Stubborn Love.

Chavez was even more of an asshole than usual today. I guess he and his wife got into a fight or something, at least that’s what his assistant Susanne was telling me when I went into the break room to pour myself some coffee. The day went by fast and I managed to only have one encounter with my boss, not a delightful one at that. I was passing by the glass door of his office when he called me in and rudely demanded that I cancel his lunch reservations, nevermind the fact that I am not his assistant or anything close to it for that matter. My job is copies. All I am supposed to do is make copies. I am the copy girl.

The day was almost over and I was making my way towards the copy room when I heard Gerardo. His laughter echoed throughout the cubicles and I followed the sound to the reception area, where he stood hunched over the counter and in intimate conversation with our receptionist, Angie. I shifted the stack of paper onto my right arm and made my way over to them, the clicks of my heels against the marble floors causing their attention to snap to me. Angie quickly averted her eyes to her computer screen, discreetly trying to hide her reddened cheeks as I approached.

Gerardo shifted to face me, that knowing smile making its way onto his face as he caught sight of my confused expression. "Hey, sweet cheeks."

I rolled my eyes, "I will shove a chainsaw down your throat if you ever call me sweet cheeks again."

He laughed, "Point taken. Do I get a 'Howdy do, Gerardo. It's good to see you?'"

I smiled, shaking my head at his words. "What are you doing here?"

"Picking you up for the gig." He said, gesturing toward the double, glass doors. I looked outside and saw Neil and Sloan bickering inside a black Range Rover, swatting each other's hands away from the radio.

I furrowed my eyebrows, looking down at my watch. "Shit."

"I had a feeling you would forget.” He smirked.

I shook my head, letting out a puff of air. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I'll wait, here." He nodded, turning to Angie and sending her a wink. She blushed a deep shade of pink and turned her eyes back to the computer screen.

"I'm just going to go make these copies and talk to my boss and then we can go. A few minutes, tops." I said, slowly backing away.

He leaned back against the counter and smiled that child-like smile before turning his attention back to Angie. I made my way down the hallway and into the copy room, quickly pushing a few buttons and letting the copies run before hustling toward the glass encased office with Chavez's plaque on the door.

I knocked a few times and he peered through the glass from his chair, as if he had a hard time remembering who I was. After a long moment in which he scrutinized my features in confusion, he waved me in. I rolled my eyes and pushed the door open.

" Hi, Chavez. I'm going to clock out now. I'll see you tomorrow." I turned to make my way out of his office, but he called out to me.

"Wells, did you make the copies I asked for?"

I nodded, "They're running right now and Susanne promised to bring them to you after they finished."

I turned again, but his voice stopped me. "Wells, I don't pay Susanne to bring me my copies. I pay you to bring me my copies."

I forced a smile onto my face and nodded, "Of course. I'll go get them for you."

"Oh, and Wells. Would you mind stapling them into packets for me and hi lighting the title of each document so that my assistant can file them into the proper folders for me."

"Nothing would make me happier."

"That's what I like to hear." He nodded, spinning around in his chair to look out his window. His phone rang and he groaned before picking it up and holding the phone away from his ear. I could practically hear his wife’s menacing fury.

"Oh, and could you please call Susanne in here?” He said and I rolled my eyes. And she couldn’t bring you your copies?

I cleared my throat and shuffled out of the room, cursing his very being in hushed whispers as I trudged back to the copy room. Susanne was just finishing up the copies when I mumbled that Chavez was asking to see her. I took the papers from her and proceeded to do what he asked. After a few minutes, footsteps made their way into the copy room and Angie's high-pitched giggles echoed down the hallway. I looked to my right and Gerardo suddenly appeared with a large grin on his face.

"Oh, there she is. Thanks, Ang. You're a sweetheart." He smiled, watching as the giddy receptionist made her way back down the hallway. Ang?

"What's going on?" He said, hoisting himself onto the counter. "I thought you said it would be a few minutes?"

"It was." I said, letting out a deep breath as I stapled yet another packet. "But then my asshole of a boss did what he usually does and made my life a little more difficult."

"Should I go talk to him?" He smirked, nudging my side.

I scoffed, "Yeah, and say what?"

"How about 'Hey, big guy! What kind of shitshow do you think you're running here? Arizona is one feisty motherfucker and does not have the time to kiss your ass all day long. She's got more important shit to do, like hang out with me.'"

