LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 51: A Night Out
Despite my previous fears, I managed to get on more than passable makeup and pick out a cute outfit for the night. I’d first considered a summer dress, then realized that it was late autumn, and quickly tossed that plan out. Instead, I went for a pair of skinny jeans, a black sweater with a knitted look that wasn’t actually knitted, and one of my many sets of rainbow earrings.
I decided against wearing any of my rings. They would probably hurt when swinging the baseball bat. Also, that bar had fights break out occasionally, and while I was more than happy to knock someone out, I didn’t exactly wanna do too much damage to any faces.
The baseball bar, for once, wasn’t so far that I needed to take my car. Instead, I just threw on a coat, and a black mask. I had ones in many different colours, since they were such a prevalent feature of our life these days.
Honestly, I was already happy that the filters had gotten lighter by now. Back when it all started, and we had to wear almost full gas masks… Yeah, that wasn’t exactly enjoyable as a kid. I was glad Butterfly got to skip that step.
Fully readied up, I snatched up my keys, and went out.
It was late in the evening by now, and with the clouds in the sky, it was really quite dark, though the streetlamps brightened up the sidewalk a little. There were few people out and about at this time, which made sense. It wasn’t a great idea to head out late in this shitshow of a world.
Despite that, I wasn’t too worried. I just avoided keeping eye contact with any of the few people who were around, kept my headphones on - I used large ones specifically so people would know I could not hear them - and just walked quickly. Most of the people who’d try robbing me were tied to the alleys, scared some other poor sod might steal the few bits of clothing they used as a blanket. I avoided those and kept the music quiet enough to still hear any footsteps around me.
I allowed myself a wistful sight and tried to shake the thoughts from my head, focussing on the way instead. If the smog didn’t cover the sky, I might have even tried looking for a star or two. Sadly, that was not to be tonight.
Instead, I got to look at sweet sweet pavement. My favourite.
Soon, though, I was at the baseball bar. By the end, I’d just kinda hummed along to the songs. Time passed faster that way.
As I got in, I checked the time on my phone. I was five minutes late. I grinned. That meant that I was probably going to be waiting another five or so until Jules actually showed up.
It was a Wednesday night, so the place wasn’t exactly crowded, but it also wasn’t empty. An old sports broadcast, baseball, of course, played on a crappy monitor with even crappier sound in a corner, and a couple guys stood around it, downing beer. There was an occasional loud clang from another corner of the bar, where there was a fenced and netted in batting area.
Looking at it already made my hands tingle. The sport originated overseas, but I was more than happy to engage in it sometimes. Right now, both batting spots were occupied, one by a young guy, maybe just above 19 or so, who looked at some girl across the bar after every swing. The other was an older man, in his 40s I’d guess, with a bit of a beer belly. He did hit a lot more than the kid, though.
“Evening there,” the bartender interrupted my thoughts, “anything I can get you?”
There were two people behind the counter tonight. A lady with dark skin and an afro, wearing a sleek black dress, and the man who approached me. I recognized him, he was the owner, actually, a young guy who bought the place with some spare cash from selling an inherited house or something.
“Evening Bat. Two gin tonics, please,” I said, flashing him a smile.
He returned it with a raised eyebrow. “Regular? I don’t recognize you.” All the regulars called him Bat.
I shrugged and tiled my head. “Come by sometimes, not too often. Just every couple months.”
“Hm. Thought a face like yours would stick, I’ll definitely remember that now. Lime slices for the gin or any other wishes?”
“Limes are fine, thank you,” I said with another smile. I think the face thing was intended as a compliment. Very unsure though.
Without much else to do, I watched the grainy sports play. It was still poor quality, a telltale sign of it being more than 20 years or so ago. I had no idea what the teams were, nor did I care, it was more just so I had somewhere to stare, rather than looking at the people in the bar.
The dim background noise was occasionally interrupted by the very telltale sound of a bat hitting a baseball, following small cheers from the crowd. I smiled a little, eyes drifting over to the batting boy. He was doing just fine.
A few minutes of sitting and sipping my drink later, I had only turned down one guy trying to flirt with me, when Jules finally came through the door. Her hair was longer now, still just as black as it used to be, and very glossy. Her dark skin had a little sheen to it in the light from the make-up, which complimented her hazel eyes.
A second later, as she took off her jacket, she noticed me waving at her, and I saw her face light up. Immediately, she shuffled over to me.
“Fio! It’s been forever!” she said, holding onto my shoulders.
I gave her a bright smile. “Great to see you too, Jules! How’ve you been?”
Before replying, she’d already sat down on the barstool next to mine, spinning a little from the energetic motion. There was no hesitation at all as she reached out and took a sip from the second gin I ordered.
