Loving Maverick

A Night Gone Awry

Being in the club made Maverick remember why he was never a big fan of establishments like this in the first place; and having been newly discharged from a world of constant life-threatening sounds and activity, did not help the cause.

“You alright man?!” Stefano grabbed Maverick’s shoulder and jerked around a little bit in a seeming attempt to get his best friend out of his thoughts. 

The drink in his hand was beginning to spill a little bit so Maverick took it from his friend’s hand and drank it. He knew that he’d be needing something stronger than a beer if he were to get through this night.

“I’m fine.” He finally answered, after flipping the empty glass over on the table.

“Yeeah!” Stefano growled in excitement. “That’s what I’m talking about!” He gestured for the waiter to bring them another drink before he returned his attention to Maverick. “So, how has it been readjusting to civilian life?” He asked.

Maverick shrugged and looked around. “Weird to be honest.” He confessed as he took another drink. 

“Ah, pop would say that every time he’d return home on leave.” Stefano said. “I wish he would have stayed the last time.” 

Stefano would always become solemn when discussing his father which surprised Maverick when he brought up his military life. It was an obvious opening to talk about his father. Then again, Maverick sometimes thought that maybe on the rare times that he did bring up his father, it was because he wanted to talk about him. This was fine with Maverick, however. Stefano didn’t open up to too many people so when he trusted him enough to do so, he was honored.

“Yeah, sometimes it is easier said than done to check out of the military fold.” Maverick replied.

“Yeah, true! That’s why I never joined.” Stefano said. “I knew I’d develop the same passion as my father and...well I just loved cars too much.” He chuckled. “How could I cheat on my first passion for another?” He teased. “That, and I had to look after my little cousin.” He looked at Maverick curiously. “You remember bambi?” He asked him.

Maverick scoffed. “The only thing that I remembered back then was your sexy auntie.” He teased. “What was her name again?” 

“Hey, watch it, Ragazzo!” Stefano countered.

“Cali-Calista?” He smirked as he nudged his friend. 

“Yeah, well if you remember her then you must remember her husband, Vince.”

Maverick laughed. “Yeah….vaguely.” He chuckled.

“Well I’m sure he can refresh your memory with a good old fashioned beat down.” 

They both laughed. Maverick always found Stefano’s aunt beautiful, with her beautiful brown skin and thick shapely build. He always liked  a woman with a little meat on her bones but lately, it had become more of a preference. And unfortunately, there were very few there at the club for that night.

Stefano had apparently noticed his friend’s gaze distancing itself into the crowd and then decided to make a suggestion. 

“Why don’t you go out there on the dance floor?” Stef said. “Maybe find you a lady friend to take home for the night.” 

Maverick chanced a glance at his friend who seemed to have his eye on someone else in particular. She was quite attractive and Maverick noticed how she’d been eyeing them-or more particularly, Stefano for the last past half-hour. 

When he saw her waving their way and Stefano responded with a wink, he knew that that was his cue to veer off and find another venue. 

“Don’t worry, brother.” Maverick stood from where he sat. “I’m catching what you’re throwing.” He said and then glanced at the girl sitting only a few feet away. “And I’m sure she is too.” 

Stefano smirked. “Have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I’m sure the girl you’ve been discreetly buying drinks for for the last half- an hour does.”

Stefano was more amused than he was surprised at his best friend’s attention to detail. “Always did have eyes in the back of your head.” He chuckled.

Maverick chuckled and shrugged. “What can I say? It’s always been a gift! The Navy only made it better.” He snapped his hand against Stefano’s. “I’ll see you later, man.”

“Not staying?” Stefano asked. Maverick could tell that that was what he was hoping for.

Maverick looked around and hunched his shoulders. “Just not my scene anymore, man.” He said.

Stefano scoffed. “Never was.”

When they said their goodbyes, Maverick descended the stairs to the first floor of club Nova. 

The music seemed to become even louder than before, the dance floor crowded with tipsy women and drunk men, groping, grinding and attempting to find a lady to go home with for the night.

“Yup, just not my scene.”

He started for the bar when he thought to get one last drink before hitting the road. “Might as well.” He muttered. “Scotch on the rocks.” He said to the bartender.

After the man handed Maverick his drink, he walked away. “What can I do for you, sweetie? Appletini? Margarita? Surely something as sweet and seductive as you.” He grinned.

Maverick couldn’t help taking a glance at the sad victim of this bartender’s passes. 

“Whiskey-straight.” She said. “No ice.”

She was blunt and straight to the point and quite frankly, it surprised not only the bartender but Maverick as well. She certainly didn’t look like a female that took her alcohol brown….and straight.

