Just Be You (A Standalone Novella): And, I'll Just Be Me Read online

  “This Monday. Come join us at Johnny’s for a cold one, kick back and enjoy the sounds of DJ West, or have a few spins out on the dance floor. You’ll love the atmosphere, it’s home of the best beer.”

  Putting a loaded forkful of eggs into my mouth, I look at the screen.

  “On Wednesday, join us for dance lessons with our Johnny’s gang. Learn all the latest and greatest line dances. Thursday is Open Mic Night, where you can show off your talent singing, playing an instrument, or both. You can also have a round of Karaoke, or you can sit back, have a drink and enjoy the show. Friday through Tuesday will be hopping with DJ West’s tunes. Requests are welcomed.”

  Johnny’s. It’s the new bar opening up across the street. I’ve never been a “party girl” or even hung out with a lot of people. Some would classify me as an introvert, but I would’ve rather read, studied or gone to a museum or art gallery. Okay, so I might be a little bit of an introvert. I seem to be okay at the coffee shop though. Maybe it’s because I only talk to people long enough to take their orders and thank them. I’m behind a counter and other than cleaning the tables or the floor, I don’t have to get close to them. Once I got out on my own, I swore I would try to live a little, get out there and mingle – well as much as I’m able to. Maybe I should go check out the bar.

  “Grand opening is Monday! Come check us out. You’ll never want to leave.”

  I let out the most unladylike snort. I’ll be lucky if I stayed there the entire time. Hmm, classes don’t start until noon on Tuesday. Maybe I will go check it out, if I can make myself. Still, I dunno. I finish my breakfast, take the plate and fork to the kitchen, rinse them and put them in the dishwasher. Then go back, grab my cup along with my sketch pad and walk out onto my deck. It will never get old sitting down on my own deck, off my own apartment, and taking in the scenery before me. I scan over the beautiful blue water, the rush of the tide coming in, and the sandy beach. Over to the left, I see the trees blowing in the distance, looking back up toward this way, I take a deep breath and look around. A guy jogging on the beach. A couple walking hand in hand and…

  Wait!

  My eyes zone back to the guy. No shirt. Short dark hair. I keep following him, unable to tear my eyes away. His skin glistens in the sun. Beads of sweat slide down not only his gorgeous face but his broad chest, down, down, until they trickle into the waistband of his shorts. I watch his upper body as it twists with his movements. Blindly, I grope around the small table next to my lawn chair until I find my pencil and as I continue to watch him, I open my sketch pad. My eyes move from the paper to him, back and forth as I begin to sketch. His muscular legs flex with each pound of his feet on the sand. His strong arms move up and down beside him as he pushes himself into a run. I start drawing faster as he reaches the beach in front of me. Sitting up more, I start smoothing some lines and trying to finish before he’s gone. Suddenly, he looks up at me, right into my eyes. Sucking in a gasp, I lean back into my chair, hiding myself from his gaze behind the railing. My heart is beating too fast. I wait for what feels like a long time and slowly sit up until I can see over the railing. He’s gone.

  Sitting back, I try to calm my rapid breathing and heart. Slowly, I look down and smile as I look at my sketch pad. I didn’t get it completed but enough that I can finish it without looking at him. Oh, my God! I’ve turned into a stalker! No, not really, but I admit I could look at him all day and not grow tired of it. I just wish I could get a closer look.

  After I finish my coffee and go inside and I finish studying. After I’ve eaten lunch, I go into my bedroom and put on my uniform, apply some light makeup, and pull my hair up into a bun. Locking up my door, I walk down the steps and out the front door of the building then down the sidewalk to the coffee shop. With a parking lot and a sidewalk that leads down to the beach in between, it’s a short distance but not too close to my apartment that I feel like I’m at work all the time. I walk inside the door and into the back room, opening my locker and placing my purse in it then taking out my apron and put it on. It didn’t look very crowded yet, probably because it’s so beautiful outside. Who wants to drink coffee on a gorgeous day like today? Normally the rush is more first thing in the morning or in the evenings after dinner time. Of course, there’s different times you’ll find a few people sitting at the tables with a drink or food with their laptops and books open studying or doing homework.