“Oh my goood, you even remembered my favourite drink!” she squealed.
It made me smile even wider. She’d ranted about drinks to me once, and I’d favourited the message where she mentioned that she loved gin tonics, so I only took a second to look it up.
“Of course, nothing but the best for ya,” I said.
She shot me a bright grin, taking another long sip, before putting the drink down again so her hands were free for the wild amount of gesturing she loved. “You wouldn’t believe everything that’s happened to me, Fio! Everything’s been moving crazy fast.”
I gave a small chuckle at that. “Fast for even you?”
She rolled her eyes at me. “Oh ha-ha. No, it’s been awesome. You know how after graduation I had a bit of trouble finding work? I recently got a spot at a dietician company, making eating plans for different clients, working face to face. My manager didn’t like me and gave me some rich guy, but we clicked well. Got some stellar reviews, and recently a promotion on top of it!”
She ended off her small victory speech with a little dance. “That’s awesome Jules!” I said, offering her a small high-five which she promptly took. “I’m super happy for you!”
“Yeah! I even met a cute guy, and we’re dating right now. He’s poly too, which has been great. No more guilt tripping or anything like that, it’s been so freeing you wouldn’t believe it.” As she talked, her shoulders slumped like some kind of huge weight was lifted off her, making me smile again.
“I’m super glad. How long has it been since you dated last time?”
“If we’re talking properly, and not just a fling, then probably three years or so. Took me forever to get over it all, ugh,” she shook her head. “But it’s done now! All in the past. We’ve been together for three months, and it’s been nothing but great.”
“Super happy for you, genuinely! What’s the guy’s name?” I asked.
“Oh, hahaha, totally forgot. Daniel. Don’t think you know him, though.”
“Fair, fair. Just so I know who to ask about next time we meet,” I said, giving her a wink.
She grinned conspiratorially. “Well, well, well, Fio. Now it’s your turn! What’s happening in your love-life?”
I smiled right back. “You curious if I have any spare Daniels lying around?”
She laughed, drinking some more. “Hah! No, no, of course not. Who, me? Neverrrrr.”
The grin on my face turned bigger. “Idiot. I’ve been together with a girl, Ann, for about… a year and a half or so now,” I said.
Her eyes suddenly went large. “That long?” she asked quietly, leaning in closer. “And you didn’t tell me?!” she jokingly hissed.
I laughed at her antics. “Mh, I guess I must’ve forgot~” I said, twirling my hair.
She gasped in fake abject horror, slapping my hand. “Fio! How could you do this?” She held the expression for all of two seconds before smiling wide.
We both reached for our drinks. There was a short moment of silence as we both just grinned, until I asked Jules to tell me a little more about her job again, and she started her ramblings all over.
Ann had never come up in conversation with her until then, probably because I couldn’t exactly invite the two to meet, since I hadn’t even seen Ann myself on this side yet.
I quickly shoved those gloomy thoughts aside, and focused on the present again. The evening passed by bit by bit, and Jules rambled on. After a second drink, she grabbed my wrist, and practically dragged me to the batting range.
Of course, I was happy to go along. I also very quickly won a bet on having her pay for drinks. First to score five hits was an easy option when I was able to get five in a row. That’s what a little bit of enhanced eyesight and motor control from Eden did.
As always, Jules grumbled, but eventually paid up, ordering more for the both of us. I had a guy whistle at me when in the batting area, which was annoying, but at least he didn’t try to talk to me after.
Hour after hour ticked by, and shortly before midnight, Jules grabbed me with a dopey smile again. She wanted to head somewhere else, some other bar she enjoyed. I’d smacked plenty of baseballs, and obliged.
Our trek through the streets was short, though I found it kind of entertaining how the yellowy street lamps washed out the colour in our clothes. It made it look like we were in a black and white movie. For a moment, I imagined Jules and myself running around as detectives or ghost hunters or something, and laughed.
Jules laughed along, despite me never having spoken the joke.
After maybe a dozen minutes or so, we finally got to the building she was dragging me to, and I rolled my eyes. It was a quirky disco-bar blend with music that I could already hear from the outside and a beach theme. As in, no actual plants, but neon signs of palms and artificial sea smell in the air.
I knew it was fake, because the ocean in voyage smelled like the real deal, and this was nothing like that. Though I imagined the amount of deo and sweat the people in there were experience also added to it.
The smile on Jules’ face grew even bigger.
“It’s horrible, right?” she asked, already almost yelling because of the music.
I caught the glint in her eyes and grinned. “It’s perfect.”
She gave me a bright smile and a hug, and we headed inside.