An eight ball in the corner pocket

Cora leaned over the green of the pool table trying to line up her shot. The Corner Pocket was a favorite haunt of her's and she had allowed Darcy and Bryn to drag her out tonight. The night was still fairly young so the bar was somewhat bare except for the usuals.

“Seven ball in the right corner pocket,” she called before hitting the ball into the pocket. She smirked. She up three balls on Darcy and more importantly was up two games out of ten overall on him. “It looks like the student is surpassing the teacher,” she said.

“Or the student is using dirty tricks,” Darcy shot back lining up his shot. Bryn laughed placing her drink down beside her to stand next to Cora.

“What kind of dirty tricks is Cora using?” Bryn asked taking Cora by arm.

“Yes, Darcy, what am I doing that is cheating? Am I moving the balls with my mind?” Cora further implored making wavy motions with her hands.

“You are wearing those jeans,” he said his grey eyes sweeping over the table, “You know the ones I always liked.”

“I don’t think that is cheating,” she retorted.

“Nine ball in the left middle pocket,” he called, hitting the ball for once into the pocket. “It is when you lean over the table like that.”

“So, I am supposed to not wear anything that attracts you? I wouldn’t have any clothes left,” she stated. “Eight ball in right lower corner pocket,” she said, easily hitting the last ball in.

“Well, not wearing anything would certainly attract me,” Darcy said with a laugh that Bryn joined in on. Cora could not help but let a small smile creep to her face. It felt good to be appreciated even if it was only by Darcy but she wasn’t going to show it. Lately, she felt like an almost asexual human. It seemed all she did was study. Being a nursing major was tough and had cut down on her social life. It did not matter anyways; the only guy she was interested in had a girlfriend. Cora was not the type to break up a happy couple.

“What happened to Ashley anyways?” Bryn asked. Cora was just waiting for the latest excuse for the most recent dump. Darcy had commitment issues.

“We parted ways, she wanted someone more athletic and I wanted someone that wanted me” he stated simply chalking the tip of the que stick. Cora merely rolled her eyes. Darcy would never admit that Ashley dumped him. She had to give Ashley some credit though; it might be the first time that Darcy had been dumped.

“Well, I am sorry to hear that,” Cora said and she was. It meant that Darcy would now be pursuing her and she knew she did not want to go down that path. She needed to focus on schoolwork but it was just so easy for her to get distracted. She felt shallow for worrying so much about it. She knew Darcy and her could be friends and just friends.

“I’m bored. Cora is beating you easily anyways, how about a game of darts, Darcy?” Bryn asked.

“Yeah, I am tired of playing anyways,” Cora said hoping that Darcy would not make her play another game.

“Alright,” Darcy said following Bryn over to the dart board. Cora watched the game for the moment but got bored. She decided to make her way over to the jukebox. She needed some country music and quick. She was tired of listening to loud rap music. She flipped through the selections letting her mind wander. It quickly found the well worn path of Jean. They had become study partners and she really enjoyed her time with him. She thought he did to but he had a girlfriend. He had not really opened up to her about his life; they tended to be strictly business or well schoolwork. She really needed not to focus on it. She finally found what she was looking for as she inserted her dollar. She knew all the guys would groan when Taylor Swift’s "You Belong with Me" came on but it was worth it to her.

“Cora, can you get me another beer? Put it on my tab,” Darcy called as Cora turned to the bar.

“A Blue moon, please, and long island ice tea,” Cora ordered. One drink would not kill her. She picked up the drinks, while Taylor Swift came over the system. She could only smile as she made her way over to the dartboard. The smile soon turned to a face of somewhat shock as Jean came walking through the door.