It was dark, the red paint of the walls turning the yellow glow of the lamps fiery orange . Only a few people had yet arrived, but the music already made it difficult to navigate. The beat seemed to deepen the haze that seemed to permeate the club, though smoking had been banned indoors for awhile now.
Emma made her way to the top floor, where Cameron was likely to be found. She preferred the music played on the second floor, but she was not about to hang out alone. She came to avoid that loneliness, after all.
She found him sitting at the bar, nursing what was most likely a Tokyo Iced Tea – more or less a Long Island plus Midori. He was watching the bartenders prepare for the upcoming Saturday night. She went to stand next to him in his line of sight, arms folded casually on the bar.
“Hey.”
“Well, hello.” He smirked, turning his gaze to her. “So—“
“Yes, I changed my mind. Don’t start.” She lifted herself up onto the barstool and waved over one of the bartenders. “I’m here, and that’s what matters, right?”
Cameron raised his hands defensively, though the smirk still curled his lips. “I wasn’t going to say anything! Just wondering what you wanted to drink, that’s all.”
The bartender was tall and lanky, with red curls tickling just the tips of his ears and a splash of freckles coloring the bridge of his nose. He flashed an easy grin as he drawled in a thick Irish brogue, “Hello, love, what can I do you for?”
Emma eyed Cameron’s drink. “What are you drinking?”
“Midori Sour.”
She blinked, surprised. “Oh! Huh.”
“I’m promoting tonight. I need to last.” Cameron gave her a knowing grin. “But you can go ahead and get the Tokyo Iced Tea.”
She shrugged, turning to the bartender and nodding. “Well, why not? I’ve got nothing to lose, right?”
