Leaving The Bar

"So, uh, Monica, can I walk you home?" Hubert asked.

"Uh, yeah. Sure." Monica smiled.

"Bye, guys! It was great meeting you, Hubert! Don't get too handsy with my friend." Anna said, drunk.

"Goodbye, Anna. Thank you, er, I'm not going to get handsy." Hubert blushed, clearly uncomfortable with the joke.

Anna chuckled. "Well, goodnight!"

"Bye, Anna."

Hubert and Monica exited the bar. They walked down the street for a bit, in silence, until Monica broke it.

"So, how was your night? Was it fun?"

"Yeah, I, uh, it was nice. I haven't hung out with anybody in a while, so, uh, thanks." Hubert said, fidgeting.

"No problem. Thank you for paying for our dinner. You're really sweet." Monica smiled at him.

Hubert blushed, but the night was dark enough to hide it.
"It was, no problem, it was the, er, least I could do. I hope it wasn't presumptuous."

"Nah, I'm glad you did." Monica lightly punched his broad shoulder.

They continued walking, a few more minutes passed, and Hubert asked, "So, uh, how did you and Anna meet?"

"Well, we've known each other for a while. She's always been a science nerd, and well me...not so much." Monica laughed. "But we both went to the same college, and I was her dorm mate. She's a year older, so it was her sophomore year and my freshman year. We've been friends ever since."

"So, what did you, uh, go for?"

"Business...I've always wanted to, be in charge of something. Be important. Make the world better, I guess. My stepfather wanted to get in my way all the time. He said I'd be better suited to homemaking or secretary work...instead of going to college, and look what I'm doing now after college. Anna got me the job after nowhere else took me seriously."

"Wow. That's, uh, harsh. You should be important, and, uh, make the world a better place. You're really, er, smart and pretty, and, er, well-spoken. I could see you doing a lot of good, even if your, uh, stepdad is a jerk. I, uh, mean that. You're, um, a catch."

Monica couldn't help but smile. She stopped and hugged him.

"Uh, wha?" Hubert didn't seem to know what to do.

"You're so sweet." Monica squeezed him tightly.

"Um, okay, uh, sure. You're welcome." Hubert awkwardly hugged her back.

She let go. "Sorry, was that weird?"

"Um, not really, I guess. Just, uh, unexpected."

"Hehe. Good. So, why did you ask me if you could walk me home?"

"Um, it's, uh, it's dangerous, for a, um, pretty lady, like you, to be out alone, at night, er, especially in a, uh, bad neighborhood. It's dangerous, er, and, um, I didn't want anything bad, er, happening to you." Hubert fidgeted and looked away.

"That's really thoughtful. I'm lucky to have a big, strong, guy like you, walking me home." Monica smiled.

They walked for a bit more, until they reached the door to her apartment building.

"Thanks again for walking me home."

"It was, uh, no problem, Monica."

"So, see you Monday, Hubert."

"Um, yeah, er, okay, I, er, will. I, um, will see you."

Monica entered the building and waved at him.

He nervously waved back.

Once she was inside, Monica realized she was giddy. She hadn't had this much fun in a while, and Hubert was so sweet. She went to bed thinking of the handsome, shy, and awkward giant.