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It wasn’t often Miss - at least, that’s what students had been calling her so long it felt like a second name - went out on her nights off. Normally, she’d feel much more at ease lounging at home on her sofa, drafting lesson plans with her laptop resting on her legs while Moon Sailor played on the TV for added background noise, maybe with a bottle of wine sitting on the floor beside the couch depending on her mood.
She definitely didn’t spend her free nights in bars, in the company of people far younger than she herself was with twice the energy and then some. The music thumped in her ears, some bass-heavy synthesized music designed to make drunk people dance and forget how terrible it sounded in sober ears.
She was far too sober for this.
She held the glass she’d ordered between her hands, rotating the cold drink between her hands as the condensation dampened her already sweaty palms. She tensed slightly as she noticed someone at her side sitting down in the stool beside her own, not looking in their direction enough to get a good look but knowing they were tall.
The stranger fidgeted with her cocktail glass, long nails tapping against the hard wood of the bar counter almost to the quick-paced beat of the song. Her head tilted slightly, bringing more attention to what appeared to be horns on her head, though Miss tried not to stare too hard at them, unsure if it would be considered rude to do so.
“Do you, um, come here often?” The stranger spoke in a voice so rich and deep it felt like caramel in Miss’s ears.
Then she blinked, taking in what the voice had said, and turned her head to stare up at the woman now sitting with her back stiff and straight at her side. “Are you…talking to me?” She asked slowly, pointing to herself.
The woman followed her finger’s point with darkened cheeks, her ears twitching as she quickly looked up to meet her gaze. “Yes, if that’s alright.” She smiled, sharp-toothed and a little anxious looking.
Miss stared for a long moment, breathing in slow and deep until her lungs started to ache, then pushed the air out all at once with a nervous, jittery laugh. “Sorry, sorry, I’m not laughing at you.” She said between breaths, waving her hand at the woman at her side as she rested her other hand on her forehead, hoping to ease the heat in her face with her cooled touch.
“Well, that’s a relief, then.” The woman chuckled, a rumbling sound that was almost like a cat’s purr. Miss felt her cheeks warm even more.
“It’s just…been a while.” She said, hoping that would be enough of an explanation. The taller woman just tilted her head, leaning one elbow on the bar to turn towards her, listening. Miss took a slow breath. “The bars, the atmosphere, being hit on… I’m a bit rusty.”
“You and me both.” The other woman chuckled, raising her glass to her lips to take a small sip, staining the rim with her dark lipstick. “I only agreed to this because my…” She trailed off, her ears twitching again as she stared at the glass in thought, “ward, asked me to.”
Miss smiled softly as she stared down at her own glass. “My students gave me the idea to come out, too.” She chuckled. “Look at us, huh? An awkward pair of out-of-touch single women.”
The stranger’s ears twitched again as her eyes seemed to light up. “You’re single, too?” She asked, her face neutral but her tone sounding surprised.
“Is it that shocking?” Miss snickered. “I mean, I thought I’d looked pretty out of place here.”
“Not at all.” The woman turned to face her fully, crossing one leg over the other at the knee to show off a slit in the side of her dress that stopped at the middle of her thigh, her jacket shrugging off of one shoulder as she reached absently to adjust it without looking away from Miss. “If anything, you look like a regular.”
Miss laughed again, nervously fidgeting with the necklace around her neck with one hand while she brought her glass to her lips to finish the rest of her drink. “Thank you, uh…?” She trailed off, realizing she hadn’t asked for her name yet.
“Dee. You can call me Dee.” The woman said, offering a hand to shake.
Miss eyed her hand for a moment before taking her hand off of her necklace to shake. “Everyone calls me Miss.” She said back with a small, lopsided smile.
Dee chuckled. “So, you’re a teacher?” She asked as she pulled her hand away, resting it on her own knee, still leaning an elbow on the bar as she leaned more of her torso against it casually.
Miss nodded, nudging the glass she’d finished away slightly to brace her elbows as well, resting her cheek in her fists facing her company. “That’s right, it’s pretty much my whole existence at this point.” She joked with a self-deprecating chuckle.
Dee hummed, setting her own glass down to cross her arms, head tilting to the side. “I think it’s interesting that you’ve found something to be so passionate about.”
“Really?” Miss smiled slightly wider, the corner of her lips twitching slightly. “My ex didn’t really like it all that much, so that’s a bit surprising to hear.” She said, then tensed. “Oh, I probably shouldn’t be talking about all that to a stranger, huh?”
Dee shrugged. “I don’t mind.” She said, waving the bartender over to order refills for each of them. “In fact,” She continued after the bartender set off to get their drinks, “I’d love to hear more about you, and your job. If you don’t mind, of course.”
Miss laughed, feeling a bit breathless at how well the conversation was going. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather be out dancing with someone more exciting?” She nodded toward the dance floor, which felt so much further away now than it had before. She hadn’t even noticed how calm she’d become, her heart racing in a much more pleasant way now.
Dee smiled, flashing her sharp teeth. “I’m not much of a dancer, I wouldn’t know what to do with noise like that.” She said, taking a sip from her new cocktail. “Besides…I quite like the company I’ve already found.”
Miss felt her cheeks flush like they hadn’t in years, grinning against her whiskey glass as she followed Dee in taking a slow swig. “Yeah. It’s a lot nicer talking to you than most of the other girls here.” She admitted.
“I’m glad to hear it.” Dee nodded, reaching her hand up as long, slender fingers brushed some of her pink hair from her face. She glanced over at the wall to a large digital clock and sighed. “I suppose I should be going soon.” She said, her lips frowning just slightly at the corners as she glanced back to Miss. “May I have a way to contact you? I’d love to continue talking sometime, maybe in a less rowdy environment.”
Miss tensed, her eyes going wide. “Are you asking for my number?” She asked.
Dee’s ears twitched a few times, looking off to the side as the color in her cheeks deepened. “Is that not alright?” She asked, her voice more quiet than Miss had heard it all night.
Miss smiled softly, grabbing a napkin left on the bar’s countertop and reaching for a pen someone left behind as she scribbled her phone number and rarely-used email address for good measure. “I get pretty busy looking after my students, so I might not be free much during the day, but feel free to message me if you’d like to talk again. I’ll…try to fit you into my schedule.” She said, holding out the neatly folded napkin to Dee.
Dee stared down at it before grabbing the offered napkin, their fingers brushing before she placed it into the pocket of her leather jacket. “I’d like that a lot, Miss. I have a shift tomorrow, so I should be going. I hope you make it home alright.” She said, standing from her stool. She set down a few bills from a separate pocket for her drinks, nodding to Miss as she turned and started walking off.
Miss smiled softly as she gathered her own things to leave, knowing she wouldn’t find someone else to spend her evening with quite like Dee. As she pushed open the door to leave, she felt her phone buzz in her pocket, grinning down at the screen as she stepped out into the cold night air.
It was quite enjoyable talking with you tonight. I’ll be sure to let you know my availability should you feel like seeing me again. Goodnight xx
She took a few steps towards her bus stop when a second buzz made her pause again.
This is Dee, if that was unclear. I perhaps should have led with that.
Miss laughed to herself, saving the number before making her way to the bus stop, staring at her screen and rereading those messages until it arrived. She stepped on, greeting the driver more enthusiastically than usual, and slumped down into a seat near the back, already thinking about her availability for the next few weeks and wondering when she might have the chance to see Dee again.