  “Did you see all the fun things Johnny’s will have? Every night of the week!”

  I’ve been here for two hours, the place filling up. More chatter and sound of fingers typing, along with laughter, surrounds the room. I’m cleaning off a table when I overhear the conversation two tables over. Well, it’s not like they’re being quiet at all.

  “I know! They’re gonna have line dancing and an open mic night!”

  “I wonder what the DJ will look like.” One girl sighs.

  “I hope it’s not a girl. That would ruin everything!”

  “I know, right?”

  Smiling, I shake my head as I wipe the rag over the table one last time, listening to them go on about having a male DJ versus a woman. I mean, who cares as long as they’re good and love what they do? Wait! Am I really thinking about going? Nervousness fills me instantly. I’ve never been one to leave my comfort zone and do something I’m not good at. Like being around a lot of people. Here – it’s not so bad. I don’t have to mingle and can just work. There – it’s the closest bar around, and I’m sure a lot of people are anxious to go to. Sigh. I have a little time to make up my mind. The crowd died down by ten and by eleven thirty I was home and studying. Well, at least I tried to study, but mainly I thought about Johnny’s and what it would be like. And – that guy on the beach.

  Chapter Two

  The next morning, I found myself sitting out on my deck and spending most of the day studying and unabashedly looking for the sexy stranger on the beach. I’d brought my sketch pad out with me but it remained lying on the table, untouched. Since when did I become such a stalker? Since the most gorgeous man you’ve ever seen ran past you on the beach yesterday. I’ve popped inside, cleaned a mostly clean apartment, made lunch then dinner, until finally I gave up all hope of seeing him again. After taking a shower, I get into bed, lying awake thinking I could have missed seeing him during one of the many times I was inside. Sighing, I roll over, pushing my hands underneath my pillow, and close my eyes, the image of him running on the beach appearing instantly.

  “Hey, Piper!”

  My eyes move from my laptop, my fingers still hovering over the keys, watching Heidi approach. I had come in early to get some writing done on one of the papers required for English Lit, hoping to get most of it done before my shift started in a couple of hours. With any luck, I’ll be off in time to go home, shower, and find something decent to wear to the bar tonight. I think I might be insane for going tonight but I won’t know unless I push myself.

  “You gonna check out Johnny’s tonight?” she asks as she leans down, laying her elbow on the table next to my laptop and resting her chin on her hand. Her smile is wide as her eyes gleam with excitement. “Oh, c’mon! In the few months you’ve been here, I’ve never seen you go out and have some fun. You’re always studying.” She’s right. Of course that’s not the only reason I don’t go out. She just doesn’t know me.

  I smile back, trying to be sociable. “Maybe.”

  My eyes widen as she places her hand over mine on my keyboard. “We’ll meet you there. Shelley, Trina and me. It’ll be fun. You’ll see.” I look up at her expectant eyes and let out a sigh. She pats my hand. “I swear if you don’t go, I’ll come find you and drag you there.” I roll my eyes and can’t think of anything to say so I just shrug. I startle when she jumps up. “Yea! We’re meeting here out front. Eight o’clock – sharp! Then, we’ll walk over together.” She claps her hands, and I find I’m caught up in her excitemen
t.

  “Okay. But I don’t know how late I’ll stay.” She crosses her arms over her chest. Heidi’s a beautiful girl, about a year older than me. She has long dark brown hair that matches her eyes, a gorgeous smile, and her skin has been definitely kissed by the sun. A lot. She gives me a smirk. “Don’t worry.” I smile. “I’ll be there for a while.”

  She spins around and starts walking back to the counter, looking over her shoulder. “You don’t know,” she says in a sing-song voice. “You might have so much fun you won’t want to leave early.”

  I hardly think that will happen.

