Characters: Emma-Leigh Carick and Charlie the Guard
Time Frame: A couple drinks after X
Location: The Bar
Words: 698
After the second beer, Emma could tell that she was past the point of no return. She laughed harder than normal, talked more than she should have, and could feel her anger prickle at things she wouldn’t normally get angry at. Common sense told her to stop, but the pleasure that the alcohol brought her made her reach for another drink. With a small smile, she brought it to her lips.
Charlie was fun. More fun than she thought he would be. Who knew that a couple drinks inside of a shy person could make him so outgoing? She didn’t think a guard could know how to have a good time, but she was glad that he did at least. He had a nice smile too. She didn’t remember seeing him smile before and it was a nice one. She thought about telling him that, but she decided to take another sip of her drink instead.
“You know wah we should dooo?” she slurred. “We should take a road trip to the Himalayas and climb it.” Charlie laughed and nodded.
“Not a road trip though. A boat. Or a plane. Let’s take that instead.”
“Planes are stupid. Can’t take the stupid planes ‘cause they’re stupid. And you can’t even jump out of one without a parachute!” Her voice steadily started rising, but Charlie paid no mind to it as laughed again. She didn’t think he understood what she was saying and how ardently she felt about planes. He shouldn’t be laughing about it.
“I’m sirious! Planes are the stupidestest thing that has ever been invented! They’re so stupid they don’t even know they’re stupid!” Charlie’s face changed a little and Emma thought that she was finally getting through to him. She failed to notice the people staring around her. She took another drink of her beer.
“I mean, come on! Terrorists! They’s reason enough to hate planes!” Charlie put a hand on her arm and she shoved it away.
“Emma, calm down. You gotta stop yelling.” She scowled at him. “I’m not yelling! You just don’t understand.”
“Em—“ She heard someone laughing behind her and she swirled around in her chair to glare at the couple who were smiling at her. They must have been the ones who laughed. “You think this is funny?! I bet you ride planes don’t you!” The couple glanced between each other. They were the ones!
“I’ll jus’ take you to Division and see how you like the planes then!” She started getting up out of her chair, but Charlie was quick to grab a hold of her, enveloping her in a bear hug. She started fighting against him, calling him every bad name she knew in as many languages as she could. He lifted her up off of the ground and dragged her out of the bar, hearing the people clapping as she left.
He dropped her outside and she was quick to turn around and try punching him. It wasn’t nearly as fast as she wanted it to be though and he blocked it easily. “You can’t go talking about Division. Even when you are plastered.”
“’mnot plastered! ‘mnot paint!” Charlie shook his head and grabbed her by her shoulders.
“They’ll kill you if they found out. Can you hear that in there? Division will cancel you.” His breath smelled bad, Emma thought. Like too much pretzels and alcohol.
She blinked a couple of times. “But planes are bad. They’re the worst.” She heard Charlie sigh. “Yeah. They suck. I’m never getting on one again.” He sounded truthful and she nodded with a little smile on her face.
“I like you Charlie.” She poked him and laughed. He chuckled as well and she took a deep breath, loving the feeling of the cold air. She started taking off her jacket, but Charlie stepped in again.
“Whoa there. We can’t get frostbite tonight.” She rolled her eyes at him. “It’s not even cold.” But he wouldn’t let her take off her jacket. She turned to glare at him and noticed how close they were standing. How’d he get there? Her eyes travelled to his lips. His smile was pretty. She wondered…
