The
Bar
DATE
January 31, 2039
TIME
PM 11:12:09
The bartender
greeted Hank as he and Connor walked inside.
“Hey, let me
start with a beer.” Hank took a seat at the bar.
Connor followed and
approached a stool next to the lieutenant’s. Something caught his attention
before he sat.
Over in the
corner, a familiar young woman with auburn hair. She sat sideways in a booth
seat, one leg stretched out in front of her, and the other bent at the knee
with her arm resting on top. Haley peered out the window she leaned against, a
distant expression on her face.
Suddenly Hank’s
face cut off his vision.
“Connor?” Hank
squinted at him. “You gonna sit down, or what?” He turned his head to see what
the android had been looking at. “Is that the girl who was attacked the other
day?”
The android
shifted his weight to one leg, bringing her into view again. “Yes, I didn’t
expect her to be here.”
Hank faced him.
“You gonna go say hello?”
Connor stood
still, just staring. Then another familiar human crossed the bar and joined
Haley at the booth. He handed her a hard cider before sitting across from her,
tipping back a foreign import ale.
The android
recognized the human as Jake Miles, the dishwasher from the café. He was very
unresponsive when Connor had asked him about the incident. Officer Miller had
to question him. He watched as Haley gave Jake a smile when he sat.
Connor finally
sat on the bar stool. “No, that’s alright. Looks like she has company.”
Hank studied
Connor for a moment, then spoke to the bartender.
Haley popped the lid
off her cider and looked to the dark haired young man sitting across the table.
“So, why are you buying me a drink? I ‘m older than you.”
Jake shrugged at her.
“Whatever, twenty-two is old enough. I thought you could use a change of
scenery after what happened. Besides,” He raised his bottle up. “We have to
celebrate the new café tables.”
“They were used,
actually.”
Jake’s expression
flattened. “They’re new for us, Hales.”
Haley laughed.
“You’re absolutely right.” She raised her bottle and the two clinked the bottle
necks in a toast. She tilted back the cider and took a good sip.
“You should drive me
home.” Jake scratched the back of his neck.
“Yeah, okay.” Haley
said sarcastically. “I know you don’t have your own car but Jake--”
“I’m serious. I
don’t like the idea of leaving you by yourself to close. And not just tonight.
If you drive me, then you won’t be walking out to your car alone.”
Haley looked at
Jake, who was staring down at the tabletop. The bill of his hat covered half of
his face, his hair feathering out from the edge. “Jake, I live 30 minutes
outside the city. In the opposite direction of you.”
Jake raised his gaze
to meet hers. “But Hales-“
“I literally park my
car in the lot across the street from the café. It’s not even a two minute
walk. I can handle two minutes.”
Jake stared at her.
“I still don’t like it.”
“I can take care of
myself.” Haley sat up straight. “Now come on. Back to celebrating.”
Haley took another
drink and as she did, the first few glowing letters of “ANDROID” caught her
eye. Pausing, she noticed it was Connor, the android who had come to
investigate the attack. He sat at the bar, sitting with an older gray-haired
man, Lieutenant Hank Anderson.
The android’s gaze
wandered, and synced up with hers for a moment. She was surprised by the jump
her heart made in her chest.
Haley set her bottle
down and deliberately broke eye contact and returned her attention to Jake.
The red head and the
dishwasher traded stories, laughs, and philosophies. Haley didn’t typically
enjoy going out much, but she was glad Jake had convinced her. Being at the
café made it hard not to think about David. The place felt so empty without
him.
Jake barely finished
the last of his drink before coming to his feet. “I’ll be right back.”
Haley watched him
walk back to the restrooms, and then she snuck a look at Connor again.
Connor’s gaze was
bouncing around the room while the lieutenant cheered at the basketball game
screening on the TV behind the bar.
Haley took her last
drink, a deep breath, then scooted out of the booth, making her way up to the
bar.
