1 | Quinn
I sat uncomfortably across from Evan. His crystal blue eyes twinkled in the candlelit restaurant. I absolutely despised public outings with him, especially this close to campus. My only solace was the fact that the restaurant was very dim, which still didn’t seem to help my case very much.
Evan knew getting into this that I didn’t want anything serious, we were on a strict friends with benefits level. Yet somehow here we were, sitting across from each other, very… date-like. I knew what was coming, and started mentally preparing my speech.
Evan cleared his throat and smiled at me. He was a tall, very muscular man with short, shiny blond hair and the most beautiful blue eyes I’d ever seen, this though, still wasn’t enough to make me want to fall for him.
“So, I know you don’t really like being together in public, but there’s something I would love to talk to you about.” He placed his hand on mine on the table. I pulled away reflexively.
A flash of embarrassment and hurt crossed his face. He quickly shook it off and continued on to what he was planning to say.
“Quinn, I--” The server came along to prolong the inevitable.
Evan gave him an irritated glance and told him his order. The server was very tall, maybe 6’2. He had almost shoulder length brown hair that fell in a way that looked as if it were perpetually flowing in a breeze that wasn’t there. He had little brown freckles sprinkled about his face, and his eyes were a honey shade of brown and he was oddly familiar looking, but I couldn’t place it.
He turned to me, and looked at me unsure for minute, as if it was feeling the same oddly familiar feeling as me, he held my glance for a second then looked down to his order pad, I told him my order and he scampered off, smiling at the space between Evan and I as if actually looking at either of us would make him implode.
Once he was gone, Evan took a deep breath. “Quinn, I know monogamy really isn’t your thing, and I respect that or at least I did, but we’ve been doing this for a while now. For about two years we haven’t slept with anyone but each other and I think that’s a pretty good sign, I mean, we haven’t gone on anything resembling a date until now but I- I would like to change that I-”
I stopped him before he could get anything else out. “Even, stop. Please.”
His demeanor changed, he was heartbroken and for a solid few seconds, he didn’t even try to hide it. I continued, “Look, I like you Evan. I do, but you know I’m not interested in anything serious. You just said it yourself.”
He let out an exasperated sigh. “Quinn, I know you feel something here. You’ve been committed to me in every way, well, besides emotionally. And I’m going on a limb here.”
“And that’s your problem,” I snapped. “You went into this knowing sex is the only thing I’ve wanted. You agreed to that, I don’t care how long it’s been. The only reason I haven’t slept with anyone else is to protect myself, not because I’m growing feelings for you.”
“Quinn, you don’t mean that.” He said.
“I do. I think it’s’ best that we stop seeing each other Evan.” With that I stood up to leave not even giving the food a second thought.
I walked toward the door, cringing as Even called my name from behind me. Everyone in the restaurant was staring, I just knew he was doing this because he knew I never wanted to be seen in public with him. I started to walk a little faster, and just as I was nearing the door I felt his rough hand around my bicep.
He spun me around and held me by the shoulder, he began shaking me screaming in my face unintelligibly. I could feel my face flush, I was not only horrified by his actions but of the amount of people in the restaurant staring at us. I then heard a clatter of plates and then silence. Suddenly, I was jolted back almost falling to the ground and it was this time that Evan was the one grabbed and spun around.
I backed up toward the door and stared in awe, I looked back over to the table Evan and I were just at. In front of the table was a pile of plates and food, right in front of me, however, was the server, holding Evan by his shirt.
He pulled Evan in close. Evan, a man I know for a fact works out twice a week, struggled to get out of his grasp. “Touch her again, without her consent, and I will break your goddamn face.” The server said.
He pushed Evan hard against the host station. “Now, apologize, you ignorant sack of shit.”
The harder Evan struggled to get out of his grasp the angrier he got. “Fuck you!” He screamed at the server.
Before things could escalate any further the manager, a small woman in her late thirties, rushed over. “Whoa whoa whoa!” She yelled.
The server took one look at her and dropped Evan like a sack of potatoes. Evan reared up to throw a punch at the server but the manager stepped in front of him, the sheer amount of courage that woman had almost made me fear her.
