Shots of Classic Manhattan

Ariel

“A classic Manhattan, please,” I called the bartender whose back was to me. He was getting a bottle from the drink shelf.

“Ariel?” The bartender called, turning. “Ariel! I knew I would recognize that voice anytime,” Gary said excitedly.

Gary had been the bartender in this club for as long as I could remember. He was a friend, the kind that you gossip with. Gary had information about everyone and everything in Woodstock.

“Hi, Gary.” I wasn’t in a mood for chit-chat.

“Hi, Gray? Where’s that from?” He was surprised at my sober mood. “Don’t tell me you’re now a stuck-up old lady!”

“That’s what happens when you stay cooped up in your room for too long. My drink, please.”

Gary went about pouring the drink and pushed the glass toward me. “This one’s on the house.”

“Thank you.”

“I never got to apologize about what happened that night.”

“I am sure you ain’t sorry.”

“Ariel, you know I didn’t have a choice about calling the bouncers to take you out.”

“We all have choices. But don’t worry, I don’t blame you for anything. Nothing that happened that night was your fault.” I took a gulp at my drink, turning away from him.

“Hell, girl, it wasn’t your fault too,” Gary touched my left hand on the table. I wished he would just drop the topic. “Ryan is to be blamed for everything.”

I ground my teeth, digging my nails into the glass in my hand. Pulling my hand away, I gulped down the whole contents of the glass.

“Thank you, Gray,” I said, placing it firmly down. Just as I was about to walk away, Joan showed up again.

“I’ve been looking for you!” She exclaimed, hooking her hand into mine, attempting to lead me away.

“Looking for me where? I hope you have become very well acquainted with Mr. Handsome.” I eyed her.

Joan paused and stared at me. I could tell when she realized how upset I was at her.

“Oh, Ariel, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry about leaving you out there and ignoring you to speak to him. Say you forgive me.”

I didn’t say anything, I didn’t look at her.

“Come on, Ariel. Please, I have brought you out here so you can have some fun.”

“Leaving me out there was a very amazing way to show it. If Lucas hadn’t arrived when he did, I would be home by now.”

“Then let’s be glad he did!” She saw I wasn’t smiling. “When I got in here, I tried to see if there was anyone who I could get to let you in.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

Joan sighed. “I’m sorry. Please snap out of it. Pleeeassee…” she coed.

I eyed her openly again and decided it was enough drama for the night. Besides, I didn’t come here to vent my frustrations on anybody.

I was here to unwind. It would be wrong if I continued to feel sorry for myself about what had already happened that I couldn’t change.

“Fine. I forgive you.”

Joan’s smile widened as she turned from me and ordered two tequila shots, gave me one, and held one.

“To have fun.” And our glasses clang together. ‘Cheers.’ “Now, let’s go have some fun,” Joan said, pulling me onto the dance floor.

The night became lighter as Joan and I drifted from the dance floor to the bar, taking tequila shots at every opportunity we got.

I was more attuned to the mood in the club. By now, we were both lightheaded and on our eighth shot of whiskey for the night.

I could hold my liquor, but I couldn’t say the same for Joan. We returned to the dance floor, laughing and dancing along with everyone else.

A guy walked up to us, intending to dance with Joan. Before long, he was leading her away. I wasn’t okay with a stranger taking her out of my sight, knowing that she was almost wasted.

Joan, however, insisted on going with him. “Find a good man, Ariel. Don’t let the night waste away.” She called loudly as they walked away.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. I wished I could be more like her, carefree and caring-less if I might add.

Joan didn’t have a bother in the world, in my opinion. All she had to do was call her Dad, and whatever problems she had would be resolved.

She and I had been friends since high school, and truthfully, there was a time I envied her. Her family was everything mine never was. And to think her parents had been together for almost twenty years now.

I sighed, snapping myself out of foreboding. I needed more shots. At least, it helped me forget about my problems, even if only temporarily.

As I turned to go to the bar, I hit someone. Luckily, the person caught me before I touched the ground.

I opened my eyes to find Ryan cradling me in his arms, and as if drawn by an invisible force, I pulled myself from his embrace.

Instantly, I turned to walk away, my heart in my mouth. Seeing him again after almost a month, remembering all the humiliation I have had to go through because of him, was so overwhelming.

I thought I was over him. I thought I could face him, but I couldn’t. Unable to stop myself, I turned, and to my dismay, Ryan was following me. I increased my pace, hurrying out of the room.

Why the hell was he following me? I didn’t want any trouble. I didn’t want anything to do with him anymore. From behind me, I heard him calling my name.

I stepped out of the room, breathing heavily. I bent over to catch my breath.

“Ariel, is everything okay?”

I jumped but immediately sighed in relief when I saw it was Lucas. At that moment, I was happy it was him and not Ryan.

“Oh, thank God.” The words didn’t completely leave my mouth before Ryan appeared.

“Ariel…?”

I turned and saw him walking toward Lucas and me. Panicking, I tried to figure out how to avoid talking to him.

An idea struck me; it was spontaneous, and I acted before I could think about it. Grabbing Lucas’s face with both my hands, I lifted myself on tiptoe and placed my lips on his.