"Hey, you left a couple words out. Or stalk beautiful woman in night clubs? No but uh," she laughed off the small flirtacious move," I like photography and writing music. I am pretty good at playing guitar, preverably acoustic."

"Wow, that sounds really cool. Maybe you should try and come up here and play some of your stuff for us. You do know that we have a talent show coming up, right?"

"I wish I could, but I have this big fear of stages and… you know me and alot of people’s attention on me makes me kind of nervous. Makes me feel like everyone is counting on me not to screw up, and that if I mess up, that’s it. I suck. But, that sounds good anyway."

"Really, I could never tell about that. I use to be slightly scared of being in front of all the people but then I just relaxed and moved with them. I kind of just mentally blocked them out while I let the music, I don’t know. Control me, I guess."

Jonah was looking at her again, the way she had before walking over there. That same skeptical look that made her feel like she was trying to figure her out, listening to every word she had said like she was some world wonder or something." That sounds cool. But to each their own, as the old saying goes. But, um. I’m about to head out, I’ve gotta go to work tommorow around seven, so that means I can’t be nocturnal like the rest of ya’ll."

"Okay, where do you work," she asked out of curiosity.

"Promise you won’t laugh. Jakes on 81."

She smiled at her with a small laugh," you mean that nasty fast food place near Lacuna?"

"Yeah, that’s it."

"Damn, girl. You must hate it there."

"So far I do. I’m probably going to be working there until the lyrics that I’ve sent get me some money. So, so far I’m broke," she chuckled at herself. Carmen felt sort of bad about her leaving, a small part of her wanted to go with her and continue discusing stuff like they were old friends, they way they had for the past fifteen minutes. Plus company sounded nice.

"Do you think I could," she paused feeling a little aquired about asking and a little stupid all the same. Seeing her distress, Jonah finished," come back with me? Sure, babe. O’ course you can." Biting her lip, diverting her eyes, and smiling made Jonah feel even more better about inviting her back to her place. Of course, she wasn’t going to let anything happen. Besides the face that Carmen didn’t seem like that kind of girl, maybe they could just talk some more, Jonah didn’t feel like doing anything with any girl tonight. Even though Carmen was fine as any other woman she had seen walking around, she just wasn’t up to it. After all, she was sick of the one night stands. Because that was how they all turned out.

"Okay," Jonah stood up while motioning for her to get ahead of her, letting Carmen do the leading towards the door. It was a habit of hers as Jonah’s soft hand rested barely on Carmen’s back, and it made Carmen feel a little better about this decision. It wasn’t like she was going to go back to this person’s place and fuck. Not the way Shane did, Carmen thought coldly. Opening the door to the cool rush of winter air, Carmen linked her arm through Jonah’s while they made their way to her apartment.