Runways & Rinks (by me)
Chapter 3 - Lounge Bar
Chapters one and have already been released!! If this does good I’ll release chapter four!
After that messy drive and being out all day they finally went to the lounge bar, which doubled as a restaurant since they also sold food.
Leia and her four friends walked inside. The lounge-bar was dimly lit and cozy. Didn’t even have a bar atmosphere since it was so laid back and relaxing yet pretty crowded. Chatter and laughs were heard all over, basically in every corner.
“Oh my godddd, where’s Jessie?” Teagan said, scanning around as Christopher led the four girls to a couch and they all sat.
“I don’t know.. there’s like a million people here. Wait— where’d you even see he was gonna be here tonight?” Leia asked with a puzzled expression.
“Uhm.. well he says this is where he hangs out!” She shrugged. “In like every interview he brings it up!” Teagan said defensively, like she was a child in trouble.
Leia wasn’t listening to her defensive tone and staring at a group of people crowded around this one guy near the small bar. “Wait- wait.” She said to Teagan. “That’s him.” She pointed at the person with a shaggy hair cut to their shoulders, their back facing them. Leia got up before Teagan could protest her walking over.
“Leia wait, I don't think that’s him!” Teagan said, going to grab her wrist but Leia got away too fast.
Leia leaped up from her seat and strutted over confidently. Without a care in the world.
By the time she got over he was alone, leaning against the small bar in the middle of the room, talking to a bartender.
“Excuse me?” Leia said and tapped his shoulder with a wide smile.
He turned around slowly and—
it was not Jessie Varity.
It was a woman.
“Yeah?” She said, looking at Leia with a questioning expression. “Oh, hey.” She had dark brown, shaggy hair that fell above her shoulders, an oversized white t-shirt, a black leather jacket thrown over it with dark washed boot-cut jeans. Her eyes were dark brown, her cheeks were lightly dusted by freckles.
“Oh. You’re not Jessie..”
Leia mumbled, quietly enough for the stranger not to hear. Leia looked blindsided, her cheeks flushed a light pink color at the woman’s attractive appearance.
“I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else.” Leia said with a soft laugh.
The woman chuckled back at Leia. “It’s all good, uh. Well I’m Brynn.” She said with a smug smirk and then held out her left hand for Leia to shake.
“I’m Leia.” She said back, taking Brynn’s warm hand into her own to shake. The light twinkling in Leia’s eyes as she admired Brynn’s features, pulling her hand away after shaking Brynn’s hand.
“You wanna come sit with me and my friends?” Brynn said pointing in the corner with a group of people. “We’re celebrating getting first pick for the draft and welcoming the rookie.”
“Oh sure. I’ll just have to tell my friends real quick.” Leia hummed. “What sport though? Sounds fun.” She asked with a smile plastered on her face.
“Hockey.” Brynn said with a nod and then put her hands in her pockets. “I’ll grab us drinks, you go over to your friends.” She smiled and turned back to the bartender as Leia walked over to her friends.
Teagan gave Leia a look that said ‘second hand embarrassment’ as she walked back. “Oh my god.. that was not Jessie Varity, Leia..”
“I know but I’m just gonna go talk to—“ She paused.
Not knowing if she’d be judged by Teagan for talking to a girl, let alone finding one attractive. She wasn’t lesbian though, not like that mattered in the moment. That would be a huge mess for her, she thought before shaking away those thoughts.
“Talk to that guy for a second.” She said to Teagan.
“Be careful!” Nina smiled at Leia.
“Of course, I’m not a baby.” She snorted before picking up her purse that was next to Teagan.
“Baby, this isn’t New York. It’s LA. And honestly it’s more dangerous out here.” Nina said in a motherly way.
“Yeah, yeah. Nina, I know. I’m not 15! Just because you’re like seven years older doesn’t make you our mother.” She said as they both laughed a bit and walked over to the couches where Brynn and her group were sitting.
Brynn had just walked back to her group of friends with the two drinks as Leia approached them.
