Daydreams (Be careful what you wish for)

Kiera balked. “Dish duty for a month? You’re insane! A phone number isn’t worth a month.”

“No, I’m not in sane, but I’ll be getting there pretty fast if you don’t find an outlet for your sadistic side, though,” retorted Lisa. A brief pause, then: “Besides!” She grinned and clapped her hands twice, “I demand that you entertain me!”

A look that was half pout, half amused crossed Kiera’s face. “Jerk. I refuse to be doing this solely for your entertainment.”

“Maybe not, but I recognize that look. You’re going to do it.”

Kiera groaned halfheartedly. “Yeah, I am. I hate to admit it, but you’re right. I’ll go stir crazy soon if I don’t find someone’s psyche to rip apart.”

“That’s my little psycho. I’m going downstairs to watch the kids hurt themselves. Now go on. Get outta here ya goofy Canadian bastard.” True to her word, she left and went downstairs, stopping for a moment to talk to the bouncer.

Probably to tell him not to let me downstairs…She sighed. May as well go say hello. She looked up to see the first band coming onstage. She sighed again, and looked over to where the young man had been standing, only to see the girl that he’d been talking with. She was now engrossed in a heated conversation with another girl, roughly the same age.

I wonder what they’re talking about…As if on queue, the first girl jerked her head in Kiera’s direction. Her friend then looked up, found her, and glared. That answer’s that question. Now both girls were giving her nasty looks from the corners of their eyes. I hope you realize that you’re not worth my time. Stupid drama…Kiera arched an eyebrow, and flipped them off. The first girl gave her wide eyes, and re-narrowed them quickly. She and her friend began talking again, their heads ducked together.

Heh. At least they’re not staring at me anymore. She chuckled, and tensed up in surprise when she heard an unfamiliar voice echo her. She had a good idea that this new voice belonged to the young man from before. This was only strengthened when a second glass with pink-stained ice and a cherry stem joined her own on the rail. She smirked at her own private joke, and glanced down. Lisa was looking up at her, watching the scene, and grinning like an idiot. Kiera stuck out her tongue, and turned around to face him

“Sorry about her. She’s my ex, and prone to fits of jealousy when she can’t have what she wants. In this case, me. I’m Jack.” She began to introduce herself, but he cut her off.

“You must be Kiera. The bartender mentioned you, or rather mentioned your drink of choice,” he finished with a lopsided smile that would probably melt the heart of girls that were unprepared for it. He held out his hand. When she went to shake it, he took her hand in a gentle, but firm grip and raised it to about chest high. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said almost to soft for her to hear. He bent down, and laid a soft kiss across her knuckles. He straightened, and released her hand.

The kiss brought her back to reality. Hmm. He is charming. Wonder how many girls he’s made fall for him with this act… She raised her eyes from her hand to his face, a demure smile playing on her lips. “I’m at a loss. You seem to know a bit about me, but aside from shared taste in drinks, I’m in the dark about you.”

He had the palest blue eyes she’d ever seen on another human. There had been an animal, years ago. A tiger...? Wolf? Some kind of predator.

Kiera shook her head slightly, resurfacing from the memory. She gave Jack a warm smile. “Sorry. You just reminded me of an old friend. I didn’t mean to just zone off and leave you all alone,” she said with a wink.

Jack returned her smile, and offered her his arm. “Well, then come downstairs with me, daydreamer. If you let me buy you another Shirley Temple, we’ll call it even.”

“Sounds good,” she said, slipping her hand into the crook of his arm. But, you know, you’re almost too chivalrous for your own good. I can’t help but think that there’s a trail of broken hearts behind you Heh. I always did like challenges. “Lead the way.” She stole a look at Lisa, grinned, and let herself be steered towards the bar.

Feizal smirked when he saw the two of them approaching. As soon as they sat down, he pushed two Shirley Temples across to them. He took the money Jack gave him, and grinned at Kiera. “Stay outta trouble, K.” He walked off to help someone else

Jack turned to her. “Lucky you, you know the bartender. How?”

“He and I used to work together at the same restaurant. The kitchen staff got a ‘shift drink’ at the end of the night, and I always got Shirley Temples. The chef did too, sometimes, but I’m the one that he picked on for it. That being said, you should be aware,” she leaned in and lowered her voice, prompting him to do the same. “I think he’s teasing us for drinking them after childhood,” she finished with a grin.

He laughed, and raised his glass for a toast. “Well, here’s to being a laughingstock, then. Cheers!”

Feizal came back over a while later and refilled their glasses.

“Thanks,” Kiera said, taking a sip.

The rest of the evening went smoothly. Jack and Kiera talked like old friends through most of the concert. Every so often, one would shoot off with a flirtatious comment or two. At one point, a loud, obnoxious beeping started. Jack reached into his pocket, looking a little chagrined. He fished out a cell phone, and hit a few buttons, stopping the noise.

“Sorry. I didn’t think that we’d be talking so long. I set this so I wouldn’t miss my friend’s band play,” he explained, pointing over her shoulder to the stage where a new band was just starting their first song. Jack jotted something down on a piece of paper and pressed it into her hand.

“I gotta get up to the front to try and distract my buddy.” He winked. “ Maybe we can meet up after the show. Oh, that’s my cell phone number, by the way. Call me anytime.” He stood, smiling, and started to go out to the floor. Kiera turned back to the bar, and was about to call Feizal back over when she felt his hand on her shoulder. “Wouldn’t want you to lose that bet…”

“Yeah, that would—” she stopped, and looked over her shoulder to face him, but Jack had gone. She looked, but couldn’t see him anywhere.

I never told him about that bet…