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Iris
The customers at High Peaks Bar are completely overexcited, tonight I think there was a college football game. Shame on me, I don’t even know who is on the team among the students.
Talk to me about baseball and then we can have a serious discussion. I’ve always been into this sport because of my father. A sad smile takes place on my lips as I let my many memories flood in. How many nights we spent watching a game, stuffing ourselves with chips and pizza? I miss him terribly. I miss my mom too. But my dad…I don’t know a better man than him. He was always by my side, supporting me in every choice I made. My throat knots, and I blink, trying to reconnect with my surroundings. Thinking about baseball again makes me realize that I haven’t watched a game since he died. It’s as if, when he left, he took my passion for the damn sport with him. With that thought, I remember Tucker telling me that he was kicked off the baseball team last year. Again, I can’t help but wonder why.
“Coming through,” Buck yells with two trays on his arms.
I shift at the last moment to avoid him bumping into me, grab my notepad and walk over to the table that has just filled up.
The little smile that appears on my face as I discover Yeleen and her boyfriend disappears very quickly. Trey seems nervous, almost… angry.
“Hi,” I began hesitantly, a little embarrassed to interrupt their discussion.
“Hey, hello, Iris,” he greets me between his teeth.
Yeelen tries to regain composure when she sees me, but I can tell she’s holding back tears. I raise an eyebrow in her direction, silently asking her if she is well. She nods discreetly, and a fake smile takes place on her face.
“Hi,” she breathes just before repeating it in a louder voice. “You’re working today?”
“As you can see,” I say, pointing to my notepad. “What can I get you?”
“A Busch,” Trey mumbles.
“The same,” Yeleen says, looking everywhere but in his direction.
I nod and start to walk away, but I can’t help but let my ears drag. I know it’s none of my business, and I have no desire to get involved in their drama, but still…
“Are you sure you want to drink alcohol? You never know, you might say something hurtful, right?”
Ouch…was Yeleen mean to Trey while she was drunk? And that’s why he’s going berserk?
I continue my way to the bar, forcing myself not to look back. I prepare their order quickly, still preoccupied, and when I head back to their table, I see that Trey has left. All that’s left is Yeleen with her head buried in her hands. Not good at all. I can’t just pretend I don’t see anything, damn it. I call out to Buck as he walks by.
“I’m taking my break,” I tell him, keeping the two beers, under his questioning look.
I ignore him and sit down in front of Yeleen, who doesn’t look up for a second. I don’t know what to say, I don’t even know what’s wrong with her, but she’s crushed. I would be the worst bitch if I ignored her. I slide her beer in her direction. The noise seems to intrigue Yeleen because she finally looks up and sniffs.
“I…what are you doing?” she asks, obviously shocked to see me sitting there.
“I’m bringing you your beer,” I answer, not knowing what else to say.
She stares at the glass bottle with a confused look on her face and then nods several times, her lower lip trembling.
“Thank you. But you can have it back, I’ll…I’ll pay. Yes, I’ll do that.”
She’s completely lost. I stare at my hand holding the second glass bottle. I only listen to my instincts and take a sip of the beer that was meant for Trey, getting more comfortable in the seat. This is the first time I’ve tasted this in months. I promised myself I would stop drinking strong alcohol. Not another drop will enter my body. But beer, I can control.
“It’s on the house.”
She nods again, tries a small smile, and then wipes her tears with an angry gesture.
“You must find me pitiful,” she murmurs after a minute of silence. “We hardly know each other, and I’m crying like an idiot in front of you.”
“I think the real idiots are the ones who hold back their tears indefinitely. Sometimes you just need to let go, let it out. That’s why we look pathetic.”
She doesn’t say anything but seems to think about my words. She really looks like she’s at the end of her rope, overwhelmed. I should probably comfort her for a second and then get up and go back to my job, but I don’t move an inch. I take another sip and whisper, “You know, your family or your Pack, well, honestly, I don’t believe in it that much. But I do believe in friendship. So, I can stand there and make sure you don’t do anything stupid, and you can stay quiet. Or you can talk, and I won’t judge you.”
I’ll put my loner personality aside. After all, I can play the role of a friend for a few minutes. Not because we’re in the same pack now, no, but just because she seems like a pretty cool girl.
