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“Hey, you know what? There is a bar we can hit up tonight. Have a good time and unwind. Before we start with the crazy!” Addy bites her lip, waiting for me to say something.
I tilt my head curiously. “What is this bar?”
“Black Dragon. They have local bands play there. I think
a cover band is performing tonight.” She jumps up and down giddily.
“Um, I don’t know. I still have a lot of unpacking to do.”
Her mouth turns down. “Please. It will be so fun and you’re here! At GC! We need to have some fun. I promise to be there with you. I can introduce you to some other awesome people like us.”
Looking around, I realize this might be a nice chance to get out and meet some new people. Have some fun and enjoy a little college life before it gets crazy with schoolwork.
Finally, I nod. “Yeah, okay. Let’s go have some fun.” And with that, I think I officially am living the college life.
Go me.
Chapter Five
AURORA
Well,I guess the college life apparently consists of me uncomfortably sitting at a table.
All the while Addy and her friends are out dancing on the dance floor to the cover band playing whatever it is they are playing.
So far, this is not my scene.
Now, a karaoke bar? Sign me up. I will sing all night and put on a Rory concert. Especially in a dive bar.
Honestly, her friends are nice. They were at least welcoming to me hanging with them, but I still feel like the odd man out. If I had my way, I would be back in my dorm room, reading.
Yeah, what a totally exciting life I lead.
Instead, I’m here. Sitting at a table, waiting for the four of them to come back from dancing. I slowly sip my Bloody Mary, trying to drag it out. I truly do not want to get wasted tonight.
It turns out a couple of friends of Addy’s are seniors in the Architecture program. Jason and Scarlett are set to graduate from the program this year, and then they are both attending the University of Washington in Seattle for their master’s. Jason and Scarlett are also a “thing” and have been dating since high school.
Not gonna lie, it’s kinda cute that they’re going through this together. I may be slightly jealous. Slightly. And that’s only because dating hasn’t always worked out for me.
After my dad died, friendships were hard for me to maintain. It took time and the patience of those who were truly my friends to stick by me. Eventually, I came back out of my shell. I found my strength and spunk again. I started dating and going out with guys.
Honestly, dating was interesting. I had always imagined marrying a guy like my father. Ambitious, intelligent, family man, and heart the size of, well, Texas.
But I don’t know if his absence made it more apparent that none of the guys I was with would ever be the one.
I was just more aware of the fact that they weren’t.
Now, I’m not saying they were bad guys, they just couldn’t be what I needed at the time.
And I still have my moments where I am reserved.
Just like now, I’m not hopping on the dance floor and shaking my rump all around. It’s just not me. I mean, I’m trying, hence why I’m here. But it doesn’t make it any less uncomfortable.
As I look over the railing, I can see Addy and Morgan, another junior in the program, jumping around and singing to the song being blasted over the speakers.
They look so lost in their own world.
I’m not sure how long they were down there, but when I look up from scrolling Instagram, the four of them slide up into their seats, completely out of breath.