When No One's Watching, 1

In the thick of it all: the tumult of the crowd, the clinking of the glasses, the livid shadows caused by blinding lights, the loud, pulsating noise, the tear-inducing miasma of cigarette smoke: she was there.

Garbed in her favorite tiny red dress, she surveyed the room. Her eyes now fixed on a guy sitting at the bar.

For a moment, he seemed to smile – just a hint on the lips, really. Then she was beside the guy, speaking in a definite tone despite the deafening noise.

“Jay’s out of town.” She was referring to her boyfriend. “Ah okay.” The guy replied, showing a just a little interest to what she just said. But his eyes were saying otherwise.

She leaned over to mouth something to the guy directly in his ear, his breath tickling her breastbone.

At this point and almost carelessly, the guy slipped his hand to caress the girl’s elbow. She drew herself closer as she put her lips nearer his earlobe.

“Haven’t you broken up with her yet?” she asked, without batting an eyelash. He jerked a bit because of the question, looking a bit alarmed. “No, not yet.” He answered tentatively. “But I’m trying.”

Furtively studying the girl’s apparent disappointment, he elaborated. But really, it didn’t matter to the girl what the guy was saying. Though she wanted to probe further, but she didn’t. She knew it was best not to talk about the guy’s girlfriend. Or their respective partners, for that matter.

(to be concluded…)