A Lonely Sky Read Free Page A

pleaded.
    “You’re not helping your case,” Julia said, but sighed. She knew how long Kim had crushed on Chris. How could she deny her best friend this opportunity? “Okay. We’ll go for a half-hour, and then we hightail it back to the hotel.”
    “Deal!”
    Julia plastered on a half-hearted smile as they rejoined the guys. “Okay, I’ll go.”
    “Cool!” Chris opened the door and the four of them walked into the tiny, medieval looking pub.
    Julia stepped out of the rain into the warmth of the dimly lit tavern. Red sconces hung on stone walls emitting soft light throughout the small room. She followed her friends down three stone steps to the main floor where several wooden tables sat. Vinyl cushioned booths lined the walls, and on the left, a long bar adorned the north wall. Patrons sat talking softly, drinking tall ales and eating from plastic baskets lined with red and white checkered paper. A few more people nursed drinks at the bar.
    “I’ll order,” Bob offered. “Beer all around?”
    Chris seemed game for alcohol. Kim hesitated at first, but then agreed. Julia realized someone would have to keep their wits and ordered a Coke.
    “Suit yourself,” Bob said. “You guys, go pick a table.”
    She followed Kim and Chris towards a corner booth. Chris settled in, flanked by Kim, leaving Julia to sit opposite them and unhappily next to Bob. He returned, carrying a tray of drinks. He slid in next to Julia, distributed the beverages and raised his stein. “Here’s to Europe and it’s fine hospitality!”
    The four friends toasted and sipped, and Bob piped up again. “And here’s to good friends!” He raised his beer and they all followed suit and drank again. Chris took a turn. “Here’s to beer!” They toasted and sipped. Kim raised her glass and toasted to their upcoming college years.
    Julia felt a bit queasy from drinking her sugary Coke so fast and wondered how Kim managed to down her beer. Kim wasn’t a partier, but obviously she’d take a dare to win her man. Julia watched as Kim flirted and hung on Chris’s every word. Julia thought of her own boyfriend back home and wondered if she acted that way when they met. She couldn’t remember. She met John right after her mother died, and things from that time seemed like a blur.
    The toasting and cheering settled down, and the talk turned to various topics about the trip. Julia relaxed, and as the drinks ran dry, she didn’t even mind when Chris bought a second round.
    A while later, Julia glanced at her watch and realized that forty-five minutes passed. So much for the half-hour stay.
    Bob stood up again. “Another round, ladies?”
    “Sure!” Kim said.
    Julia shot Kim a worried glance and pointed to her watch.
    “Oh come on, Jules. The fun is just starting!” Kim said.
    “Yeah, come on.” Bob reached over and squeezed her shoulder. Julia recoiled at his touch. “One more, Jules.”
    Julia remembered how Kim said the other kids felt she was a stick-in-the-mud. What would one more hurt?  She sighed. “Okay. One more. But then we go. We propped the door of the hotel open with a small rock and I’m worried someone is going to come by and knock it out and then we’ll be stuck outside and have to call for help.”
    “Someone is a worry-wart,” Bob taunted as he walked to the bar.
    Julia startled. She came here as a favor to Kim and now she was being made fun of?  She realized the beer played a role in everyone’s behavior, and she wished she could be so carefree, but fear of being caught undermined her fun.
    Bob returned with more beer.
    “Scottish Ale, me Lords and Ladies.” He attempted to bow and nearly fell over in the process. “While in Germany, do as the Scottish do!”
    Julia looked away and rolled her eyes. Kim was going to owe her big time. She watched as her three companions sipped the thick, dark beer. Kim’s face screwed up at the taste, but to Julia’s dismay, she continued to drink it.
    A half-hour later and glasses