Chapter 2
~Jives~
What the hell was she doing there?
I didn’t remember her name, but this was Audrey’s best friend. Did she live around here? Did she follow me? Just who was she? She slid her chest against the bar and, I had to admit, I eyed it for a second. She did have some very pretty breasts, if I do say so myself. Not like I’d get involved, but I definitely did appreciate the female form whenever it was bestowed to me.
“Hey there,” she said.
“Hello. What’s your name?” I asked.
She seemed slightly affronted by the way I addressed her. I mean, I knew her because of her best friend, not because of anything more. She then turned to me, blushing madly.
“I’m Tracey,” she said.
“Well, hello there. Nice to finally officially meet,” I said with a smirk.
She shrugged. “I guess. I remember seeing you around at the wedding. You seemed like you wanted to come talk to me. What, did you not have the balls to?” she said with a snap.
I was appalled at her words, but I kept my composure. “Probably. It was a bit of a shocking situation, seeing the man that I helped take care of for so long finally leave the nest,” I said to her.
“What, were you his father or something?” she inquired.
“That’s one way to put it. I’m not related to Remi by any means, but I did take care of him. I did help raise him for a long time, and I was part of the reason he finally found someone to love. It’s been a rough situation, that’s for sure,” I told her.
“Yeah, I guess. Must be nice, being in love with someone that you can go home to every night. Someone who isn’t a totally pessimistic fuck,” she told me.
I immediately looked at her, and while she seemed very rude and crass, she also looked vulnerable, as if the words she uttered to me were a mere projection of herself.
“I mean, I don’t personally hope for that right now. My job is to take care of the alien people that are coming here, and nothing more. Getting involved with humans is far too troublesome,” I told her.
“I see. Seems ironic since you were part of the reason humans are now involved with your people,” she muttered.
“Yeah, I guess. But I don’t deal with the emotions related to it. It’s too messy, and it’s not my job,” I told her.
I was serious about that. I didn’t want to dirty my hands dealing with humans, since they’re far too much to handle. I never wanted anything more than a business partnership with humans, and that’s really the extent of my relations with them. However, this woman didn’t seem to like my answer.
“You know humans aren’t just a whole bunch of idiots that need handholding and coddling, right? I get that you’re the one running the show, but we’re more than that,” she told me.
“I’ve seen what emotions do to people. Remi seemed almost affected by the emotions of humans, and frankly, after that debacle, emotions have been something I’d rather not involve myself with,” I told her.
She shrugged. I drank another sip from the concoction that was given to me. I looked at her, and she seemed to be almost studying me.
“You’re not what I expected,” she said.
“What, did you think I was going to be some very happy alien or something? Unlike Remi, I don’t act childish. I have my own work, and that’s what I’ve dedicated myself to. I’m sure you can relate,” I said.
“I can. I mean, I’m an artist, and that’s what I should be doing, but… I’m not happy,” she said.
I didn’t really have the energy to deal with this sort of thing, but, was it right of me to just push her away? Was it better to humor her? I guess it was.
“What do you mean?” I asked her.
She looked at me, her eyes glistening. For a moment, I felt a small thump in my heart. Perhaps I should try to understand humans. Maybe I should open my heart a bit more. Of course, those thoughts were soon gone the moment she spoke.
“I just feel so alone now. My best friend is gone, and while I have a successful job as an artist, I feel like I’m missing something. Something that I don’t truly get. I feel like my heart is missing a part of something, but what it is, I don’t know,” she said.
“Sounds like that’s your problem,” I said to her.
“It is, but I figured you’d at least be decent enough to listen to me,” she muttered.
“I told you, I’m not here to get involved with humans. I’m here for business, to run this place in the correct fashion. I don’t have time to worry about this,” I told her.
I then got up, paying for my drink, and when I looked at her, she seemed so angry with me. I then turned to the bartender, smiling.
“Put hers on my tab as well,” I said to him.
“Wait, you can’t just act like a total dick to me and pay for my drinks!” she said.
“I can and I will. I mean, it’s the least I could do for keeping me busy. I mean, usually I spend my nights talking to Remi about his love life. I didn’t even know what I’d do with myself tonight had you not shown up. So, thanks.”
I paid for the drinks, watching as she tried to fight me on it. She continued to argue as I walked out the door and over to my car. There was something almost satisfying about getting her riled up.
I mean, if I didn’t know any better, I would think she was kind of cute. She’s definitely a spitfire, not usually the type that I go for, if I went for a human at all, but she was fun to tease, fun to poke fun at, and it seemed like she enjoyed it, even if her face said otherwise. Oh well, at least I got some entertainment for the night. I didn’t know what I’d do with myself now that Remi was gone, and this certainly helped.
I went back home and fell asleep that night, smiling to myself. There was no way I would get involved with a girl like that, especially a mere human girl. But, there was something almost fun about pulling her strings, getting her riled up, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like seeing her like that, that’s for sure.