Cold as Ice, Hot as Fire
A Bet
Kris sat at the with Flower, Engo, and Staalsy throwing back beers like they were out of style. Truthfully, he would have rather been at home watching game tape or working out, but they forced him to go out for the night. It was Flower's idea of cheering him up, but it wasn't particularly working. As he silently drank his beer and pretended to listen he decided to stare at her. Lana had been on his mind, so he wondered if it was a curse or blessing that she was working that night. Part of him was still slightly worried about her, while the other part of him craved the idea of pulling her into a bathroom stall. He watched her serve up drinks and flirt with the other guys at the bar like she did every other night, but the way she glanced at him was different. Those cold green eyes of hers could light a fire in his mind. She was intoxicating, and it was like she was teasing him with her outfit. Those knee high boots, a short jean skirt, and an old Metallica t-shirt were all items he desperately wanted to see on the floor. He needed an escape after a bad string of games and a terrible trip home; maybe a taste of honey would cure his depression.
"Tanger, who are you bringing," asked Marc Andre. Kris turned his head and nearly knocked over his beer as she said, "hmmm?" His best friend laughed and said, "You haven't heard a single word we've said have you? Which girls are you staring at this time?" Deryk smirked and said, "It's OK Tanger, I've been scoping out the real estate as well." Kris chugged the last of his beer and said, "I'm supposed to look, remember, I'm single." His best friend nodded and said, "Well it's certainly a step in the right direction after last weekend." The words burned, especially coming from Marc. So what? He had a bit of a relapse when he ran into Kate in Montreal. She was out flaunting her new boyfriend and it felt like she was shoving their old relationship back in his face on purpose. Needless to say the evening ended with him leaving and getting very drunk at a bar across the street, and his two best friends literally dragging him home. The hangover was terrible, but the heavy thoughts in his head were worse.
"Anyway, I was asking who are you going to take to the benefit monday night?" Kris paused and had totally forgotten about Vero's community project, it was a benefit for the Humane Society. "You didn't find a date yet Tanger?" Staal said in a surprised tone, "You're this city's most eligible bachelor. There has to be someone." He was more like a brokenhearted moron hung up on his ex rather than a bachelor. Kris shook his head and said, "If I go, I'll go solo." All three of the guys then began to harass him about finding a date which was getting on his nerves. Max was pushing him to sleep with a different girl every night, while Marc wanted him to find someone new. Couldn't they just understand he didn't want anything right now?
"What about the bartender," Deryk suggested, "I've caught you eying up her legs all night. And man are they nice legs" Kris knew he was busted, but shrugged it off and said, "They are kinda hard to ignore -- but I can't take her." Staal laughed and said, "For Christ's sake Engo, Talbo couldn't get her into bed what makes you think he could take her on a date?" Kris nodded his head in agreement, dismissing the idea. His friends continued to argue as his mind wandered, thinking that a date would never happen. First off he didn't want to let anyone onto what they had, and secondly because he would probably scare her off by even entertaining the thought. Frankly, at this point he would rather not go at all and just write a big fat check.
---
Lana finished pouring two fresh pitchers of beer and carried them across the room to Kris's table. The guys seemed very enthusiastic about something, while Kris just looked like he wanted to leave. "Who has this round," she asked with a smile while stacking the other empty pitchers inside each other. "I'll take it," said the gruff looking man that she didn't recognize, "but I have a question for you...Are you working monday night?" Lana raised her eyebrow as both Marc-Andre and Jordan snickered like schoolboys. "Um...the bar is closed on Mondays," she answered in a hesitant tone while wondering what they were up to.
"Lana, just ignore him," Kris said interjecting awkwardly, "Engo, Knock it off." Lana cocked her head to the side wondering why he was so flustered and said, "Knock what off?" Both Jordan and Marc continued to giggle as the one Kris called Engo looked at her like he wanted to say something. Lana her her hand on her hip as she said, "stop acting like five year-old's and just cut to the chase here...I do have other tables you know."
