"Life would be so much easier if I were a lesbian."
Setting down her fourth glass of the night, Clare Edwards dropped her head in her hands, her curls spilling over a like a veil on either side of her face. Drinking wasn't something she did very often, the rarity of it all making the effects of the alcohol more pronounced. Her throat burned like fire, coated with the burning liquid but she couldn't find it within herself to care. Not now, not on the heels of a break up. By her side was her best friend since high school Alli Bhandari, whose eyes were now even wider than usual in their normal state at her friend's bold statement.
"Not so loud, yeesh," Alli hissed, looking around the area to see if anyone had heard Clare. As expected her unabashed commentary caught the eye of some, a brunette three bar stools over who now took a sudden interest in Clare and the bartender himself with a perverse smirk. Shooting daggers with her eyes, Alli got them to turn away, draping an arm over Clare's sullen shoulders.
"Okay, what is going on? I got your 911 so I know it has to be something major. What are you not telling me?" she asked tentatively, her brows shot up completely as she set her bag down on the bar counter. Having just arrived only a few moments before, her phone was still in her hand after receiving an urgent text from her friend to meet her.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe the tale of how there aren't any good men left in this city," Clare slurred, reaching for her glass and downing the remains. Her face scrunched up instinctively but with each drink she took, the easier it was to distance her from reality.
It had only been a mere hour ago that life as she knew it to be for the last two and a half years came crumbling down all around her. Her relationship was seemingly perfect as far as she saw it. Any day now Clare was suspecting an engagement would happen but what she got was a shock she never could have seen coming. It started out like any other night. Clare said goodbye to her coworkers at The Edge, one of the most revered magazines in town. Everything from music to movies, trends to fashion don'ts could be found within the pages of the magazine. It wasn't the first career choice Clare had for herself. Growing up her sights had been sent on the big leagues for a budding journalist. Fresh out of the University of Toronto, Clare had every intention of becoming a writer for the Toronto Interpreter, undoubtedly the most renowned paper in town. It was too easy to get lost in thoughts of seeing her name in the bylines. But the job market was far more competitive than she could have imagined, making it almost impossible to get a foot in the door at major publications. It wasn't until one day, at this very same bar, she had been speaking to Alli about it all that she met him.
Jake was easy on the eyes, tall with model good looks that no girl within thirty foot radius could have been immune to. At first Clare felt offended he had been listening in on her sob story to her best friend but from the moment he pulled out a business card, she was intrigued. As it were, there was a position open on staff for an advice columnist. It was a far cry from the hard hitting articles she had been dreaming about writing for as long as she could remember but Clare knew it wasn't an offer she could decline. Over drinks she told Jake all about her writing experience from contests she won as a kid to being the editor of her high school paper. In her last year of college for The Gargoyle and could have likely been editor in chief if not for the fact that head of staff decided to tack on another year of schooling. He seemed impressed with her verbal resume and promised to put in a good word for her. Luck had certainly been on her side that night and the two and a half years that followed.
Until now.
"Care to elaborate or am I going to have to guess what happened?" Alli said, taking a seat. Resting an elbow against the bar, she sighed as she looked at Clare, the girl showing no signs of movement. "So it's a guessing game, okay. What did Jake do exactly? Did you guys have a fight?" she tried to coax out of the brick wall Clare had become.
After a few seconds, Clare tossed her head back sending her auburn curls flying back before they draped her face once more. "So get this. I come home from a long day of work. I get into the door and there are two bags packed and stacked in the foyer. Naturally I'm confused by this so I call out to Jake and he's standing in the living room like a deer caught in headlights. So I asked him, I said 'Jake, where are you going? What's happening?' and then he just rocks back and forth on his heels like an idiot and says that- and I quote- 'It's not working out right now.' Can you believe that? Two and a half years we've been together and out of literally nowhere, he's bailing. I don't get it. I don't get it at all," she huffed, her pink lips turning down into a deep frown.
