Only Friendly

“What? Oh yeah. We'll be there in two minutes. Stop complaining.” Georgina's voice snaps me out of my memories; she hangs up the phone turning to face me, smiling.

“Just Liam complaining we are late; you will love it. Honestly, Alena, you will.” Liam is our flatmate. He is into all things tech - gaming, cameras, computers. I don't see the fascination with it all, to be honest.

Why waste time sitting there pressing buttons? That is just me, though, maybe because I am not a tech person, and I don’t understand it. Yet so many do. I guess that's another thing Max hated about me, that I saw that as wasting my time. I wasn't interested in any of that.

Of course, he was, and he tried forcing me to be.

Liam is nice, though, and he has mousy-blonde hair and green eyes. He is like a brother to me, training to be an electrician at university. As the taxi stops, I look up at the bright lights there, a nightclub. Of all the places, Georgina picks a nightclub. My mind is screaming at me to run fast, to just go home and avoid all this, but with the effort Georgina has put into this, I can't be so cruel.

Maybe just an hour? Walking in, the music is loud. That doesn't bother me; it is the mass of people I don't know that worries me, And the fact that I can’t hear if someone is right behind me.

“I invited everyone, so I hired the club just for your party so that you will know everyone.” Georgina smiles, hugging me. I look around. There is no one here I know. Where is Liam? I know him. I can't stop myself from laughing at the thought she thinks I know these people.

Walking in, people keep coming over. You would expect them to be coming to wish me a happy birthday. Instead, they just smile at me and greet Georgina, some not even noticing me. Walking through the crowd, my eyes spot Liam; finally, I see him. He is standing with someone, no doubt another student from the university.

“Look, Liam is there. Who is that with him?” Georgina walks ahead, reaching them; she stops and hugs the guy. He is big, around 6ft 3”, his arms have tattoos on them, and while I am walking towards them, I feel like I am going super slow while staring at him. Why do I feel such a pull towards this guy I don't even know?

My heart is racing, and I feel like there is a magnet drawing me to him, my hair standing up. Georgina's arm is rubbing against his, just like Georgina would do with any hot guy. Reaching them, he turns, and I am frozen. Wow, I can't stop myself staring. Who is he?

“You must be Alena. Happy birthday.” My eyes look up to him; he is big, muscle-wise big. He has tattoos on his neck as well. His smile is so soft and gentle. Why do I feel the urge to touch him? Why do his tattoos make me so weak? I try to smile as my eyes take him in, his beard, tattoos, everything.

“Hi.” Is that all I can think of saying? Hi, and it is weak. I should be more like Georgina, confident and rubbing his arm, making it known I am interested.

“Alena, this is Jackson, my brother.” I look towards Liam. His brother? The difference is massive; Jackson stands around 6ft 3", and his hair is amazing. Why is my hair standing up? I feel like I just walked into a freezer.

“Oh, hey, and thank you.” Finally, words exist in my mouth, I must look like a right fool, but something about him makes me want him. It is making me nervous, and I have not felt this way in ages. I want to touch him. Looking at Georgina I can see it on her face as well.

In that case, I have no chance, no chance at all if she is interested. I don't stand a chance. So, I will give up the fight before it even starts. She wins; she gets him. I will just wait for tonight to end.

“Well, let's get a drink first, and tonight you are dancing, Alena.” Georgina drags me to the bar. Jackson watches as we walk off.

“Wow, who would have thought Liam's brother would be so hot? I mean, yeah, okay, Liam isn't bad, but wow, the difference!” She smiles at me. I certainly have no chance; not even in hell would I have a chance.

“He is, yes, good luck.”

I give in, just like that. I won't win, and I won't fight for a guy either and clearly, I am not ready. The fact is, I don't get why women fight over a guy. I don't understand how a guy can cheat and, rather than being angry at the guy, the women fight over him like he's a perfect man.

I, for one, won't fight to win a guy. Grabbing our drinks, we walk back to Liam and Jackson, and we sit down. I start drinking. I feel so out of place here, like I am in a place full of people who know each other, and I know no one.

On the plus side, there is booze, so I will stay for a few hours and then go home. No doubt Georgina and Liam will be here all night.

“Come dance.” Georgina grabs me, pulling me up. I so hate dancing. Standing with her, I dance, feeling out of place and watching as guys crowd around us. I seriously hate this, and I feel like I have no space to breathe. I feel unsafe and like I want to run.

