"Valentine's Day, what a joke," Johnny Miller said as he walked by himself along the street lamp lit sidewalks. His hands were buried deep in the pockets of his thick hooded jacket as he tried to ignore the cold wind. He was tall and walked rather briskly, his boots striking the ground hard and occasionally crunching through a patch of unmelted snow. His bright blue eyes looked up for a brief moment, saw the clouds in the sky and could tell that the chances of it snowing later in the night were increasing. As he rounded the corner he could see the sidewalk glowing from the neon signs of the bar that he was headed to. His legs quickened their pace as he hoped to avoid another blast of cold air.
Johnny opened the door just as a blast of freezing air hit him, which forced him to quickly close the door behind him. He took one of his hands out of it's pocket and pulled his hood off, revealing a thick mane of light brown hair that was cut short. His eyes scanned the bar and he saw that not many seats were taken so he opted to take one at the far end where it was somewhat dark.
"Hey Johnny, Friday night usual?" the bartender asked. She was a short thin woman with a button nose and bright blue hair. The ceiling lights reflected off of her nose ring.
"Please, thank you," Johnny said politely. He smiled at her warmly as he watched her reach into the back cooler and grab a bottle of beer. He was always amazed at how deftly Maxine, or Max as everyone knew her, was able to pull out the bottle opener, open the bottle and then put the opener back in such a quick and fluid movement. "Thanks Max. Slow night?"
"Thankfully. A few other places are having their 'singles night' parties but I don't mind it." Her bright green eyes caught movement from the other side of the bar, "I'll be right back."
"Sure thing." He watched her walk to the other side of the bar where he saw the manager was standing. Whatever it was it didn't look serious as he saw that the smile never left her face. He had come to this bar not long after moving to town and quickly hit it off with Max and they became fast friends. After a few years they acted as if they were siblings when they were around each other. It was easy to see why so many of the patrons tried to hit on her as he watched her move around. Her tight faded blue jeans and low cut black tank top showed off her figure well. Course what they didn't know what that she was also very athletic and had a black belt in judo. Sadly she'd had to use the knowledge that came with that belt more than once as sometimes a guy would get a little hands on and try something cute with her.
As he scratched his well defined chin and jawline, Johnny noticed a woman sitting alone at the other end. He had been too focused on Max to notice her at first and now that he had, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. He was instantly captivated by her fiery bright red hair that cascaded in loose waves down over her shoulders. She was resting her head on one hand while she traced the rim of a glass that sat in front of her with her other hand. His eyes slowly traveled down her body and he took in every detail. She was curvaceous, some would say she had a few extra pounds but she wasn't fat. Her body filled out her dark gray knit sweater nicely and her dark blue jeans clung tightly to her legs. A pair of brown boots covered her feet. Her body language suggested she was depressed as she played with her drink instead of actually drinking it. He was just about to get up and move closer when he saw another man walk up to her.
Johnny eyed the scene that unfolded and noticed how quickly the man turned tail and walked away, like a dog that had been scolded. That's when he saw her eyes and even in the dimness he could see that they were large and expressive, her nose was small and pointed with a gentle slope. Her shapely lips were curled in a frown. As he took a drink of his beer he decided to just sit there and watch her. He knew that if he went immediately after he watched the other guy crash and burn, he'd seem desperate. After nearly twenty minutes he had finished his beer and had watched two more guys tuck and run.
After setting the empty bottle down, he waited for a moment before getting up to walk towards the woman. As he approached her he saw her turn to face him and he hesitated. He saw that her eyes were a beautiful shade of hazel and he became mesmerized by their color. He decided to take the bar stool on the other side of the one next to her as he didn't want her to feel pressured.
"I'll tell you just like I told them, I'm not looking for a Valentine's hookup," she said rather bluntly.
Johnny looked at her, his eyes twinkling. "That's funny because neither am I." He could see that she had definitely put up a wall, not because she was tired of being hit on, though he was sure that was part of it, but there was something else. He'd always been good at reading people and right now he could tell this woman needed a friend. "Look, I'm not here to hit on you, in fact tell me to leave and I'm gone, but you look like you could use a friend right now. Name's Jonathan, though everyone calls me Johnny."
The woman studied him for a moment, her eyes gazed into his and she sighed, "Kayla."
"Is that with a 'C' or a 'K'?" He caught the slightest movement in her lips. Was that an attempt at a smile?
"With a 'K' and that's something most people don't bother asking." Kayla sat there as she continued to study him. He was different, very good looking but not in a fashion model sort of way. More like a backwoods rough and rugged way. She saw his cheeks were covered in a days worth of growth and how his bright blue eyes smiled. "Guess that means you can stay, but don't expect anything else," she said as she finally emptied the glass, downing the liquid all at once.
Johnny threw his hands up in the air, "Hey, I'm just here to listen, or talk, or both."
Kayla noticed how he kept his distance unlike the other men who had tried to hit on her.
After a second of watching her watch him he said, "So, what brings a pretty lady like yourself into a place like this?" He instantly cringed, despite being genuinely curious, he just sounded like he was spouting a really bad pick up line. His head dropped as he shook it, "Wow, that was so terrible."
"I was going to say."
"Johnny Smooth!" Max said as she walked passed him.
