Chapter Two

In a week the weather cleared up, back to the warmth of summer—though it was likely to be the last. The balmy wisps of evening breeze hugged my uncovered arms and ankles as I walked slowly to the bar. Friday. My black dress went down to my knees and I realized that that was probably one of the last times I could wear it that season. I often preferred black then, or white. It was like I was trapped between those two colors, my mood somewhere in between.

I forbade myself to think about those dark blue eyes, about those brown curls, but they crept into my dream that night. I didn't need it, I didn't need to dwell on something unreachable. I had to prepare myself for life after university. The money that was coming from renting out the house would help a bit with my student loan, but then I would be on my own.

Stepping into adult life would be abrupt and I hoped that my Computer Science degree would sustain me.

Before, I had loved university life, I had loved meeting new people, but as it was coming to an end, I was almost relieved and terrified at the same time.

Again, those sticky doors, and the maddening roar of a Friday evening bar. I noticed the auburn immediately; Miranda stood at the bar and recited her order.

I touched her elbow and she turned and hugged me. It was always so easy with her, she was so at ease with her body, her movements.

"Lots of people here tonight, Jessica prepared a Friends quiz, it should be fun, you know how she's crazy about the details. And …" Miranda said as she tried to lift a huge tray with snacks, "Jake is here with his sister. Wait "til you see her. I don't know what their parents took or did, but I'm sure many couples would like to know the recipe."

I shook my head as I watched her balance the tray. "Do you need help?"

"Nah, I'm fine. Grab your drink and come to the table, I saved a seat for you."

I ordered a glass of beer and took a deep breath. Waiting for it to be poured, I looked outside to the dark of the evening. One thing about that night I knew for sure would make me happy, was that I loved Friends.

Cradling the glass as I stepped through the crowd, I walked slowly to our usual table. Jessica and her boyfriend were laughing with their friends. I'd seen them there a couple of times before but never managed to remember their names. Brian was bent over talking with Jake, who looked at me for a second before turning back to Brian. Miranda was chewing a mozzarella stick, her face turned to a blonde woman sitting by her side.

Miranda noticed me and, as always, her face lit up.

"Here she is. Alice, meet Emily," Miranda said.

When the woman turned to me, I immediately saw what Miranda meant. She looked at me with bright gray eyes, a smile open and welcoming. The smallest black mole hid on her cheek. Alice shook my hand, her skin warm against my cool. Her long blonde hair cascaded down open shoulders. There was something comforting about her, in the way she moved, flowing.

"Hello," I said and smiled.

And, for a second, I turned to Brian, just to find Jake's eyes on me. He held my gaze, steady blue, and looked away. I sat between Miranda and Alice.

"How do you like university?" Miranda asked Alice. "Brian said you're an art student."

"The professors are much more practical here, and I like it. They insist that being a broke and drunk artist is not a goal for us and that we should all learn something that could bring us a constant flow of money—get a job that is well paid and not too time-consuming." She paused for a moment, thinking.

"They also really emphasize that in our free time we can create experimental art, that our jobs need to provide the resources to really create. So that we aren't in a constant hunt for means."

"That's smart, what would you like to do in your day job?" I asked.

Alice smiled at my question.

"I'm deep into graphic design and animation. Honestly, I think there's something really rewarding about contributing to pop culture. I'd like to be a part of a team who creates visual effects on blockbuster movies," Alice said and tucked a golden lock behind her ear. "That being said, my true passion is still live art in baroque style," she laughed, almost sadly, "and there is zero chance to monetize that skill."

"That's unusual," Miranda said. "Do you have photos of your work?"

Alice nodded and fished out a phone from her handbag. She unlocked it, and I saw strings of nature photos when she scrolled down.

"Here are some of the recents," she said and turned the screen to us.

There were canvases that would easily fit into any historic art museum. Details, small strokes of the brush created the volume of the fruits, jars, and glasses. Alice slowly swiped to the left, revealing more and more.

"Were you Bosschaert in a previous life?" I asked and Alice laughed, a warm sound filling the space between us.

"I wish," she said and swiped one more time revealing the modern-looking graphics of a girl standing on the cliff, blue ocean below. You could not see her face, only her back, but her hair and the fabric of her dress were made with such detail.

