(Co-written with sammyIammy)
Sam's Story
I hadn't been out in a long time. Too long. Nothing makes you feel less "hip" than not recognizing the bar scene anymore. But still, it felt good to be out again. It had been a long week and all I needed was a beer...or two. I got there early so I could just relax on my own for a bit. It was crowded but not crazy crowded. A few open stools at the bar. So I took one, ordered a beer, and swiveled around to do some people watching. That first sip is always the best. The cold path it bores down your chest. Nothing like it.
I looked around and saw a nicely mixed crowd. Young college age people, middle aged, and a few older people. This bar had a nice vibe. You could come in wearing a suit and tie after a work day or show up in a t shirt and shorts and nobody would look at you any differently. And everyone looked so attractive. Maybe not handsome or pretty, but attractive. Happy, smiling, glad to be there...attractive. And then she walked in.
She was younger than me but not to the point that I'd feel odd saying hello. She had gorgeous blond hair to her shoulders and was wearing what looked to be a work outfit. Casual but clearly an office type. A begrudging office type maybe. Capable of being serious and being taken serious but also capable of letting go and enjoying herself. How did I get all that within the first 30 seconds? Her smile. Her eyes. Each were bright and happy. She looked to be the kind of person that is much more likely to want to smile and find the good in something than the opposite. I watched her walk across the floor to the other side of the bar and join her friends at the table. They were clearly glad to see her. I saw her scan the bar and couldn't divert my gaze quickly enough that she caught me looking at her. Emboldened by me afternoon out, I smiled at her. She smiled back, passed my gaze, and then met it again. She smiled again. I took a long swig of my beer.
She chatted for a bit with her friends and I rotated my way back to the bar and chatted a bit with the bartender. I recognized him from around town but didn't realize he worked here. I asked if that was him at the Sunday farmer's market selling homemade sour dough loaves and he laughed. Yep, that was him. The other "side gig".
We started to nerd out a bit about bread and food and foodies and restaurants and everything related to it when I felt a brush against my shoulder. I instinctively moved a bit away to let whomever it was get to the bar. "Hi! I'd like to start a tab." I could literally hear her smile as she spoke. I turned my head and there she was. I smiled and edged my stool a bit more so she could get to the counter. She said hello to me and I said hello to her. She asked where my friends were and I told her I was early and expected them in a while, but was enjoying the quiet of being alone.
"Oh...well then maybe I'll leave you alone."
Fuck. Wrong answer. I quickly told her that being alone made it that much easier to meet new people. She smiled and told me that she'd like to be the first new person I met that day. She smelled amazing, and I was already wondering how to get her to sit on the empty stool next to me. I mentioned that she wasn't alone, and had quite a group back there that she had met.
"Yeah" she said. "Mostly work people so I can't just let down my hair."
Ugh I said with a roll of the eyes. "I know that all too well. There's my work person and my fun person, and they don't always overlap."
She smiled as the bartender asked if she wanted a drink. She ordered.
"Have a seat?" I asked. She sat down next to me. "I'm Sam."
"Hi Sam. I'm Annie."
She got her beer and we toasted to warm weather and happy hours and started chatting. I asked her what brought her out today and she said a mix of things: partly the craving to see people, partly the craving to get some fresh air, and one other thing that she couldn't quite share with me. That's all I needed to get my curiosity out and ready.
"Okay, I'll bite. 20 questions? Would that do it?"
"Maybe 50 questions."
"Hmmmm..." I began with the mundane and had only gotten to the silly when she held up a hand.
"Ummmm...that's 20 questions, she said.