4 - Top Shelf

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The streets were fairly empty tonight, which was odd for a Chicago weekend. Especially in the heart of the city.

Ray walked with his head down and the buzz from a night of drinking flowing through him still. It was cold and Ray felt naked without his jacket, but the warmth from the alcohol made up for it.

That and his thoughts of Danny.

How long had it been since he'd seen her last? A day? Two? It felt like years. No matter how often he imagined her in his mind, nothing was as satisfying as actually seeing her. He couldn't place it but there was just something about those brown eyes that had him stuck. The sexual attraction was there, obviously, but Ray felt petty hormonal stuff like that towards anyone with breast. With Danny it was something else.

He wanted her, but he wanted her to want him just as much.

After a few blocks of walking Ray finally arrived at Top Shelf. He'd somehow left his phone and jacket with Danny the last time he saw her and, when he called from Rowan's phone, she answered and they set up a meeting place and time.

Top Shelf being that place. Top Shelf was a quaint city bar mostly occupied by rowdy college students and one of the last places Ray would ever want to go. The atmosphere was Budweiser, cheap cologne, college spirit, rich kids, and beer pong. Not to mention fraternities. 

Basically, everything Ray hated.

But Danny was there. And if Danny was there Ray would be too. So, he waited as a group of boys stumbled out of the bar laughing and hollering before pushing his way inside. Even though the streets were empty the bar was fairly packed. He spotted Danny in the far back corner sitting at a table with her friend Aubree, a group of guys surrounding them. They were all laughing and, while it was obvious by the way they clung to each other that one of the boys was Aubree's boyfriend, Ray didn't know who the others were. But, what was equally as obvious, was that they were standing too close to Danny.

Danny, who had made it her mission not to get drunk and make a fool of herself tonight, laughed along with the others as their friend Thomas told yet another joke.

They'd all been at the bar for about an hour now and while she loved spending time with her friends she was anxious for Ray to show up. Was she crazy for being excited to see him again? They'd only met once and it's not like he was a very talkative guy but even so, there was something about him that made him interesting.

"Danny where do you keep going, girl?" Brandon laughed, snapping his fingers in front of her face. "I swear you've spaced out on us at least ten times tonight."

"Don't tell me you're too cool for us now," Thomas teased, nudging her shoulder with his own.

"What? You guys know I love you. I'm just waiting for someone is all." Danny tried to say it as nonchalantly and casually as she could but of course her friends made a big deal about it. Soon enough the bar was filled with childish and suggestive 'ooohs'. Danny blushed as Brandon and Derek, the other friend with them, started humping the bar table like idiots.

She was seconds away from calling them all idiots and leaving when she felt a hand lightly press against the middle of her back. She turned around only to come face to face with Ray, who was acknowledging no one at the table but her.

"Hey."

"H-Hey. You're here..."

Danny thought she saw the corner of Ray's lips twitch in a smirk, but then she figured she imagined it. His face was just as blank as the last time she'd seen it. Just as emotionless and devastatingly handsome.

"Hi Ray!" Aubree yelled, pulling the star-crossed lovers out of their little staring contest. While Danny mentally calmed herself down, Ray looked up at Aubree and nodded his head in recognition.

"Um, who are you?" Brandon asked with a shaky chuckle. It wasn't rude the way he spoke, just curious, but Ray couldn't help but size him up. In fact, he sized up all of the boys at the table. It was a habit he couldn't shake now and Ray was only satisfied when he figured he could take them all in a fight if it came down to it.

"Guys," Aubree spoke up, "this is Ray. He's the one who fixed my baby the other day."

"Do you want to get a different table? I-I mean unless you just wanted to get your stuff and go in which case I can just hand it to you. I mean i-it's not like you need to have a drink with me. I didn't expect-"

"A different table is fine."

Danny smiled softly, happy that he wasn't ready to leave just yet. Giving her friends a look to behave and not embarrass her from across the room, she grabbed the rum and coke she'd been sipping on all night along with Ray's things and stood, leading Ray to a booth by the windows.

The two sat down, Ray with a beer in his hand now, and Danny toyed with her straw as she looked at him.

"So um....hey."

This time Ray didn't bother hiding his smile and it only widened when he noticed Danny blush in return.

"Hello, Daniela."

"J-Just Danny is fine."

"You don't like Daniela?"

"No I do I just.....well I don't know," Danny stumbled, "it's just been Danny all my life."

Ray nodded, his lips wrapping around the top of the beer he'd snuck off a tray a waitress was carrying as he took a sip.

"Alright Danny. You come here often?"

Danny couldn't help but laugh and Ray smirked softly.

"What? Too cliche?"

"Maybe a bit," Danny giggled before clearing her throat. "But no. A couple times sure, but I don't really get out much."

"You don't like the noise?"

"I don't like the people. A sober crowd sure, an intoxicated one-no thank you. People get too sensitive and but hurt. Not to mention handsy. It's just not my cup of tea."

The way Danny spoke about it sounded like she was talking from personal experience and Ray felt a tick in his jaw. He didn't want to admit it, but he could imagine guys getting handsy with Danny. She was absolutely gorgeous and she didn't even realize it. Fück. He was tempted to try and take advantage of her too.

But the thought of anyone else doing such a thing made his blood boil. Danny noticed the tension and quickly took a sip of her own drink before trying to steer the conversation in another direction.

"Do you get out much?"

Ray shook his head no, which was on the borderline of being a lie. He did get out a lot, but it was hardly ever for legal reasons or to simply 'hang out.'

The two of them talked aimlessly after that. The conversation consisting mostly of Ray asking as much about Danny as he could while Danny found out almost nothing about Ray. The conversation was casual and relaxed and before they realized it, they'd been talking for almost two hours and it was nearly one in the morning.

"Danny babe," Aubree called from across the bar. The place was pretty empty now and it looked like it was Danny's cue to leave as well.

"Um, I've gotta go. Aubree is my ride and it's getting pretty late anyway."

Ray nodded and stood up with Danny. She quickly pulled her jacket on over her shoulders and handed Ray the jacket and phone that he'd forgotten last time.

"Wouldn't want you to lose those again," Danny said to which he responded with:

"It'd be a good excuse to see you again."

Needless to say, Danny froze where she stood and blushed, her mouth opening and closing like a fish.

"I-I'm sorry?"

The two of them were outside now. Danny's friends standing just a few feet away waiting for her even though Danny was in no rush to leave Ray's side.

"I'm asking if I can see you again."

"U-um yeah. Yeah, we can definitely see each other again."

Ray pulled out his phone and Danny followed suit. They exchanged numbers and with a smile, Ray told her goodnight and turned to walk away.

"Oh! Ray wait! Some, uh, s-somebody named Sammy kept calling your phone a lot. That's not....thats not like a girlfriend or anything...right?"

Ray smirked. "Sammy is a guy. And he's not important."

Blushing, Danny chewed her bottom lip and nodded, feeling both nosey and dumb for even asking. She waved shyly and Ray just smiled, watching her run off to catch up with Aubree who didn't bother hiding her eyebrows as she wiggled them and gave Danny a thumbs up.

Ray laughed, walking off again. 

That night as Danny lay down to finally go to sleep, her phone buzzed and lit up with the simple name: Ray.

Sweet dreams Daniela. Thank you for tonight.

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And I've finnnaallly updated! I'm sorry for the delay, I write stories on another site as well and I got sidetracked. But how is everyone? How did you like this chapter? The picture up top is another cover I made. I'm super open to any new ones you guys can think of! Please
Comment-vote-recommend.

edited 4/15/18

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