"Can I buy you a drink?" I turned to look at the man addressing me, and scolded him. He had to be in his thirties, nearly forties. I returned my gaze to the TV above, and sipped my beer innocently.
"No thank you, I'm taken care of." I spoke calmly but sternly. The man snorted and stuck his hand out.
"I'm Rick. What's your name, cutie?"
I still refused to meet his gaze. I pursed my lips. "Nice to meet you, Rick. I'm Cynthia." He stood there for several minutes eyeing me, and I became uncomfortable. I quickly made an observation of the room. The nearest exit was directly to my left. i would have to push through a few tables, but nothing major. The crowd was fairly large, normal for a Thursday evening, I suppose.
"So, sugar. How 'bout that drink?" Rick asked me. I finally turned to look at him and saw nothing but taunting and hunger in his eyes.
I may have been a tad tipsy, but I had enough sense in me to know I needed to get out of here. Now. I swiftly picked up my purse and jacket. "Well thank you for your kind offer, Rick. But I must be going now." I gave him a small smile and turned to go.
But he wasn't having it.
Rick grabbed my arm, and yanked me back, my face only inches from his. I could easily smell the alcohol on his breath. "Now I don't think you want to be doing that, sugar. Now let me ask again. Can I get you a drink?" His voice was stern, and I trembled. But I was not going to back down.
"And let me tell you again. I'm perfectly fine, and I must b-" I was interrupted when I felt a burning sensation in the back of my head. It all seemed to happen in slow motion. I thought I was standing up, but in reality I had been flung to the ground. My head was aching, but I ignored it. The alcohol clouded my mind so it took me a moment to register what was going on. I saw a sturdy man standing above me, in attempt to block me from Rick, who was holding his nose. I observed that the stranger's hand was smothered in blood, and Rick's nose was covered in it. I didn't know who he was, but I thanked him silently for his efforts. Sadly, there weren't enough. Rick punched the poor guy, and I shrieked.
He was passed out on the ground, and I crawled over to him. When I reached him, I leaned over, and saw his eyes were closed, his jaw hanging slack.
"Shit, shit, shit! Come on, wake up. Don't be dead, don't be dead." I pleaded. I pushed my long brown locks behind my back, and took his pulse. I heard some shouting behind me, and saw Rick being escorted out of the bar. He threw me one last wink before finally hitting the ground outside.
I turned my attention to the stranger who had helped me, and saw his eyes opening. He spit blood, and weakly spoke. "You think a punch like that could kill me? Oof. You really know how to offend a guy's strength. Really, just down right offend them. I thought I looked quite fit." He displayed an expression of mock hurt.
I chuckled dryly, and pushed his sandy hair out of his eyes. "So is this a regular thing for you? Bar fights?" I asked him.
"How'd you know? Was it the skill set I showed while getting my ass kicked? Or the fact that a pretty girl might need to accompany me to a hospital?" I blushed slightly.
"Well, does the pretty girl get to know the name of her knight in shining armor?" I teased.
"Nate." He spoke slowly, "Cynthia, right?"
"You didn't actually think I was going to give that guy my name, now? Oof. You really know how to offend a girl's intelligence. Really, just down right offend them," I teased.
"Well, then do I get to know the real name of my damsel in distress?"
In fake curiosity, I turned to look behind me looking for this 'damsel'
"No damsel here, sadly. But my name is Maci," I told him.
"Maci. Yes, I like that much better than Cynthia. Not exactly an attractive name," he joked. His brown eyes were playful, and even with his swollen jaw, he managed a lopsided, goofy grin.
"That's my grandmum's name. She died last fall." I spoke told him. Nate just looked embarrassed and opened his mouth to speak but quickly shut it. Then he smiled at me nervously and let his eyes wander anywhere but me. He repeated the process multiple times before finally speaking.
"Well, erm, it's a lovely name! I mean, I just was trying to- I mean I- you see- I- it, uh-" Nate stopped short when my loud laughter interrupted his stuttering.
"I was joking! My grandmum's name is Lynn," I was still giggling uncontrollably. Whether it was from the alcohol, or because his reaction was priceless, I didn't know.
Nate shook his head in disapproval. "Damn, woman. You really know how to test a man," His face was showing disapproval, but his eyes told another story. And I was captured in them.
I tore them away, however, because my mind had strayed to Him again. What would he think of this? Would he have done the same? Or would he have simply laughed it off and left me to fend for myself?
