I see Tom move then, out of the corner of my eye. He’s leading the two women he’s with out of the bar. But there’s no mistaking the look of satisfaction on his face and in his grim smile. He overheard us and he’s pleased.
I smile quietly. I’m pleased too. It has been hard to imagine losing that house, one of the few constants in my life along with my bike and my job as a mechanic. Against all the odds, we managed to save it and we might even be able to rebuild it.
You watching, George? I ask internally, thinking about my old friend, the one who started this club so long ago. We’re still going strong.
I glance around at the others. Alex looks so pleased with himself, and he orders another round as we begin finishing our first drinks. Ethan has a stupid grin on his face, and Liam is gesturing wildly as he talks to Grant. Grant has a small smile on his face, one that he hides as he gets called away by another customer.
Everyone is in a good mood. I fight down a yawn and prop my head in my heads, unable to help grinning at them all. We’ve been fighting this for a month, and it really did look like we were about to lose.
Now, though…
Slowly, the hours slip away. All too soon, I find myself unable to fight my need for sleep any longer. The night is still young, but the rest of the customers are gone, now, and I still have work tomorrow.
As such, I stand and let them know I’m leaving.
“You can’t leave, we’re celebrating!” Liam exclaims.
“Sorry, guys, I have an early morning tomorrow,” I say, waving off further protests. “I have to go.”
“Yeah, fine,” Alex pouts. I can smell the alcohol on his breath. “You okay to ride?”
I consider this. I haven’t had much to drink, but I am intoxicated. Driving home wouldn’t be wise, even over such a short distance. It means I’ll have to leave my bike here, overnight, but I’ve done that before.
I grimace. More than that, it means I’m going to have to get up even earlier tomorrow to walk back to the bar and get my bike before work.
No sleep, here I come.
“Probably not,” I admit. “I’ll walk; home isn’t far from here.”
“Alright,” Alex says with a shrug. “See you later!”
I wave to them all and then leave the bar. As soon as I step outside, the cheerful sound of talking customers and quiet music instantly cut off, leaving the world quiet and cold. It’s always an odd sensation, like I’m stepping out from one world and into the next.
I huddle deeper into my jacket for warmth and start to walk. The night air is brisk, and I regret drinking so much that I am over the driving limit. The bike’s exhaust would have warmed me up in no time.
I walk quickly, hoping to gain some warmth through my speed and to return to my apartment quickly. I don’t live far away, but the walk suddenly seems to stretch out in front of me while forced to walk in the cold.
I yawn widely. I’m tired, too. It’s been a long day, working on the cars at Brooks Automotive, and I’m more than ready just to crawl into bed. I glance down at my watch with a grimace. It’s almost midnight, and I have to be up in a few hours to start work again.
Up ahead I can see a small convenience store. I debate stopping in and getting some coffee to at least wake me enough for the rest of the walk. But I decide it isn’t worth it; I’ll likely find it difficult to fall asleep when I do get home if I have both caffeine and alcohol in my system.
I’m so tired that I almost miss it; movement in the shadows. I turn my head and see a man advancing on a woman. It’s difficult to see either of them clearly in the night, and I scoff. Normally I will intervene, but, tonight, I’m just too tired.
Then the woman steps back, under a street light. She looks up and meets my gaze. Her blue eyes sparkle and the fear in them catches my breath.
And, without my body’s conscious permission, I step forward and words burst from me.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”