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yellowpostit
05-23-2010, 02:59 PM
This is the first short i've ever written so any advice would be welcome thanks.

There she was. She looked great, as usual, with a smile on her face and that slight glaze to the eyes from inebriation. She walked up and threw an arm around Alex’s shoulder, “Hey stranger, how’s it goin’?”
“Pretty good, pretty good, you seem to be in high spirits.” He responded with smile.
“Indeed I am!” she said.
The feeling was back, a trembling flutter in the mid region. Every time he looked at her he wanted to say it, to tell her how he felt. He’d been trying to find a good time all night but their mutual friends were all around and though everyone there was quite friendly he’d rather wait until it was just the two of them talking.
“Hey! Jake” she said, as a good friend walked over with a little wobble to his step.
“Hi guys! Isn’t this a blast! I’m so glad you both made it!”
“Me too I missed you!” she said as she gave him a hug. “It’s been too long.”
“I know, I missed you too, we need to do this more often.” Jake said.
The three of them chatted for awhile catching up on recent history, families’ friends.
“I’m gonna grab another drink anyone want anything?” she inquired.
“No I’m good for now,” Alex said, “Jake?”
“No I just got one thanks though.” As she walked away Jake turned to Alex
“She’s great isn’t she? I really like her.”
And just like that it happened again. Jake just had to say it. ****. “Yeah she is.” Alex said. “They don’t come any better.”
Throughout the next hour Alex looked, really looked for the first time that night. And as soon as he did it was obvious. Every time she saw Jake she hugged him or leaned on him. Whenever they were close they were touching. From a light resting of the arm to lean, and they both looked so damn happy. She liked Jake too, and now that he knew Alex could never tell her how he felt. So he lost him self in the drinks and the music and she had to say it three times before he registered that someone was talking to him.
“What do you think they’re talking about?” she asked Alex.
“Who?”
“Jake and those guys over there.” She said as she pointed out the gathering a short distance across the room. “They look really into it.”
Alex had seen them talking a few times tonight and had a fair idea of the topic. He’d found out that Jake had been telling most everyone that this amazing girl was coming to the party and they were all excited to meet the one that could cause such praises from Jake. “I think they’re talking about you.” Alex said with a smile.
“What, me? Now why would they do that?” she said with a small grin.
“You’d have to ask Jake about.” Alex responded.
“Well maybe I will” she said in parting and lightly bounced over to the chatting group.
The rest the evening it went like this. A slight hint here, a compliment towards one or the other there, Alex was getting quite good as a wingman. So much so that people rarely realized he was even doing anything most times.

**********
“Last call!” the bartender shouted to the crowd.
“This was the best night ever!” Jake shouted. “We should do this again next weekend.”
“I’m up for it!” she said as the three of them, arm in arm, meandered out the door with the rest of the jovial crowd. “This was great!”
“Be careful getting home now guys no drunk driving.” Alex said with a look showing he meant it.
“Don’t worry we’re both gonna catch a ride with Jimmy.” Jake reassured him. “Have a good night.”
“I’m so glad you came!” she exclaimed as she bound over and gave Alex a hug that chilled his heart.
“Me too” he responded with a forced smile.
They turned away in a walking embrace and left him in their search for Jimmy.
“Me too” he said under his breath as he walked away with crushed hope, loneliness, and empty of all else except self loathing. But friends were worth it right. He hoped to god something was worth it. Even so he felt that sometimes he was too nice for his own good.

hillwalker
05-23-2010, 04:25 PM
A well-written story - in particular you have a really good way with dialogue.

Perhaps there was too much chit-chat at times so that it failed to drive the story forward quickly enough for my liking.
And the final little paragraph at the finish of the first section : 'The rest of the evening.....' : it seemed as if you suddenly wanted to speed things up and get that section over and done with without having to write too much more.

I also found myself having to re-read certain bits to try and figure out who was talking - so easy to mix up Alex and Jake? Perhaps you need to spend a bit more time establishing who they are - a little description, background, etc.

But all in all a very worthwhile effort. Keep at it.

H