Someone cleared their throat behind me, and I finally noticed the observing crowd flocking around us. A man looked at me with such despair, and looked at Nate with gratitude and sympathy. He must be the manager. I'm sure he feared for what the people would think of the outbreak. What with all the social media now, a simple tweet or Facebook status could bring this place down.
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Ma'am. Is there any way I could help?" He asked me pleadingly.
"Don't worry about it." I smiled reassuringly at the man, and with one last weary look thrown at me, he turned to Nate.
"I'm sorry, lad. But I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I don't wish to call the police since all you did was protect that young woman. But some consider this outbreak a disturbance of the peace. And you could also be charged with destruction of property. I'm sorry." Nate only grinned and tried to get up. When I noticed he was struggling, I jumped up, and lent him a hand. Since he probably didn't want to look…weak, I suppose, he refused to lean on me for support. I rolled my eyes at his ridiculous pride, and placed my arm around his waist, and his around my shoulders.
"It's no problem at all, sir. I apologize for the damage, and any complications I might have caused," Nate shook hands with the man, and let me gather my things. Nate limped his way out, but I hung back for a few.
"Sir?" I asked the manager. He turned to look at me. I reached into my purse and grabbed my check book. "Look, I'm not sure how much I can offer, but I have some money to-"
"I can't ask that of you. A kind gesture, but I have to respectfully decline," He hurried.
I furrowed my brows and walked over to the bar. I reached for a pen and quickly scribbled down the information. "Take it," I spoke finally.
I placed the check in his hand, smiled once more, and walked out so I could meet Nate.
Before I reached him, however, I took a moment to really take a look at him. Nate had sandy hair, and puppy brown eyes. He had chestnut colored hair, and icy blue eyes. Nate was tall, and somewhat lanky. Though you could tell he worked out. He was tall as well, but not quite Nate's height; he was ripped. He had strong arms that would catch me if I fell, or hold me to him at night. I knew that those strong arms would be there for me. They always were.
But not anymore.
~~~
In the end, I drove Nate home. Other than him giving my naive mind directions around the city, it was silent. It seemed awkward at first, like those first date silences. You both are just unsure of what to say to each other. You don't know anything about each other, and you aren't sure what is appropriate with the other. We also played the first date game of "I look at you, you look at me". I would steal glances at the man who had gotten his ass kicked for me, and he would peer at the mysterious girl who sat alone at the bar. Quickly we would avoid eye contact, and repeat the process.
Finally we arrived to a small apartment complex, and I helped him in.
"So, in return for saving your ass, I think you owe me," He spoke cheerfully.
I raised my eyebrows at his statement. "I owe you because you saved my ass? Yeah, you're funny," I snorted.
"Well here I am, a random passerby, and I see this girl needs my help. So I, being the courageous hero I am, stepped in to save the poor damsel."
"Really, you're killing me. Have you considered looking into being a comedian?" I asked him. He sighed out of surrender, but I kept talking. "Besides. You got your ass kicked rather than me." I shrugged my shoulders.
He brightened instantly. "Exactly! I wouldn't have been so, so badly injured if it weren't for you," He whimpered and touched his arm, indicating his "hurt".
My response was rolling my eyes. "I didn't ask you to step in. I've already told you, there was no damsel in distress. I could've handled it," I told him seriously.
"But I did step in. So there you have it. You owe me. And my price is simply taking you out." He smiled even wider, and my cheeks were flaming.
"Why, are you asking me out, Nate?" I asked in all innocence.
"I believe I am, Maci." Nate's eyes were playful, yet hopeful all at once. They held a silent question; asking, pleading, begging.
"Well, it better be good. I don't wish to waste my time on mediocre things." I flipped my hair for good measure.
"What? You got other princes to attend to, princess?" He taunted. This was simply a joke to him. But to me it was so much more. He considered me as his princess. And I considered him as my prince.
I nodded stiffly, and exchanged phone numbers with him before rushing off to my car.
It was now May, almost half a year since I had seen or spoken to Him. Yet he seemed to pass through my mind at all times. Except for with Nate. Sure, things here and there I would be reminded of him, but Nate takes me somewhere else. Maybe it's his childlike ways, or because he's the exception. He could be the exception to the rule that has dictated my life for the past few months.
And to me, that's all I could ask for.

Notes

Hey there! Chapter 15 guys. That's a lot of chappies (my terminology) Please let me know what you think!