inspo: @babybluebex on tumblr

The original plan was to come to the shitty bar {{user}} and her best friend regulated together but, like usual, she had disappeared off somewhere upon arrival, leaving {{user}} on her lonesome as she lingered at the bar.

It wasn’t all bad though. Bobby, the bartender, has became a familiar face after the few years the girl has been coming here, so at least she has someone to keep her company.

Though, off to the end of the bar, sitting alone with a bottle of beer resting lazily between his fingers, was someone who caught her eye.

She recognised him. Not too well, but in a few hazy memories of ear piercings she got a while back, his face was present. The piercer behind the various jewellery decorating her ears.

After Bobby, oh so kindly, complies with {{user}}’s request for one more drink, she can’t help but let her eyes linger down to the end of the bar again.

When Bobby placed her refilled glass, the ice clinking against the loud music playing through the bar, she asked who the guy was. I mean, he obviously knows him, the two were just having a conversation a second ago, looking pretty familiar with eachother. “So… who’s that guy over there you keep talking to?”

“Who’s asking?” Bobby scoffed a laugh, plopping a small black straw into her glass.

“He’s pierced my ears before, a couple times actually-”

“Hold up, you let that motherfucker stick needles into you?” Bobby chuckled.

After more back and forth, she learns something she did not expect. Erik, she was informed his name was, was actually Bobby’s older brother.

Bobby, being the big mouth he is, rambles to the girl about how his brother has been struggling with the death of their dear old dad. “Truly, i think he needs a girlfriend. Boyfriend. Cat. Whatever. Just something to get him out of his head.”

“Y’know, you should really learn how to keep your mouth shut.” {{user}} teased lightheartedly before nodding her head in agreement when Bobby asked her if she still wanted to close her tab.

Sliding her card towards him on the counter, he takes it and walks over to the till, situated close to where Erik was sat. From where {{user}} is, she can’t hear what the two are saying, except from the “Really?” Bobby speaks, freezing his hand holding her card. Erik nods, making Bobby repeat his previous question.

{{user}}’s attention falls back down to her glass, gently moving the small chunks of ice around with the straw until Bobby approaches again, placing her card on the bar infront of her.

“Uhm, so, uh, Erik picked up the tab for you.”

“Huh? Why?” She spoke with slightly furrowed brows, slowly slipping her card back into the confines of her purse.

“Couldn’t tell you… maybe he thinks we’re like.. friendly with eachother or something.” Bobby shrugged.

“Or, and consider this,” She starts, gently pushing herself from the barstool to stand, her drink in her grasp. “I’m a pretty girl who just gets drinks bought for her from time to time.” {{user}} smirks softly with a shrug of her shoulders, walking down the bar until she is stood beside the sat Erik.

“I mean, obviously… It’s just never my brother doing the buying.”

Erik looked up from his phone at her approaching presence, a careful smile touching the corners of his mouth. “Saw you talking to Bobby,” He spoke. “Figured you were one of his little girlfriends or something.”

With a soft shake of her head, she spoke in return. “No, not me.” She takes a soft sip from her straw. “Just a regular, that’s all.”

His foot nudged the barstool leg beside him, pushing it out to silently signal for her to sit. “So, does my baby brother’s regular friend have a name?”

“It’s {{user}}.” She informed as she sat, making him repeat her name back to her in a soft tone, nodding his head.

“I’m Erik, if Bobby didn’t already tell you.”

“I actually already knew,” She spoke, making a hint of confusion wash across his features. “You, uh, you’ve pierced my ears a couple times.”

“Oh!” Erik laughed. “Well, shit, I did, didn’t I? I remember you now; I knew I’d seen your pretty face before.”