CHAPTER THREE
The bar sits between two barbeque joints, the same place that Alyssa and Jewel often frequented before she left. It has a weird western-style architecture and the inside is designed just like an old-time saloon. Entering the bar, a sense of relief washes over Alyssa. Every time she has passed by this bar while driving around the city, a lump formed in her throat. It always reminded her how much she missed her friend. Now, walking into it, she finally gets to see Jewel again.
Jewel is already sitting in the middle of the bar with a beer in her hand. She’s gotten a haircut and is looking quite good. She’s in a dark green blouse and black pants. Alyssa walks up behind her and taps her on the shoulder, “Hey my girl! Long time no see.” She says as Jewel turns around and instantly gives her a hug.
“I can’t believe how long it’s been. I’m sorry I let so much time pass! When I heard the band was finally returning here I was thrilled to see you again. How’s the store going?” Jewel enquires.
“It’s going pretty well, actually. A few more boutiques closed down, but I’m still going strong. Today was a good day in sales too. I got a shipment of some new clothes and they were a hit. I’ll have to order some more soon because the new arrivals section is going to be empty pretty quickly if they keep selling like they did today. I just posted them online this morning, too, so more people will definitely come in looking for ‘em. Plus, the clothes that I put on sale today cleared out. There is only a handful of them left. So, I was finally able to get rid of stuff no one had bought in a long while.”
“That’s great. I’m glad things are going well for you, especially with the boutique. I was getting a little worried because I heard that a few of them closed down around here. I guess that’s just more people to come to your store instead of the others, right? You’re killing the competition.” Jewel chuckled.
“Yeah. Maybe, although lots of those shops died because they couldn’t attract enough customers. I wasn’t directly involved, gotta claim my innocence. But, enough about the boutique. How’s life on the road? Is it what you always dreamed that it would be?” Alyssa asks as she orders a martini from the bartender. She already notices that she’s being checked out by a few of the guys sitting around. I can’t believe it’s already like there wasn’t any tension in the first place. Guess this is the best kind of friendship to have.
Jewel picks up on it, too. “Oo, look at those guys. They want to take you home. I bet we could set you up with one if you wanted.” Jewel teases as she pokes Alyssa the way Alyssa always did it to her before she left. “Well, it’s just one place after another. We’re always on the road, we never really get a chance to stop and breathe. There are tons of parties, and that’s always fun. It’s really tiring, but I mean… it really is the life I’ve always wanted.” Jewel orders a second beer, “It wouldn’t be easy without Ash, we’ve been together every moment and I can’t believe I’m actually saying this, but it’s really love now. It started out as just sex, I admit, but now things are different.”
Alyssa is reunited with the feeling of jealousy from earlier. Let it go, girl. You knew she was going to have to talk about it. It isn’t her fault. Breathe. There you go. No… Don’t cry, not in front of Jewel. Alyssa tries to subtly clear her throat and it isn’t subtle enough because in the next moment Jewel looks at her and notices that she is fighting back the tears. Jewel pulls her into an embrace and rubs her back gently.
“I’m really sorry it didn’t work out with Vincent… I know how much it hurt to let him go… You just didn’t want to admit it at the time, and I’m sorry I left and I wasn’t here for you after. I’m sorry you were alone.”
“Really Jewel, it’s okay.” Alyssa says as she chokes down her emotions, the main one being the bitterness that she was barely getting over. Bitter at Jewel, Vincent, and the band. Before Alyssa can continue speaking, one of the men that were checking her out earlier walks over.
“Hey. I hope I’m not interrupting anything, but I just wanted to see if I could buy you a drink.” The man’s voice is deep and rusty. He’s got a dark grey beard, a mustache, dark brown eyes and dark hair. Okay, he definitely dyed that crap to look younger. He’s wearing a work shirt and black cargo pants.
“Sure. Alyssa says. I’ll take a beer.”
The man motions to the bartender to get her one and goes to sit down. The bartender hands her the beer and she takes a drink.
“Well, honestly it does you no good to wait for me. It’s a girls’ night.” She says as she gives the man a wink and turns away from him to talk to Jewel again.
Angrily, the man gets up from the seat and walks back over the booth, where he sits and from what Alyssa can see, just grumbles to himself.
Jewel taps Alyssa and tries to silence her laugh, “You haven’t changed a bit!”
“Well, who in their right mind would turn down a free drink?” Alyssa asks innocently.
The bartender butts in, “I don’t blame you, that guy is always here annoying girls. It’s good you got him to go away so quickly, after he’s had a few more he’s definitely a bother.” The bartender nods, but he doesn’t stick around, instead he turns away to wash some of the glasses at the other side of the bar.
Alyssa turns to Jewel with a confused look on her face, “Wonder what that was about.” She questions as she laughs at the awkwardness of the bartender. “That isn’t the same guy that served us before, is it? He must have moved on.”
“Wow. I think you’re right. I didn’t pay it any mind.”
Alyssa nods, “I’ve always been the smart one.” She teases. There is silence for a few moments but then she becomes solemn again and quietly asks, “How is Vince doing?”
“Heck if I know. That guy is not the outspoken type… he’s definitely the quieter kind. Anyway, he seemed to have missed you for a while, about the first week of the tour… But after that, he…” Jewel pauses and takes a couple swigs of beer.
A week is good… but after that? What does she mean? Alyssa thinks as she stares at Jewel attempting to finish her explanation. Alyssa swallows hard.
“Well, after the first week he wasn’t quite so reserved anymore… you know. He kind of just. He slept around. A lot. A lot more than the other guys. But! He has been asking about you, for like the past month. That’s a good thing, right?”
Alyssa swallows and takes a moment to think about it, “Well, yeah. I guess.” She can’t deny the fact that hearing he is sleeping around makes her heart sink deep down into her chest, and sours the pit of her stomach.