Johnny instantly felt himself blush and he couldn't look at Kayla, or Max for that matter. After what seemed like a few minutes but was more like a few moments, he looked up and caught the faintest smile cross Kayla's lips. It was in that moment that he could see just how beautiful she was. Her pale skin was porcelain smooth and her hair looked soft to the touch. He realized he had gotten lost in the moment when he heard her speak.
"So what's your relation?"
"Huh? Oh you mean with Max? Been coming here so long we just kind of became friends. Actually she's more like an annoying little sister," he said, speaking up just loud enough so that Max could hear him.
"Pfft whatever Johnny!" Max shot back.
"Anyways, I couldn't help but notice you looked a little down. Can I buy you another round?"
Kayla considered his words for a second after noticing the playful nature between him and the bartender. "Sure, why not."
Johnny smiled at her before throwing up two fingers, "Hey Max, another round please?"
Max walked up quickly, already knowing that Johnny wanted another beer, but had to ask Kayla what she would like. She smiled when the woman indicated that a beer would work for her as well before she turned around and once again smoothly opened the bottles. After she set them down on the bar top she took the bill that Johnny had placed. Max quickly returned with the change and smiled at him as he waved it off before she walked away.
"So, why are you here? I mean alone and all."
"My ex didn't get the memo about the no break up zone," she said half heartedly.
"What? Everyone knows what that is. Thanksgiving to Valentine's there are no break ups!"
"Well he didn't get that. Well actually it was more me that didn't get it. I don't know."
"Alright now I'm curious," he said as he looked at her. It was just now that he was beginning to smell her sweet perfume and found himself being drawn to her.
"You wouldn't be interested," she said turning away.
"No serious, I'm curious."
Kayla looked up at him and could feel her wall crumbling. There was something earnest in his voice that made her believe he truly wanted to know and wasn't just saying the words. She looked into his eyes, those brilliant blue eyes that seemed to twinkle. Her eyes darted to the stool that sat between them, "You know, I don't bite, you can sit closer if you want."
Johnny smiled warmly and slid over. "So does that mean I get to know what you mean?"
"You're not going to let that go are you?"
"Not really," he said with a smile.
"Persistent much?"
"I've been called worse. I'll also have you know that I'll grow on you."
Kayla considered his words as she took a long drink of her beer. She folded her arms and rested them on the bar top, her hands flat on her elbows. She looked at the man who now sat close to her and sighed. She didn't know why but the way he spoke made her feel as if she could talk to him. At the very least she knew he was better than most of the men in this place considering his banter with Max. "Fine, you win. But it'll cost you."
"Oh?"
"Another round," she said as she downed the rest of her beer and set the empty bottle down.
"Deal," he said as he ordered another round from Max. He turned slightly on his stool so he could better face Kayla and waited for her to speak.
Her eyes went distant as she began to think about the past before speaking. "My father is battling cancer and he's been in and out of the hospital for months. He's always been the rock in my life, the man I could always go to no matter what. Now he's so weak and it's so hard to watch him just lay there. It's beginning to look like he might lose the fight to it and it's been really affecting me. I guess for some time I hadn't been my normal self. I just kind of withdrew."
"That's understandable, dealing with something like that is going to take its toll on anyone. What about your mother?"
Kayla looked away quickly, "Mom passed away a little over a year ago. It's been just me and dad ever since and now ..."
Johnny instinctively put his hand on hers, "I'm so sorry to hear that."
Kayla looked down and for a split second thought about pulling her hand away, but there was something about his warmth and gentleness that made her leave it. There was also something electric in his touch that she couldn't describe. "It is what it is. Anyways, I guess I'd become withdrawn and without thinking had started to neglect Tom. Daddy had insisted that I spend Thanksgiving with Tom and his family despite my arguing with him but he wouldn't have it. I finally gave in and I went home early on the day before to tell Tom the news. That's when I found him, them."
Johnny looked at her, knowing where this was headed but didn't want to interrupt her. He was beginning to feel for her as he could see the pain in her face.
"She was much prettier than I am. Tall with long blond hair and much thinner. They were in bed together and I guess he hadn't expected me to come home until later. I mean, I know I hadn't exactly been a willing participant in that department but I was too busy dealing with my parents. I suppose it was my fault really, I just wasn't in the mood though I never expected him to go looking elsewhere."
"Wow," he said softly. "What a blind asshole. In a committed relationship, both partners are supposed to help support each other, to help shoulder the weight of whatever pain one might be dealing with. Sounds like he was more self centered that anything else."
Kayla studied him, her hazel eyes taking in his features. "Why did you say 'blind' asshole? I mean, I get the 'asshole' part and I completely agree with that and everything else you said."
Johnny looked at her, tears were welling up in her eyes but she didn't dare let them fall. He'd been staring at her the whole time she was speaking and he honestly couldn't find a flaw on her. Still, he considered what he said next very carefully as he didn't want her to put up the wall that she had been allowing to crumble. "It's just that, well, you're beautiful."
"Beautiful is something I don't think I've been called before. Pretty yes, but never beautiful. And I've looked at myself in the mirror, I don't exactly have men fawning over me."
"Well except the few here who are desperate," he cringed again.
Kayla looked behind her and saw a couple of the guys she had rejected earlier and laughed softly before she looked back at Johnny, "And what are you?"
