Harry placed his craft beer on the table. The dark hewed bottle nearly matching his own darkly colored skin. He adjusted the Rebel Alliance cuff link so that it was parallel with his wrist. He looked up. His two best friends had found the dance floor too enticing not to try. As a consequence Harry was left alone at the four person table with the blush wine and glass of whiskey. The Aloe Blac slow jam remix was playing just above the level in which one could have a conversation without the need to yell at the one you were talking to.
He looked around at the other 30 somethings who had gathered at Soul Sushi to enjoy their Friday night. Amanda and Frank had a knack for finding the quirkiest food fusion restaurants in the city. His closest white friends since college, Amanda and Frank had never been able to understand that some cultures really were never meant to come together. Nowhere else could he imagine ordering a Tuna roll with an option of collard greens as an appetizer. “How did I get myself talked into coming to a place like this?” Harry muttered.
“Because we were tired of seeing you mope around your apartment Friday night after Friday night.”
Harry nodded as his two friends returned.
“It’s been six weeks since Janel left.” Amanda’s voice high and all of a sudden to loud as the DJ fumbled with turn tables. “She made her choice, a dumb and shitty one, we can all agree. But the two of you were never right for each other.”
“Just like all the other ex’s.”Harry sneered as the music started up again. “Not enough this, not enough that. If not one thing, another.”
“You’re different, we all knew that the moment you and I became dorm mates in Watson Hall. But cheer up, the one you looking for is bound to be out there.” Desperate to change subjects Harry noticed Frank’s Whiskey was nearly empty. “Do you want another?” pointing to the glass.
“Yes, but that is my last for now. I don’t want to get to the Restaurant and be tipsy.”
Harry weaved his way through the crowd to the bar, and waved a hand at the bartender. He placed the empty beer bottle next to the glass, “Jamison on the Rocks.”
“You want another one?” The bartender pointer gesturing to the bottle.
“A glass of water this time.” Harry caught the bartender’s momentary frown of disapproval.
“Nice cuff-links,” said a woman to his left.
“Thanks.” Harry said flatly, looking in the direction of the woman briefly. He did not intend to give more than a glance toward the women. But he glimpsed just above her left breast at a pin. It was yellow and orange concentric circles with Chinese characters and the word “Serenity” in the near ground.
“Your’s too.” Harry scrambled to say something else, “You aim to misbehave tonight?”
He regretted it the second he heard himself say it. But to his surprise, “Why? Do you want to be bad guys?”
Both erupted in laughter.
“Ok, that was admittedly the worst, or at least nerdiest pick up line ever. I apologize.”
“No I have heard worse, you should hear the ones I got at Comic-Con last year. My name is Samantha.” Samantha extended her hand out in greeting.
“Hi, um” Harry’s mind stumbled again as he finally really sized up the woman he had just met. She was a few inches shorter than he was and her skin tone was also a few shades lighter, almond colored verses his dark mahogany. She had a oval shaped face with bleached blonde cropped hair. Her lip stick was a mellow pink.
“Hey, your drink.” The bartender, grabbing his attention, interrupted his train of thought.
“Oh, yes. Thank you.” He said to the bartender and then turned back to Samantha, “Harry, name’s Harry. My friends are over there, you want to join us?”