She looked more like a toddler on time out than anything else. If it were any other circumstance, Alli would have poked fun at her expression but now she was far too immersed in the recap Clare had given her. Confused, she shook her head, her dark hair swaying as she touched a hand to her forehead.
"So let me get this straight. You guys literally just took a trip to Vancouver, what? Last month? You guys have been together for what feels like forever and now-"
"Now he's calling it quits. It doesn't make any sense at all. We haven't gotten into any fights lately. Things have been going really well, or so I thought. God, this is just ridiculous." Sucking her teeth in annoyance, Clare felt the urge to indulge in another drink but the bartender's attention was now stolen by a guy around her age, clad in all black. Even though his attire more or less blended into the walls of the seedy bar, he stuck out for some reason. Snapping out of that momentary reverie, she did her best to focus on Alli's face.
The image of her friend was a bit hazy, her drinks hitting her like a truck but it was far better to get lost in this stupor than have to accept the current state of her life soberly.
"Hon, you aren't going to find the answer in the bottom of a glass. You do know that, right?" Alli tried to reason, extending a hand and rubbing Clare's back soothingly.
"I just want this night to be over but of course I'll have to go back to the apartment and Jake won't be there. Then I'll get stuck in this routine forever. Lather, rinse, repeat. It won't stop. For crying out loud, we work together, Al! There's literally no escaping this." Groaning, her brows knitted together in irritation of the scenario she now found herself in.
Two seats to her right, the guy in all black took a seat, ridding himself of his jacket as the bartender set his rum and Coke down on the counter, Clare glad for the fact that now he was free to get her another Bloody Mary. Gesturing for one more as he looked her way, Clare sighed in relief that a momentary release was on the way.
"Tell you what. Why don't you crash at my place this weekend? You said he had bags packed so, and I don't mean this to add insult to injury, but I doubt he'll be dropping in for the next few days. We can make the most of it and have some well needed girl time away from guys," she offered reassuringly.
"Alli, you're the best, you know that?" Clare asked mumbled, tripping over her words as her order was up. Taking a generous sip, she bounced around in her seat feeling warm all over from the drink mixing into her bloodstream with the others she had before.
"What are friends for, right? I really don't want to have to drag your drunk butt home so no more drinks. You've reached your limit, young lady," she said sternly, wagging a disapproving finger at Clare. The gesture merely earned her a giggle from her best friend who continued sucking her drink through a straw.
Letting out a deep sigh, Alli knew Clare would be a goner until morning. Deciding to take advantage of the down time to text her boyfriend Dave and cancel their dinner plans for the next night. She knew he would understand that Clare needed her now. A girls' weekend was certainly in order and Alli didn't have any intentions of letting Clare down. Slipping her phone back into her bag, Alli tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.
"When you're done with that drink, we're heading straight back to my place. I'll get pack a bag for you in the morning since I'm betting you won't resurrect until the afternoon." Alli was sure her words were falling on deaf ears now as Clare removed the straw and chugged the tonic down. "For a girl who doesn't drink often, you sure know how to knock it back."
Slamming the now empty glass, save for a celery stick, Clare wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and sighed. "That was good. Like really, really good," she stressed, leaning into Alli with each word before pulling back.
"I can tell you enjoyed that but alas, it's time for us to depart from this pity party and get you far away from alcohol. You're already going to have the hangover from hell, one of which I am dreading but whatever." Hopping off her stool, Alli took out her wallet, setting a few bills down to cover the cost of Clare's drink. "Come on, Clare. Let's get out of here."
Clare on the other hand had different plans, staying planted to her seat as if she had been nailed to the spot. "Sit, sit. Let's just talk. We never talk anymore," she pouted. Alli rolled her eyes and sighed, foreseeing the night of trouble she'd have on her hands.
"We talk every day. I have the cell phone bill to prove it," she countered, giving in and sitting once more in defeat. "What do you want to talk about here that we can't discuss back in the comfort of my nice, warm and far cozier living room over a pint of ice cream?" she asked, blinking so quickly that her dark lashes fluttered at warped speed.
