“Our deeds determine us as much as we determine our deeds.”—George Elliot


♢Lucy’s POV♢


I thought about going home to cool off some steam, but I ended up finding myself drinking alone at Clam’s, the local bar. A big football game was on television tonight, The World Cup match, so most of the lads were watching that except for one. He came inside the pub with a few pals and ordered them some whiskey from the pool table. I didn’t bother to interact with him at first because we were on opposite ends of the bar, but he just kept staring at me while he played, and it was getting on my nerves. Men. Why can’t they keep their eyes to themselves? I drank the rest of my screwdriver before building up enough confidence to walk over to the pool table to carefully observe their game.

“Hey, Excuse me. Miss, are you lost? The bar’s over there,” One of his friends rudely said to me as I approached their table.

I stood there with a blank face. You can do this Lucy. Say something. Anything. What's the first thing that pops into your head? Your name, duh.

“N-no, I just thought I’d come over and introduce myself. I’m Lucy.” I nervously said back to him.

“Well, Lucy. We’re in the middle of a game here so—”

“—It’s alright, Sean. If the pretty lady wants to stay, let her stay,” He told his friend.

“See, Sean. I can stay.” I smiled while pulling up a bar stool.

“Whatever,” Sean muttered under his breath.

“There’s space next to me if you want to watch from here,” A man off to the side said, “My name’s Connor.”

“Thanks, Connor.” I said while setting my stool next to him.

I rested my chin in my hand as I watched Sean and his friend go head and head in their game of pool. All they were doing was just knocking some balls around with a stick into a hole. I couldn’t see the fun in any of it at all.


“Who’s winning?” I whispered to Connor in a bored state of mind.

“Sean is, but Caleb’s not that far off,” he told me, “Two holes in one should do him some good.”

“You play?” I asked curiously.

“Nah, I’m much more of a card person. How about you, do you play any pool?”

I shook my head. “Not at all. I don’t see the point nor the fun in knocking around balls with someone.”

“I dunno, knocking balls with someone sounds quite fun when you put it that way,” Connor winked. I giggled.

“No pun intended, right?” I added.

“Eh, maybe, maybe not. I guess you’ll never know, but you know what I just realized…You never told me your name,” He stated.

“If you buy me a drink, I just might,” I grinned.


I don’t know what possessed me to say that, but I decided to go with it. Helping me up from my bar stool, Connor escorted me over to the bar and bought me an apple martini, hoping to retrieve my name in return. Instead, he got to hear me vent about my boy problems. “My best friend tried to set me up with someone today. He was a total ass. I should’ve just let her go on her stupid date alone. You know what the guy said to me? We were going to see a movie, and he had the nerve to say to me: justtake the fucking ticket orgohome because I didn’t want to see it withhim.” I slurred, gulping down the rest of my martini. “Can you believe that?”

“If he told you to go home, why are you here?” he asked me.

Wasn’t it obvious?

I scoffed. “He’s not my daddy. I’m a big girl, and I can do what I want.”

Connor chuckled. “Ha ha ha. That’s what I thought. But hey, I’m sorry your evening didn’t go quite as planned.”

“Don’t worry, it went even better.” I smiled. “I’m Lucy by the way. Lucy Grayson.”

“Connor Meade. It’s been fun chatting with you, Lucy, but I’m afraid I have to split. My friends and I are supposed to be at this party, and we’re running late!” He yelled the last part at them.

“Oh, well, do you want my number to take with you?” I asked him as he got up.

“I was honestly too chicken to ask. I’d love to have your digits,” Connor smirked.


With the click of a pen, I wrote my number onto a napkin and handed it to Connor. It was my way of saying thank you for the apple martini. Plus, he seemed like a decent guy.


“So, how do you plan on getting home?” he inquired.

“Uh…By a cab I guess.” I shrugged.

“Do you want me to get one for you?” Connor offered.

Such a gentleman.

“Thanks, that would be great,” I nodded.

“Well, come on then. I doubt it will stick around if no one gets in,” He joked.

“Oh, right.” I blushed while getting up.


