Episode 119 'Short Stories'

Those Dazzling Eyes.

It was the way that she looked at him that stopped his mindless gazing and focus on her pair of beautiful, but deadly eyes. They were so alluring, so dazzling. But was she really looking at him? Or perhaps someone behind. The latter was more probable; why on earth would she be looking at him?

    Jerry would often sit on the same stool in the same bar, daydreaming a fantasy where a woman might actually consider his wallowing demeaner to be attractive and approach him. He would spend hours playing with his phone (sudoku was a popular choice) or pretending to write poetry in his shabby little notebook. But the real reason why he was there was to hopefully, one day, stumble upon an interaction that might lead to him finding the 'one'. He would stretch, yawn or use other theatrical gestures to justify turning his head in order to glance at a woman with the intention of making eye contact. But even if there was a moment where his gaze connected with another, Jerry would freeze like a rabbit in headlights, panic and hastily retreat to his phone, notebook and miserable glass of warm beer.

    This current scenario with the lady and her dazzling eyes was just another failed attempt at him seeking a date. What was he going to do, flirt with his eyes? Pathetic. Besides, there were plenty of other guys in the bar that she probably had her eye one. And with that, Jerry turned back to his personal effects. At least, he tried to. 

    For some unknown reason, Jerry couldn't move. He was fixated on those piercing blue eyes as they stared right back, unblinking, unyielding. Why could he not look away? He tried to move his head, but was physically unable to. It was like his neck had been locked in a vice, facing this mysterious woman with the dazzling eyes. 

    Jerry was getting uncomfortable now. Not only for himself, but for the mysterious woman with the dazzling eyes and long brown hair who sat in a booth on the other side of the bar. Surely she would be wondering why he was staring so? He needed to stop immediately before this escalated; it felt like the beginning of a scandal. And this was his favourite bar to feel wretched in. He didn't want to get kicked out because he was acting inappropriately with his incessant gawping at a poor female patron who merely wanted a quiet drink. 

    Jerry began to sweat. His body was shaking in fear. He lifted his hands up to his face and tried to twist his head, his face, anything, away from the mysterious woman with the dazzling eyes, long brown hair and wicked smile. Was he making a scene? Were other people noticing his dilemma? 

    Still unable to break this relentless staring competition, Jerry decided to smile back. It was odd that she was doing so in the first place considering his obstinate position. But what else could he do? His transfixed posture offered him no alternative but to embrace the awkwardness.

    The eyes, peering confidently from the booth on the other side of the bar, mesmerising and yet somehow cold, widened with a hypnotic dilation and the wicked smile began to show a glimmering row of white teeth. She was definitely reacting to his apparent charm, although, Jerry's smile felt more like a desperate plea for help than one of seduction. And still those eyes would not falter or let go of his gaze. What was this? Some kind of sorcery?

    The mysterious woman with the dazzling eyes, long brown hair and wicked smile slowly sidled to the edge of the booth and stood up. Without breaking any line of eye contact she walked over to the bar and sat down on the stool next to Jerry. As she did so, Jerry could finally feel his head free itself and turn to follow her elegant movements. But the eyes remained locked. He felt like a fish caught on a line, being pulled in towards danger. Mysterious, beautiful danger. 

    A tall glass with a straw suddenly appeared on the bar next to them, Jerry noticed out of the corner of his eye, and the mysterious woman with the dazzling eyes, long brown hair and wicked smile gently lifted it and amorously wrapped her lips around the end. She slurped, unashamedly, then blinked quite purposefully. 

    Like a switch that was finally flicked off, Jerry was unleashed from those piercing blue eyes and able to blink again, looking around the bar frantically, checking his surroundings. Had he imagined this unnatural connection? Or was he so reckless in his courting performances that he had literally been staring with his own indiscreet manner the entire time?

    "I'm sorry..." Jerry managed to blurt out. 

    "Sorry for what?" The mysterious woman crooned back, sucking her straw in a contemplating fashion that beckoned Jerry to reveal everything. 

    He tried to avoid those dazzling eyes, but it was inevitable. How can you have a conversation with a beautiful woman without looking her in the eye? He seemed in awe that she had come over to him at all, let alone want to speak with him. What was she looking for?

    "Sorry for staring at you, for such a weird length of time." Jerry could feel his throat tighten, wishing that the tension throughout his body would melt away and he could flee from this place, humiliated and red-faced, never to return. 

    "Oh don't you worry, mister," replied the mysterious woman with the dazzling eyes, long brown hair, wicked smile and evocative aroma pouring from beneath her blouse. Such a fragrance, but what was the scent? It was tantalizing, exotic. Jerry felt the allure of those dazzling eyes return. 

    "So, do you come here often?" Jerry blushed with obvious embarrassment. Did he honestly just use that line? He really was pathetic. 

    "This is my first time. But I like what I see." Those piercing blue eyes began to widen again, inviting Jerry to fall into the depths of passion with no consequence other than the utter assurance that he'd finally found what he was looking for. 

