As a tall, semi-attractive man with a crooked smile strode in her direction, Shandy's heart palpitated. She wanted someone to ask her to dance, just once, and she'd go home satisfied. But it didn't seem like tonight was going to be her night. She'd failed miserably at attracting anyone, despite her efforts. And as she held out her last hope for the gangly stranger, he stepped right past her and into the arms of a chubby redhead, who giggled so loudly Shandy could hear it over the pulsating music.
With her hopes, fell her shoulders, and she decided it was time to call it a night. Trudging away from the edge of the dance floor and all the multicolored flashing lights, she stopped off at the bar, dropping down onto an empty stool and waiting for the bartender to notice her. She told herself it was probably a fruitless effort; no one else had noticed her tonight. But she'd come out to have a good time.
Shandy could at least enjoy a drink.
It seemed like even the bartender wasn't going to pay her any attention as she sat on a stool at the end of bar, waiting to order. "You look positively glum." The voice held a hint of amusement, and Shandy turned to see a tall, thin girl sliding onto the barstool next to her. She was adorable, with a cute little nose that barely turned up at the end and a pixie cut she'd obviously colored to get a mixture of reds, browns, and blonds. She smiled at Shandy, who offered a half-hearted smile back.
"I just expected tonight to be a little more fun than it has been, that's all." Even to her own ears, she sounded like Eeyore. Nobody noticed me. I lost my tail again. With a sigh, she sat up a little straighter. "What does it take to get noticed around here?"
The girl laughed, it had the quality of tinkling bells to it. Maybe this girl was a pixie. "I'm not sure, but I definitely noticed you. Were you waiting on a drink?"
Shandy tried not to blush or sound too pathetic. "I was still waiting to order one."
The girl looked utterly offended and stood, shouting at the bartender. "Hey, Landon, are you gonna take care of my girl over here or what?" The bartender, whose name was apparently Landon, saluted her and started toward them.
He raised an eyebrow at Shandy, who stuttered, "Crown and Diet, please."
Her new 'friend' gave him a shit-eating grin and a wink. "Make that two, on my tab." He nodded silently and turned to work as the girl sat back down and offered a hand to Shandy. "I'm Trina."
"My name's Shandy. Nice to meet you." She shook Trina's hand, noticing how thin and birdlike she was. Her fingers were long, and her grip held strength, but she looked almost frail. "I take it you come here a lot."
Trina shrugged. "From time to time. I used to be here all the time. Landon's been working here since the Middle Ages, so we go way back. But I haven't been here in months. Is this your first time out?"
Shandy nodded, thinking longingly of the clubs back home, the tiny little bar down the street with karaoke three nights a week and the retro club a few blocks away. She'd frequented those and felt comfortable, never looking to get noticed and not worrying that she didn't have any friends. Why she'd moved here, she wasn't sure, other than to start over and get out of the small town life. "I've only lived here about a month. I don't really even know anyone yet, except a couple of people I work with. And none of them seem to want to go out anywhere, except lunch."
As Landon sat their drinks in front of them, Trina pulled a cell phone out of her back pocket. "Well, Shandy, let me be your first friend in town. Give me your number, and I'll text you so you have mine. Then, tomorrow, I'll give you a call and show you around the city. We can do dinner, and then we'll go to a couple of clubs I know that are a little more fun than this old dive."
Not used to the kindness of a stranger, Shandy hesitated for a moment, but Trina seemed so nice, and she was so grateful to finally have someone to talk to that she nodded and recited her number. She waited as Trina sent the text, feeling her phone buzz in her bra as it came through. "Thank you, Trina. I've felt so out of place."
Trina shrugged and gave her that winning smile that made her green eyes twinkle. "We all have. Don't worry about it. We'll find your place here together." They finished their drinks and chatted, and Shandy said goodnight, only half expecting to actually hear from her again. But at least her night hadn't been a complete failure.
So when her phone rang at noon the next day, she was shocked. She met Trina downtown late afternoon, and they explored the city, with Trina giving a running commentary on the history and neighborhoods. They laughed all afternoon and even talked about their own pasts.
Trina took her to a little hole in the wall Thai restaurant, and Shandy ventured out of her comfort zone to try a new dish, loving every bite of it. By the time they hit a club, Shandy felt like she'd known Trina for years. The little pixie girl really knew how to make you feel comfortable in your own skin, even when you didn't feel like you belonged.
The club was very different from the one Shandy had been at the night before, and she frowned as she looked around. Trina disappeared, sidling up to the bar and ordering them each a Crown and Diet, and by the time she returned, Shandy needed the alcohol. She wanted to ask about the crowd, but she suddenly had a strange feeling and didn't want to sound offended -- or offensive.
But the more she saw, the more suspicious she became. Most of the couples were same-sex, and when Trina began greeting several of the other people and introducing her to these friends, there was no more question in her mind. Apparently, Trina had considered this a date.
"What's wrong?" Trina asked over the din of the music. Shandy shook her head, but Trina took her elbow and pulled her aside. "Come on, Shandy, you've been laughing and relaxed all day. Now, all of a sudden, you're tense and look like you're afraid you're going to catch Anthrax or something. What are you going through right now?"
Suddenly miserable and afraid she'd lose the only friend she had, Shandy didn't want to say anything, but she also didn't want to lead Trina on and make her think...
"Trina, this is a gay bar."
Trina laughed. "You think? They tend to be a little more comfortable and welcoming than most other bars. It's a cultural thing."
Shandy shook her head, feeling bile rise in her throat. "But I'm not a lesbian, Trina."
The beautiful smile she wore faded but not the sparkle in her eyes. "I didn't figure you were. But most girls are hetero-flexible. I mean, tell me you didn't feel something spark last night between us." As she spoke, Trina stepped so close to her that their bodies nearly touched, and she could feel Trina's breath light across her cheek. Shandy's heart thundered in her chest, speeding and making her breath come in pants.
It wasn't that Trina wasn't attractive. In fact, that was one of the first thoughts she'd had when the pixie girl had come around last night. But she couldn't imagine what it would be like to be with another girl. Hell, she had limited experience with men, and none of those relationships had gone anywhere.