I threw my head back in laughter as I finished hi lighting the last of the packets. "In a perfect world, I’m sure that would solve all of my problems. I'm just going to drop these off to his office, then we can go.”

He hopped down from the counter. "I'll come with you."

"No." I said, spinning around to face him

"Oh, come on." He laughed, trying to move past me.

I shook my head, "Go wait in the car. You're not even supposed to be back here."

"Says who?"

"Company policy," I raised my eyebrows in warning, "I don't make the rules."

"Just a quick 'Hello, fuck you,' and I'm gone." He grinned.

"I'm sorry, no way in hell is that going to happen." I said, putting my hand out to stop him and pushing him back. He stumbled backward and threw his head back in laughter.

“Alright, alright. Fine.” He said, turning to make his way back to the front desk. And just when I really thought he was going to listen to me for once, he quickly spun around and broke into a sprint towards Chavez’s office.

My eyes widened and I chased after him. It probably looked like the most absurd thing in the world, the way two mature adults were chasing each other in a public workplace. I’m pretty sure I’ve never looked so stupid, but there was no way I was going to let Gerardo get me fired for saying something ‘Gerardo-like’ to my already pissed off boss.

“Gerardo!” I hissed, just as he turned the corner to enter Chavez’s office. I followed him inside and Chavez was nowhere insight. Gerardo was spinning in his office chair and I took a moment to catch my breath. “What the fuck?”

He grinned, watching as I slammed the stack of papers onto the desk, my chest heaving up and down from the physical activity. “I saw him leave before Angie walked me to the copy room. He said something about going home early. I’m not an idiot, Arizona.”

I scoffed, “No, you’re just an asshole. Do you know how scared I was?”

“What. Your job is crap anyways, why don’t you just quit?” He said, following me out of the office and to my cubicle.

I grabbed my purse and pulled my jacket on. “I need the money. I can’t live with Dawson and Robin forever, you know.”

“You could totally live with me.” He said.

I threw my head back in laughter, not even bothering to respond to his proposal. “Shut the fuck up.”

He followed me out towards the front desk and comically blew a flying kiss to Angie as we passed. I swear, this man is five-years-old.

“You never take me seriously.” He mocked sensitivity as we pushed through the double-glass doors leading to the chilled, outside weather.

I rolled my eyes, stopping beside Sloan’s Range Rover. “There’s a reason for that.”

Sloan pushed her way out of the passenger seat and immediately enveloped me into a hug. “Arizona! Long time no see.” I smelled beer on her breath.

I smiled, “It’s only been about a week.”

“Which is a lifetime in dog years.” Yeah, she was drunk. I took a moment to look at her appearance. She was dressed more casually this time in her jeans and cable-knit sweater. Her red hair hung in loose waves and her eyes were glossy, even in the dim light of 7 p.m.

Gerardo laughed from beside me, “Get in the fucking car, Sloan.”

Her eyes widened, “Alright, pushy.” She climbed into the back seat and I followed, greeting Neil in the passenger’s seat. He sent me a smile and flicked his cigarette bud out of the car window as Gerardo climbed into the front seat.

“Nice skirt, Arizona.” Neil said, meeting my eyes through the rearview mirror. I looked down, not realizing that I was still wearing my office clothes. I looked at everyone else and noticed how casually they were dressed. I was going to stick out like a sore thumb.

I smiled, “I kind of forgot I was going.”

Neil smiled, “Sloan always keeps a shitload of clothes in the trunk. That is, if you want to change. You might stick out where we’re going.”

Sloan leaned in close to whisper, well more like slur, into my ear. “I like to keep a change of clothes so I don’t have to go home to change out of those ugly-ass scrubs all the time.”

I laughed, watching as she sat back into her seat and leaned her head against the window. She was a funny drunk, and that was my favorite kind. I leaned over the seat pulled out a pair of jeans folded neatly in the trunk. I sat back in my seat and kicked off my heels, pulling the jeans on under my skirt. They were tighter than my usual jeans, but I could still breathe so I wasn't going to complain. I spotted Gerardo looking at me through the side view mirror and I flipped him off. He threw his head back in laughter and started talking to Neil about some band I’d never heard of.

When Neil parked in front of the venue, all of us piled out and I noticed Neil automatically stand by Sloan’s side, hooking his arm around her waste and she leaned into his frame to steady herself. Gerardo walked beside me as we crossed the street.