She leaned sideways
in the space between the android’s shoulder and the neighboring bar stool. “Hey
there.”
Connor turned to
her, raising his eyebrows. “Miss Ryan.”
“Haley.”
He gave her a soft
smile, which was quite charming, though she wasn’t sure if he had intended it
so. “Haley.”
The android looked
at her very intentionally, his eyes subtly flicking around her face. “Are you
having a good evening? I didn’t think you were the type to hang out at a bar.”
“I don’t, really.
Jake wanted to take me out. To celebrate tables.”
Connor raised his
eyebrows. “Tables?”
“The new ones at the
café.”
“Ah. Those tables. They
did look nice. Were there damages from the incident?”
Haley bobbled her
head side to side. “Not exactly. A couple of them were old and wobbly already.
Then when a criminal is tossed over one of them…well it doesn’t help.” She
shrugged. “Found someone who had a couple extra lying around.”
Connor nodded, then
he glanced behind her. “So how long have you known Jake?”
“Mmm. A year? Year
and half, I think. He looks like a trouble maker but he’s actually a good kid.”
Haley smiled to herself.
Haley peered up at
Connor and lightly patted his forearm. “But you should tell me something about
you.”
“About me?”
“Yeah. Androids are
free now. What do you like to do?”
Connor’s LED spun
around in yellow and he glanced at Hank next to him, who nursed a beer. His LED
returned to blue and he faced Haley again.
“What I like to do
is get Hank home in one piece after he’s been drinking.” He leaned in a little,
bringing his voice lower. “But I could do without the vomit.”
Haley stifled her
laugh.
“You know I can hear
you, right?” The gray-haired man finally turned to them.
Connor straightened
up.
Haley gave him a
warm smile. “Evening, lieutenant. I’m sorry I didn’t get to properly meet you
the other day. I’m Haley.” She held out her hand.
Hank shook her hand.
“Lieutenant Hank Anderson. And don’t worry about it. Thanks for the coffee by
the way.”
“Of course.” She
nodded to him.
“You staying safe?”
“As best I can.”
The lieutenant
pointed his beer bottle at her. “If anything else comes up, you give us a
call.”
“I will. Connor
already gave me his card.”
Hank gave Connor a
look. “Oh, is that right?”’
Jake came into
Haley’s view. “Welcome back! Jake, you remember Lieutenant Anderson and
Connor?”
“How could I forget?”
Jake stared down Connor, his voice flat. He gave the lieutenant an approving
nod.
“Hello, Jake.”
Connor bowed his head slightly.
“How ya doin’?” Hank
gave a small wave.
“Fine, thanks.” Jake
turned to the bartender. “Can I get another ale?” He looked to Haley. “You want
another?”
Haley gently shook
her head. “I’m good. Gotta drive later.”
Jake shrugged. The
bartender handed him another bottle. “Nice seeing you guys. Keep up the good
work.” He turned his back to Hank and Connor. “You ready, Hales?”
“Sure.” Haley looked
back to Connor. “I guess I’ll see you around?”
Connor smiled and
nodded.
“Have a good night,
lieutenant.”
“You too.” The
lieutenant took a drink from his beer.
Haley followed Jake to
the booth in the corner.
Hank watched as
the young red head and dark-haired boy walked away. “Is she dating that guy?”
The android stared
at them for a moment. “I don’t think so. Why?”
Hank turned his
attention to Connor. “No reason.”
Connor’s gaze
fell to the bar top. “I don’t think he likes me.”
Hank lifted his
beer to his lips. “Well, there are still those who don’t like to see androids
as people.” He paused, watching Connor’s expression carefully. “Or… maybe he
was jealous.”
Connor looked up
at the lieutenant. “Jealous? Jealous of what?”
Hank raised his
eyebrows an inch, before taking a large gulp from his bottle and turning his
attention back to the TV.
Connor blinked a
couple times, waiting for a response. Then he looked back at Haley again.
