Michael sat nursing his whiskey on the rocks. The bar was dimly lit by the lanterns behind the counter. A college football game played on the TV to his left, and a few people idly chatted in the booths behind him.
Three years down the drain, and he didn't even know why. He was caring, attentive, driven, and he felt he was pretty good in the bedroom, but she still had to go to someone else.
Michael stared down at his drink and examined the melting ice. The clear cubes were significantly smaller than they were when he got the drink, and at the rate he was drinking it the alcohol was probably leaving his system faster than he could consume it. Michael had been drunk before, but a sad drinker he was not. Still, he sat at the bar wallowing in his misery.
The ring of a bell broke through the monotonous chatter and Michael could hear a few footsteps approach a seat to his right. Without any thought, Michael turned his head to see the newcomer. He was surprised to see Alexis, an old friend of his from high school.
The two had become good friends in his early years of high school, having a few classes together they got a lot of time to talk, and over time they became pretty close. Michael even ended up developing a huge crush on her, but never could tell her. It seemed she always had a new boyfriend, and even if she was single, Michael was always too nervous to act on his crush. Alexis being a year older than him meant that once she graduated, she was off to college hundreds of miles away, and the two drifted apart quickly.
Michael himself since that point had graduated college and got a nice office job in their hometown. In his time in college, he became much more confident, having not only dated but also slept with plenty of girls, but every day he regretted not telling Alexis how he felt when they were in high school. At this point though, he doubted it could work.
"Alexis?" Michael feigned surprise.
"Oh my god, Michael, hey!" Alexis's face lit up.
Michael wasn't sure she'd even remember him, even if they were close friends for a time. She was as beautiful as he remembered, and he could tell why he had such a crush on her in the past. Alexis was small, both short and skinny. Her hair was long, wavy, and dark brown. It contrasted heavily against her pale skin. Her eyes were large and brown, and her nose while relatively skinny jutted out far, giving her profile a bird like appearance. She wore a light blue coat that wrapped tight around her figure, and even lighter blue jeans that showed off her skinny legs and shapely but small butt. She might not have been for everyone, but she was definitely for him.
"I didn't know you lived around here, I thought you stayed out at school." Said Michael.
"Oh, I did for a little while, but only because I had a job out there. I got a job here a few months ago, working for a marketing firm. I make logos and stuff." Said Alexis.
Alexis always was the creative type, her work seemed fitting. "Oh okay, are you living with your parents still?" Michael felt a little ashamed he still lived with his and was hoping she was too so he wouldn't seem as lame.
"No, I actually have an apartment just down the street from here."
The bar was situated in a residential area, a relic of a bygone era of less restrictive zoning laws.
The bartender came out from the kitchen and saw his new customer. "What can I get you? The usual?"
"Uhhh, yeah..." Said Alexis bowing her head.
"The usual, huh?" Said Michael, chuckling.
"Yeah... Went through a bad breakup recently, and nothing fills the hole in your heart like alcohol." Said Alexis, keeping her head bowed in shame.
"Well, that makes two of us. Though I'm not sure I get how to drink. I thought this was what I was *supposed* to do, but maybe sad drinking isn't for me. I've been at this one for an hour." Said Michael holding his drink up.
"I wish I was like you. I've spent half my salary on drinks the past few weeks." Said Alexis.
The bartender came back with a martini, complete with a few olives on a plastic sword.
"Martinis, eh? You don't exactly peg me as a martini girl." Said Michael with a somewhat impressed look.
"Oh, and what kind of girl do you peg me as?" Asked Alexis raising an eyebrow.
"Hmm, well I'd say strawberry daquiri followed by wine coolers." Said Michael, smirking.
"Well, I'm usually one to defy expectations. My parents for example expected me to be an engineer or doctor, they were sure excited when I decided to major in graphic design." Alexis took a sip from her drink. "So, you went through a breakup too? What happened there."
Michael shook his head. "I have no idea, one day I go to surprise her at her house, and there she is with another guy underneath her."
Alexis gave Michael a reassuring smile. "That's awful, no one should have to go through that."
"Yeah... I'm not even angry or sad. Just... numb and confused. I have no idea what I did."