He leaned down to whisper into my ear, “They were drinking at the apartment before we left to pick you up. Well, Sloan and I were drinking. Neil lost a bet last week, so he’s DD tonight.”

“You and Sloan are not on the same page right now.” I said, watching as Sloan complimented the bouncer’s sunglasses and even asked to try them on.

He laughed, “We drank about the same amount. Sloan’s just a lightweight. In about an hour, she’ll be fine again.”

We made our way inside and found seats at the bar. The band was well into their set and the guys mentioned something about meeting up with someone and wandered off, leaving Sloan and I at the bar. I fixed my eyes on the band, and she didn’t order a drink. We sat like that for a few minutes before she spoke.

“Do you like them?”

I turned to face her and nodded, “I like their sound. It’s unique. It kind of reminds me of The Black Keys, but there’s a twist. I don’t know what it is.”

She smiled, shaking her head. “I mean Gerardo and Neil. Do you like them?”

“Oh.” I said, meeting her eyes. “Yeah, they’re cool. They’re good guys.”

“Not many people can be friends with them.” She said, nodding. “I can’t tell you how many friends I had to drop over the years because of them. I mean, just look at them.”

My gaze traveled to where she was looking, at sure enough, Gerardo and Neil were both trying to flirt with one, tall brunette beside the stage. She was laughing, watching as the guys “playfully” punched and shoved each other as both of them tried to hold a conversation with her.

“They’re naturally flirtatious.” She said, “You think it would’ve stopped in college.”

“You’ve been friends since college?”

“I used to date Neil early on in college.” She laughed, turning her attention towards me. She didn’t look as drunk as she did twenty minutes ago. “and Gerardo was just always around, you know? He and Neil have been friends for I don’t know how long. And while Neil and I were together, I found out there was just no way to shake him. Over the years, the three of us just kind of stuck. I mean, Neil and I didn’t really last that long. It was a small fling, and we’re really better off as friends anyway. But the downside to being their friends is that you basically lose all of your girl friends. They chase them away.”

“Chase them away?”

“They’re man whores, Arizona.” She said, smirking. “I mean, most of my friends were catty bitches anyways. But either Gerardo or Neil dated every single one of them and never called them back and yadda yadda yadda, the usual girl shit.”

I nodded, opening my mouth to say something but Gerardo’s booming laughter called my attention. My eyes snapped to Neil and Gerardo walking toward us, a satisfied smirk on Neil’s face and a bitter smirk on Gerardo’s.

“Who won, fellas?” Sloan said, her attention traveling between the two of them.

Neil grinned, holding up a piece of paper with a number scribbled on it. “Check me out, fuckers.”

Gerardo planted himself onto the barstool beside me, “The little shit cheated.”

“You can prove nothing,” Neil said, shaking his head.

“You showed her pictures of your damn puppy. It isn’t even your puppy, you little bitch.”

Neil shrugged, “My little sister’s puppy is technically my puppy, alright?”

“Whatever.” Gerardo rolled his eyes, spinning around to face the bar. “Why is no one drinking? Arizona, do you want a drink?”

I shook my head. “No, thanks.”

“Come on, I’m getting you a drink.” He said, waving the bartender over.

“I don’t want a drink.” I snapped. His eyes flashed to meet mine, confusion crossing his features for a second before he shrugged and turned away. I didn’t want to explain to him why I didn’t drink. Not now.

“Suit yourself. Sloan?”

“Look at me.” She laughed, “Do you think another drink is a good idea?”

“You’re fucking right.” He laughed.

“I’ll take a drink.” Neil smiled, placing the phone number into his wallet.

“Fuck, no.” He snapped, not even bothering to look at Neil. What a sore loser.

The crowd erupted into a fit of cheers and I realized that the band was finishing their set and making their way off the stage. Sloan stood up from her seat and leaned up to say something into Neil’s ear and he nodded.

“Ger, we’re gonna go talk to Malcolm. Do you want to come?” Neil said.

Gerardo shook his head and downed his shot of whiskey. “Malcolm’s a dick.”

Neil looked to me. “Malcolm’s the lead guitarist and he used to be in our band before he left to make it big in the business. Gerardo pretty much hates him. We’re gonna go backstage and talk to him for a little, do you wanna go?”

I shook my head. If I went, it would just be a group of people reminiscing about the old days. And that didn’t sound like an appealing situation at all.

“Alright, we’ll be back then.” Sloan waved, pulling Neil behind her as she made her way through the crowd.

