Page 3 of If We Meet Again

The evening drew closer to last orders. Midtown 101 was due to shut in less than an hour. Ashley’s time wasrunning out.

“Shall I go over now?”

“Yes, 100%,” Emily vocalised. Madison nodded in agreement.

“What’s the worst that could happen? She rejects you and you go home with a bruised ego. At least you tried,” Madison advised.

Ashley tipped her glass up towards her mouth, the remainder of the gin and soda went down easily. Jason had continued to supply them with drinks up until the end of his shift. Ashley now had a reason to approach the bar; in order to get there, she would have to weave through several tables, the hectic dancefloor and by the mystery girl who stood directly in front of the bar twentymetres away.

“Okay,” Ashley confirmed, “I can do this.”

Madison placed a reassuring hand on Ashley’s arm and pulled her in close so her words could be heard clearly.

“Ash, some girls just feel a bit uncomfortable with being approached. Especially when they’re out with their friends. So maybe just ask her for her number then you can continue the conversation tomorrow.”

“Okay. You’re right.”

Ashley glanced towards the bar. It was now or never; she took off.

“Ash, get me another beer please.” Emily yelled.

How best to approach the situation had been eating her alive all night. As soon as Ashley saw her, she had become her primary focus. She had to know who the mystery girl was at any cost. If that meant facing the fear of humiliation head-on then that’s exactly what she wasgoing to do.

“Hello, again.” Ashley stiffened.

The girl laughed awkwardly.

“Hello.” Her voice was drowned out by the roar of the DJ as he made everyone aware that the countdown of the final ten songs was now underway. Ashley leaned in closer.

“What’syour name?”

The girl looked towards her friends and then back at Ashley, who had relaxed her shoulders and placed one hand inher pocket.

“It’s Megan. Whatabout you?”

The girl in white finally had aname. Megan.

“I’m Ashley.”

Ashley kept her eyes firmly focused on Megan. The calming aura she tried to emit to hide her nerves was being put to the test by the intimidation of Megan’s friends. Two of them turned away, minding their own business, but one was firmly watching the exchange unfold.

“I see your drink is full—again. Asking to buy you another is pointless, isn’t it?”

Megan laughed and gestured towards a group of menat the bar.

“They beat you to it,” she revealed.

Ashley rolled her eyes blatantly and laughed. Megan wasn’t from New York; from the little she could make out of her accent, it sounded almost English, but with a slight American twang. Ashley was all the more intrigued.

“Do you want to have a chat? I need a refill. Join meat the bar?”

Megan looked cautiously toward the friend immediately to her left.Was she looking for approval?Ashley was unsure of the friend’s significance. Megan leaned in closer towards Ashley’s right ear, leaving her friend unaware of what was said next.

“Sorry, I can’t leave my friends. This is the first time I have seen them in over a year.”

“How about I just take your number instead? We can talk tomorrow?”

Madison would be proud. Megan pulled her phone from the black clutch under her arm, typed in Ashley under ‘create contact’ and handed thephone over.