Evan swung, and both the manager and the server ducked with amazing speed. The manager stood in front of Evan and demanded him to leave.
“You have one full minute, or I’m calling the cops.” She said firmly.
Evan huffed, cursed and stormed to the door. “Let’s go Q.” He said.
I shook my head, “I’m not going anywhere with you.” I said.
I could see his anger growing, but he glanced back to the manager who was still there next to the server, waiting for him to leave. He pushed past me, hard and walked out to his car.
The manager asked if I was okay, to which I nodded and explained I would call an Uber. I waited until I was certain Evan was gone and walked outside and sat on one of the fancy brass seats in front of the building, the sun was starting to set and I found myself slightly shivering in the cool summer air. I waited a few minutes, to gain my composure when I noticed the server walk out of the building. We held each other’s gaze for a while before he sighed heavily.
“Let me give you a ride home.” He said.
I shook my head. “It’s fine, really.”
He rolled his eyes. “C’mon, it’s the least I can do.”
I nodded, and followed him to his car. It was a black, two door sedan. He opened the door for me and walked around to the other side. As soon as he put the keys in the ignition I felt my eyes start to water. Before I knew it I was full on ugly crying in the passenger seat of a strangers car. He was pulling out of the parking lot when he looked over at me, sighed, and parked the car again.
“You’re going to have to tell me where you live, and I don’t really do well with deciphering cries.” He said.
I nodded, trying to compose myself, I gave him my address. He typed it into his phone and put the car in reverse. Once we were on the road he asked me the million dollar question.
“He’s never hit you, has he?” He asked.
I shook my head, a few tears still falling. “No, never.” I said.
He nodded, “You should probably cut off all ties with that guy.”
“That’s what started this whole thing.” I sniffled.
He chuckled a little. “I knew a guy like that once, great times.”
I looked at him confused, but he just shook his head.
I wiped the tears from my face. “What happened there… With your boss I mean.”
He shrugged. “Got fired. No big deal, not like I’ve worked there for the last three years, or needed that job or anything.
As soon as he said it I started to wail once more. This whole thing was my fault, I cost this guy his job. In my mind I was cursing myself for ever even meeting Evan.
“Oh, Jesus. Don’t go beating yourself up about it.” He said, mildly annoyed with my sobbing. “That was my choice, and to be honest, if there weren’t so many people there to witness it, I probably would have killed him. There are only three things in this world that really, really, piss me off, domestic violence is one of them.”
I sniffled, my sobs slowing. “W-what are the other two?” I cried.
“Racism and homophobes, duh.” He said.
I giggled at that, my giggles becoming laughter, and my laughter turning into a full on howl. What he said wasn’t humorous, even in the slightest, but it didn’t stop me from laughing my tears away. He looked at me, confused for a minute and started to laugh too. The laughter subsided once he reached my apartment. He pulled into the parking lot and parked.
“I’m sorry this shit happened to you, I hope it gets better for you.” He said.
I nodded and thought for a minute. “I’m sorry too.” I said.
He shook his head, I sat for a while, not really wanting to be alone. “Would you want to come up?” I asked him.
He shook his head, quickly. “I got some stuff to take care of.”
“Oh.” I said, quietly.
“Yeah, I should probably get going.” He said, coldly.
I nodded, and opened the door, I was half way out when I turned back to him. “I-I never asked what your name was.” I said.
“Hayden.” He said. “And you’re Quinn.”
I looked at him in confusion. “We had that creative writing class together last year.” He said.
The memory hit me. I remember seeing him, his hair was shorter, and he never spoke to anyone, not even in discussions. Which is probably why I didn’t remember him.
“I remember now.” I said. “Well, see you around, Hayden.”
“It’s doubtful, but yeah, see you around.” He said.
I shut the door and walked into my building, wondering what he meant. 'It's doubtful’ rang in my head. I figured I came on too strong and maybe, under different circumstances, he would take me up on my offer. I heard his car speed off as I walked into the elevator, hoping he was wrong, hoping to see him again.
