Misreckon

Chapter 18 - Ice Cubes

The clock struck ten. 

I was finished with my shift and decided to have a sip of Cola at the bar and talk to Richard as I waited for my father. Recounting todays events, I tried to plan out how I would tell my father about the police questioning me about the man. I swirled mu drink with the skinny black straw, watching the ice cubes fall and rise within the liquid. 

I wondered about whether I should tell my friends this, but then I decided against it. Thinking of them was causing an unnecessary amount of mental t*****e at the moment. 

"Richard, my Dad wants you visit him in the office upstairs." Dean's voice stated, I turned slightly to see him: he was stood near me and looking at Richard, who was at the other side of the bar. It all made sense: I had assumed Vincent just really, really liked the atmosphere and the alcohol here, not that he had an office in the building above.

That explained their constant appearance here. 

"Alright, i'll see you on Saturday Cora." Richard smiled at me before leaving and I smiled back. 

"See you then." I continued swirling my drink.

Dean's presence was still there, still beside me. His cologne was invading my nostrils and regardless of the fact it was strong, I was becoming used to it. In our few encounters my nose had already adjusted to his scent, a strange realisation indeed. 

"Coke and ice, please." He ordered, sitting beside me on a stool to my right. I stopped swirling and looked at him with a smug look. 

"I finished five minutes ago, so do it yourself. " I teased and he sighed with a grin. 

"I deserve that." He announced and placed both his elbows on the table, still with his eyes on me. 

"If you're referring to when you shouted at me for getting your order wrong then yes, you do." I agreed with a grin. 

"How come you don't drink alcohol ?" I quizzed, realising that I had never seen him drink alcohol and the fact he was oddly furious when we first met and the order was wrong. 

"Well -" He paused and looked at me intently, then moved his face to stare at the wall of alcohol in front of us. 

"- my Dad could drink everything on that wall in a couple weeks. He used to drink a lot with my mum, but they'd end up arguing and the arguments were always worse after they drank. She drank to cope and dad drinks for any and every reason, he had too much one night." He explained but turned to look at me once again. 

"He drank in excess when he decided to take her to the cliff ... I don't want to become as bad as him. Thats why I don't drink." He shrugged and I had newfound respect for him. Honouring his mother by avoiding alcohol was heartwarming for me to hear. 

"I get why you got mad now. Im sorry I made you break your vow when you tried the drink I gave you." I felt extreme hate towards myself for that mistake and his eyes gleamed at me as he smiled. 

I didn't expect a smile. 

"It's alright. I accept your apology." He assured me. 

I couldn't stop staring at him: his face was relaxed and the tension in his forehead had left, his eyes were soft and his lips were parted slightly. His presence had always had an affect on me, this time, my heart was racing and my stomach twirled. 

Perhaps I was just hungry after todays shift. 

"Do you need a lift home ?" He offered and I shook my head. The feeling in my stomach increased at his offering. 

"My Dad should be here soon but thank you." I stated and took in a small breath. We both sat in a momentary silence as I sipped my drink. I could feel him staring at me as I did so. 

"Do you like the rain ?" Dean broke the silence and I almost laughed at his random question. 

"Do I like the rain ? I never thought you would be one to enjoy small talk." I joked. He formed a frown, appearing angered and displeased. 

"I don't know what you girls like talking about, i'm sure as hell not asking you about your menstruation cycle or whatever it's called." He huffed and I let out a laugh. 

He squinted his eyes at me, unaware of how hilarious his statement was. 

"Well i'm very glad you didn't Dean. And, just because i'm a girl doesn't mean you have to alter the conversation topic, just talk to me like you would with your friends." I insisted. 

"Alright, how many times did you s**t today ?" He asked with a serious face that he broke instantly as his smirk peaked through. He also seemed disgusted by the fact he had asked me that. 

"Dean!" I whined in disgust. 

He let out a chuckle and shook his head. 

"Okay, Okay." He held his hands up defending himself. 

We were there, smiling at each other. It felt so casual and normal, like we were the only ones that could make each other truly smile. None of the fake happiness. All I felt was fulfilment, knowing I had somehow gotten him to smile. 

Suddenly my phone rang, the loud ringtone caught both of our attention as I had left my volume button very high. 

I answered my phone and it was my father, telling me he was ready to pick me up.

I stood from the stool and adjusted my bag on my shoulder, rummaging through it to make sure I had everything. Dean watched me, analysing me just as I analysed the contents within my bag. Pleased to see I had everything, I looked at Dean. 

He was still taller than me regardless of the the fact he sat and I stood. 

"Bye Dean. And, to answer your question, I love the rain." I shot him a smile before I turned and left. 

The mental image of his smile, shaking his head and staring into me was engraved within me as I walked to my fathers car. 

"How was work, busy ?" He asked as I got in and put on my seatbelt. 

"Not as busy as you clearly." I joked referring to the white paint splatters on his face and work attire. He turned to me and smiled. 

"But we did get a visit from the police, they asked me about that man from the other night. I just told them that I had only met him twice and that the last time I saw or heard about him was before I ran off from him. They found him dead in the reservoir, Dad." I rambled, completely letting the words spill into the air of the car. 

"Did they say anything about how he died ?" He queried, looking at me calmly then back at the road. 

I loved the city in the night. 

"No, they didnt say much but please be honest. Are you in trouble ?" I queried, my voice weak and my palms clammy. 

"No need to worry, i'll be fine. We will all be fine." He assured me with a honest smile, turning up a song from the 80's that he probably once danced to in the clubs with my mum when they were younger. 

His words didn't do much to calm me as he had lied and hidden important things many times before. 

A part of me felt relieved but the other screamed at me with scenarios that this could all turn sour. At this point, my issues with my friends meant nothing, that problem seemed like a grain of sand compared to the vast ocean that was this current scenario.