“Brown, huh?” The bartender said. “Now, I’m even more intrigued.”

The girl wasn’t at all impressed with the stranger serving her the drink and rolled her eyes, gulped down her drink like water and stood from where she sat.

“No thanks.” She said and walked away.

Maverick watched her. It was too dark to see how attractive she was but he could clearly see that she had potential. What bothered him the most was the fact that she wasn’t completely balanced and she was headed for the exit.

He was reluctant at first, not wanting anyone to assume that he was following an inebriated woman out into the street to take advantage of her. Then he saw two men follow shortly behind.

They didn’t seem to be going out there to follow the girl, but an obligated part of him felt a need to go out there anyway. 

After another moment to think on it, he finished his drink, and with  sigh, pulled out cash to pay for the drink and a tip before leaving the club.

He pushed passed the crowd and left, looking to his left and then his right. Neither she nor the guys that left were in sight so Maverick continued walking down the street; and that’s when he heard it.

“Leave me alone!”

 Her voice wasn’t dragging so, she wasn’t completely incognizant but she was still probably too weak to fend for herself.

“Awe come on, hon. We’re just trying to take you home.” The guy said.

“I didn’t come here with you. I’m sure I can find my own way home, thanks.”

“You shouldn’t be here alone.” The other said, pulling and tugging on her clothing. 

As they bombarded her against a building wall along the side of the street, Maverick rushed over to intercede.

“Hey! Hey!” He yelled. “Back off!” He shoved the guy back. 

The guy in his tipsy stupor swung at Maverick without thinking. Maverick ducked him bowed him in the face and shoved him, face first, against the wall. He could hear the other guy coming for him and caught him by the collar. He looked at the guy and shook his head, releasing the guy. Before the guy could react, Maverick struck in the nose, knocking him to the ground.

When they were incapacitated, Maverick went over to the stumbling girl who was just standing there leaned against the wall.

“You alright, miss?” He asked.

She looked at him, frustration clear upon her face. “I’m fine. Thanks.” She then started to walk off when Maverick stopped her.

“I don’t think that you should be walking home alone-”

“I’m fine!” She snapped, snatching away from him.

Maverick let her go, lifting his hands up in a way reassuring that he was not there to hurt her.

“Look, I’m only trying to help.”

“I don’t need...your help!” She said. “Just...mi-mind your own business.”

Her last drink was finally starting to sink in. Maverick could already tell that she was definitely a hand full.

“Did you come here alone-”

“No!” She said, barely giving him time to finish his question. “I didn’t but...can’t tell her that, can you? Because she’s just….she’s just a….” Her sentence trailed off and she just stopped.

She faced him, a look that he couldn’t decipher on her face. Maverick waited for her to speak. He could barely see her face with her long dark hair covering a great part of it.

When she lifted her hair, Maverick finally saw her face. From where he stood, she was quite attractive but he knew that the light would really bring her appearance to light. Too bad, he wouldn’t see her after the night. Her eyes were large and looked dark.

“I don’t want to walk anymore.” She said. She exhaled harshly and kept walking.

Maverick couldn’t help but find her amusing as she continued to walk down the street. He followed her, deciding that he’d find her a way home.

“Here, let me-” He stepped in front of her to stop her from walking and it apparently frightened her.

“No! No, I said I’m fine.” 

The girl pushed him back and quite frankly Maverick was surprised at how strong she was.

“I thought you didn’t feel like walking.” Maverick said.

The girl sighed. “Yes! But that...is none...none of your business.” 

“Look, I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow, so can we please just get you home?” Maverick countered, tired of the back and forth with this girl.

“You can-you can go home.” The girl said. “And I….will go home.” She then pulled out her cell phone and started to look through it.

“That’s it.” Maverick snatched the phone from her and went through her google maps, trying to see if he could find a location that would lead him to her home. When he finally did, he pressed the gps in and picked her up and lifted her over his shoulder.

“No!! No, leave me alone! Don’t touch me! Don’t-”

“Hey! Hey, what’s going on?!” 

Oh great, Maverick hissed when he saw the police officer coming toward them. He stopped.

“Everything is fine, officer. I’m just taking this young lady home-”

“Well do you know this young lady?” 

Maverick started to answer but knew that he couldn’t give one that this guy would believe. Being a good sumaritan was too far and between these days.

“Well-”

“No! No he doesn’t! He’s-he’s trying to date nap me!” She screamed.

When Maverick saw the look on the officer’s face, he knew. “This….is going to be a long night.”