"You didn't do anything; some people just decide others mean nothing to them. Just... don't do anything crazy once the anger sets in, because at some point it will."
"Yeah, what about you, you said you just got out of a relationship too? How long was it." Michael asked.
"Not very long. It was more a matter of how it ended than the actual relationship that ended. It got pretty messed up. Sorry, I just want to try to forget it." Said Alexis.
"That's okay, I think I've spent enough of my life talking about your relationships." Michael couldn't believe what he just said. How could he be so stupid to say something like that to her. The girl of his dreams sitting right next to him, and he makes a comment like that.
"Oh? What's that supposed to mean?" Alexis furrowed her brow.
"Nothing, I'm not sure why I said that." Said Michael panicked. He needed to put the conversation back on course, but he didn't know how.
"I guess it must have sucked that I was always in a relationship, didn't it? Must have been hell for you knowing I was never available." Said Alexis.
Michael was shocked by her response. "Ex- excuse me?"
Alexis rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, you didn't think I never knew, did you? You definitely weren't subtle. I mean, I guess I was a little stupid not to notice in high school. But it wasn't long after I left that I realized it. Why didn't you tell me?"
Michael stared in disbelief. He never considered she might have known he liked her. He thought he had hidden it well, but it seemed he was wrong. "I was scared. I'd been rejected before and it ruined the friendship, I didn't want that to happen to us."
Alexis looked down and smiled. "You valued our friendship enough to go through that? I really am flattered."
"I guess the thought of losing you as a friend was always just worse than gaining you as a girlfriend." Said Michael staring past her.
There was a moment of silence that felt like an eternity to Michael.
"So do you still..." Alexis cut in.
"I mean, I don't go to sleep thinking about you every night or anything like that. But I still think you're beautiful. And if nothing else, I'd like to be friends again now that I know you live nearby."
Alexis stayed silent or a moment. "Hey Dave!" Alexis shouted to the bartender while miming her signing a check.
"Oh shit, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it awkward. Uh, don't worry. I won't come here anymore. I'll leave, you can stay" Michael bowed his head in shame.
Alexis gave Michael a look as if to call him an idiot. "What the fuck are you talking about?
We
are leaving. I'm not about to have us wallow around in self-pity. Let's go to the park.
Michael couldn't believe what he was hearing. She wanted to leave
with him.
"Doesn't the park close after sundown?"
"I know a way to sneak in. Come on, let's go.
The two paid their tabs and left the bar. The fall night was warmer than usual thanks to a recent heatwave, but it was still cold enough for a medium sweatshirt. They walked the half a mile down the street to the park at the end of the road. More of a nature preserve than anything else, the park was large with lots of trees and trails to get lost in. On the way the two idly chatted about their college experience. Neither took it too seriously, and spent more time at parties than studying. However, they both graduated with decent grades. Where Alexis couldn't hold down a relationship for more than a few months like back in high school, Michael had the same girlfriend since the beginning of junior year. They reminisced about high school, laughing at the little references no one else would get.
To Michael it felt like a mix of old times, and a second chance.
When they reached the park Alexis led him to a hole in the fence around the corner from the front entrance. Where Alexis's petite frame slid right through, Michael being much larger struggled, but was able to get through without hurting himself or tearing any of his clothes. He couldn't help but think how unattractive he looked struggling through though.
The inside of the park was dark with no lights since no one was allowed in past dark, so the two had to rely on the light of the nearly full moon. The rules of course didn't stop everyone, and there were a few other people strolling through in the late hour. There was even an elderly couple that Michael could only imagine how they actually got in.
Michael used to go to the park daily even though he lived on the other side of town. It had a good mix of uphill and downhill paths with some beautiful views. They continued to talk as they climbed to the top of the hill, and Michael was nearly out of breath. A subtle reminder of how out of shape he had become since high school.
The two sat down on a bench at the top of the hill overlooking the town. They sat in silence admiring the hundreds of houses they could see, each with their lights on as families sat down for late dinners, or prepared popcorn for a Saturday movie night.
A light breeze swept through the trees, cutting through the relatively warm air. Alexis moved in closer to Michael and cuddled up next to him, with her head resting on his shoulder.