The song finishes, so I make a run for it, sitting back down at the table. Liam and Jackson are standing near the dance floor. Sitting, I watch as Liam walks onto it, beginning to dance. Georgina grabs Jackson, pulling him onto the dance floor, her body all over his. Her hands are grabbing him and stroking his body.

I do feel sorry for him, yet at the same time I am laughing inside. I feel for any guy who agrees to dance with Georgina. She is not subtle. If she likes you and you’re dancing with her, you will know and not be able to escape easily.

Picking up my phone, I look at the time. It is nearly twelve. Time passes quickly when you want to go home, apparently, but at least I can leave soon. I look around myself, considering it. I will give it an hour.

I need to be at work tomorrow so I can't stay too late, and I need my job too much to call in sick. I watch as Jackson makes a slip and escapes Georgina. I watch as she looks for him but quickly quits. I wonder where he has gone? Georgina starts dancing with another guy. I admire her confidence and the ability to make it known she likes someone.

“Hey.” Crap, jumping I turn, and there he is, standing behind me. He walks around and sits near me, covered in sweat.

“I see Georgina is testing your dance skills,” I say, laughing at him. I shake my head, seeing him look so worn out. It doesn’t look like he has met someone like Georgina before who clutches on for life.

“That is her testing dance skills? I would hate to see her trying it on with a guy.” He laughs, sitting back. “She is feisty, isn't she?” I smile at him; that's all she is. His head begins shaking as he looks towards where she is dancing.

“Yes, that is Georgina for you; you didn't seem to be doing too badly with your dancing, let's be honest.” He laughs looking at me like I have lost my mind.

“I was hoping I would fall over or pass out or anything just to escape her. She really is not easy to slip away from, is she?” Laughing, I have to agree; she isn't at all. That said, she's amazing, and he's lucky.

“When she finds something or someone she likes, she does not tend to let go or let it slip between her fingers, so you should be glad. The way she danced with you was her showing just how interested she is.” He looks at me and then towards where Georgina is dancing, shaking his head.

“Not my type, not at all. Anyway, enough about Georgina. It is your birthday. Liam was saying you're studying business and accounting?” He is looking at me like he is interested in what I have to say. How is that even possible when he can easily have Georgina? I won't be ignorant; however, he is being polite.

“Yes, I am. I want to eventually start my own business. What business I don't know, but it would be good to have accounting as well; cut down costs and stuff, you know.” I smile at him. He is the first guy other than Liam that I feel okay around and not like I need to run. Maybe because he's Liam's brother? Something about him makes me relax. Okay, everything about him makes me relax.

“That is good. I run my own businesses, a lot of work, but you know they are worth it in the end, something you can pass on to younger generations.” I agree with that, but I didn't know he ran a business. Liam never mentioned that.

“Ah, right, I always thought you were in the Navy or was Liam just trying to big up his brother before we met him?” I can't help but laugh. It is something Liam would do, and he did say Jackson was in the Navy. His little lies always seem to benefit it.

“No, he wasn't lying. I am in the Navy. I am home now, though more than likely to stay. I don't think I will have any missions to do anymore.” So, he is in the Navy then. I want to ask why he won't be doing missions anymore, but I know it's rude.

“That will explain why we have not met you in the two years we have known Liam then.” We haven't, but then again, Liam has not met any of my family. I mean, there is only my dad and step-mum, but still, he hasn't met them.

“Yeah, while he is my brother, we are close, but not that close. There is a lot he doesn't know about me and my life, which is how I like to keep it.” I wonder why. Then again, I know Liam. He can be a child at times, so I suspect certain aspects of Jackson's life needs adults, not children. Liam can be very childish, so no doubt anything to do with the Navy Jackson leaves him out of.

“So, why don't you think you will be going on any more missions?” Maybe that was too personal to ask? He looks like he is debating telling me.

“I have been doing it now for over ten years. I could stop any time I want, and I feel now is the right time, but I always feel pulled back in. Honestly, I think it is time to say goodbye to that part of my life now.” He seems so genuine, caring and kind. It amazes me how he is still sitting here with me rather than Georgina. Looking down at myself, I certainly am not anything special.

Sitting, we talk for a while longer, then he smiles at me like he has realised something. His smile melts my heart. I feel like I want to touch him, kiss him, and I have not felt like this about a guy in years.