  Mondays are always busy. Some people hitting the shop before work, others studying before classes and some returning after them. Then there’s the beachcombers who come in after a day of laying out or swimming. There’s also those who are retired but live further away but they love our shop whether it’s to get coffee or a sandwich or a burger for lunch. Yes, our shop has a wide range of food. The owner Bea, who used to be retired, said, ‘You have to keep up with everyone else. There’s tons of small food joints around. Best to have a variety.’ And she was right. She hired mostly college kids but the bad part is they don’t stick around long enough. Some start out going to the same junior college I do and then head off to a job or even an out of state college. I’m sure it must be frustrating, always having to find replacements but she just tells me, ‘Honey, that’s the way of the world and around here, the normal.’ She’d smile and pat my arm. Such a sweet lady.

  Once I get home and take a much needed shower, I stand in my closet trying to figure out what to wear. I’ve never been one to dress up. Normally I’m in shorts or jeans and a tank top. Trying to find my confidence, I let out a breath and put on my blue silky dress. I mean, it’s a grand opening, even though it’s a bar. I should dress up a little, right?

  Everything feels strange as I walk down the street, right away noticing the long line outside Johnny’s front door. No one is waiting at the coffee shop and I’m a little late. Maybe they thought I changed my mind and went to the bar. Smoothing down the front of my dress, my black heels feeling odd on my feet, I look both ways while crossing the street. So out of my element, in every way. I pass the chatter and laughter of people as I walk to the end of the line, keeping my eyes on the cement sidewalk. I’m not shy, not really. I just choose to keep to myself, unless approached. I mean, how many times in my life do I need to trust the people who say they’re my friends, then stab me in the back or stick their nose up at me later? I’m done being the victim. Overdone.

  “The line moved.”

  Swiftly, I look at the girl over my shoulder, chopping on gum and looking at me with a shortness of patience.

  “Sorry,” I mumble as I face front and take the few steps to the person before me.

  Standing behind a group of girls and guys, talking animatedly, I check back over my shoulder to see the line has grown since I got here. Another thing I absolutely hate. Crowds. Being an introvert, this is the last place I should be. As the line begins to move, I take a deep breath and pull up my “big girl panties”, figuratively speaking. About a half an hour later, I’m standing by the front door.

  “ID?”

  I’ve always been several months older than most in my high school, so when I graduated and moved here, I was almost nineteen. My birthday came and went last month with no fanfare except for presents and calls from Mom and Dad. I still look sixteen, to some, even with the light makeup I put on, hoping it would make me look more my age. Apparently that didn’t work. I’m glad, at least, Johnny’s serves to eighteen years olds and up. I could use a cold beer. With an inner sigh, I remove my license from my small clutch purse and hand it to the large muscular man before me and watch his eyes scour it. Without saying a word, he hands it back to me and cocks his head toward the door, telling me I passed his inspection and to go inside. A man of few words but none are needed. Just the looks he gives tells you he means business with those muscular biceps and beefed up chest.

  I walk inside, the lights dim except the dance floor. Other than the entrance, it’s a wide open floor plan. Rows of tables and booths on either side, encasing people dancing. It excites me since I’m studying graphic design and hope to be an architect one day. I notice everything in great detail. It’s almost like a disco, with each tile of the dance floor brightly lit and a different color. I look up at the lights over it, those same colors flashing down around the floor. Excitement swells inside me as I walk around the large packed room, no empty tables to be found. Just as I begin to walk past a small table near the dance floor, a guy stands and waves his hand at his seat, offering me his table. Smiling at him, I sit down, wondering if he is making a move since he so graciously gave me his table. Instead, he smiles back, gives me a small nod, and walks away. One thing I do enjoy is people watching. Yet, the only way to do that is to be out where there’s people, something I find hard to do.