Shrugging her shoulders, Clare traced the rim on her cup and fell silent for a moment. "I don't know. Let's bash Jake, shall we? Guys are the worst. Except for Dave. He's a good guy and you all are going to get married and have kids. It's going to be so perfect. I know it. Trust me," she slurred, smilingly knowingly before her shoulders gave way. "How is it that I get paid to help everyone else with their issues and then when it comes to me? Nothing," she said, flourishingly her hand dramatically. "An advice columnist with zero advice to give. That's so…" she trailed off.
"Ironic?" a male voice spoke, continuing her thought. Turning in her stool, Clare gripped the bar for support as she looked to the guy just a few feet away, snapping her fingers together and pointing at him.
"Bingo! That's the word I was looking for right there. Ironic! You're smart but yes, ironic," she repeated before swiveling back to face forward. "It would be funny if it weren't happening to me but now it's just so sad. I have no idea what I'm going to do. What happens now? Are we really broken up or just on a break? He didn't say he was moving out but he did say it's not working…now. Does that mean it could work when he gets back?" she rambled, speaking her thoughts aloud.
"Clare," Alli interjected, putting a hand over her friend's. "Relax. Breathe. Chill. You guys can sort that all out later but right now, we really should get out of here and let you rest," she all but pleaded.
"I can sleep here. It's so comfy, Alli. We can stay right here. It's a-okay," Clare replied softly, a lazy smile painting her lips.
The guy couldn't help but laugh at this, though he tried in vain to hide stifle it. Swirling the liquid in his glass with the thin red straw before setting it to his lips, he met looked up to see Alli scowling at him. "What?" he asked innocently, taking a swig of his drink.
Rolling her eyes at him, Alli huffed, taking Clare by both hands as she stood up from her own stool. "Upsy daisy on the count of three, okay? One, two, three." Hoisting Clare up, Alli did her best to get Clare on her feet. She was shocked by her own strength, both girls on the petite side. Draping Clare's arm over her shoulder, she did a balancing act, placing her bag onto her arm. "Okay. I think we're good," she said breathlessly, dragging Clare along with her and heading for the door.
Once outside, Alli sighed in relief as the cool night air hit them, hoping it would alert Clare more as she looked around for a cab. Given the fact it was the weekend, Alli was confident one would pass by soon. A few moments later, one turned down the street. Calling out to it, Alli waved her arm and hailed the cab. Opening the door, she tossed her bag inside before embarking on her task to get Clare inside.
She felt more like dead weight than anything else and it was proving difficult to break apart from her.
"Here, let me help," someone said, Clare smiling widely.
"It's ironic guy! Thanks for that word. It was right on the tip of my tongue but it went poof," she said forlornly as if this were truly the most upsetting thing in the world.
"Oddly enough it doesn't say ironic guy of my birth certificate but good guess," he said as he relieved Alli and lowered Clare inside.
"Then what is your name? I bet ironic is much better than whatever is," Clare quipped as Alli went around the back of the cab and got inside.
"That's debatable but it's Eli. Eli Goldsworthy. Anyway, your friend looks like she's about to have an aneurysm any minute if she doesn't get you guys on the road so I'll leave you girls to it," he said, closing the door a bit.
"Wait! I didn't thank you for helping me," she cried, her small hand acting as a barrier to resist the door.
"Uh, yeah. You did. You're just too wasted to remember. Maybe I'll see you around some time, yeah? Goodnight and take care. Both of you," he amended, ducking his head a bit to look at Alli who thanked him. Shutting the door, he shook his head as the taxi pulled off.
Sighing to himself, he stood in place until the tail lights of the cab blurred and eventually faded in the distance. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips for the random turn of events. The night certainly hadn't panned out like he had been expecting but the change was a good one. He knew the chances of seeing this girl, Clare as he remembered her friend calling her were low but the prospect had appeal to it.