meetings

A Chapter by Tara.Hernaman

“One Malibu and coke, please” Illiana Grove told the bartender as she took a seat on the tall round bar stool. Illiana had been in America for a couple of days after flying over for a week and a half holiday. At 5ft3 Illiana has both brains and beauty with long blond ringlet hair, blue eyes and perfect shaped lips. At school everyone had wanted to be Illiana which made her popular with the students but with her high intelligence she was also very popular with the teachers. Illiana was so happy with what life had given her; she has the perfect job which she loves and did have the perfect boyfriend soon-to-be husband.

Illiana’s thoughts kept going round in circles in her mind as she stared off into space sipping at her drink. She had always believed that everything happened for a reason and stuck to that motto from a young age.

Somewhere in the back of her mind it registered that the door to the pub opened letting in a new customer although she didn’t so much as look up to see if that person would hold any interest to her.

“Can I buy you a drink?” A gentle-man’s voice yanks her from her thoughts that were consuming her and before she knows it she’s accepting a drink from a total stranger.

The man orders the drinks and sits down on the other bar stool next to her, “So, am I allowed to know the name of the beautiful young lady that I have just brought a drink for?” The man asks with little subtlety of what he’s about.

“My name’s Illiana and you’re wasting your time.” Illiana tells him shortly with her British accent thick in her voice.

The man is taken back by her sharpness but bounces back quickly, “well this is the best way I like to waste my time, chatting to a beautiful British lady like you,” He takes a sip from his beer, “that’s a pretty name you have, so what brings you to this part of the world?” the man questions further while taking a long sip from his glass but keeping his eyes locked on hers.

“And why do you want to know... im sorry I didn’t catch your name...” Illiana says with little enthusiasm trying desperately to look anywhere but his deep brown eyes that held a mysterious twinkle.

“Travis, Travis McKenzie, so what brings you to this part of the world?” Travis asks again with a warm smile.

“Its...it’s a long story...” Illiana mumbles as she takes a long sip from her drink.

“Well I’m sure I’ll keep up.” Travis flashes a crooked smile as he too takes a long sip from his drink.

There’s a long silence between them as Illiana glances around the pub and realises that most of the people are on their own deep in thought. It’s a nice enough pub; quiet, maybe that’s why she was drawn into it; it seemed like it was where all the lonely travellers wondered into.

“I just needed a break.” She finally says looking down at her hands rather than looking at Travis as she starts nervously pulling at a thread on the bottom of her sleeve.

Travis looks at her curiously, trying to figure her out, “from what?” he asks.

“Everything,” She says simply.

Travis nods his head quietly showing that he understands, “I see... so how long are you hiding from life for?”

Illiana’s head snaps up and glares at him, “Im not hiding!” she exclaims too quickly before averting her eyes once again.

“Im sorry, didn’t mean any offence, just trying to figure you out...” Travis tells her quietly.

Illiana shakes her head sadly, “There isn’t anything to figure out... why are you even bothering with me? There’s plenty other nice girls to go chat up.”

“You looked like you could do with a friend, you never answered my question either,” Travis tells her honestly.

She looks up at him puzzled and confused, “Question?”

“How long you in America for?” he asks again with a small smile.

“Oh, a week...” Illiana says quietly glancing around the pub again trying desperately to look anywhere other than at the cowboy talking to her with those dark chocolate eyes that can see straight through her disguise and into her soul.

Travis nods again, “You going to tell me what you’re running from yet?”

“What makes you think I’m running?” She asks quickly showing him that he has her attention.

He looks at her and reaches his hand out to her hand but not quite touching as she finally looks at him he looks deep into her eyes, “I can see how scared you are, you’re so frustrated and confused, you’re angry and fed up... you don’t know which way to turn.”

Illiana is startled but she can’t seem to move her eyes as he keeps her locked under his gaze, “Yes...” is all she can murmur.

Travis retracts his hand and finally breaks the gaze as he smiles he brings them both out of the trance as if breaking a spell, “So where you staying?”

“Im... I’m not sure yet...been sort of drifting about, wondering... was just going to get a cab to the nearest hotel...” Illiana stutters and stumbles not sure what just happened.

“Nonsense, my truck’s out front, I’ll drive you... I know just the place, my mum runs a B&B, we’ve got a spare room at the moment which you’re welcome to if you want it?” Travis asks with a smile already standing up grabbing his keys off the bar top.

Illiana nods as she too stands up and picks up her small bag and her suitcase, “Thank you Travis, you don’t have too though...”

Travis smiles his crooked smile again, “here let me take that for you,” he says not waiting for an answer as he takes her suitcase and leads her out to his truck.

He opens the passenger door for her as she hops in and sets the suitcase in the back as he jumps into the driver’s seat and quickly pulls away.