DRINKING 101// OPEN

"Another one for ye' Joel?" Joel simply nodded his head as he drank the last sip of whiskey in his glass. It had been a long day of battling for a juvenile's freedom earlier that day. The kid hadn't done anything wrong, as far as Joel could see. It was a simple case of a police officer's word against a kid's. Joel was the top youth advocate in the state at the time and always wanted to represent troubled teens in his hometown of Newport Beach.

The bartender brought him his third drink of the afternoon. Joel nodded his head in thanks and sipped slowly. There was nothing better than a glass of whiskey after a long day of work. Joel looked around the pub. He had never taken in the simplicity of this place. Most of the pubs and bars in Newport had their walls filled to the ceiling with things. Either pictures of famous people who had visited, old license places, even old beer cans could be found. This place was simple, the people here were simple, and the entertainment matched. There was often blues singers that performed here during the day and rock bands during the evening. Joel was into neither, but he was into drinking. He would often find ways to tune out the distasteful music.

Someone to talk to would be nice. Someone to distract him from the bluegrass singer that was present at the moment. Anyone, anyone at all. Joel's insides screamed with want. He hated not having anyone to talk to. There was a girl sitting at the bar next to him with almost no clothing on. Most would suppose it was due to the warm summer weather. Joel could read through her no problem. She had money, daddy issues, and was probably always told that she had an awesome body. That's why she would show it off. That, and she seemed the type that was hungry for money. The girl caught him staring at her and tried her luck in moving closer toward him. She looked barely drinking age. As she moved closer, flashing pearly whites, Joel moved away from the bar casually and called for another round. Turning on his heels, he ran into someone, spilling his half empty drink all over his hoodie, white t-shirt and the other person.

"Oh shit, I'm sorry. I should've been watching where I was going," he stated apologetically.