102 // George Daniel

l ⇌ 102

[WARNING: this story may contain alcoholism, drug use, sexual themes/content, self harm, and explicit content. If you are in anyway offended, I suggest you stop reading. This story is based around the song "102" by The 1975. So I hope you guys enjoy! xx]

She was walking alone. Her eyes locked on the floor.

I watched from a distance, as many middle-aged men were judging every woman that walked by. They quickly turned their heads back to the table-which signaled they didn't think much of her- as she walked toward the back of the restaurant. She took small steps, signaling she was insecure as they come.

My best mates- Matty, Ross, and Adam- sat around a small, circular table we had been assigned to at a small restaurant/bar. We hadn't eaten, just drank.

"I would enjoy taking her home." Matty noted, tipping his glass of who-knows-what at the girl. I couldn't help but agree as she sat her curvy figure in a booth near the corner of the room.

A couple of minutes went by, and the girl was still sitting at her booth. She had a drink now, I think tea.

"George," Matty elbowed my arm, "you should go talk to her." I shook my head in disagreement.

"No. Never. She isn't even that pretty." I lied. She was truly gorgeous. Flawless in that matter.

"C'mon. She's looked at you like 20 times in the last minute or so." He smirked.

I looked at her, studying her dark brown hair. She wore a black shirt that had Disclosure printed across it -she obviously had a great taste in music- dark skinny jeans, and black Doc Martens, with her white socks peaking out through the top of them. Her fingers were decorated in many rings and she had a thin necklace tied loosely around her neck. Flawless, was the only thing that came to mind, completely, utterly flawless.

I finally caught her eyes. My face burned, signaling it had gone completely red. She smiled and turned her head back towards her hands that were placed on the table.

"Mate, she totally just checked you out." He elbowed me once again and drunkly giggled.

"Shut the fuck up." I glared at him.

After a while of Matty's teasing, I went outside to get some fresh air.

The night was cold, burning my nose and cheeks. I decided to make the best of my time, so I started to smoke.

My fingers trembled as I pulled the lighter from my pockets. I tried to strain my thoughts away from everything else as he inhaled, smoke rising to the sky lazily. Heaving a sigh, I exhaled a ring, all the stress seeming to release itself at the same time. Although I am still a bit shaken up, the nicotine was smoothing.

After about my fifth drag, I heard the door to the restaurant open behind me. It was probably Matty; but instead it was the girl. She walked to my right and stopped to lean against the walls of the building; then she pulled something from her purse, cigarettes.

"Do you need a lighter?" I asked. Her head jerked up and met my eyes.

"Uhm, yes. Thanks." She smiled and reached her hand out for the lighter. I saw the little flame go up and then go back down. "Thanks, again." She said softly. I nodded back.

We stood there for a minute, quietly enjoying the chance to smoke. The occasional car drove by, breaking the silence.

"I uh.. I like the look of your.. uhm shoes." I said, pointing to her black Doc Martens.

It felt strange, but also very good, to be talking to a girl. Well, a decent girl anyway.

"Thanks." She replied smiling. "So, what uni did you go to?"

"School?" I scoffed, "I didn't even finish my 11th year."

Matty's words replayed in my head. I started to notice the small things that she did ; looking over at me, scratching a spot on her face, shifting positions, and even adjusting parts of her clothing. Could I actually see something in her? No, not possible. Yes, it was possible. Totally possible.

"Oh." She whispered.

Oh god, yes, I could see something in her. I couldn't help but keep watching her.

"So... Do you like films?"

"Yes."

"I heard the new film, that scary one, was really good." I took the cigarette from my lips, "do you want to.. uhm.. go?" Jesus Christ, what did I just do? "With me, of course."

There was a long silence before she answered, "I uh.. No." She threw the cigarette on the ground and turned the opposite way, as she was going to walk away. "Sorry."

And with that, she was gone.