I noticed him. Of course I did. How could I not? I locked eyes with him only once at the beginning of the night. He seemed to see, and bury his way into my soul from across the bar. After that, he never even glanced at me. It was almost like he actively was trying not to look right at me or something, which was also intriguing in its own way.
He sat at the corner of the small, squarely arranged bar with the keep in the middle, and had been nursing a dark amber-coloured drink since I walked in to join my regular crowd. He was well dressed, much better than the usual clients, in a light blue button up under his light jacket for the weather. Past glancing admiringly in his direction periodically to find him not looking at me, I didn't invest more thought in the handsome man.
I draped my jacket on a stool, sat, and the bartender placed my drink in front of me: a Jameson and diet soda. I sipped and turned to the friend to my right. We chatted while listening to the local band in the performance space, clapping appropriately at intervals, and discussing life. I have been coming to this bar two or three times a week for years now, so I feel comfortable in the atmosphere and feel almost at home there.
The band finished playing and left their instruments. My friend bought the cute guitarist a drink and they sat with us as the house music played. The two of them were really hitting it off after a few drinks, so I took my cue and told my friend I would see him later. He winked at me and gave me a hug good bye. I gathered my jacket and purse over my arm and walked out the front of the bar.
My car wasn't far, but in a lot at the end of a side alley. I decided not to take the time to put on my jacket just to take it off again at the car to drive. I started down the dark, paved walk, the clicking of my heels seeming to grow louder the further from the din of the bar I went.
It wasn't until I was about a quarter of the way down the alley that I heard the other footsteps. I glanced back and saw the handsome man from the bar. I didn't know what to think, so I continued walking, taking purposeful steps. I could feel his eyes on me. Watching me.
Then I felt the tug on my arm. Instinct lead me to spin away and pull my arm back to myself. The grip though was so tight, the attempt to pull free didn't work, and the spin moved me close to the dark wall of the alley. I dropped my jacket and purse in the movement and I went to scream, but a push against the wall with his strong arms and I was left breathless. Next thing I knew, his hand was over my mouth and his body was hard against mine as I tried to catch my breath.
"Pl... plea... plea... please..." I tried to say but it came out no more than a whisper.
