So, I was inspired.

A friend of mine has a blog, and through that, I was inspired. I've been writing a story, and I'm going to be putting it on here one chapter at a time. Right now, this is still untitled.

I'm going to try my best to update this once a week.

Chapter 1: Michael

As I slowly walked down the front steps of my apartment building, I drew a pack of cigarettes and a lighter out of my jacket pocket. I put the filtered end into my mouth and carefully lit it. This was my usual morning routine, but this was not my usual morning. I knew there was something different about this morning, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was. Normally, I light my cigarette and walk down to the coffee shop on the corner. As I turned off of my steps, I noticed there were a lot of police cars and fire trucks down on the corner where the coffee shop stood. The nearer I got to the outside tables where I normally sat, the more I couldn't help but notice that the tables didn't exist anymore. In fact, the coffee shop didn't much exist either.

It wasn't one of those fires that burns the inside of the building and leaves the shell standing. Somehow, this fire was able to burn hot enough to melt the metal support beams. The bricks, due to a complete lack of support from the beams, then fell in upon where the shop used to stand.

As I walked closer to the former coffee shop, I could smell the smoke that still lingered in the air, overpowering the smell of my own cigarette. The firemen had put out the flames, and had just finished spraying the molten metal to cool it off so the fire marshal could go in to the building to determine the cause of the fire. As I looked around at the crowd that had gathered on the opposite corner, I saw all of the same people I usually see inside of the coffee shop, plus a few new people. Every day, there were mostly the same people inside, but every now and then someone new would come in, get a cup of coffee, and leave. I figure that the new people standing around watching the activity were some of these people, the ones who have no sense of local pride. To them, this was just another place to buy a quick pick me up. To the regulars, this was what the whole community was about. Somewhere we could all gather, and where we could feel at home. It was here, in this “localized community,” that lives were lived. We all shared each other's sorrows, joys, celebrations, and mournings here.

Across the crowd, I saw a woman who looked like the type of person we had in our neighborhood, but I hadn't seen her here before. The more I looked at her, the more I was attracted to her. After I realized that I was staring at her, I decided to go over and talk to her to try and get to know her. I slowly worked my way around the crowd, trying not to move too fast. Hell, I didn't want to seem desperate or anything. I slowly walked up next to her with my arms folded across my chest, acting like I was just watching all the activity, just like she was. Without looking away from the scene that was playing out in front of us, I spoke, not really directing it at her, but making sure she knew I was talking to her. “It's a shame that one of the best places in the city for a cup of coffee is gone.” She slowly glanced over at me and replied with an emotionless “Yeah, I guess.” I kind of expected something along those lines, but honestly, it hurt to hear someone be so terse when talking about something that meant so much to the neighborhood. I thought to myself for a little while, and say to her, trying to get a conversation started, “Are you new around here? I haven't seen you around before.” She looked at me with her piercing blue eyes. “I just signed a lease this morning on an apartment down the block.” She pointed down to the only apartment build on the block, the one I live in. “Oh, cool, that's the building I live in. I'm Michael.” She turned towards me and extended her hand, giving me a warm smile. “I'm Nicki, I'll be living in 203. Its nice to meet you.” I take her hand in mine, savoring her gentle touch, but not too long. “I'm in 202, right across from you. If you need anything, feel free to knock.” She looked me in the eyes and with a wink said, “Thanks, I might just take you up on that offer.” I took a quick glance at my watch, and looked back at her. “I've gotta run,” I said, “I'm running late for work.” “Oh, don't let me keep you,” she said, “Have a good day at work.” “Thanks,” I said, and took off down the street, away from the crowd.

I spent the entire day at work being completely unproductive. I couldn't get Nicki off of my mind, no matter how hard I tried. I sat at my computer trying to get this report finished, but I kept thinking about Nicki's eyes, and how badly I wanted to lose myself in them. When five o'clock finally rolled around, I shut off my computer and threw on my jacket, practically running out the door. I walked quickly, almost at a jog, back to my building. I ran up the stairs, and when I got to the landing, I looked at Nicki's door for a few seconds, hoping she would open it. When she didn't, I unlocked my door and walked in to my apartment. The sun shining through the windows seemed much more beautiful than usual. I walked over to the answering machine, hoping that she might have left a message, but then I realized that I didn't give her my number. I went in to the bathroom, got undressed, and got in to the shower. I got out, dried off, and got dressed. As I walked in the living room, I started debating with myself as to whether or not I should go out tonight. I finally decided to stay in, hoping that Nicki would need something. I turned on the TV and flipped to the local news. “...story tonight is the mysterious fire that destroyed 'Jiffy Java' this morning. The three alarm blaze...” I turned off the TV, I didn't want to hear this. Jiff's was where I went to get away from the world, and now, it doesn't exist. I walked over to the bookshelf to find something to read to try to occupy my mind. I figure this would be a good time to sit at home and catch up on my reading. I grabbed a book a friend had recommended to me, and sat down on the sofa to start reading.

