Page One

It would have been easier to tell her no rather than show up tonight. Jasper wasn't in the best moods, but some how he let her talk him into coming out tonight. He new she was concerned about him. He could see in her eyes, the way she looked at him, like he was ready to slip off the edge. Despite all the things he said to Liz, Jasper knew that she was going to let up until he came out with her one night to show her that he was ok.

Liz glanced over at him a few times as they walked into the bar headed to their usual table hoping that this would bring Jasper out of his funk. He had taken the break up pretty hard, but he had together with him for over five years. Something like that just didn't end without heartache.

"What, she asked glancing over at Jasper noticing that he begun to stare at her. "What, she asked again.

"You're doing it again, he remarked letting his eyes taken in the rest of the bar.
Cleo's was a bit of a dive and like all dives it had character. Something that seemed to talk to all the people that passed through it doors. Whether it was the walls of exposed bricks of the industrial motif of gears and motor parts that lined various walls in the club there was something there for everyone. Recently things had been changed and the bar that was to the left was now to the right and a seating area had been sectioned off with tables, chairs and couches for people to lounge if the cared to. Upon the opposite wall there were bits of gears that were placed in random spots of the wall that actually made a pattern.

"Doing what, Liz question curious as to what Jasper was referring though she had a bit of an idea of where this was headed.

"Fucking bastard, Jasper said sliding back from the table.

"Oh that. He is. Her shoulders rose and fell as naturally as she breathed.

"Didn't want to get into that tonight, he reminded her. "It was about us coming out and having a good time. Jasper wanted to get passed it. Pass the break up, but that was difficult to do if Liz did nothing but trash talk the guy that he spent the last five years of his life with. "Out of sight out of mind. To which Liz might answer 'bullshit', but he knew she was trying. He hoped she would try a little more for him and when nothing was said the corners of his mouth pulled up slightly offering a ghost of a smile.

"Tequila, she called out as Jasper started to make his way towards the bar. "Don't you shake your head at me, she snorted. Tequila and Liz didn't mix. Things were said that should've been left unsaid and more so than that things were done that should've went undone, but everyone had their vices her just happened to come in a pretty little bottle.

Reaching the bar, Jasper ran his fingers along the edge looking at the various nicks and scratches in it. They should really do something about. He thought to himself. He also knew that all of them had a history, a story. Sure some were random, but others weren't. They were intentional and given time he was sure that he could find the ones he put there himself.

"What'll it be? Came a deep voice. Looking up from the bar Jasper offered a smile to the man behind the bar. There was a striking difference between the two of them. Jasper wasn't on the thin side, but he was on the heavy side either. He was somewhere in between, a bit pudgy with dark hair and darker eyes. Hair was short and met the standards of the company that he worked for. Nothing wild and outrageous, not like some of the people he knew. He stood about average height and set of lips that some people would die for. Nice, full often call 'pillowy' the best kind for kissing he was told.

The man on the other side of the bar was different, his looks were rugged and one could tell that he was at home with working with his hands. He stood five inches taller than Jasper and was broader at the shoulders. One could imagine that he did many things, hunt, camp, fish, worked on cars and even though it would be stereotyping they wouldn't be wrong. That's just the way Lance was.
"I know what she's having, he said motioning towards Liz. "But what are you drinking tonight? Are you drinking tonight? He offered a smile waiting for Jasper to say something.

"Haven't decided yet. Came the reply. It was simple, it was honest. It was a recurring thing. He hadn't decided yet.