“You don’t drink.” Gerardo said from beside me, fiddling with his glass of whiskey.

I shook my head. “No.”

“Why not?” Conversations around us were loud, but he didn’t raise his voice to be heard over the chatter. But I understood what he was saying.

I shrugged. He turned to face me, waiting for me to complete my response. “It makes me lose things.”

It wasn’t a lie. When I’m drunk, I lose things. I’ve lost my car keys, my cell phone, my judgment. But it just so happens that the very last time I drank, four years ago, I lost my brother. I wasn’t lying.

“Fair enough.” He said, downing another shot. “So what do you think of me anyhow?”

That was a thing about him. He loved to change the conversation in a split second. At first, it gave me verbal whiplash, but now I’m used to it. I smiled, realizing the literary significance of his words. “Who are you, Gatsby?”

He grinned, signaling for another drink. “That is your favorite book, isn’t it?”

“Look at you, listening to the things I say.”

“You didn’t answer me.” He smirked, looking down at his glass.

“You want to know what I think of you?”

He nodded, flashing me a charming smile. I shook my head, “I’m not drunk enough to tell you that.”

“You never will be at the rate you’re going.” He said.

The bartender slid a drink in front of me and I looked up at him, confused.

“It’s from the guy at the end.” He said, pointing towards the other end of the bar.

Gerardo’s face broke out into a smile. “Woo-hoo, look at you.”

“Shut up.”

“Incoming. Quick, fix your hair.” He laughed.

“There is nothing wrong with my hair.”

And suddenly, there was a tall body beside me, and uncomfortable distance from my frame. “Hello, beautiful.”

I ignored Gerardo's snickering and looked up at the stranger. He actually wasn’t that bad looking. Actually, he was more on the attractive side. His hair was short, but lengthy enough to run your fingers through the top. It looked silky and I just know that if I were drunk, I wouldn’t hesitate to do so. The stranger’s eyes were grey and I couldn’t help but think about how well it accentuated his subtle smile. It’s like he wasn’t really trying to smile at all, it was just his natural expression.

“Hi.” I said, clearing my throat.

He looked down at my untouched drink. “You don’t like jack and coke?”

“No, it’s just...” I said, looking down at my drink and back up at him. “I do like jack and coke, believe me, I do. It’s just…”

“Oh, you have a boyf-,” He laughed nervously, taking a few steps away.

“No.” I said, my hand reaching out to grab his arm. “No, it’s just…I don’t drink.”

His expression lightened and he nodded, looking around him. “You do know where you are…” I heard Gerardo cough from behind me, trying to stifle laughter. I was suddenly very aware of his presence and I silently wanted him to take a lap around the building or something.

I laughed, nodding. “Yeah, I know. It is kind of weird, isn’t it?”

“Kind of.” He smiled. His smile was gorgeous. “I’m Samuel, well, Sam.”

“Arizona,” I said, matching his smile. There was a glint in his eyes and I knew enough about guys to know that he most definitely was interested in me. And I was slowly convincing myself that should the opportunity come, I would go home with him.

“May I?” He said, gesturing to the seat beside me and I nodded.

Suddenly, Gerardo’s voice erupted from behind me. “Seriously, this guy? He looks like a fucking Abercrombie model for fuck’s sake.”

My elbow jutted out to jab at his stomach and he grunted, retreating back to his chair. Samuel’s eyes traveled past me towards Gerardo, but I leaned forward to catch his attention.

“Did you like the band?”

He looked behind him at the stage and nodded. “Yeah, actually. Well, I mean, I kind of have to. The lead guitarist is my little brother.”

Gerardo spit out his drink from behind me and I heard his barstool abruptly push back. Suddenly, he was standing beside me with his hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry to but in, but I couldn’t help but overhear. You say you’re Malcolm’s brother?”

Sam’s eyes moved to look at me and then to Gerardo’s hand on my shoulder. I narrowed my eyes at Gerardo and slapped his hand away. “Yeah, Malcolm is my brother.”

Gerardo laughed and I smelled the liquor on his breath, I didn’t realize how many drinks he had. “That’s interesting. Do you think you could give your brother a message for me?”

Sam was curious and amused. “Um, I guess…”

“Tell him that Gerardo says Hello and that he can go fuck himself.” And before I could do anything to stop it, Gerardo’s fist made contact with Sam’s face. Hard.