Short Stories

‘No, I am not doing it!’ I call out to my girlfriends and they start to scream happily.

‘You must!’ Annabel says with a laugh above the rest. ‘You lost the game so you have to do the dare!’

God, every time we are going out and doing drinks, Annabel tries to get us to do stupid assignments. And of course, she is always the one who never has to humiliate herself. With her perfect blond hair and a pink outfit, she is the center of our attention. Now the spotlight is on me. Dammit.

I lost the game and now Annabel had ordered me to approach a strange group of friends at the bar. Not only that, but to tell them that I am single and ‘’ready to mingle’’. I am not allowed to return to them, until I have a phone number. Sometimes I hate my friends so much.

‘Just go now!’ Annabel says and gets cheers from the rest of the group. I am not an extrovert person and even with alcohol in my system, I am shaking.

‘When was the last time you had sex?’ she asks and I start to blush. This isn’t a subject I discuss with her. Sarah knows I didn’t sleep with anyone after Don.

I meet Sarah’s eyes, ‘Just go over there and ask someone. Then you are relieved of our bullying.’ She gives me a kind smile and I know she is right. The last time she had to dance in the streets and she did it.

I stand up and take a shot. Let’s go.

With trembling legs, I look around. Four groups including one with only men. Shit, they seem to be there as long as we are. This means; completely drunk and I glance at a group of three at the bar. Before I realize, I stand behind them and tap all three on the shoulder.

Stupid Annabel with her ridiculous commands. Three had turned, including an Adonis that I hadn’t even noticed. His hair is blonde, cheekbones high and a hard jawline. His eyes were dark blue and kept me trapped a little too long. The other two didn’t like my silence and turn around.

I look nervously over my shoulder and see the open mouths of my group. Yeah, they see him too. My cheeks have never felt so warm. I swallow my nerves and start with the opening line: “Hi, I’m Mira single and ready to mingle.” With those words, I just lost all hope to get a chance to get to know him.

‘I, um, want your number.’ I point to the Adonis he is almost laughing at me.

‘A bet?’ he asks and I give a small nod. He smells amazing and I try to keep taps on my buzzed brain and start sniffing the stranger.

‘You don’t look like someone who goes around asking strangers for their number.’ He says while turning his body completely to me. God, he is bulky.

I don’t know how to answer his statement. Yes, I am not a woman who goes around asking men for their contact information, but is it so hard to see me as a strong independent woman?

‘Don’t get shy on me now.’ He says and grabs his beer from the bar and takes a sip.

Taking a deep breath I decide to let the alcohol do the talking.

‘I am actually a little offended by your remark. Am I not the right kind of woman to approach you?’ His eyebrows shoot up and I place my hands on my hips to look more impressive.

He holds up his hands, ‘I am so sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. It is just that you look so unconformable.’ Well, he got me there. I hate it when Annabel pushes me out of my comfort zone.

I let my tuff girl attitude go and sigh: ‘You are right, this isn’t what I normally do.’

‘Well, lucky me that you came to me then.’ He smiles bright and I mimic.

‘If I give you my number, do you then have completed your mission?’ My head starts to turn into a bobblehead and he smiles.

‘Yes, thank you and don’t worry, I won’t call you. It is just for show.’ I say while flapping my hands around embarrassed.

‘Oh, you will call me. I am starting to like you.’ He takes my mobile out of my hands and types away. I don’t have a code on my phone and he is already done.

‘Wait what?’ I ask before I can stop it. He looks at me with heat in his eyes.

‘You know what, just give me your number. Then I’m sure you won’t just delete it.’

I didn’t expect this. I look over my shoulder and the girlfriend squat had never been quieter.

‘Oh, you really don’t have to.’ I say with an uncomfortable hand gesture. He takes my hand and pulls me towards him.

‘Please put in your number,’ he ask while handing over his mobile phone. I take his phone and feel his lips on my cheek. So fleetingly that I almost start to think he didn’t just kissed me. After a minute of talking, I come back with his number. The squat begins to cheer for me, and I hear ‘’Matt’’ laughing at the bar. My face is still flushed.

I get high fives from Sarah and Mary. Monica gives me a wink and Annabel is awfully quiet.

‘I bet is it a fake number.’ She says while crossing her legs.

We never had time to place the bet, because my mobile starts to ring and Matt’s number appears on the screen.

Sometimes I love my friends so much.