"Well Lana, You see our friend here is supposed to go to a black tie benefit," he explained, "It's to raise money for puppies and cats, or something like that." Lana raised an eyebrow as he went on to explain what she already knew, that he was single and hadn't been on a date since his girlfriend left him. Kris's face seemed to turn white and he appeared to be uncomfortable, which was almost amusing for her. The guy smiled and continued in his smokey voice, "So you see our poor, lonely Tanger here needs a date. And I made a bet that I could get you to go with him." Lana smiled and started to laugh, but then settled herself down. "A bet? Really? That's pretty immature boys," she said with a smirk, "didn't they tell you I'm the ice queen? I don't do dates." Deryk smirked and said, "Yeah, all three of them bet you'd say no." Lana smiled and let out another giggle as she asked, "Well why did you think I would say yes?" Without hesitation he replied, "Because you look like the type willing to help dish out revenge."
"Revenge?" she said in a surprised voice, "And how would I do that?" Deryk's grin grew bigger as he said, "By going with him as his hot date, proving to his ex that he can do better." Could she truly help him serve up a cold dish of revenge by being his date? Probably not, but she already knew what her answer was. "Sorry, but I'm going to say no..." Alana started to say with a cold face as Marc and Jordan put out their hands to collect, "...unless he asks me himself." She watched as both Marc and Jordan's jaws dropped, and stared at Kris with a look that said 'I'm waiting'. He seemed to hesitate in the silence for a moment before he mustered out, "Lana would you go to the benefit, with me?"
"Sure, as long as you don't expect me to be anything more than arm candy," she responded, "I have a reputation to maintain you know." He nodded slowly as Deryk collected his money from the bet with a laugh. "And you, I hope you're donating that to my tip jar," Lana said without any shame, "Because I don't have any magic fairies to bring me a dress." She gave them a wink before picking up their empty pitchers and heading back to work. She wasn't sure if this was the right choice, but she couldn't bring herself to say no to him. He seemed more broken than usual, and maybe she could cheer him up in a way that didn't involve them having hot, crazy sex for once.
----
Everyone had left the bar, but after they all piled into their cars he circled the block once before parking once again on a side street. Kris was in a state of shock from what happened, and he wanted answers. So he waited behind the bar for her. As the door opened she had a smirk on her face, "I knew you'd be here." Lana tugged on his arm and started walking towards her apartment, and he followed quickly behind. "So why did you do it?" Kris asked, "I thought you wanted to keep things to strictly sex and under the radar?" She shrugged and said, "He had me at the free food and booze. Plus just couldn't bring myself to embarrass you; you know you looked so pathetic tonight."
The response was what he expected from Lana; Brutally cold and honest. He did look pathetic, and she was the only one who had the guts to say so. "Something happened in Montreal huh," she continued as they approached her front gate, "And I'm guessing it involves your Ex?" Kris nodded and followed her inside, where he proceeded to explain every detail of what happened. How he went to the charity function and she was there with her new boyfriend, and how she was with their mutual friends talking about how wonderful he was. It hurt, but he continued spilling, explaining the digs she made at him on the side. Comments about how her boyfriend was always around, he spoiled her, and all the interesting dates they had. But the worst was when she started talking about how much she loved him. Kris couldn't take it, so he left the benefit and went to the tavern across the street where he proceeded to drink his anger and hurt away.
"She sounds like a major bitch," Lana remarked in a calm voice, "I think you're better off without her, but I also know exactly how you feel" She leaned back on the the couch bed and let out a sigh. "My ex is a musician, like I am," she explained, "Except he makes money by writing songs for others." Kris watched as she grew uncomfortable as she finished, "So I am reminded of my shortcomings, and what happened when I hear those songs. And every-time they play on the radio it's like those lyrics are stabbing me." His heart ached for Lana as she offered him a small glimpse of what happened Not only did he hurt her before, but he was still hurting her from a distance. Suddenly he was starting to realize why she didn't believe in love anymore.
His thoughts thought were interrupted as she suddenly sat upright and said, "So you know what I do? I write my own songs. And someday, he's going to have to hear them." Lana leaned into his shoulder and said, "someday you'll get your moment, and she'll have to listen. And that's when she'll regret throwing away what she had...Just like he'll regret losing me." Kris at there quietly, for a moment as the words rang in his head. She'll regret throwing away what she had. He wondered if that would happen, but if anything, maybe he could find a way to prove to her that he is fine without her...once he convinces himself.
