No Longer Alone

Chapter Nine

*Jen's POV*

    Nicole had been active a touch off all night since the two guys came in.  Normally she would joke with and flirt with the best of them, but tonight she had been on edge, and it all started when the two guys had shown up.  I'd been watching to see what was going on, I wasn't worried about the blond guy, Alex, he had gotten along with Adam and seemed like a harmless flirt that no one could take seriously.  The other one though, he was the one that looked like trouble, I just wasn't sure if it was the good time or not.

    After the mess with Eric, what he had said to Nicole, and how he had chosen to break it off with her, I lost the little respect that I had for him, and watched as Nicole slowly started building more and more walls shutting herself off from people.  Eric had known the abuse she had gone through before, and had ripped away all the self confidence she had been slowly rebuilding in herself.  I strongly doubted that Nicole thought herself worthy of any kind of love or affection, and was acting oddly due to that belief.  

    I glanced over Nicole's shoulder as we were having our little mock argument, and watched as the two guys seemed to be looking at the Alex's phone, talking about scheduling something, but lost interest as Nicole went up to sing.  I smiled and listened to her, something a little lost and wistful in her voice as she sang. I noticed from the corner of my eye as Alex was nudging Damian my way.

    What on earth could this be about...

*Damian's POV*

    "Just go talk to her.  Women love jewelry, maybe that's your in."  Alex kept nudging me towards Jen and I growled a little.

    "What make you think I want an in, weren't you the one trying Mr. Grabby Hands?"  I lift an eyebrow at him and give him a serious look, which only makes him break into laughter.

    "Seriously, can't you see how perfect she is for you, she put me in my place like you can't."  He laughed even harder and kept trying to push me over, he might be bulkier than I am, but we were both well built and I didn't feel like budging.  We were attracting the attention of Jen who watched us with a curious smile.

    "Jen this coward here needs to set an appointment to see you for something.  He's had his eye on someone for a while but can't seem to be honest about it....OUCH!"  Alex suddenly yelped and started hopping on one foot while I pretended not to notice anything.

    "Well..." She looked between the two of us and seemed to be trying hard not to laugh. "I've got a pretty open calendar so you could just swing by when we are open if that's better.  But sounds like it is about my turn to sing." With that she turns to head to the floor for her turn to sing.  

    Nicole paused for a moment looking a touch uncertain, before appearing to brace herself and striding over, she glanced at Alex and I, not meeting either of our eyes before stopping before us and reaching between us to grab what she must have thought was her drink, taking a long pull from the beer.  I ended up shaking my head slightly and chuckled a little causing her to look at me, still not meeting my eyes directly.

    "Something funny?" Her voice held a curious confidence to it. 

    "If you wanted another drink that bad, you could have just asked, rather than taking mine."   I point over at her empty bottle that was on the counter next to us, the same brand I prefer to drink.

    "Shi-..." She pauses, a blush creeping up her cheeks as she looks down for a moment, "Sorry about that, not used to anyone else drinking the same brand as me in this corner.  I'll get you another."

    Before she can move, I grab the bottle lower than she is holding it, thankfully she is one of those women that tends to grab the bottle by the neck.  I tug my drink away from her unresisting hand and turn my hand slightly, keeping my eyes locked on her as I take a drink from the same spot she just did, watching her blush deepen as the implication of what I did hits her.  Looks like there are some things she can't control.

    "Don't worry, this one is just fine for me." I smirk and set down my drink, heading towards the floor knowing my next song will be up soon.  Alex is laughing softly and heads to the bar to for a moment, leaving Nicole baffled by this turn of events.

*Nicole's POV* 

    I can't believe that just happened.  When I was heading back from my turn singing, I saw Jen distracted more than normal, she didn't come for our normal hand off, and I headed over to see her talking with Damian about something before heading off for her turn to sing.

    Glancing over I thought I saw my drink between Alex and Damian, and debated leaving it for a moment, but I needed something after singing that song.  Finally I decided, it wasn't a big deal and reached between them to grab the drink.  It felt a bit fuller than I thought it should, but figured Adam had just gotten me another without me asking, he was pretty good at that.  It wasn't until I heard Damian chuckle that I realized something must be going on. 

    "Something funny?"

      "If you wanted another drink that bad, you could have just asked, rather than taking mine."  It was then I saw my drink on his other side, empty.

    I started to respond and to be honest I didn't even know what I was saying, I'd read enough stories when I was bored to know that what I had done would be considered indirectly kissing him.  I'd started to walk away still holding the damned drink when I felt him tug the the bottle from me, causing me to look at him again.

    His eyes were locked on mine as he took the drink and turned it, drinking from the same spot I had, and my cheeks felt like they were on fire.  I could see his lips moving, but the blood rushing in my head from embarassment and confusion blocked the sound.  He set his drink down again, and headed towards the floor, Jen's song was about halfway done, but that didn't seem to phase him.

    What is happening to me tonight.