II. First Impressions

II. First Impressions

She slid a cold mug of beer toward him while she sipped at her own then patted the empty bar stool next to her. Russ planted himself on the stool then looked her up and down, as if trying to decide if she were really there. It didn’t make sense to him that she would be there now, that she would be dry especially after coming in from out of the rain. He looked toward the window and found his breath caught in his throat – the rain had stopped. He chuckled to himself, took his hand then wiped it over his eyes brushing his salt and pepper hair to the back of his head. With his hand rubbing his temples over his eyes, he peered at her then lifted his beer to his lips to take a nice gulp.

“Little sister, you got some explain’in to do. Where the hell have you been?”

Rhayna dropped her head low and took in a breath, she had expected it to go exactly like this – they were friends after all. Russ stood up to walk over and bum a cigarette off of one of the bar patrons then returned resting his wet jacket forcefully on the empty stool next to him. While the cigarette hung precariously from his lips, he decided not to hold in his discontent with her tardiness.

“I called ya hotel, nothin! I called ya cell phone …nothin!”

He began to pat down all of his pockets, looking for his lighter. Still talking and still upset he snatched the cigarette from between his lips with his two fingers and pointed at her while continuing his rant, “I even sat my ass here in this damn bar for 2 hours waiting on you and when you didn’t show, I left! Then guess what honey….I got stormed on! You see this? I’m soaked because you’re late!” Russ gave one last pat down of his clothing then yelled, “Does anyone in this sumbitch have a light for chrissakes!” The bartender tossed Russ a matchbook then went back to pretending he hadn’t been watching and listening while wiping down the bar. Russ sat down with just a small bit of relief – he needed this cigarette.

Rhayna tapped her fingernails on the polished wood of the bar rhythmically staring at Russ’s reflection in the mirror. She issued a quiet cough then made one last tap of her fingernail then closed her eyes. Before Russ could get a good drag off the cigarette, the small water hose attached to the equally small sink the bartender had been using sent up a small spray right into Russ’s face after which he opened his mouth to curse causing the lit cigarette to fall from his lips and into his beer where it floated in the glass. She opened her eyes and turned her head away from Russ to hide the smirk that then spread across her face.

“Fuck!” He turned his gaze toward the young woman sitting next to him and gave her a sideways stare. He exhaled heavy and long at her silence and decided it needed to be broken.

“That’s funny…losing a cigarette twice in one night…that’s funny to you? You need to tell me where you’ve been.”

“I need to? Is this a condition of your staying at the bar?” Rhayna said setting her gaze on some men that had just walked in the door and sat themselves down beside her. She then turned and looked over the bottles on the shelves behind the bar that were neatly stacked against the mirror.

“Another beer for my friend please.”

“Spill it lady…I’m in no mood for games.” Russ used a napkin to wipe the water from his face then settled himself on the stool. His fingers were entwined on the bar while he waited for an answer and his beer.

“Waiting.” He said impatiently, with foot bouncing quickly on the bottom rung of the stool.

Rhayna took a sip of her beer, placed the mug down then stared at her hands, “I had some business to take care of first.” Then thought afterwards…and probably more to take care of when I leave, while glancing in the direction of the two that had made it no secret that they were watching her.

“Business huh, yeah right.” Russ drank his beer then looked over at the two men that were staring down Rhayna. “You owe them money?” Rhayna laughed and shook her head no. It was good that he sensed they were going to be a problem as well. She guessed it was to be expected since she was the only woman left in the bar so late at night. She ignored their stares and gave her attention to Russ.

“What about you? You got something of theirs?”

“Aw come now Little Sister – who do you think I am? Besides, those fuckers aren’t worth the time.”

She agreed, wouldn’t say it aloud though, they were paying too close of attention. “I’ll finish this beer but afterwards let’s leave, go somewhere else. Okay?” Russ glanced over at the two men that looked as though they’d already had enough to drink and shook his head in agreement.

“Sure would’ve liked to have cigarette tonight. Guess I can buy a pack on the way to wherever.” He looked up at the monitor and the weather report flashing across the bottom of the screen. “Isolated thunderstorms my ass! I don’t know what the hell that was.”

Rhayna leaned an elbow on the bar and ran her fingers through her hair, laughing silently at Russ. “Ya know, in St. Louis those are called “pop-up” storms because they happen out of the blue.” She looked at the side of his head, where his hair was still wet behind his ear then letting her eyes follow the outline of his face. When he looked in her direction she quickly glanced down at the bar.

Russ noticed but said nothing, not yet. “You get those much there?” He asked Rhayna and watched as she shook her head then began to tap her fingers lightly on the bar again. Within seconds they heard a barstool crack then break beneath a patron. One of the two that had been staring at them was lying on his back with a mess of wood beneath him beside them. They both chuckled and decided that they should make their exit. Rhayna paid the bartender then wrapped her long black coat around her before stepping out into the cool air.

Russ looked up and down the street and noticed it empty except for 3 cars parked across from the bar, one of them his. “Where’s your car?”

Rhayna looked up at the sky then over at Russ’s car, “I walked here.”

“You did what?” Russ asked with a look of utter and complete shock.

“I walked. People walk all the time, you know, before newfangled contraptions like the car were invented.” She smiled.

“Are you insane? Do you know where you are?! Come on smart ass – get in the car.” He opened the passenger door and waited for her to walk over.

“I’m not supposed to get in cars with strangers. It’s dangerous.” She walked very slowly to the car, heels clicking on the wet pavement and face turned toward the moon peeking out from behind the clouds.

“Yeah, well you shoulda thought about that before you went traipsing around a strange city at all hours of the night. Come on and get in.”

Rhayna made it to the back of the car and noticed Russ pushing the door close. She stopped and looked over his shoulder then took a step back. “You gonna make me walk now?”

Russ leaned against the side of the car with his arms crossed over his chest and looked down at her. He was tall and lean but could hold his own in a brawl if he had to, but now he needed information. “Before you get in, you need to answer a question for me.” Rhayna looked down at her hands and the moonlight shining on them making her light brown skin look translucent. She hurried and shoved them into the pockets of her coat and shook her head to give the indication of “okay”.

“You haven’t looked me in the eye once this whole time – what gives Little Sister?” Russ looked at her face while she gave her attention to everything but him. He noted that she even looked downright uncomfortable. He took a breath and crossed a leg over while leaning.

Rhayna closed her eyes and leaned against the back of the car and spoke in a hushed voice, “Can’t yet. Nothing terrible – just shy, that’s all.”

Russ screwed up his face and processed this information then decided if she didn’t want to talk right now, she didn’t have to – but she’d tell him before they were done. He stepped out of the way of the car door then opened it up so that she could get in. She walked with a little hesitation toward the door and was just about to get in when he stopped her and lifted her head up toward his face.

“Open your eyes. Open’nem up.” She shut her eyes tightly and bit her lip. “Don’t”, she whispered up at him.

“Don’t what?”

“I bite. Don’t make me.”

Russ chuckled while he held her face in his hand. He looked over her features carefully trying to discern if it were her makeup causing the sheen across her face or tiny beads of sweat over her skin in the moonlight. He let her chin go gently, “You are a trip Little Sister. Come on. Get in.” Rhayna turned her head toward the inside of the car then climbed in and slid into the leather bucket seats of his glossy black 69 Chevy Camaro. Russ closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side of the car. He noticed the two men that had come into the bar and sat next to Rhayna looking in his direction as they were leaving. He started the car and pulled away slowly but not before flipping the drunks the bird.