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“Gin and tonic, please.”
Weiss ordered and smiled at the bartender as he quietly nodded and started to prepare her drink. He was a man of little words, fairly old too given the few gray hairs on his balding head and the wrinkles under his eyes. But Weiss always thought there was a strange comforting air about him. She found herself venting to him more than one occasion on nights when she had a little too much alcohol.
She pulled a cigarette out of the pack she fetched from her purse and paused when she heard a low grumble. “Oh, please don't look at me like that. Today was really stressful.”
Weiss sent an apologetic smile towards the bartender, who frowned and scoffed in disapproval.
She then grabbed her lighter from her blazer’s pocket to light her cigarette. However, it refused to ignite no matter how many times she pressed on the spark wheel.
She huffed in frustration and was ready to slam the lighter on the counter when her drink was suddenly presented to her, she looked up and found the bartender smirking at her. “Don't look so smug, old man.” She said, cigarette lolling on her red painted lips.
She was about to put it away when someone suddenly shoved their own lighter towards her. It was rich red with a silver rose emblazoned on it in such a way that it looked like it was burning. “He’s right, y’know?”
Weiss followed the velvety voice and found a dark haired woman standing just next to her. She adorned an easy going smile as her eyes, as silver as that burning rose, gazed down at her.
Weiss said nothing and held eye contact while she slowly lowered her head to ignite the cigarette. She sat back on her stool, taking a deep puff before letting it out as blue and silver mixed in a whirlwind of smoke.
“What do you mean?” She said after what seemed to be an eternity.
The woman snapped shut her lighter and pocketed it in her black trousers. She then sat next to Weiss and rested her elbow on the wooden counter. “You shouldn't be smoking.”
Weiss blinked. “You realize the irony of your statement, do you?”
The woman shrugged. “Just a simple piece of advice.” Then she waved to the bartender.
Weiss hummed as she took another breath of her cigarette. While the woman was busy ordering her drink, she took the opportunity to study her. The yellow light bulb hung low above them emphasized the red tips on her messy hair, a few strands tickling her dimpled cheek as she smiled at the old man.
Light blue eyes roamed down a simple black choker wrapped around a taut neck. She saw the hint of a tattoo disappearing underneath a red button-down shirt, tucked inside her trousers with the top buttons unfastened and the sleeves rolled up tight around her toned arms.
This woman was, without an ounce of a doubt, attractive.
She took a sip of her strawberry daiquiri as she looked back at Weiss. “I'm actually trying to quit.”
The white haired woman raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “Are you, now?”
“Mhmm, I just like to carry my lighter around. It helps.”
“How so?”
“I simply play with it, open it and snap it shut. I find the click and snap sound weirdly relaxing. Weird, isn’t ?”
“I think it's interesting.”
The woman beamed before pulling back her lighter from her pocket and brandishing it like a flag. “And it's pretty.”
Weiss chuckled, endeared by the gesture. “It is, indeed. Fits your aesthetic.”
They fell into an idle conversation, talking about anything and everything. Ruby; as Weiss had learned her name was; was very easy to converse with. She could make subjects as boring as the weather outside strangely enjoyable.
There wasn't any point or purpose in what they were saying, as they were simply enjoying each other's company.
“Shut up!” Weiss exclaimed, slumping on the counter and giggling like a maniac.
“I swear! I swallowed a cookie through my nose and I even choked! God, imagine if I died. How lame would that be?”
Weiss struggled to breathe with how much she was laughing. Her laughter eventually died down as she heaved a sigh, reaching for her purse for another cigarette. She had already finished with the first one a while now but she suddenly felt the need for another.
She then looked at Ruby expectedly. “Light, please?”
Ruby furrowed her eyebrows. “You already had one.”
“I know.”
“You're gonna hurt your pretty lungs.”
Weiss scoffed and rolled her eyes. “You're gonna have to try harder than that, darling.”
Ruby stayed silent for a few moments before resting her chin on her palm and contemplating Weiss. “I like to look into your beautiful eyes and the smoke would be on the way.”
“I doubt it.”
“You have the sky in your eyes, you know that?”
Weiss’ lips twitched at the corner as it was hard for her to remain impassive towards Ruby's sudden flirting. She faced away from her and lifted her glass to press against her burning cheek in a failed attempt to subdue her furious blush. She must have drank too much.
Her eyes inadvertently fell on the clock just above the stacked shelves. She gasped when she saw the time. Weiss had come to the bar at 8 p.m and now it was 11p.m; she stayed there for 3 whole hours. And it was a weekday.
“I have to go.” She said suddenly before abruptly standing up and gathering her belongings. “I have to work early tomorrow.”
“Oh…” Ruby uttered, visibly deflated and slightly biting her lips before nodding. She extended her hand as she sent a small smile towards Weiss. “It was nice meeting you. I had a good time.”
Weiss gingerly shook her hand, the both of them dwelling on that hand shake a bit longer than necessary as if to try to prolong the contact.
But they eventually let go and Weiss went on her way.
She dangled her car keys on her way through the parking lot, her mind going back to the short time she spent with Ruby. It kept replaying their conversation. The way she laughed, boisterous and joyful. The way she looked at her, silver orbs threatening to swallow her in their endless pools of mercury. Casual touches here and there…and the way they parted without her even asking for her number.
Weiss suddenly stopped in her steps, inhaled deeply and stomped back towards the bar. She angrily stormed inside, heading directly towards Ruby who looked at her with wild fish eyes.
“Why didn't you ask for my number?”
“I-I.. what?”
“My number. Why didn't you ask for it?”
Ruby looked bewildered. “I thought…that you weren't interested?”
Weiss sighed tiredly as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. “You're a dolt.”
Weiss hummed in delight as she nuzzled Ruby's side. “I actually really wanted to just grab you by that choker and kiss you back then.”
Ruby chuckled, tightening her arms around the smaller woman as they both sank deep into the couch. “You did, eventually.”
“Hmmm. I'm glad I came back to that bar though.”
Ruby took Weiss’ hand in hers and kissed the silver band on her ring finger. “Me too.”