Connor and his friends patiently waited with me until a cab came, and I got in. As the driver drove off, I stuck my head outside of the window and said goodbye to all of them and smiled back at Connor. Once they were far out of sight, I stuck my head back inside and turned on my phone.

20 Missed Calls
4 Voicemails
6 New Messages

All from Anya. She must be worried sick about me. And Harry’s to blame. God, I wish I never met him. I opened up my mailbox and viewed all my messages.

Anya: OMG where did u go? Harry said that u ran off sent at 11:45 pm
Anya: Y r u not answering my calls? Pick up the damn phone btch sent at 11:47 pm
Anya: R u dead?!!? sent at 12:15 am
Anya: Lucy plz come home. I’m worried about u… sent at 12:22 am
Anya: Plz b okay!!! sent at 12:26 am
Anya: I’m calling the cops sent at 12:40 pm
Me: Chill, don’t call the copz. I’m omw home. sent at 12:41 am


INCOMING CALL
ANYA


“Hello?” I spoke into the speaker.

— “Lucy Elizabeth Grayson!” Anya yelled, “don’t you ever disappear on me like that again. I’ve been worried sick.”

“Sorry mom. Since when do I have a curfew?” I laughed.

— “Listen. There are better ways to deal with things than just running off. What the bloody hell were you thinking?!”

“I wasn’t, Okay!” I snapped, “and you know what? It feels good not to think. I should do it more often.”

— “Lucy, don’t hang—”

“—I’ll see you when I get home.” I cut her off before hanging up the phone. My head was already starting to pound and the last thing I wanted was to hear her screaming in my ear.

---

I dropped my heels to the floor and kicked the bedroom door closed behind me while tossing the house keys onto my desk. What time is it? The clock on the nightstand read 1:30 am, and I sighed while walking to the bathroom.


*Thirty Minutes Later*


I came back out in a knee length Nirvana black tee and my yellow fuzzy socks. I didn’t acquire the energy to put on any other garments of clothing so I went for something easily removable. I started braiding my hair to the side as I left my room and entered the kitchen where I saw Anya drinking a tall glass of water.


“Are you gonna tell me what happened or not?” she asked me after gulping down the rest of her water.

“There’s nothing for me to tell you,” I shrugged, walking around her to open the fridge. I grabbed a slice of American cheese and some Ritz crackers and put them into a bowl before walking into the living room.

“How do you know Harry?” she questioned while joining me on the sofa.

“I don’t know him.”

“You know what I meant.”

“Hmm…If I tell you, will you leave me alone?” I sighed. She nodded.

“You won’t hear a peep out of me for the rest of the night. I promise”

I ripped a piece of cheese off from the much bigger slice, placed it onto my cracker, and threw it into my mouth.

“Well?” she pressed on.

“Alright, alright. Remember that night we went to Planet Bang?”

“Yeah. We went there to celebrate your return home with a college degree,” Anya answered.

“I met him after I went back to look for our bags. He claimed that he found them and scolded me for being careless with my stuff.” I rolled my eyes as I ate another cracker with cheese.

“Is that why you slapped him?”

“No. I slapped him because—” I stopped myself in the middle of my sentence and sighed, “—forget it. I told you how we met and that’s all you’re getting.”

“Lucy, that’s not fair. You have to tell me what he did!” She whined. I shook my head.

“Pretty, pretty, pretty please with a cherry on top?” She begged.

“Fine…He said—and I quote— How wet can you get for me, baby?” I shivered as the words left my mouth. No girl in their right mind wants to be asked that. Being sexually assaulted is degrading enough.

“Wow, that’s messed up. But I’m sure he didn’t mean it. He was probably drunk.”

“Why are you defending him?”

“I’m not. I agree that it was ignorant of him to say that to you.”

“I’m glad you think so because I’m not going anywhere near that guy unless I get an apology from him.” I sighed.

“I don’t blame you. So…do you want to finish watching Scooby-Doo?” Anya asked.

“You’re not going to try…and leave this time, are you?” I yawned.

“I won’t.” She smiled reassuringly.

“Okay…”

Notes