Never is an awfully long time

“That’s what happens when you haven’t seen the sun in a while.” 

“Yeah, I get that. I can’t even remember the last time I went to a beach. Were you hiding in a bunker or something?”

“So you just wanted to look like half a weirdo, right?” 

“Right,” he chuckled nervously. “Actually that’s not much better, is it? Sorry. I’m obviously no good at this.”

“Yeah, uh, hi. I live just down the hall.. I’m just wanting to see if you’ve happened to hear anything from the guy on the other side of you. He’s kind of old and I usually see him in the mornings but I haven’t for a week and I-I’m a little worried about him, he lives alone. You haven’t.. heard anything, have you?”

“Oh, Hi neighbor. Uhm, no I actually haven’t seen him in a while either or heard anything coming from there. Are you worried something might have happened to him? We can go over and check if you want.”

“Not an alien, a rare breed perhaps. The assertive type are boring, they have no substance. I bet you’re filled with substance.”

“I don’t know about that but now I would really hate to disappoint you. I’m Ben, by the way. May I have a name to put to the lovely face?”

“I mean, it is a shit hole. We’re in the beginning stages of remodelling,” he said, taking a seat beside the gentleman. His business exterior slowly falling into place. “Perhaps you should save the review for when that’s all done, we’re still finding our feet.”

“I know. I wrote an article about the fire, the police had an investigation going for weeks and then it was randomly dropped and no one even looks my way every time I go to the station to try and get a statement,” he was rambling now, a habit whenever he felt slightly uncomfortable or too excited. “I can do that, yeah. Can I ask you some questions about the fire?”

“I’m sorry.. I h-hope I’m not interrupting anything. I know I’m probably the last person you expected to see knocking at your door, but um.. I needed to talk to you so.. here I am. I hope that’s okay.”

“You need to talk to...me? I, uhm, are you sure you have the right apartment?”

“I’m a pretty straight up person, I promise.” 

”I see, there’s...no problem really. I apologize if it seems I was staring or something. It wasn’t my intention to look like a complete weirdo.”

“No, you’re not looking at a ghost.”

“I guess that’s a relief then, you were looking a little pale but I wouldn’t have gone as far as to call you a ghost.”

“Thank you, I pride myself on being able to read people. You don’t look like a weird loner, you look.. shy, introverted. Women like that.”

“Women like men who are shy? Here I thought they always preferred the more assertive type. Are you sure you’re not some kind of alien?”

“You can offer if you like, I just didn’t think you would. Are you usually alone?”

“You’re...very observant, I uh, I probably wouldn’t have even If I wanted to. Beautiful women like you never really look my way. Yeah, but I’m not some weird loner. I promise, or at least I try not to be.”

“Of this shit hole?” he looked around, his face distorted to show his disgust before smiling. “Why yes. Yes, I am.” 

Ben wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the other man’s reaction, so he simply decided to ignore it and offer a smile of his own. “That’s great, I’ve been sitting here trying to write a review on this place and you know a quote from the owner would be great. I don’t think it’s a shit hole, by the way.”

“Smart, I like that. Lemme buy you one.”

“Somehow I feel like I should be the one making you that offer. Right? It’d be nice to have some company during coffee for once, sure.”

As he chucked the man outside, Jack growled under his breath until his train of thought was interrupted by a voice. Looking in the guys direction, Jack shook his head annoyingly. “More often than I would fucking like,” he responded grumpily. “There can be only one asshole lookin’ for a fight in this bar and that’s me.” 

Benjamin tilted his head, somewhat in confusion but there was definitely some intrigue now. “You? Are you the owner by any chance?” He shot up, having assumed earlier that the man dragging the troublemaker outside was just a bouncer.

“I couldn’t give a flying fuck who started it,” he gripped his arm tighter around the customer as he lead them forcibly towards the door. “The next person who throws a glass will be breathing out of a tube.”

“Does that happen around here often?” Ben inquired as he jotted down some more in his notebook before looking up at the man.

“Well, that depends. Which one are you going for?”

“Coffee, can’t finish this paper if I don’t have some caffeine soon.”