Campus Corner (Open)

[CarnivalBarker]

Campus Corner (Closed for celestialdragon)

Tuesday night. The sun was setting over the row house apartments across the street, as the brisk autumn wind picked up, scattering leaves through the streets and alleys near campus corner. I wiped the bar down as I had since I bought the building. When I first opened the bar my senior year, I had no idea that the football team would return to its glorious past and win championships, or that campus corner would again thrive on weekends. I had hoped, and some said gambled. But five years hence, the bar was becoming a staple, and it was certainly my home.

I heard the bell chime over my shoulder. As busy as we were, Tuesday nights were always slow. Too slow to pay a band, and midterms were closing in. An early crowd wasn't likely, but when I looked up and saw you walk in, I was instantly amused. Excited even. Unlike so many students I had come to know, some intimately, I did not recognize this new, cute face coming through the door. I was perplexed that you were alone, but glad that you were.

"Sit anywhere you like," I said, looking at you closely enough to notice your eyes were green. "I'll be with you in a minute."

 

[celestialdragon]

I smile and sit down at the bar, laying open a psychology text book, a note book, and a pen. I start writing down some terms and definitions while I wait for you, not minding the wait.

I had been recommended this bar many times, but a lot of times couldn't come due to some student function or what not. But now, on this Tuesday night, I could actually come here. I study you with my green eyes, when they weren't on my psychology, and wonder what a nice young man like you was doing owning a place like this.

When you finally come over and ask me what I want, I reply with, "I'll have a Jack and coke, please."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Sure thing," I say, turning away from you and returning a moment later with your drink. "Whatever gets you through the night, right?" I say, wondering if you'd get the reference. When you don't, I smile and tap your book. "Professor Jacobssen says that's his favorite saying of both Sigmund Freud AND Frank Sinatra. And Sinatra was a Jack drinker."

"I'm Reece, by the way."

 

[celestialdragon]

"Lynn," I reply, sipping my Jack and coke. "Mmm, delicious. One of the best Jack and cokes." I smile at your reference and explanation. "I had Jacobssen for research methods, not abnormal. I have Ginger for abnormal. Which sucks, I like Jacobssen."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Never had Ginger," I say, as I reach down to the sink and rinse out some decanters. "Physiology major. Only a year of Psych." I then think for a moment...."If you have Ginger AFTER Jacobssen......second year, right?" My eyes squint at you, my wheels turning.

 

[celestialdragon]

I nod, smiling. "That's right. I'm a psychology major." I admit, sheepishly. I finish writing down definition and set down my pen and look at you. "How long have you been out of school?"

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I shake my head, smiling. "I should have ID'd, huh?" I smile and grab a menu for you. "Four years. Well, five. I started this place my last year and dropped out, and then finished online." I excuse myself to refill a couple drinks for an older couple against a wall nearby, and drop off an order to my guys in the kitchen and come back. "So, I've never seen you here, I don't think."

 

[celestialdragon]

I smile and show my ID, showing I was 21 when you got back, albeit it was a recent thing. "I took a year off between high school and college. My dad died of cirrhosis, about a week after I graduated from high school. I was really close to him, and couldn't focus. So I took the year off to gather my thoughts and get through the grief phase. I'm actually thankful for it."

I laugh when you ask if I've been here. "Never, always a school function I had to attend to, but it got canceled for the rest of the semester; not enough money in the system for it."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

You pull the lightweight hooded sweatshirt that you had off and place it over the back of the bar chair, and I notice your form fitting striped sweater sitting cute atop your rather short shorts, wondering if your beautiful legs aren't freezing in the cool air outside. You're a proper girl, it seems, but quite striking. Thinking of what you said and how you look, I come to a conclusion and take a guess. "Let me say......panhellenic greek homecoming ball?"