“Ooo what drinks are those?” Leia asked.
“Colas?..” Brynn said in a sheepish way. “The team can’t have alcohol or any of that kinda stuff. It’s a weird rule coach has..”
“Honestly I don't even drink. I only came here for dinner with friends so it's not that weird.” She shrugged.
“That’s good to know. Makes this less embarrassing for me.” Brynn said and they chuckled together as they sat down with the rest of the team in the corner of the lounge bar where there were 4 large couches surrounding a big table with pretzel bites, pizza and loaded nachos.
“Damn. Leia Montgomery and Brynn Ford? Odd pair.” One of Brynn's teammates said. She had blonde hair but up in a messy bun and a black dress with red heels.
“Yeah.” Brynn huffed in an annoyed way. “Don’t make it weird, Alex.”
Leia sat and watched the interaction.
“Brynn stop being a douche and be happy?” Another teammate said. She had black hair down to her waist, a long yet tight navy blue dress that ended right below her knees.
The blonde girl looked at Leia and smiled. “I’m Alexandra and that's Mei.” Alexandra pointed to the girl with black hair standing behind her. “She’s the best on the team.” She cockily said before Brynn cut her off.
“Oh, shut up. There’s no way that she is the best.” She raises her eyebrows. “Who's the captain here again?”
Mei shrugged her shoulders and pressed her lips together. “You, but that’s just the league's favoritism.” Alexandra and Mei laughed.
Leia sipped her soda. “You’re seriously your team's captain?” She asked in an impressed tone.
“I mean, of course I am the team captain.” Brynn laughed.
“That’s cool. I’m a model in New York City. I’m visiting LA for a magazine event.” She hummed as she sipped her soda again.
“I know who you are, Leia. I’m not stupid.” Brynn smiled. “You’re like ‘the shit’ of the modeling world, it's pretty sick.” She said and then sipped her soda. “Whoever doesn’t know you lives under a rock.” She laughed.
“Well.” Leia shifted on the couch a bit, crossing her legs. “I guess I'm pretty famous then?” She asked back and laughed along with Brynn.
“I guess so. It makes sense though.” She pauses. “Y’know, being famous for just looking gorgeous.” Brynn winked and then took a sip from her cup.
Leia’s face flushed a bit. “Thanks.” She says as she smiles at Brynn.
“Mhmm.” Brynn hummed back. “So, how long are you in LA for?” She said as she raised an eyebrow.
“Just this weekend, nothing crazy.” Leia said, locking eyes with Brynn. “Plus my flight is early on Monday morning.”
Brynn sets her drink on the table. “Ugh, that sucks.” She said like a sad puppy.
“I know right? I wish it wasn’t on a Monday..” Leia chuckled.
“Maybe if you’re free before I leave for New York we could do something together.” She offered, knowing it’d be better to keep it in LA.
“Uhh.. I don't know.” Brynn awkwardly shifted. “I have practice tomorrow and Sunday.” She sighed and looked down. “Sorry.”
“No, no. Don’t be.” Leia smiled and rested a hand on Brynn's thigh.
“I feel bad.” She looked back up and gave Leia a nervous smile back. “A pretty girl like you deserves dinner.” Brynn half-joked and laughed. She really liked Leia. So far she seems pretty, funny and kind. Plus a genuine person, not like one of those fake celebrities that wanted money and clout for a living.
Leia laughed back and ran her hand up the back of Brynn's arm. Resting it behind her shoulder, letting her fingers curl around the top of Brynn's shoulder blades.
As the night went on they drank and finished the food. Leia’s friends completely ditched her since she stayed at the lounge bar until 11PM when they got there at 5 o’clock, so Leia was talking with Brynn and her teammates for 6 hours until Leia decided it was late and she should go back to her apartment.
Brynn and Leia were both leaned up against the bar counter. “Hey, Brynn, I think I’m gonna go. My friends are probably waiting for me outside.” Leia said, knowing they ditched her.
