Rejection

It was soothing, the way the glass tumbler scraped as it slid across the marble bar top. The ice rattled as he brought the aged whiskey to his lips. Warming his blood as he swallowed he lowered himself onto the metal barstool, placing the empty glass before him. Another dimly lit bar, another smokey whiskey, another lonely night, this had been his life since he left home. He stared without expression or emotion, watching the ice crack and melt.

“‘Nother whiskey for you, sir?” He squinted at the silver name tag that hung loosely on the bartenders wrinkled vest and nodded. “Thank you, Tom.” He forced a smile as the bartender generously poured another serving of poison into his glass.

The room was filled with people blending in with each other. Shades of brown and black mixed with creamy white dresses, moving in rhythm throughout the room. Their laughter whispering into his ear was muffled by the dull sound of music coming from an old piano in need of retirement. Just like the lullaby he used to fall asleep to, the piano and the sounds of the bar calmed him as the warmth of the whiskey flooded his veins.

The music, people and his thoughts mixed like cheap spirits added to a generic cocktail, splashing and crashing together as they spilled into a freshly washed glass, garnished with some sort of color to add flair. Everyone knew they were being cheated, one way or another. Cigarettes and sour beer burned his nose, filling his lungs with a deep breath, whiskey tainted the air as he exhaled. He didn’t belong here.

The outline of the stairs flickered in the light of a dying bulb hung from the ceiling. Open and empty, the top floor held a small scattering of tables, a low railing kept most patrons from venturing upward. He wouldn’t have noticed the second floor, but flowing emerald fabric and milky white skin caught his gaze.

His tired eyes followed her movement. Everyone watched with a mix of admiration and jealousy as she made her way up the stairs. She carried a deep confidence as she moved through the room, expecting others to step aside, clearing a path as she walked.

She paid no attention to her surroundings, her gaze steady and unmoving. Men glanced in her direction and immediately dropped their eyes to the floor as she passed. There was nothing special about her physical appearance, but her presence commanded attention and that intrigued him.

There was a pause in the usual commotion and as quickly as one draws a breath the rhythm of the bar was once again restored. It was that pause, that moment that shifted his focus and left him wondering if it was the music skipping or her presence that allowed his mind to wander.

He wasn't a shy man by any means, he had no reservations about speaking to women, especially in a small town like this. He would never hesitate to offer a beautiful woman a drink and had practiced an introduction so well he could recite it in his sleep. He was a ladies man, a Casanova of sorts, but her presence left him with a feeling of uncertainty.

“Tom,” he paused, “I’d like to buy that woman a drink.” The bartender scoffed at his request, shaking his head. “Sir, I’m gonna make this easy for you and ignore that drink request.” He poured another whiskey, shining the bottle before placing it back on the shelf. “This one’s on me.”

“Sylas. You can call me Sylas, and I’d like to take that chance. I have money, whatever she wants, it’s on me.” He stood up and straightened his neatly pressed shirt, the metal stool dragging across the dirty floor. Tom rested his hands on the bar, shoulders hunched he let out a sigh of defeat. “She ain’t…” Sylas gestured for Tom to move closer. “I wasn't asking."

The bartender turned his back and shined a bottle of gin, a shallow sigh echoing as he disappeared into the crowd. Sylas watched as he made his way up the stairs and turned his focus to the rows of alcohol lining the back wall of the bar as Tom approached the woman, he didn’t want to appear too eager. It was only a few minutes before Tom returned, pushing two drunk patrons aside as he slid behind the bar, his puzzled look and silence toyed with Sylas' patience.

"She'll join you in the hour before closing.” Tom replaced the empty glass with a freshly poured whiskey, “That’s two hours from now, I reckon you’ll need a few more of these. And you’ll want to wipe that look of concern off your face before she catches a glimpse of it, sir.” There was a hint of frustration in the bartender’s voice. “And don’t ask me any questions, I don’t have the answers you’re lookin’ for.”

Sylas turned, resting his back against the bar he watched as patrons danced, their movements twisting in his mind as the music slowed. Not long into his wait a tall, slender woman approached the bar. She stood nervously to the right of Sylas, blocking his view of the woman he had been waiting patiently to see.

"I'm Kate." She let out a shy smile. "I've not seen you here before, thought I'd come see what you're about, sitting here so handsome." She twirled a finger through her wispy black hair.

Sylas liked the attention. By the end of the hour he understood that Kate was the spoiled daughter of a wealthy family. When her pretty face and friendly personality didn't charm those she pursued she would turn to her brother and his muscles. Had it been another night at a different bar, Sylas might have taken her home to enjoy everything the night had to offer.

