On the Outside Looking In (Wrong Reasons) by JL Paul Page B

ate at home,” I said, surveying the scene.  “What’s the deal with the older crowd?”
    Lifting a shoulder, he grabbed a rag and wiped down the bar.  “They usually hang out until later when the college kids start coming in.”
    “And is there a band tonight?”
    “No,” he said.  “Not tonight.  Usually only on Fridays unless Rusty has something special going on.”
    I nodded, glad.  I enjoyed listening to Out Back, but I wasn’t in the mood for loud music that forced people to yell at each other in order to engage in conversation.
    Evan stayed busy, even though the crowd was small, refilling drinks and serving food from the kitchen.  As I watched him work, I couldn’t help but to admire him.  Not only was he handsome, but he had a long, lean body and his vintage tee stretched tightly across his chest, hinting that there might something worth looking at underneath.  No wonder the girls flocked to the bar when he was working.
    Between customers, Evan stood in front of me, laughing and chatting, bringing up some of the things we’d done that day. He kept referring to the bulldog as Charlie and threatened to buy me one of the raunchier t-shirts we’d found that day.  I was having fun, enjoying being in his company, and wondered briefly about the little kiss.
    As the hour grew later, the older patrons filtered out while the younger set started coming in.  I recognized a few people from campus and was surprised when two girls from my English class sat next to me at the bar, eager to chat.
    “Morgan!  I never thought I’d see you here,” said Heidi, a perky girl with hair dyed so many times it was hard to tell what color it actually was.
    “Me, either,” replied Jenn, her heavyset, dour friend.  “We thought you were more the studious type.”
    I shrugged.  “I like to get out once in a while.  Can’t study all the time.”
    “Nope,” said Heidi as Evan appeared to check their IDs and take their order.  With heavy eyes, she smiled at him, a sly curl to her lips. “You know we’re old enough, Evan.  We’ve been here before.”
    “Company policy,” he said, handing back her license. “What can I get you?”
    “Two Screwdrivers and whatever our buddy, Morgan, wants.”  Her long lashes fluttered as she allowed her nails to lightly scrape his hand while she retrieved her ID.
    “I’m fine,” I said, pointing at my glass.  “But thanks.”
    “Okay,” Heidi said as Evan turned to the bottles behind him, selecting a bottle of vodka.  “He is yummy, isn’t he?”
    “Yep,” Jenn said.  “Tiffany used to date him, remember?”
    “Oh, I remember,” Heidi said , slapping a flirtatious smile on her lips as Evan placed their drinks on the bar.  Heidi removed a few bills from her purse, placing them in his hand.  “Keep the change, sweetie.”
    “Thanks,” Evan said, spinning on his heel to punch something into the register and dropping the cash into the till.  He removed the change and tossed it into a large bucket next to the register.
    “So, how’s your semester going?” Heidi asked.
    “ Fine, and yours?”
    “It sucks,” Heidi said.  “It’s been so boring.  No one’s thrown a great party since the end of last semester.”
    “I’m always hearing people talk about parties during class,” I said.
    Heidi snorted and took a huge gulp of her drink.  “Yeah, lame parties.  I want to go to a kick ass, huge party.”
    “Need anything, Morgan?” Evan asked.  When I shook my head, he flashed a smile.
    “I could use a refill,” Jenn said, shaking her glass.  “I’m empty.”
    “No problem,” he said as he took Heidi’s glass, too, and made them fresh drinks.  Heidi paid again, tipping very well.
    Just as I was wishing that they wouldn’t have taken the stools beside me, Heidi and Jenn put their heads together, watching Evan work behind the bar, and giggling like school girls.  In that second I realized that they hadn’t sat at the bar to talk to me –