Watching Fireflies (unedited - PG-13)

“Ellie!” I said trying to catch up.  We were making our pilgrimage down the street to the tavern from her boutique.  I was wearing the sleeveless black dress with some killer heels.  “Are you sure this looks okay?  I don’t want to look a slut.”

Instantly Ellie stopped in her tracks and glared at me. 

“Are you saying my clothes are slutty?”

“No, of course not!”  I retracted.  “I just didn’t want to look out of place at a bar.  I don’t want to be hit on all night.”

Ellie started walking again.  “Well, I can’t help you there, because you look pretty hot,” Ellie continued, “Don’t get me wrong, I’m straight and all, but you look awesome.”

I began to blush a little from the complement.  I didn't get very many of those.  Never thought of myself as quote, ‘awesome’.  

“Okay then, its show time,” I said pulling open the door to the tavern.

Then I froze immediately.  I was definitely over dressed.  I noticed the guys ogling and the girls almost sneering.

“Ellie, how about the booth in the corner …” I muttered.

“Whatever you say.  Go grab the booth and I’ll go get us a bottle of wine.  White or Red?”  Ellie asked.

“White, please.”

I made my way over to the booth and sat down.  Pulling out my phone, I noticed a couple of texts.  The first was from Katherine …

*Hey Girlfriend!  Miss you bunches!  Tell me how the move went when you get a chance.* 

Aw, I miss her … I replied:

*Oh it went okay.  Miss you too!  I’ll give you a call tomorrow and fill you in on an embarrassment already.  At least it was a hot embarrassment. ;-)  Love you!*

I scrolled to my next message and the breath caught in my throat.

*Where are you*

It was from Ryan.  I didn’t tell him I was leaving.  He’d been harassing me since I moved out, and, of course, I wanted nothing to do with him.  I proceeded to delete the message.  I looked up and saw Ellie with a bottle of wine.

“Is Pinot Grigio okay?  I figured that was kind of middle of the road with whites.”  Ellie asked.

“Perfect!  Wine is wine.  I’m not picky,” I said while taking a sip of the glorious fermented grapes in a glass.

Ellie started telling me about the town and the people.  She just seemed so nice and outgoing.  I was thankful to become acquainted with her.  It would be good to get to know people.  A fresh start.  I needed that.  I needed to move on.

Ellie interrupted my thoughts, “Oh my gosh, there’s Paul!  I have the biggest crush on him!”

“Crush?”  I chuckled.  “Are we still in high school?”

Ellie smirked, “No, I’ve just always liked him, but he’s friends with my ex, Lance.  So, you know … awkward.”

“Do you not get along with Lance?”  I asked.

“Oh, we get along fine.  We dated in high school.  I just feel weird about trying to pursue his friend,” Ellie said ending with a sigh.

“Which one is he?”

“Paul is the one in the plaid shirt at the end of the bar and Lance is to his left and their friend Tom is sitting to his right.”

“Oh I see him,” I said.  “He is pretty cute.  I like his …” I stopped immediately when I saw the friend on the right looking at me. 

Piercing blue eyes.

I stared and couldn’t look away.  My breath started to quicken.  Just look away, Jordan.  Look away!  But I couldn’t … he was beautiful.

Startling me, he rose off of the stool.  Oh shit.  I had to get out of there.

While grabbing my purse, I leaned over to Ellie, “Ellie, I have to run.  I am so sorry.  Can we do this another time?”

Ellie looked up at me puzzled.

“Sure, the festival is Friday.  We can do that.  Stop by the store this week for lunch.” 

“Awesome, thanks Ellie!  See you!”  I said over the music heading out of the door.

All I could see were those blue eyes just staring at me.  It felt like an eternity.  I was lost in the lust that I felt for him. 

“No,” I said to myself walking faster towards the inn.  I was never going to put myself in that situation again.  Love was not worth it.  No one could save my heart.