No sooner had I sat down, there was a knock at the door. Hoping it was Nicki, but not wanting to sound too excited, I waited a few seconds before going to open the door. When I opened it, I was hoping to see Nicki, but instead saw a noticed taped to the door telling everyone in the building that the water would be shut off during the day tomorrow for water heater repairs. I was slightly disappointed that it wasn't her. I resigned myself to being alone on the sofa for the rest of the evening with my book. As I was walking back to the sofa, I grabbed an ashtray and a lighter, set them down on the coffee table, and went to open the window. I've lived by myself for about eight years now, and I still open the windows when I smoke inside. As I sat down on the sofa, I drew a cigarette out of its pack and lit it. I sat on the sofa for close to an hour, with my book in my hands, but I wasn't really reading it. My mind was too busy thinking about Nicki. I had to do something to get her out of my head. So I threw on my jacket and went to the bar.

***

As Michael walked out of the building, he failed to notice the dark green hatchback parked across the street. He also failed to notice the man sitting in it, watching him intently. When Michael rounded the corner, the man who was sitting in the car got out and walked over to the apartment building.

***

It was only a five minute walk to the bar, a walk I have made many times in the last year or so that I've lived in this apartment. Frank's wasn't the kinda of bar you went to if you were on a date, or even if you wanted to feel good about yourself. From its simple black walls, black floor, even black furniture, it made even the sunniest person start to rethink their entire outlook on life. The jukebox mounted on the wall by the bar has had a hand written “Out of Order” sign on it for at least the six months, but nobody seemed to much care that it wasn't working. When I first came here, I don't think anybody even went near the jukebox when it was working. The were only two reasons someone would spend more then five minutes inside this bar. Either they really needed a drink, or they were here to see the band that was playing. Tonight there was no band, as evidenced by the severe lack of people in here. On nights that there was a band playing, the bar always seemed to hold twenty more people than it should have. I looked around at the emptiness, and glanced at the three other patrons in here. I took a seat at the point where the bar met the wall, so I could see the door. I never did like sitting with my back to the door. I've had plenty of people ask me why, but my story always changes. The bartender got up, walked over and put a napkin down. He reached under the bar without speaking to me and pulled a can of beer out of the refrigerator and put it on the napkin. I looked down at it and grunted a thanks to him. He walked to the other end of the bar and sat back down to work on his crossword puzzle. I opened the can of beer and leaned back against the wall. The more I thought about Nicki, the more there seemed to be something familiar about her.

I almost thought that I've met her before or seen her somewhere. I think that was what made her all the more intriguing. Until I figured out why I knew her, or at least from where, I knew I wouldn't be able to forget her. If you asked me what I had for lunch today, I wouldn't be able to tell you. But if you asked me anything about Nicki, I would be able to tell you everything about what she looked like. I haven't been this interested in someone in quite a while. Actually, it had been about three months since I was even close to being this interested in someone. I slowly sipped from my beer. There more I tried to figure out where I had seen Nicki before, the more angry I got. Not because of anything she did, but because I didn't know how I knew her. As I finished my beer, I reached into my pocket, pulled out a five and got up to leave. Just as I took the last sip of my beer, the door opened, and Nicki walked in.

I was nearly floored on the effect she had on the bar. She was actually able to make Frank's seem brighter. Now, instead of a dark, foreboding black, it was as if she had turned it into a bright and uplifting shade of black. She looked over at me and smiled brightly at me.

“Hey Nicki,” I said, trying to hide the enthusiasm in my voice, “How's it going?”

“Hey Michael, not too bad, thanks,” she replied. “I figured I'd get out and get to know the neighborhood a little bit tonight. No sense in sitting home alone with a book with this nice weather, ya know?”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. Hey, I was about to leave, but if you'd like, I can stick around a bit.”

“Sure, that would be great.” She leaned in and added in a whisper, “It seems kinda quiet in here, and I wouldn't mind having someone to talk to.”

“OK, then I'll stick around a little while longer.”

We sat down where I had been sitting at the corner of the bar, and the bartender came over and got me another beer, and looked at Nicki. “What are you having?” he asked with a deep raspy voice. “I'll have what he's having,” she replied, gesturing over at me.

“Wow, I didn't take you for the piss beer type,” I said to her, almost in shock.

“Yeah, well, sometimes it just feels like the right thing to order.”

“That's true,” I really didn't know what else to say at that point.

We both picked up our beers and took a sip. “Do you want to go sit outside and enjoy the night?” she asked brightly. “Sure,” I replied happily. At least this way, we wouldn't be stuck inside. We got up and walked out to the small fenced in patio area in front of the bar. We sat down at one of the two tables the bar had outside.

I looked deeply into her eyes, but had to be careful, because if I wasn't I know I'd get lost in them.