The Bucket List

Chapter Five

Leah explored the city streets for a little longer before discovering a bar set back slightly from the road. There was a small sign hanging from a rusty metal pole that read, "Timmy's Irish Bar". The windows were dark, letting only a small slither of light spill out onto the pavement. Approaching she realised that it was set in the basement of the building, and having walked around for the last couple of hours her feet were cold and wet, and her hands were freezing she decided to go in.

She walked down the steps, and pushed open the door. Inside, it was busy, busier than she had expected from the lack of noise from outside. The door was sturdy, and provided a sound buffer, as inside it was loud as people laughed and joked together. The bar was to her left, and stretched out along the entire length of the wall. Tall stools with deep green cloth seats lined the bar, and most were filled with people sat around drinking and chatting.

Above the bar the ceiling was adorned with international flags and football shirts. Behind the bar, there were shelves full of all different spirits, in an array of bottles of all colours and sizes. There was a buzz in the air, and it felt welcoming and warm. She slid onto a stool halfway along the bar, and looked around the rest of the room. There were small tables in the centre of the floor, and large booths lined the walls.

At the rear there was a small stage, and a band was playing a soft acoustic set. "The Other Road" were a three piece, with a small, blonde hair girl playing drums very lightly, fronted by two men, possibly teenagers, playing two acoustic guitars.

"Hey, what you after?" Leah turned and realised the barman was talking to her, she was struck by how brightly blue his eyes were and for a second she was lost.

"Erm, rum and diet coke please." She smiled, and the barman smiled back, his head was shaved short, and he had dark brown stubble shaping his face.

"You want a lime wedge honey?" He looked down and began to fill a short glass with ice, "and is that navy rum or spiced?"

"Spiced please. I'm not a navy fan." Leah replied, "and yes please to the lime." He continued to make her drink, and placed it onto the bar. Leah turned back to watch the band, and tried to immerse herself in the music.

She sat and watched the people moving in and out of the bar. At a booth in the back sat a couple, the guy looked around thirty, and had messy brown hair, which looked like it needed a cut. He was wearing a navy blue shirt, which fit well and showed that he was obviously in shape. The girl opposite him seemed uninterested in what he had to say, she stared off into the distance, and every now and then nodded as though she was listening but her face appeared to be vacant. Her hair was short, and it made her features look sharper than they needed to be. Leah couldn't help but think that a longer cut would have made a world of difference.

As she continued to watch the couple, she heard a voice behind her, "How's that drink? Are you ready for another?" She turned and saw the barman again, with a drink already poured for her.

"Oh, thanks, but I really should get going. I only popped in here for one." She started to gather her things, but he put the drink down on the bar, and said, "It's on me. Go on, one more for the lovely English lady who decided to grace my bar this evening." He smiled, and Leah couldn't help but smile back, and she felt herself blushing slightly.

"Thank you. That's really kind. What do I owe you for the other one?" Part of her felt uncomfortable at his compliment, and part of her felt flattered. She hadn't been complimented by a man since Josh, and it was foreign territory for her.

"Don't worry about it. What brings you to New York anyway? You're a long way from home."

"I'm travelling, just started. I only got here this afternoon, and I'm here until the 2nd January before I fly to San Francisco." She wanted to tell him about Josh and the list, but she didn't. She held back. She dropped her head as she thought of Josh, and she must have given off a sad vibe.

"Hey, what's up? It sounds like an amazing trip, why do you look so glum about it?" He was nice, really nice, and Leah felt strangely comfortable.

"It's not really a happy trip. I mean it will be amazing, and I'm sure it'll be fun, but I'm completing a bucket list. My fiancé's bucket list. That sounds strange I know. But, basically, he died, and he left this list, and it was partly complete but there were loads of things unfinished, so I decided I wanted to complete it. I don't know why I'm telling you this. You must think I'm weird, or crazy, or, or, I don't know."

Leah felt embarrassed, saying it all out loud it sounded strange, even to her and she knew more about it than anyone.

"Hey, I don't think you're weird or crazy or anything. So you're completing a list he wanted to do. I get that. It's an adventure, one you can complete FOR him. That's cool. I'm Kyle, by the way." He smiled again and held out his hand, Leah was apprehensive, but shook it – it was warm, and strong.

"Leah. Nice to meet you Kyle."

She smiled, and lifted her drink to her mouth as he continued to speak with her.

"So why are you in New York? Was that on the list? And what else is on this list of yours, or his? Anything I can help you achieve?"

"This part is to see New Year in at Time's Square. I thought I'd come a couple of days early to see the sights, and get the full 'New York experience'."

"It's an amazing city, you'll love it. Everyone always does. There's something magical, and romantic about the place that you don't get anywhere else. Although I've never been anywhere else, so I'm not sure there!" He let out a chuckle, and Leah did in reply. There was something strangely comfortable about Kyle and Leah began to relax.

They continued to talk for an hour, and Leah explained the list, and everywhere she planned to visit. Kyle told her of all the places she should visit in New York, and the best place in Time's Square to stand and watch the ball drop. He offered to pick her up on New Year's Eve at the hotel, and invited her to spend the evening with him and his friends. It was pretty forward of him, but he seemed nice, and she didn't know anyone.

She was normally rather reserved, but she had promised Josh's mum that she would do this fearlessly, and so meeting new people was one way to do that. She wasn't great in new company, but she was determined to make the most of this trip. So she agreed.

She left the bar around an hour later, and made her way back to the hotel. It was night time, and the city lit up magnificently. The sky scrapers around her had lights scattered through them, as offices, and apartments, had their lights on inside.

The few drinks she had in the bar were warming her up, and the chill of the night air didn't hit her as much. She hadn't realised it as she walked but she was smiling the whole walk back to the hotel.