12
It was nearly nine, and the night sky was picturesque. A navy gradient was the backdrop for a full moon; the night sky so clear. Few stars dotted the dark sky blazing behind the full moon and a twinkle caught her eye as she raised her head to look at the sky.
April took out a cigarette to lit it as she raised her can of lime to her lips to drink.
"It's a beautiful night." April said and Demir learned against the wall, before taking a sip from his drink.
"I agree."
"It's strange. Don't people like smoking out of curiosity?"
"I guess you can say so." Demir shrugged and she turned to Tahti.
"Haven't you been curious?" She asked and Tahti leaned towards her, wearing a look that said she wanted to but to April's disappointment, she replied.
"I haven't."
"Tahti."
Someone called and she resisted the impulse to swear on seeing a drunk Mason making a wobbly beeline towards where they were seated.
"You look like you're in a good mood." He said and she gnawed at her lip, obviously pissed to see him. Couldn't he just let her be?
"What do you mean?"
"You looked a bit upset so I thought you weren't feeling well."
"I was uncomfortable with too many people." She replied and April nodded.
"You're shy with strangers."
He raised a finger to point to himself. "Even with me? You weren't like that before. You smiled all the time. Are you being like this because you broke up with that jerk of a boyfriend?"
She veered from him, wanting desperately to tell at him to get lost but she met with Demir's eyes and he smiled as he shook his head, and she understood right away.
"Gosh. Why are you showing so much interest in her today?" Demir asked the drunk Mason, who grimaced as Tahti smiled.
"What? Is there something going on between you two?...It seems like it. I did think it was strange. It's..." He started rambling
Demir cut him short. "It's nothing like that."
"Don't lie to me. I can tell by your expressions. Amn't I right?" He said, slurring his words
"What's wrong with you? There's nothing going on..." Demir said and turned to ask. "Right?"
She tore her eyes off him as she felt the hope she had been building for days shatter inside of her. So April was right. He just drew the line.
"Yeah." She replied.
Mason scoffed. "No? That's strange. Didn't you keep looking at him, Tahti? You kept looking at him." He said and belched
"I'm going to the restroom." Tahti rose to walk out on them.
"I'll come with you. My craving for a cigarette has completely being ruined." April said after her and turned to glare at Mason. "Damn it."
A heartbroken Tahti was leaning against the wall and staring into space when April walked into the restroom.
"You okay?" She asked and Tahti sighed.
"Yeah." Tahti replied, not looking too 'okay' as she claimed to be.
"Look Tahti, he doesn't know how you feel, so he said that in case it would get awkward." April said, trying to cheer her up.
"Forget it. If that was really the case, he would have just changed the subject or said something vague." She looked down at her can with another sigh. "I'm sure he didn't say that just for me. He just drew the line." Her voice was laced with regret and anger and she regretted not listening to April.
"Hey, don't say it like that. You're overreacting." April said trying to take her out of the foul mood.
Tahti tittered as she rolled her eyes. "Didn't you know this would happen? What's with the pep talk?"
"Well, I thought maybe I was being too harsh. It's not like I can read his mind. Plus, he kept looking at you." April said and she forced a smile.
"No way. He was busy chatting with Adriana."
"No! He kept glancing at you on some occasions." She stopped to take the can in her hand. "And most importantly, he doesn't do stuff like this."
An exasperated sigh escaped her lips. "April, this is just a five dollar drink."
She looked down at the can as she ran a finger around its' tip. "Anyway, this is different...Honestly, I wasn't sure when I heard your side of the story, but seeing it in person I can sense something....Are you going to stay?"
"No, I want to go home." She leaned back to close her eyes, regretting she'd come.
"Let's go to your place with Demir." She said and Tahti's eyes flew open immediately, to stare at her friend, with utmost disbelief.
"Are you crazy? Why would I do that?" She whispered.
"I'll come with you. Tahti, we can't waste an opportunity like this."
"But still..." Her voice dwindled as she recalled when she recalled the moment he'd drawn the line in front of Mason. Was she really considering bringing him home? She must be really crazy. "Forget it. I'm going to go home." She said and took the can from April before tossing it into the trash can.
"Let's at least ask him." April said as she made to walk out.
"I don't feel like it."
"Goodness! There's really nothing going on between you two?...I know. You said you don't date." Mason was saying as Demir flickered his thumb on his customized key holder. "It seems like she's hitting on you without knowing that you don't date. She was acting like she's all that because she's a bit pretty...It serves her right, don't you think?"
Unable to stand it anymore, he slowly raised his head to send daggers at him. "Mason, don't say stuff about people you can't say to their faces."
"What?"
"You're badmouthing her just because you can't have her. It's pathetic of you, you know."
"What did you just say?" Mason asked.
"I'm telling you to watch your mouth."
"You asshole. You just said there's nothing going on between you and Tahti."
April ran towards them breezily, before he could reply.
"Hey, where were you? I heard pizza is finally out. Let's go in, or I'll eat everything."
"Yes, I'm coming. Let's go eat." He replied as he turned to follow April into the pub, though turning to glare at Demir before he disappeared into the pub.
Demir veered to see her approaching and she noticed he seemed totally unbothered by the situation, which she found rather upsetting and she intended not to talk to him as she was about to walk in when he spoke.
"Don't worry about him."
"What?"
"He goes around talking about me, too."
She was forced to turn to face him. “Thing like what? That you don't date?"
"Do people have to date?" He asked, with a shrug and she lowered her head. So she had been the fool there.
"Not necessarily."
"You think so too, right?"
She forced her head up. "I have a friend who doesn't date either, but unlike you, he's a bit cold especially to girls."
"Why can't two people just be close?" He asked as he neared her, just as she stepped back from him. "Can't they look at each other or stand near each other?...Do they have..." He stopped to raise a hand. "...to pretend not to notice if there's something in their hair?” He asked, in a soft voice as he took out something in her hair.
"That's...not what I mean."
"I know, right?...It's nice to get along well." He smiled.
"I guess so." She replied and walked past him to head into the pub, before he followed her.
Was that really all? She wanted to ask as he slid into the seat beside hers, but couldn't find the voice to.
"Who wants to go for another round?" Chris asked.
"Me." Jennie threw up her arms as she screamed and Sol sent an arm around her back to prevent her from falling.
"You need to go home." Sol whispered into her ear, loud enough to pass the message over the music.
"Tahti, wanna come?" Jasmine asked.
"Demir, are you coming with us?"
She might just as well drink out her heartbreak. "Well, if everyone is going..."
"I have other plans." Demir suddenly said and the girls turned to him, disappointment on their faces.
"What? Is it important?"
"It's just a friend." He replied as he took out his phone to look through it.
Tahti turned to glance at April, who gave her a 'ask him' look and she turned to him.
"What is it?"
"I'm wondering if I should see my friend or join the others." He replied and lifted his head to look at her. "What about you?"
"Well..." She swallowed and a side glance told her April was still looking at her. "April and I are going to drink at my house. Do you want to come?"
The day seemed like a perfect day for her to get rid of her feelings, but she just gave up that chance and decided to be a fun girl.
