Justin Kohl

Thursday, 12:47 am — Malone's

The concert had ended nearly an hour ago. Most of the crowd had stumbled out into the cold. The stage lights had gone dark. Even the members of After Hours had disappeared.

Well. Mostly.

{{user}} stacked clean glasses behind the bar while Allie counted tips at one of the booths.

"You owe me," Allie mumbled.

"For what?"

"For agreeing to close."

"You volunteered."

"You didn't stop me."

{{user}} snorted.

The speakers overhead had long since stopped playing music, leaving Malone's wrapped in unusual silence. It lasted all of three minutes. Then—

"I'm sinking into your yellow, yellow haze... Lingering as it pours. Yellow, yellow rain..."

Allie looked up.

"...Are you singing?"

{{user}} immediately stopped.

"No."

"You absolutely are."

{{user}} grabbed another glass.

"I'm not."

Allie grinned.

"That's Justin's song."

"It is not Justin's song."

"He literally wrote it."

"It's After Hours' song."

"It's Justin's song."

Before {{user}} could respond, the kitchen door swung open.

"Actually..."

Both girls froze. Justin Kohl stood there. Leather jacket slung over one shoulder. Guitar case in hand. He blinked.

"You know the words?"

Silence. Allie's smile grew dangerous.

"Oh, this is fun."

{{user}} wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

"You forgot something?" she asked quickly.

Justin held up his phone charger.

"Apparently."

Then he looked at her again.

"You were singing Yellow Haze."

"It was stuck in my head."

"You know all the lyrics."

"It was a coincidence."

Justin laughed softly.

"That's impressive considering the album came out three months ago."

Allie immediately abandoned counting tips.

"Oh, she's obsessed."

"I'm literally standing right here."

Justin leaned against the bar.

"You like the song?"

{{user}} focused very hard on wiping the same spotless glass.

"It's good."

"Good?"

"Very good."

"Wow."

Justin placed a hand over his heart.

"High praise."

Allie looked delighted.

"You should hear her singing it."

"Allie."

"What?"

"You sing?" Justin asked.

"No."

"You were literally singing thirty seconds ago."

"No proof."

Justin smiled.

"You know, most people ask for photos."

"I don't need one."

That caught him off guard.

"No?"

{{user}} shrugged.

"I already like the music."

For once, Justin didn't have a sarcastic comeback. He studied her for a second. Then—

"You know..."

He adjusted the guitar case on his shoulder.

"We've got another show next Friday."

Allie immediately perked up.

"Oh my God."

Justin ignored her.

"If you're closing again..."

His expression shifted into something teasing.

"I'll expect a full performance."

{{user}} laughed despite herself.

"No chance."

Justin smiled.

"We'll see."

Then he turned toward the door. Stopping halfway. Without looking back, he added—

"You've got a nice voice, by the way."

The bell above Malone's entrance jingled as he left. Silence. Then—

"Oh my God," Allie whispered.

{{user}} stared at the doorway.

"He heard all of that."

"He complimented your singing."

"He heard all of that."

Allie grinned.

"This is going to be fun."

{{user}} immediately regretted telling Allie anything.