 

[celestialdragon]

I laugh and nod my head. "Yes, actually. And what sucks was it was my sorority's turn to host it, and it got canceled." I pouted playfully and take another sip of my drink as I look at the menu. "Can I have a 1/2 cheeseburger with Provolone?" I ask you, pointing to it on the menu. "With just a little bit of pink in my meat, and fries with extra salt."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Absolutely," I say, writing the order down. "On me," I smile as I turn the order in before returning to lean against the bar across from you, now crossing my arms as I look at you. "So....no ball, no homecoming plans? Or did your date think up something else instead? Tell me he came up with SOMETHING good."

 

[celestialdragon]

I laugh again happily. "No ball, but the normal homecoming dance is still on. And. . ." I blush as I admit this. "I have no date."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"HOW is that possible?" I ask with genuine surprise before pivoting out of some measure of self interest. "You know, Lynn...if you have trouble finding a date, you should come work here on gamedays." You can see the mischief in my face. "PLENTY of drunk guys with courage to take you out on the spot. AND, you'd look great in our waitress gear."

 

[celestialdragon]

I blush furiously as you offer me a job and ask how I haven't got a date. "Well, I never really put myself out there," I explain, sipping my drink again. "I tend to be rather shy. I'm like Raj from the Big Bang Theory- except instead of women, I get jitterish around men. Plus unlike some of my sorority sisters-God knows I love them-I don't crawl over men and grind on them and such. I'm a bit modest."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Big Bang Theory!" I laugh. "Raj wasn't the character from that show that I thought of when I saw you." I grab your drink and refill it, before returning with your food. "You know, I'm serious about working here. I'd love you here with me," I say, perhaps alluding to my intentions.

 

[celestialdragon]

I smile and nod. "I will certainly consider the offer. I could use the money, actually." I dive into my cheeseburger and nod in approval. "Perfect," I said, wiping my mouth and sipping my newly filled drink. "So what character from Big Bang Theory did you think of when I walked in? Penny?"

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Walowitz." I break into a huge grin.

"Of course, Penny. I love her!"

 

[celestialdragon]

I grin back and continue eating. "Unlike Penny, however," I reply waving a fry at you. "I am rather smart. Although theoretical physics is not my thing. Although right now-" I close my book and throw it back into my bookbag. "Screw psychology. I'm having too much fun talking to you."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Aw, I'm just a college dropout, so my knowledge of physics is simply," I pause almost imperceptibly looking at your lips, "applied theory." The bell chimes again as a couple of girls come in and sit across the room near one of the large televisions. "Hey Reece!" One of them calls.

"Be right back," I say. "Don't go anywhere."

 

[celestialdragon]

"I won't," I tease as I watch you go serve the two girls that just came in, marveling at your physique. I continue eating my cheeseburger and fries, sipping on my Jack and coke. I get a little wet, I'm not going to lie. Modest I maybe, but I know I have desires too. I just never know how to express them.

When you return, I raise my drink. "Hit me up, Reece," I say with a wicked smile.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I pass by you and check out your legs again, appreciating a girl with the best of my favorite feature. "I don't know....you seem a little smashed," I say, teasing, as I pour you another. "Hows the burger?"

I turn and put away a few things above the bar and continue working to clean up. It's going to be a slow, early night.

 

[celestialdragon]

"The burger's great," I say, smiling and sipping. "And honestly? I takes a lot more to get me smashed. However, this will be my last one. I promise."

I decide to ask another question. "What time do you close tonight?"

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Nine, but I'm going to leave it to one of the guys in the kitchen. I have to make a drop at the bank, but I can go anytime." I fold up a dish towel and toss it under the bar drop near the beer station. "You got plans after this? More studying?"

 

[celestialdragon]

"Pretty much. My apartment's across the street," I indicated. "But studying gets rather dull; been doing it all my life. Why?"

I take a final draught of my Jack and coke and smile. "Plan on taking me home?" I giggle.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Well, I figured we might go somewhere and negotiate your new position," I say, still holding my smile. "I'm going to walk to the bank and then I come back past here. My house is around the block. You can walk with me if you want and then I can walk you home." I never say whose home.