The crazy bustle of the bar was something familiar to the blonde, even if it was a tad too much sometimes. Tonight just happened to be one of those nights. As she flipped the page in her book, someone bumped into her, causing her to shift in her seat. That simple movement created a series of unfortunate events. First, the table wobbled and her sweet tea spilled, soaking her notebooks, and in her haste to save what she could, she managed to knock the glass completely off the table. All she could do was watch in horror as it rolled across the floor and became caught beneath a rather giant woman’s heel as she leaned forward to whisper something into some poor man’s ear. It knocked her off balance, and all Briar could see was a flash of frizzy brown hair as the woman fell backwards, landing with a loud thud in the middle of the floor. As the loud screech of rage filled the air, all the blonde could do was hide her hastily reddening face behind her hands as she sank further into her chair.
“It’s not funny,” she hissed through her teeth as the man at her side began to laugh, his thin fingers gripping her wrist as he tried to pry her hand away. He couldn’t even find the words to speak, his youthful features filled with mirth as she peeked between her fingers. His hand dropped to hold his stomach as he doubled over, black locks bouncing with his amusement.
“Cove. It is not funny.”
Something in her tone as she repeated herself must have sobered him up, because he quickly silenced the laughter and ran his hands over his face, shaking his head. “I am sorry, darling, but it was quite humorous. If only you could have seen your fac—oh, no. Here she comes.” His eyes took on a dangerous glint as the woman she’d sent sprawling across the floor stomped her way towards them, cracked glass in her hand. Before she managed to get too close, however, one of the stagehands began to hastily wave her arms, indicating that it was time for her to take the stage. Jumping to her feet, she quickly dust off the front of her shirt and ducked behind Cove so she wouldn’t have to cross the beast of a woman’s path.
Releasing a shaking breath, she closed her eyes as she neared the steps of the stage, listening as the announcer asked for a moment of peace so he could speak, his weathered hand gripping the microphone before holding it out to her as he spoke her name. With a smile, she made her way up the steps and slipped onto the stool that had been left for her, her hold on the microphone no where near as steady as Douglas’s had been. Running her tongue across her lower lip, she searched the crowd until she found Cove’s welcoming smile, cracked glass sitting in front of him and the woman no where in sight. I hope you didn’t do something we’re going to pay for later, she mused to herself as the lights began to dim, concealing most of the patron’s features, allowing her to calm her nerves before she began to recite one of her poems, voice steady as she focused on the darkest corner of the bar, unaware that someone sat within the shadows.
“It’s not funny,” she hissed through her teeth as the man at her side began to laugh, his thin fingers gripping her wrist as he tried to pry her hand away. He couldn’t even find the words to speak, his youthful features filled with mirth as she peeked between her fingers. His hand dropped to hold his stomach as he doubled over, black locks bouncing with his amusement.
“Cove. It is not funny.”
Something in her tone as she repeated herself must have sobered him up, because he quickly silenced the laughter and ran his hands over his face, shaking his head. “I am sorry, darling, but it was quite humorous. If only you could have seen your fac—oh, no. Here she comes.” His eyes took on a dangerous glint as the woman she’d sent sprawling across the floor stomped her way towards them, cracked glass in her hand. Before she managed to get too close, however, one of the stagehands began to hastily wave her arms, indicating that it was time for her to take the stage. Jumping to her feet, she quickly dust off the front of her shirt and ducked behind Cove so she wouldn’t have to cross the beast of a woman’s path.
Releasing a shaking breath, she closed her eyes as she neared the steps of the stage, listening as the announcer asked for a moment of peace so he could speak, his weathered hand gripping the microphone before holding it out to her as he spoke her name. With a smile, she made her way up the steps and slipped onto the stool that had been left for her, her hold on the microphone no where near as steady as Douglas’s had been. Running her tongue across her lower lip, she searched the crowd until she found Cove’s welcoming smile, cracked glass sitting in front of him and the woman no where in sight. I hope you didn’t do something we’re going to pay for later, she mused to herself as the lights began to dim, concealing most of the patron’s features, allowing her to calm her nerves before she began to recite one of her poems, voice steady as she focused on the darkest corner of the bar, unaware that someone sat within the shadows.