Brynn looked at her. “Alright. I’ll walk you to your car.” Brynn smiled. “Unless you’re getting an Uber or something I don’t know.” She shrugged.
Leia smiled back. “It’s an uber. My friend Teagan can’t drive so.” Leia laughed.
Brynn nodded back in understanding. “Oohh.. cool.” She said, “Well lead the way, Leia Montgomery’.” Brynn laughed at herself as she spoke in a mocking elegant tone. Leia pushed herself off the counter and walked outside the lounge bar, Brynn followed closely beside her.
They both approached Leia’s uber, both walking over to the side of the passenger door. Brynn had her hands in her pocket then pulled one hand out. Gently resting it on the side of Leia’s hip.
“Leia?” Brynn asked.
“Yeah?” Leia responds as Brynn guides her to face her.
“I wanted you to know that I had a good time talking to you and I would love to see you again. Maybe if I have a game in New York or something, I can come see you.”
She said while moving her one hand up to her waist and taking her other hand out of the pocket to also rest on her waist.
The thought now of possibly being caught out with a woman kinda freaked Leia out, what would her mother say? What would her friends say? It wasn’t THAT big of a deal, it’s not like she cared right now, she was too caught up staring at Brynn’s lips.
Leia glanced down at Brynn’s hands on her waist, it calmed her a bit how her thumb gently would rub side to side against her waist when she got nervous.
A few seconds later Leia finally spoke up.
“Uhm. I don’t know.. you know I’m really busy all the time with photoshoots and stuff it’s all kinda crazy.”
She said, trying to avoid the idea of being in New York where the paparazzi’s definitely would be next week. She wouldn’t wanna be caught with Brynn, not that she was embarrassed about Brynn but the thought of being with Brynn if it even made sense.
“Could I at least get your number?” Brynn asked with a stupid smile. “I know we met just tonight but I love talking to you, really. Fuck- I said that like a million times..”
She said before letting her forehead fall against Leia’s shoulder.
“You can have my number.”
Leia giggled as Brynn looked up with her hope filled eyes and quickly grabbed her phone, fumbling with it nervously before handing it to Leia.
Leia typed her number in and then handed it back to Brynn.
“Thanks.” Brynn said, smiling like a doofus as she took her phone back and slipped it into her back Jean pocket.
“Of course.” Leia nodded.
Brynn awkwardly slides her hands back to Leia’s waist.
“Sorry if I’m super weird.” She sighed. “I’ve never really been this close to a girl if I’m being honest.” She said in an embarrassed way.
“It’s fine. I’m not even into girls.. I don’t mind.” Leia said. “But, you’re pretty, I’m kinda into youu.” She quietly hummed.
Brynn laughed a little. “I think you’re pretty as well, if I didn’t say it thirty times already.” She smiled at Leia, bringing her hand up to cup Leia’s cheek.
“Thirty one times is better though..” Leia smiled and laughed again.
Wrapping her arms around Brynn’s neck. “I’m into you as well.”
Brynn mumbled against Leia’s lips since they were so close.
Brynn could feel Leia’s chest softly rise and fall against hers, she could smell the scent of her Cherries and vanilla perfume, plus a soft scent of hairspray.
Brynn leaned down and gently kissed Leia. Leia kissed back and they kissed for a good ten seconds.
“Sorry, that was random..” Brynn nervously fidgeted with the belt loops on Leia’s skirt.
“I’m not bothered by it.” Leia mumbled and kissed her again.
Brynn pulled away after a few seconds again. “That’s good to know..” She pulled her hands away and backed up, practically breathless.
She felt super out of place, her cocky act had been lost a long time ago.
Brynn rubbed her neck. “You should uhhh.. get back to your apartment.”
“Yeah.” Leia nodded in agreement. “I should, but I’ll text you tomorrow..”
She smiled and opened the passenger's side door.
“Bye, Brynn.”
She waved and then sat in the uber, buckling in quickly before the car pulled out of the parking spot.
“Bye.” Brynn said to herself with a huge smile.