    Mouth agape, he fumbled for words that would never be worthy, "oh, good. It's a lovely establishment. Full of friendly people."

    "Yes. Very friendly."

    Was she flirting with him? This was outrageous. Unheard of. And yet, it was somehow happening. A mysterious woman with a dazzling smile, long brown hair, wicked smile and evocative aroma was sitting opposite him at the bar, holding his gaze in the most supernatural fashion and flirting with him. Finally, Jerry thought, all my floundering around in misery has paid off. Someone this gorgeous and ravishing feels sorry for me and is interested. What luck!

    In Jerry's mind, he admitted that it wasn't the most romantic way to begin an interaction, but he would soon show this mysterious woman that he was actually a really fun guy. 

    But those eyes. Those dazzling, piercing blue eyes. They were hypnotic. 

    "You have the most beautiful eyes," Jerry said, feeling a little more confident. 

    "Thank you. They seem to like you." She placed a hand on Jerry's thigh. 

    Jerry let out a noise that imitated a cartoon character who had fallen head over heels for a beautiful dame; a silly grunting spasm that made him feel even more of a fool. But a smitten fool, nonetheless.

    Suddenly the wicked smile began to widen a little more, as if the mysterious woman was thoroughly enjoying making Jerry feel uncomfortable with her forward nature. She was amused by him, it seemed. But as her delectable lips parted, exhibiting those glimmering white teeth, Jerry could see something a little strange. He could not fully focus on her mouth, being entranced by those eyes, yet in his peripheral he was noticing something very disturbing. The ends of the mysterious woman´s teeth were angled into points. Sharp and fang-like. Every tooth was like this, revealed slowly as the lips retracted farther. 

    Jerry let out a different noise this time, one of confused awe. He was already frozen from the entrapment of the mysterious woman's eyes, once in adoration, and now in a sudden fear. What was happening? Did she do this to her own teeth? What is she going to do to me? Jerry was frantically asking himself all these pointless questions, when in reality he had the immediate urge to escape the gaze of those poisonous eyes. 

    The mysterious woman with the dazzling eyes, long brown hair, wicked smile, evocative aroma and razer sharp teeth began to lean forward, snake like in her approach. Jerry tried to make another sound, this time he wanted to scream out "help!" but no words were uttered. It felt like there was an apple lodged in his throat, preventing him from calling out. The mysterious woman craned her slender neck and whispered provocatively into his ear. He could feel her breath marinating upon his skin.

    "Come home with me..." The words were intoxicating. Words which many men would long to hear, but these were laced with ulterior motives and dark deeds. They were definitely not friendly. 

    Even though the eye contact had been broken, Jerry still couldn't move. The elegant hand that he had welcomed with such enthusiasm was now gripping his thigh with a mechanical strength like he had never felt before. 

    "Come home with me." The mysterious woman repeated, the words oozing out like venom. "I want your body. And then we can live happily ever after. This is what you've been looking for, is it not?"

    She leant back and re-established the eye connection with Jerry. She giggled at the sight of his face, and hissed with delight. A flicker of a forked tongue. Her nails like talons, digging further into his flesh.

    "Now, follow me."

The barman was restocking the fridge with bottles of beers and lemonade. He checked the caskets of ale underneath the bar then wiped down the taps before flinging the dirty rag over his shoulder, a gesture that represented the end of his current list of chores. Content with the atmosphere of the bar, he looked around to view his establishment and the people who inhabited it. 

    A group of young men idly played darts, each stepping up to be taunted as they aimed for the triple twenty. Various booths and tables were occupied by old men reading newspapers, dear friends catching up over a pint and phone obsessed couples ignoring each other. Then there was Jerry. All alone at the end of the bar, perched upon his ivory stool with nothing but his shabby notebook for company. He was a regular customer here. Same stool. Same lonely demeanour. 

    Only this time, he was not alone. 

    There was somebody sitting with him. 

The barman pretended to busy himself with something a little closer to this curious scene. He fished for a couple of clean glasses below the counter and wiped them again with his dirty rag. Jerry didn't seem to notice his sudden presence. He was transfixed, captivated by the woman before him. A mysterious woman, the barman noted, with dazzling eyes, long brown hair and a wicked smile. She was utterly beautiful.

   "Lucky bugger," he muttered under his breath. 

    The mysterious woman slid off her stool and beckoned Jerry to follow. For a split second, Jerry managed to glance over to the barman, who instinctively gave him a nod and a wink. This was his lucky day, after all. But instead of reciprocating the comradery from the barman, Jerry looked back with wide, desperate eyes that seemed to be screaming something else in such unspoken pain. The fear was unmistakable. 

    And then he turned and followed the mysterious woman toward the exit, her hand finding his, clasping tightly with a fervour that suggested a heated night of passion lay ahead.

    The barman chuckled. Poor Jerry. It has been so long since he's been with a woman, no wonder he looked frightened. He flung the dirty rag over his shoulder again and continued his meandering about the bar.