"Did you create it?" Miranda asked.

"Yes."

"I'm not an expert in still life art, but this is …" Miranda faltered, clearing her throat, "good. Do you have more?"

Alice tapped the screen and a grid of the same style graphics appeared.

"When I visit the place I love, I paint myself there," Alice said, blushing.

The collection of twenty or so pictures revealed the blonde girl in fields, by the seashore, in cafés, and among skyscrapers.

I leaned closer. "That's beautiful."

And it was. She had a talent, massive. There were feelings in her art. She didn't only show an image, she showed emotion. Longing.

Involuntarily my eyes moved to Jake, and my heart skipped a beat when I found his eyes on me again. This time he held my gaze, and I got lost in his eyes, my cheeks warming. He smiled and shook his head, turning to Jessica who rose at the end of the table and clapped her hands.

I was still looking at his face, his brown curls hiding a part of it while he tried to keep a straight face, looking anywhere but me. The smile on Jake's face was the most exquisite thing I had ever seen.

Don't even think about it, I heard Brian's voice in my head, and switched my attention to Jessica. I had met her a couple of times before, and every time she was a whirlwind of motion and activity. She was the girlfriend of Brian's good friend, Alec, who was also constantly on the go. Being in their company for too long made my head spin.

"There are nine of us here today, so let's divide into pairs," Jessica said looking around at us, "random pairs. We will draw names. The questions" difficulty grows with each round, four questions in each round, five rounds total. I'll lead."

After an intricate system of pulling the names and lots of shuffling of chairs I was sat by Jake, Miranda was with Alec, Brian with Alice, and two guys I never caught names of were placed together. I saw how the two of them watched Alice's every move, but she never looked twice in their direction.

I still tried to appear as nonchalant as possible, even when my heart beat faster and faster, the staccato rhythm vibrating through my veins.

"So, are you a fan of Friends?" Jake asked, that deep voice making something tingle inside me.

I nodded raptly. "Yeah, honestly I can't even say how many times I've watched it. My dad loved it, and I remember how excited he was when they aired it for the first time. I joined in when he rewatched them when I was older."

A deep ache in my chest always appeared when I talked about him, the memory still raw. I was used to hiding it, but Jake noticed.

"Thank God, because I'm not an expert. We'll need to work together if we want to have any chance of pulling this. Will you help me?" he asked quietly. His eyes softly looked at me, easing the ache.

When I smiled back, he whispered, "Please?"

I nodded, and he nodded back, both of us beaming.

"Let the biggest fan be revealed," Jessica said, imitating a boxing referee.

The questions started simple, like: What was the name of a dancer Joey lived with? Miranda almost tripped over the table screaming "Janine." We were all struck by fits of giggles when Alice tried to imitate his "How you doing?" and when Jake and I tried to remember any moves from the famous dance of Monica and Ross, The Routine.

I pretended not to pay attention when our bodies grazed. At the end of the routine, I had to jump and Jake caught me, pressing me close. I could feel his muscles under the fabric, the faint smell of citrus washed over me, and his hand settled on my waist when we almost tumbled down at the end, panting and laughing.

When we slowly returned to the table, bowing, I noticed Brian's brow going up looking at Miranda, Miranda winking at him and looking back at us, and Alice's flushed face as she looked at me and Jake, beaming.

Needless to say that Jake and I won. We were given two celebratory fire shots which we drank to the hoots of the crowd. The liquid burned my throat and the edges of reality when I looked at the tall guy standing by my side, his ocean eyes meeting my gaze again and again.

"We should get going," Jake said. "Thanks, guys. That was fun."

Alice stood up by his side.

"It was great meeting you all," she said, smiling gently.

We all chanted goodbyes, waving. I looked at their backs, as they moved through the thinning crowd. When Jake reached the exit, he turned and looked in my direction, and when our eyes met, he shook his head lightly, a faint smile reaching his lips, and stepped through the threshold. I was still looking at the place where he stood a moment before when Alice paused, her hand on the door, and looked around. Those gray eyes found mine, and she smiled so stunningly, so warmly that my thoughts formed one word—home.

When Alice saw the emotion on my face, her smile grew, and then she too disappeared into the night.