"I just wanted you to know that you aren't alone in the way you feel," she said while looking up at him, "But this is getting a bit to personal. So I think you should go home before we get too touchy-feely." Just as she opened up, she began to shut him out moments later. He was happy that he got to hear a bit about her story, but he knew better than to ask for more at least for now. So for the first time tat night he cracked a smile and said, "Yeah, I suppose I should go home since I killed the mood for hot sex huh?" She laughed and he leaned in and kissed her forehead as a thank you before standing up and sliding back into his shoes. "Yes you are a total mood killer," she teased, "Now get out of here before I change my mind about Monday."
"Tanger, who are you bringing," asked Marc Andre. Kris turned his head and nearly knocked over his beer as she said, "hmmm?" His best friend laughed and said, "You haven't heard a single word we've said have you? Which girls are you staring at this time?" Deryk smirked and said, "It's OK Tanger, I've been scoping out the real estate as well." Kris chugged the last of his beer and said, "I'm supposed to look, remember, I'm single." His best friend nodded and said, "Well it's certainly a step in the right direction after last weekend." The words burned, especially coming from Marc. So what? He had a bit of a relapse when he ran into Kate in Montreal. She was out flaunting her new boyfriend and it felt like she was shoving their old relationship back in his face on purpose. Needless to say the evening ended with him leaving and getting very drunk at a bar across the street, and his two best friends literally dragging him home. The hangover was terrible, but the heavy thoughts in his head were worse.
"Anyway, I was asking who are you going to take to the benefit monday night?" Kris paused and had totally forgotten about Vero's community project, it was a benefit for the Humane Society. "You didn't find a date yet Tanger?" Staal said in a surprised tone, "You're this city's most eligible bachelor. There has to be someone." He was more like a brokenhearted moron hung up on his ex rather than a bachelor. Kris shook his head and said, "If I go, I'll go solo." All three of the guys then began to harass him about finding a date which was getting on his nerves. Max was pushing him to sleep with a different girl every night, while Marc wanted him to find someone new. Couldn't they just understand he didn't want anything right now?
"What about the bartender," Deryk suggested, "I've caught you eying up her legs all night. And man are they nice legs" Kris knew he was busted, but shrugged it off and said, "They are kinda hard to ignore -- but I can't take her." Staal laughed and said, "For Christ's sake Engo, Talbo couldn't get her into bed what makes you think he could take her on a date?" Kris nodded his head in agreement, dismissing the idea. His friends continued to argue as his mind wandered, thinking that a date would never happen. First off he didn't want to let anyone onto what they had, and secondly because he would probably scare her off by even entertaining the thought. Frankly, at this point he would rather not go at all and just write a big fat check.
---
Lana finished pouring two fresh pitchers of beer and carried them across the room to Kris's table. The guys seemed very enthusiastic about something, while Kris just looked like he wanted to leave. "Who has this round," she asked with a smile while stacking the other empty pitchers inside each other. "I'll take it," said the gruff looking man that she didn't recognize, "but I have a question for you...Are you working monday night?" Lana raised her eyebrow as both Marc-Andre and Jordan snickered like schoolboys. "Um...the bar is closed on Mondays," she answered in a hesitant tone while wondering what they were up to.
"Lana, just ignore him," Kris said interjecting awkwardly, "Engo, Knock it off." Lana cocked her head to the side wondering why he was so flustered and said, "Knock what off?" Both Jordan and Marc continued to giggle as the one Kris called Engo looked at her like he wanted to say something. Lana her her hand on her hip as she said, "stop acting like five year-old's and just cut to the chase here...I do have other tables you know."
"Well Lana, You see our friend here is supposed to go to a black tie benefit," he explained, "It's to raise money for puppies and cats, or something like that." Lana raised an eyebrow as he went on to explain what she already knew, that he was single and hadn't been on a date since his girlfriend left him. Kris's face seemed to turn white and he appeared to be uncomfortable, which was almost amusing for her. The guy smiled and continued in his smokey voice, "So you see our poor, lonely Tanger here needs a date. And I made a bet that I could get you to go with him." Lana smiled and started to laugh, but then settled herself down. "A bet? Really? That's pretty immature boys," she said with a smirk, "didn't they tell you I'm the ice queen? I don't do dates." Deryk smirked and said, "Yeah, all three of them bet you'd say no." Lana smiled and let out another giggle as she asked, "Well why did you think I would say yes?" Without hesitation he replied, "Because you look like the type willing to help dish out revenge."
