Two.

The more you try to hang out with new people, the more you meet the same faces.

“Ladies and gentlemen, what a surprise!” he giggles “I thought you would never ever set foot outside! I had lost my hopes” he lift his eyebrows sarcastically, while he keeps shaking hard a cocktail.

“Ah-ah-ah. Extremely funny, Benjamin.” I blurt, drumming with my fingertips on the counter. “I thought you had quitted this…-how did you called it?- Hold on, I’m quoting you: ‘sucking-useless-and-underpaid-fucking-job’. Yeah, I think you used these exact words.”

He lower his gaze, sighing, whilst he open the shaker and pour the light blue liquid in a glass.

“Yeah. Don’t tell Bree, but lately we don’t get many booking. If there’s way to gain less money than doing this stupid job, is being a musician.” He grins.

I’ve known Ben for ages. He’s always had this great passion for music, since we were kids, and the last time that I checked he had put up a band with some friend of his, he had rented a garage for the rehearsals, and he had quitted his job to follow his dreams. I’ve always admired his bravery, probably because it’s something that I’m not used to.

‘Never leave something that’s certain, for something that’s not’ my mother says, and I think she’s right.

“I’m sorry.” I sincerely say, meeting his gaze. “The band…split up?”

“Nah, we’re working. We won’t surrender.” He says, rolling the glass all over the counter, while pouring some tonic water. He’s a good bartender, if not amazing: he even took part in a Freestyle championship for acrobatic bartenders. He loves to show off. “They’re coming tonight. It’s gonna be huge, Frances. Astonishing.” He adds, flicking his fingertips and opening wide his sparkly blue eyes.

I roll mine. Everybody say that we would have a lot of fun, but I’m annoyed as hell, mostly because of Aaron and this self-centred dandy who thinks he’s hot as fuck.

And who said he’s not.

Ben sticks a black straw in the glass, with a slice of lemon, and he hands it to a blond girl who sits next to me, giving her a wink.

What a prick.

She let out a soppy giggle, intertwining her fingers with her curls, and I retch. I don’t know if it’s worse his flirty attitude or her cheesy reaction. Definitely are both disgusting. 

“Earth calling Benjamin.” I say, before he can add anything else, snapping my fingers in front of his face. “Are you gonna give me something, or I will wait since tomorrow?”

After another wink and one of those smirks that make most girls literally come, the goose walks away, and he finally turns his attention over me: “Your usual, lady?”

“Mmh…actually, no. I’d like to try something new, tonight. It’s up to you.” I quickly look after me, searching Charlie and Bree, but they’re nowhere to be seen. Had they completely forgotten who were they with? Had they completely forgotten me?

Harsh.

I try to focus on something else, watching Ben as he twirl the shaker as he spins around himself and he grabs it again with his other hand.

I cannot help but clap my hands along the other people around the counter. As I said, he’s good at it.

He beats time with the shaker, taking the tip of his tongue between his teeth, as he stares at me with that cocky smile that I love. I take no time to recognize the ‘Cup Song’ we used to play years ago with mom’s coloured cups, and I start drumming along him, humming the words I couldn’t forget.

“I got my ticket for the long way round, two bottles of whiskey for the way..”

I rise my voce, feeling the familiar feeling of happiness running through my body. I’m aware that everybody is staring, but it’s not a big deal.

“And I sure would like some sweet company, and I’m leaving tomorrow, what do ya say?”

I’m not even ashamed, actually. I haven’t sang in ages, but it doesn’t feel awkward at all.

“When I’m gone, when I’m gone, you’re gonna miss me when I’m gone”

Ben abruptly stops in the middle of the chorus, and I give him a puzzled look. 

“Oh, you sure have to sing with us tonight Fran, you’re freaking gorgeous!” he grinned, running his tongue over his lips. “Don’t you all think so?”

I stiffen as I realize he’s asking this stupid question to the costumers who surround me.

No way.

No-fucking-way.

“I’m not doing it, stupid bastard. Never in your wildest dreams” I hiss.

“Ooh, ‘cmon Fran. Your voice is heavenly.” He flutters his eyelashes, an innocent smile painted on his lips. If he hadn’t his right nostril pierced he’d have surely seemed an angel.  

“Oh, Benny, do me a favour. Cut it.”

I swear I was going to say these exact words, but somebody beat me to the punch.

Ben’s cheerfully expression slowly turns into an annoyed one as he see Brianne and Charlie joining with us.

“I’m so happy to see you, sis” he spites, his voice full of sarcasm.

That brothers and sisters usually are not on the better terms, is a matter of fact. I fight a lot with my little brother Dean too, even if we don’t leave in the same place anymore. Every time I visit my parents he finds his way to hit my nerves, and we end up arguing most of the time. When I used to live with them, just a year ago, I was supposed to be his ‘beloved big sister’, also known as his personal driver, his cooker, his cleaning machine and obviously  the person who always saved his goddamn ass. But, deeply, I love that seventeen-years-old pain in the ass, and I know he loves me too.

With Bree and Ben it’s a whole new thing.

He’s two years older than us, and he never gave a shit about her. Literally.

There’s always been this siblings rivalry, between them. Sort of.

It’s like they always tried to prevail over one another, fighting harshly, even coming to blows, sometimes. The fact Bree was a girl never stopped Benjamin from throwing punches straight on her face, probably cause she fought harder than most men would ever do.

We’re grown up together, despite all, and I can’t still figure out how I managed to become so close to him when my best friend utterly hated him.

She used to became really jealous when I played with Ben instead of her, but I couldn’t help it. I’ve always liked him, whatever she said. I feel like he’s my brother, more than hers.

Since a couple years, by the way, they calmed down and stopped yelling at each other like a married couple close to divorce. They even smile each other, sometimes.

And obviously it’s not one of them.

“My pleasure” she mocks, putting up the fakest smile I’ve ever seen.

“Why did you have to show up? Couldn’t you go back where you’re from?” he teases.

“Oh, what a laugh. That’s the exact thing I’ve been thinking since I’ve born!”

She never stops smiling.

“Enough” I shut them down. Apologies clear in my eyes as I shyly look at the bunch of people around us.

“You’re right. This jerk doesn’t even deserve my anger”

“Jerk? Oh, Brianne, we both know you can do better than this” he teases, that stupid grin still plastered on his face.

She rolls her eyes, biting her tongue. She seems about to explode.

I cover my eyes with my hands, hoping for the best but expecting the worst, when she surprised me with a simple: “Shush, Benny. You’re being a creep. People stare”  

And then, we leave.