Kate's brown eyes glistened as she moved her face closer to his. "So tell me, Sylas, what brought you to the bar tonight?"

"We're all here for the same reason, young lady." He brought his whiskey to his lips, hiding his annoyance.

Kate giggled, "which is it, love, lust, or loneliness?" Her brown eyes glanced at his left hand, "I'm guessing it's the latter for you?" She questioned, flirtatiously leaning toward him.

Sylas smiled. "No ma'am, I'm here for the whiskey." He didn't want to leave himself open to another long conversation. "Love is often lost on the lonely, especially when lust drives you to the bar."

Kate's response was cut off as Tom intervened, "Hey there Kate, 'nother beer for you?" Tom's voice crept between the two. Kate looked longingly at Sylas. "Put her beer on my tab." Sylas rolled his eyes, hoping Tom would intervene. He knew this game too well. "I'll have another whiskey, please." The bartender pulled a fresh mug from the ice bin and laughed.

"Kate, go find your friends and leave my patrons alone. I won't settle for you causing trouble tonight. Besides, this gentleman has business to attend to." He glanced in the direction of the second floor balcony. She sneered in Tom's direction, placed her hand just above Sylas' knee and winked. "Wouldn't you prefer to have a bit of fun before attending to whatever business you have?" She pulled her lips into a pout as Sylas let out a nervous laugh.

"My dear, I walked into this bar alone and that's how I intend to leave." Returning a wink, he finished off his whiskey, "the kind of fun I'm looking for isn't something a woman like you could ever hope to offer me." Sylas brushed her hand from his leg and turned to face the bar.

Kate squinted at Sylas as she straightened her stance, "Tom," she called out, "Tom!" Her voice carried an impatient tone, "I'll pay for my own drink! You know as well as I, only a gentleman is allowed to buy this lady a drink." Her eyes met Sylas as she spoke, a rage starting to build. "Besides, Sir, I wasn't offering anything, I wouldn't bother with a man like you. I prefer to spend my time with those that know how to have fun!" She pulled away from the bar in haste, allowing a splash of beer to skip over the edge of her glass, landing directly in Sylas' lap.

Laughter floated from the balcony and Sylas knew the woman in green had been watching him. A shade of red colored his cheeks as he glanced upward in time to see her smiling down at him. The moment was interrupted as Tom placed a dry rag on the counter next to him. “She ain’t nothin’ but trouble, that Kate, always getting patrons scuffed up by her brother when she doesn’t get her way. You did good to tell her off like that, but she fancies you and I’m sure ‘fore the night is over you’ll get to meet Ben and his two friends.” The bartender held up his fists and nodded his head. “Don’t worry too much, it’s more show than anything. He ain’t got the guts to fight with her up there.”

Sylas stood to wipe the beer from his trousers just as two men made their way to the bar, each man standing on either side of him. “Speak of the devil,” Tom placed his hands on the bar behind Sylas, “Ben, get your sorry ass out o’ my bar. I’m not dealing with your temper tonight and you ain’t getting any more beer from me.”

Ben stood to the left of Sylas, he was a short man, stalky and muscular. His clean shaven face was met with long sideburns that melted into his thick black hair. “My sister is crying over there. I’m guessing you’re the sorry fool that caused that nonsense.” Ben looked over Sylas, sizing him up as one would when preparing for a fight. “I don’t see any reason for a man like you to leave a girl that sweet in tears. And now, I gotta tell my old man why his princess is coming home from her night out in tears, make-up all over her face…”

Sylas cleared his throat, “your sister is drunk, she made her way through a dozen men before me, her advances toward me weren’t welcome. I found it in poor taste, the way she approached me. I entertained her for nearly an hour, left no impression I was interested in anything more than conversation. If your father would like an explanation, I’d be more than happy to provide him one.”

Sylas waited for a response. He knew men like Ben weren’t used to civil conversations. “I’ve been here for hours, watching people come and go. You know why she’s here. I also know that ‘Miss Princess’ calls to you every time her feelings aren’t validated, and as a gentleman I wouldn’t pursue a drunk woman. I’m only here for a few nights and I’d never take advantage of a woman in her state.”

Silence fell over the bar as Sylas cleared his throat, as he opened his mouth to continue he was interrupted by a woman’s voice behind him, “Ben, it’s time for you and that sister of yours to leave. I suggest you move with haste, my patience has worn thin with your family. Get out of my bar.”