Page 10 of Into The Light
“You’re hurt."
"Oh, it's nothing. A stray bumped into me and I scraped my hands. A little Neosporin and I'll be good as new." I swallow hard as he holds onto my hand, his thumb delicately brushing the scrapes. "I'm fine, I swear."
“Wash 'em out. Don't want an infection." His eyes flick to mine.
"I will," I whisper. My phone buzzes in my back pocket, and I jolt, shocked. Fish it out. "Crap! I'm late for dinner. I gotta go, Bear. I'll see you Friday!"
"See you Friday, Noelle."
I back up out the door, waving, holding his gaze till the last second.
Suddenly, Friday can't come too soon.
Three
BEAR
Nerves jangle through me, which freaks me out; I don't get nervous. All the gnarly shit I've been through? Nothing fazes me.
Walking into this bar?
Very much fazed.
Why am I here? What do I think is going to happen? Noelle, a gorgeous, sweet, friendly, normal, well-adjusted girl, is going to…what? Fall in love with my big, surly, fucked-up self? Not fucking likely.
I rub my sweaty palms on my jeans, staring at the door of The Cellar. An historic establishment in Three Rivers, The Cellar occupies the main floor of the former Opera House, a red brick building with elaborate stained glass windows and an arched front door. A large white keystone block features the date the building was dedicated: 1832.
Within, I can hear the buzz and hum of conversation, a faint thud of music, the blare of TVs. Cars rush behind me in both directions on the other side of the full parking lot. As I stand near the doorway, debating simply walking back home, a gaggle of twenty-something women click on heels and boots toward me from the parking lot, clustered together and giggling. I feel theireyes on me, and the whispers and giggles feel like needles in my skin.
I shuffle away from the door so I don't crowd them as they enter. “ ’Scuse me."
One of the girls, her hair elaborately curled and pinned, makeup caked on, lips bright red, skirt barely covering her ass, fake tits pushed up to her chin, winks at me. "I'd climb that tree,” she stage-whispers to her friend as they scuttle past me through the door.
"Holly!" Her friend shrieks, and then simpers at me. "Sorry, my friend is a slut."
Any possible response is dried up, leaving my tongue fused to the roof of my mouth. I just stare at them, brow furrowed, molars grinding in furious embarrassment.
With another flurry of whispers and giggles, the girls enter the bar and vanish into the crowd.
"Fuck this," I mutter to myself.
I turn and head back in the direction of Tompkins Road, toward home. I make it approximately six steps when I hear the door open behind me, emitting the noise of the bar's interior. Feet slap pavement, and then Noelle is beside me, grabbing my arm.
"Hey, Bear, I thought I saw you out here." Her voice is at once soft and bright, friendly and musical.
"Uh, yeah." I sigh, annoyed at myself.
Brilliant response, loser.
She pivots to stand in front of me as if she could pose an obstacle to my forward progress; yet, I find myself stopping.
Looking down at her, mesmerized by her vivid green eyes, obsessed with an adorable spray of freckles dotting her creamy skin on her cheekbones and nose, my breath comes short, and my skin feels too tight around my bones.
"You weren't planning on ghosting me, were you?” She smiles up at me, the glint in her eyes turning her words into a tease.
"Uhhh…" I roll a shoulder. "Not ghosting. Just…"
"Not good with crowds?" She guesses, her gaze going soft, the smile still curving her plump pink lips.