  The room is filled with music. Sounds of today’s music, mixed with some classic rock, changing to an oldie, can be heard, while people chatter and laugh and others enjoy the beat of the music on the dance floor. I take in everything, feeling more excitement growing as I watch a small group of people doing a line dance, laughing, enveloping themselves in the music. That looks like fun. The atmosphere is exhilarating and I find that underneath the table my leg is bouncing to the beat. I continue looking around the room. A large bar is off in the distance, with people stacked in rows waiting to order drinks. Off to the left are the restrooms with more people standing around talking, drinking, laughing, and there’s even girls dancing in groups while chatting. Then my eyes move around the wall and to the end of the bright dance floor. There’s a wooden DJ booth made to match the bars décor but the top is encased with thick plastic. No doubt for protection but making it difficult to see who’s inside. Maybe that’s a good thing for whomever is in there. I can barely make out the movement, but my eyes are glued to the booth. A girl walks up to it, and I watch as a sliding door on this side moves open. Her mouth is moving, smiling, as she tries to act sexy, flipping her hair and cocking her hip. Must be a guy DJ. I start to roll my eyes…

  “You look like you’re in deep concentration.”

  I look up to see a nice looking guy standing next to the table. Short red hair, freckles adorning his cheeks and nose, green eyes that glow from the bouncing lights from beside him and white teeth illuminating from his smile. “Want to dance?” Do I? I haven’t seen the girls yet, and I’ve had no liquid courage. I love to dance, be enthralled by the music, feeling the beat from the vibration on the floor, and bask in the excitement of the atmosphere. But am I ready to do it right now? “I see you’re perplexed in making a decision.” I open my mouth to speak when the music stops, the silence magnifying the sounds of laughing, talking and footsteps. I look over at the dance floor when the sexiest voice resonates from the speakers. My eyes snap to the DJ booth.

  “Welcome to Johnny’s! I’m DJ West! I see you all are already having a blast. Speaking of blast – here’s a blast from the past. Let’s set this place on FIRE!”

  Donna Summer’s voice booms around the room with “Hot Stuff” and a crowd gathers on the dance floor. I watch in fascination as they start moving together in rows yet they aren’t really dancing yet.

  “Sorry. Gotta go.” I look up at the guy still standing by my table. “Another time.” He winks as he turns and starts for the dance floor. Looking over his shoulder, he yells over the music, “I’m Cian.” He winks again, and I watch him step down into the bright lights on the dance floor, turning around so I only see his back side, and he begins moving to the music with the others. Yet, as he starts to do a line dance, the others follow. Odd. It’s like they were waiting for him.

  “Wow! This is so nostalgic!”

  “I love oldies!”

  I’m still mesmerized by Cian’s movements but finally manage to tear my eyes away from h
im and look up at Heidi, Shelley and Trina, who are looking at the people dancing and all around the place. The girls take a seat except for Heidi, who’s probably the least uninhibited of all of us. She waltzes onto the dance floor and starts dancing with the rest of them, watching their footsteps and following. I’m amazed and awed by her ability to learn the steps so quickly.

  “I’m going to go get us some beers,” Shelley calls out over the loudness of the music and chatter.

  “Okay!” I yell. “I’m going to the restroom.”

  I get up and walk around the dance floor, making my way to the restroom. My eyes are glued on the plastic encasement around the DJ booth, catching a blurry glimpse of the guy in there, curiosity taking me as I walk around it and then turn the corner. I walk directly into an open stall, the bathroom only occupied by a few girls standing at the sinks.

  “He is so fucking HOT!” one girl speaks, excitedly.

  “I wish he’d come outta that booth more often. Damn, he’s dreamy.” Another girl quickly follows.

  I finish my business, walk out of the stall and over to the empty sink on the far left. I start washing my hands, trying not to eavesdrop, but it’s kinda hard not to when they’re being so openly loud.

  “I think I’m in love.” The girl next to me closes her eyes and puts her hand over her heart. Dramatic much? I must say, it makes me that much more curious about the man in that booth.

  A couple of hours and many songs later, Trina and Heidi are dancing with guys as Shelley and I finish our second pitcher of beer. “Oh, my God! This place is so much fun!” she yells over the music. I think I’m going to be feeling the beat, and I’m sure my ears will be ringing long after I leave here. “Isn’t it fun?” I’m a bit envious being that free around people and able to have fun without even thinking about anything.