"Revenge?" she said in a surprised voice, "And how would I do that?" Deryk's grin grew bigger as he said, "By going with him as his hot date, proving to his ex that he can do better." Could she truly help him serve up a cold dish of revenge by being his date? Probably not, but she already knew what her answer was. "Sorry, but I'm going to say no..." Alana started to say with a cold face as Marc and Jordan put out their hands to collect, "...unless he asks me himself." She watched as both Marc and Jordan's jaws dropped, and stared at Kris with a look that said 'I'm waiting'. He seemed to hesitate in the silence for a moment before he mustered out, "Lana would you go to the benefit, with me?"
"Sure, as long as you don't expect me to be anything more than arm candy," she responded, "I have a reputation to maintain you know." He nodded slowly as Deryk collected his money from the bet with a laugh. "And you, I hope you're donating that to my tip jar," Lana said without any shame, "Because I don't have any magic fairies to bring me a dress." She gave them a wink before picking up their empty pitchers and heading back to work. She wasn't sure if this was the right choice, but she couldn't bring herself to say no to him. He seemed more broken than usual, and maybe she could cheer him up in a way that didn't involve them having hot, crazy sex for once.
----
Everyone had left the bar, but after they all piled into their cars he circled the block once before parking once again on a side street. Kris was in a state of shock from what happened, and he wanted answers. So he waited behind the bar for her. As the door opened she had a smirk on her face, "I knew you'd be here." Lana tugged on his arm and started walking towards her apartment, and he followed quickly behind. "So why did you do it?" Kris asked, "I thought you wanted to keep things to strictly sex and under the radar?" She shrugged and said, "He had me at the free food and booze. Plus just couldn't bring myself to embarrass you; you know you looked so pathetic tonight."
The response was what he expected from Lana; Brutally cold and honest. He did look pathetic, and she was the only one who had the guts to say so. "Something happened in Montreal huh," she continued as they approached her front gate, "And I'm guessing it involves your Ex?" Kris nodded and followed her inside, where he proceeded to explain every detail of what happened. How he went to the charity function and she was there with her new boyfriend, and how she was with their mutual friends talking about how wonderful he was. It hurt, but he continued spilling, explaining the digs she made at him on the side. Comments about how her boyfriend was always around, he spoiled her, and all the interesting dates they had. But the worst was when she started talking about how much she loved him. Kris couldn't take it, so he left the benefit and went to the tavern across the street where he proceeded to drink his anger and hurt away.
"She sounds like a major bitch," Lana remarked in a calm voice, "I think you're better off without her, but I also know exactly how you feel" She leaned back on the the couch bed and let out a sigh. "My ex is a musician, like I am," she explained, "Except he makes money by writing songs for others." Kris watched as she grew uncomfortable as she finished, "So I am reminded of my shortcomings, and what happened when I hear those songs. And every-time they play on the radio it's like those lyrics are stabbing me." His heart ached for Lana as she offered him a small glimpse of what happened Not only did he hurt her before, but he was still hurting her from a distance. Suddenly he was starting to realize why she didn't believe in love anymore.
His thoughts thought were interrupted as she suddenly sat upright and said, "So you know what I do? I write my own songs. And someday, he's going to have to hear them." Lana leaned into his shoulder and said, "someday you'll get your moment, and she'll have to listen. And that's when she'll regret throwing away what she had...Just like he'll regret losing me." Kris at there quietly, for a moment as the words rang in his head. She'll regret throwing away what she had. He wondered if that would happen, but if anything, maybe he could find a way to prove to her that he is fine without her...once he convinces himself.
"I just wanted you to know that you aren't alone in the way you feel," she said while looking up at him, "But this is getting a bit to personal. So I think you should go home before we get too touchy-feely." Just as she opened up, she began to shut him out moments later. He was happy that he got to hear a bit about her story, but he knew better than to ask for more at least for now. So for the first time tat night he cracked a smile and said, "Yeah, I suppose I should go home since I killed the mood for hot sex huh?" She laughed and he leaned in and kissed her forehead as a thank you before standing up and sliding back into his shoes. "Yes you are a total mood killer," she teased, "Now get out of here before I change my mind about Monday."
Love<3
5/20/14