Hell's Bells (Corey/Laura) (Chapter One: First Meeting)

[liquidtears]

Hell's Bells (Corey/Laura) (Chapter One: First Meeting)

 It was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives and I ruined it. She was supposed to marry her boyfriend, but I put a stop to it. It was pure coïncidence that they had chosen THAT particular weekend to try and get married. I never should have walked inside that bar that night. I just wanted a drink...

Music was playing, people were dancing when I walked inside. I headed up to the bar immediately. "What can I get you?" the bartender asked me. I told him that I would like a beer. He tapped one for me and after he had given it to me, told me that he was positive I would order more than one. Then he left. I turned around with my beer in my hand and was about to take my first sip, when I saw them at a table. He was bent on one knee, looking at HER. He held a ring in his hand. I could hear him perfectly... "Laura Dianne Vandervoort, will you marry me?" Corey Sevier asked his girlfriend. "Oh yes, Corey, I accept! With all my heart!" I watched as they hugged and everybody clapped for the newly engaged couple. I quickly set my beer down on the bar and clapped with them, while jealousy coursed through my body! I hated THEM instantly!

I was in love with Laura, had secretly hoped this trip wasn't in vain, but apparently it was. The percentage of how unhappy I was for them versus the the percentage of how happy I was for them shot through the roof, rocketing into space! I turned away from them and drank my beer, as teardrops fell out of my eyes. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. "If it's any consolation, I cry at engagements too." I looked up. It was the bartender. Apparently he had seen me cry and thought I was crying because I was so happy for them!!

"Did you all hear that?!" Corey shouted to everyone. "Greg, dropshots for the whole lot of them on me!" Corey ordered Greg, who apparently was the bartender. "Yeah, me too." I replied in reply of crying at engagements, lying. I wasn't happy for them, but I wasn't going to decline a free dropshot.

I continued drinking my beer as I listened to and watched the bartender. He was talking about knowing Laura and Corey from childhood. I watched him prepare the dropshots. I just finished my beer when I was offered a dropshot by Greg. I picked it up.

Everyone else had their dropshot already, given to them by the waitresses. Everyone... except THEM!  They came toward the bar to get their dropshot. A part of me felt sick because of the distance closing, them closing in on me, the part of me was starstruck. In one second I thought about giving my dropshot I was holding to either Laura or Corey and take one of theirs, but it was already too late. Laura was closest and had just picked up hers. I wanted to look anywhere else but at her... maybe it would have been different if they hadn't picked tonight as their 'let us get engaged' night, maybe I would have looked at her then, maybe even smiled at her.

Instead, I looked at the dropshot in my hand. "Hey, it's time to drink up, buddy." I looked up. Corey had grabbed his dropshot. Both faces fell as they saw me. "You must be a newbie." Laura said as she looked at me. "You bet he is. And I saw him cry when you two got engaged!" Greg said. I dreaded this moment as all eyes were on me.

I smiled. "Cheers to the newly engaged couple!" I said and clinked my small glass with Laura's and Corey's. They nodded and everyone gulped their shot down. "How about that 'nother beer now, stranger?" Greg asked me. Everyone started talking again, EXCEPT us four. "Why Gr..." I started, but held my tongue. "Yes, I'd love to." I told Greg. He nodded and tapped me a new one.

"So tell us, how did you get here?" Laura asked me. "What's your name? Ours are Laura Vandervoort and Corey Sevier." Corey told me. Both questions at once. I lied about my name... and why I was here. "My name is Jason and I got here because I wanted a fresh start. My parents threw me out and my girlfriend that I was supposed to marry... well, she cheated on me." The newly engaged couple gasped! "I am SO sorry, Jason!" Laura said. "So that's why you cried!" Greg said, putting the pieces together as he gave me my second beer.  "Yeah..." I said as I thanked Greg. "What do I owe you?"

"Please, call me Greg. Everyone does! And as for what you owe me, not a darn thing!" Greg said. "What?! I do have money, you know." I said to Greg. "Keep it. Such a sad story." Greg muttered. "Well, thanks Greg." I said, softly smiling. "So where are you staying, Jason, if I may ask?" Laura asked me."Sure, Laura, you may. I'm staying at the Fairmont Royal York."

Laura, Corey and Greg gasped again! "In SUCH an EXPENSIVE hotel? That's it, you're coming home with us! And no buts!" Corey exclaimed.

To Be Continued...