This slows my pace dramatically but it's better to be right then to be fast, I try to assure myself.
As I make my way to the other end of the bar, I knock directly into someone and feel a liquid seep into my black shirt. Great, I'll be paying for that too I guess.
I look up to berate whoever thought they could come back here to make their own drink, but all thoughts vanish as I see concerned green eyes looking back at me.
"Chris," I say breathlessly, "What are you doing back here?"
He tears his eyes from me and I feel myself move in an attempt to follow them. I want remain in his sight, I want him to see me.
"What does it look like?" He responds, remaking the martini and filling it in a new glass before giving it to a pretty woman who gives him a twenty dollar bill and a flirty smile in return.
For a moment I think he's just getting his date a drink, but then he asks another patron what what want.
"You really shouldn't be back here," I tell him, trying to keep my voice steady.
His eyes finally flicker back to mine as he says, "Cas, you've been on your feet for almost five hours now. Let me help."
I stare deeply into his green eyes as I ask, "You've been watching me?"
"Ey, lady! Can I get some service here?" A grubby man yells over the music, breaking me from my trance before he can answer.
Not willing to look a gift horse in the mouth anymore, I order Chris to let me know if there are any drinks he doesn't know how to make. I don't wait for his reply as I take the grumpy man's order, and continue my shift.
We work in tandem together, as though it had been rehearsed. We jump back and forth between registers, requesting certain liquors the other one was closer to. I feel completely at ease knowing he has my back, and switch to sipping water so I can be at my best with him.
Thanks to Chris the evening ends smoothly. We make the final call and Bryce herds the late stayers out soon after that.
I keep myself busy wiping up the alcohol that has spilled on the bar, most of it is already sticky and I try not to think that it's probably my fault. I may not have been coping as well with all the drink orders as I thought... I dread to think how the night may have turned out if Chris hadn't saved the day.
He had been sweeping up some broken glass but as soon as our bouncer Bryce left, he uses his magical advantage to orb it all to the trash, along with moving any lost cups back to the sink.
"If only you could use your powers to fill the sink and make them wash themselves. That would be very Harry Potter," I jest.
He smiles at the reference, and makes his way towards me, I flush a little wondering if he is approaching me before he starts grabbing out a few different bottles.
"What are you doing?" I ask curiously, for the second time that night.
He gives me a smile in responce and simply says, "You'll see" mysteriosly before mixing a few different ingredients together.
He grabs out two tall glasses and fills them both to the brim with the strange liquid. He puts some fresh garnish in both and adds a staw to one before sliding it over to me.
"Try it."
Without question I lean forward and take a sip. My eyes widen in delight as the flavour meets my tongue, a delicious mix that makes my mouth water as I'm having it.
A noise of delight makes its way through my nose, and I close my eyes as I take a few long sips from the staw, already feeling the alcohol in it, "Oh my God, what is this?" I exclaim with exstacy before having another sip.
He chuckles at my reaction and says, "Your favourite."
"Ohhh, yes it is" I decide on the spot. "Wait, you mean from the future?"
"Mhmm," he hums affirmation before taking another swig of his own.
The realisation makes me wonder, "Just how well to we know one another in the future?"
He stops at my question and lowers his glass, avoiding my gaze. "Pretty well, I guess. But you told everyone about this, couldn't shut up about it really, insisting we hadn't lived until we tried it."
The fondness in his voice makes me lean forward in my seat, wanting to hear more, "What was I like?" I ask with wide eyes.
He sets the glass on the bar and looks directly in my eyes as he says, "You."
I chortle at that, murming, "that's a cop out," as I tilt the glass back trying to get every last drop of it. Afterwards I use my staw to pick out the garnish and chew it, not thinking if how ridiculous I'll look with bits stuck in my teeth- too consumed with the deliciousness. He gazes at me fondly as I do, but I don't notice.
"You were.." his face brcomes lost in memories as he looks into his cup. I stare at him in wonder - I hadn't expected him to actually answer, "..fierce. I remember the first time we met, it was right after my mu- after a, uh, serious event in my life. l hadn't left my room in days, I barely even moved. Then suddenly this woman just invites herself in out of nowhere and she looks down at me for a few minutes," he pauses to take a sip and I am mesmerised by his words, "Eventually she says, 'Get up. Evil won't wait for you to be ready. You need to stand up and protect yourself now.' Then she threw a- Um, she threw something at me and I had no choice but to move out of the way. In about five minutes she did something for me that my family couldn't do in a week..."
My jaw is hanging open. I'm lost for words while he is lost in his memories and we both sit that way for a while.
"Wow... are you sure that was me?" I ask pointing at myself, breaking our silence, "because that sounds way too badass to be me."
He chuckled and said lowly, "Yeah, she's pretty badass." but I barely register it, too wrapped up in my own drunken thoughts.
"Thank you for tonight Chris. I really needed it," I say eventually, turning a bit melancholy as the adrenalin settles and I realise I'm soon to be out of distractions.
"Trouble in paradise?" He questiond carefully, continuing to sip on his drink.
I laugh at the phrase. "You could say that... he wants to marry me."
He chokes on his drink and I absent-mindedly realise I keep doing that to him.
Clearing his throat, he asks between coughs, "He proposed?"
I shake my head and stare into my empty glass, "No, not really. He didn't have a ring or anything... He just told me that he really missed me and realised he wants us to get married."
There's a moment of pause as Chris gets two glasses of water for us. "So, what did you say?" He asks in an overly casual tone as he places my water down.
"I don't know," I murmer, "I told him I needed time to think about it. It's a big decision and considering his job, I'd probaly be the one relocating to be with him.." I trail off not sure and sip some water.
"Don't." Chris says simply.
I stop and lower the glass, looking into his honest expression, "Chris, I-"
He doesn't let me finish as he says, "no Cas, I'm from the future, right? And I know... He doesn't deserve you, okay?"
I want to protest but I can't find my voice. He's looking at me with such a broken expression, I want to fix it and make him happy again; but I don't know if I can heal a wound that deep.
"Please, just trust me on this," he continues trying to convince me, "Don't say yes, don't marry him."
I look into his pleading green eyes and sigh, "Okay."
"Cas, please-" He starts before realising what I said and asking with a brightening smile, "Okay?"
"Okay!" I repeat, becoming more enthusiastic at his reaction.
He rushes over and sweeps me into a hug, igniting sparks under my skin and swinging me around the room. It's as if he'd just been the one to pop the question and I said yes.
He laughs and I can't help but join in as we come to a stop and he stares at me, a wide grin on his face as he pants softly.
"Okay." He repeats again, and another laugh escapes me. "So, what are we doing now?"
I like the way he says we, and have to stop myself from saying that about lound. Oh I am very drunk. "I better get back home, I'll have to call a taxi I guess, no way I'm driving like this."
"Let me take you," he suggests, and I remind him that he can't drive, "I'll orb you," he clarifies with a light, teasing smile.
Orbing, I like the sound of that. I want to feel him pick me apart and put me back together again. Why does that sound dirty?
Before I can talk myslef out of it, I nod and confirm with caution, "To my car park out the back. There are no cameras there, so we shouldn't be seen - and I won't just be showing up in my apartment out of the blue." Even drunk I have enough sense not to let him risk exposing magic.
He smiles and nods in agreement and offers his arm. I jump for it greedily, wanting to feel the tingles he brings.
And just like that we left in a blinding bunch of dancing lights.