"Look I get it, you want something that's uncomplicated and… simple."
Holly really didn't want to be having this talk anymore. The three college friends had always been pretty close. They had met up regularly since graduation, and although conversation often became competitive and occasionally heated, Holly was grateful to hold onto what they had. Nonetheless everyone has their flaws and Lisa's just happened to be snap-judgements with a side of snobbery. Whereas Holly would usually just ignore Lisa's rants, she now found that her new relationship was the prime focus. She didn't like it. Had she given it more thought, she might have felt a little cowardice for never calling Lisa out on her shit. Ugh, dead bodies were so much easier….
"I'm having fun, don't worry about it"
"Ok well have your fun, but I mean, get out before she gets hurt," Lisa still wasn't getting the message.
"No one's going to get hurt," Holly assured herself as much as her friend.
She was really glad Gail was open to meeting her friends and making an effort, albeit with her trademark snark making the occasional appearance. Holly would just have to hope that overtime Lisa would realise this wasn't some straight girl fling, and she'd see the amazing woman that Gail truly was. 'Uncomplicated' could not have been further from the truth where Gail was concerned and Holly wouldn't have it any other way.
"Mmh, we'll see." Frustrated with Lisa's scepticism, Holly turned to take their drinks back to the table only to find herself face to face with the subject of their conversation. Gail looked less than impressed. It didn't take a genius to work out that she must have overheard a large portion of their conversation.
"Excuse me," Gail grabbed her jacket, she needed to get out. She needed some air. That was not a conversation she had wanted to hear, much less one she had expected. Holly was better than that, what did she see in those losers anyway? Well, Rachel seemed ok, a bit in your face, but Lisa? Gail almost cursed herself for letting Holly get so close to her, but she wasn't really surprised. This is the way it always goes. Sure, she'd been hoping, lately almost believing, that Holly might be the exception to the rule, that she could finally just let go… then - BAM! Hello reality! Clearly they were not on the same page.
"No, wait," internally Holly was swearing at herself. Her need to cut short the conversation with Lisa had meant giving less than satisfactory answers. Answers, it appeared, that Gail had now heard.
"Wait, where are you going?" Holly really didn't want this to be the emergency situation. She needed Gail to hear her out. She would normally give the blonde some space, let her have some time to cool off and figure everything out, but this time was different. She couldn't let Gail leave knowing she'd most likely jumped to all the wrong conclusions - quite understandingly given Holly's lack of defence.
As Gail turned round Holly braced herself for what was going to be their first argument.
"Hey, you know what, is that what you think? Do you think that I'm uneducated? Do you think I'm a blue collar? That I'm… I'm out of your league?" Gail really didn't want to know the answers to those questions. She felt empty. How had this evening taken such a drastic turn? She thought she was doing alright with the whole 'meet the friends' who were apparently like family… How could Holly associate with this Lisa woman?
"No, I never said that-" Gail wasn't even listening as Holly tried to explain, too wrapped up in her destructive spiral.
"Do you know what I think? I think that botched-boob-job that you call a best friend... I think she's an idiot. And I'd rather tase myself in the eye than spend another minute with either of you." Gail hadn't meant to go quite that far. She'd gotten carried away, same old Gail, so much for being better for Holly. What did it matter anyway? It all seemed to be over before it had even really begun.
"What are you saying?" Holly's resolve was starting to crumble.
"I don't know, you're a doctor, why don't you just figure it out?" Gail paused before dishing out the final blow, "hey, don't look so upset, we're just having fun right?" She just wanted to forget everything… She needed another drink, a stronger drink. No way in hell she was getting one here. To fight night after all. The irony was not lost on her that fight night had in fact turned into fight night.
"Gail…" Holly's feet refused to move, she was speechless. Gail's disappointment had hurt, but not as much as the attempted nonchalance that she'd just left with. That last comment caught Holly off-guard. Was Gail ending it? This was just the Cat trying to escape, right? She knew she only really had herself to blame, well and Lisa. She'd never wanted to find herself on the receiving end of Gail's vicious attack-to-defend.
Rachel returned from the bathroom and, sensing something was up, came to Holly's side, "Holly? Is everything ok?" Holly was in a trance, not really sure if what had happened had indeed just happened. She couldn't peel her eyes from the doors through which Gail had just disappeared.
"Holly, was that Gail just leaving?" Rachel tried again. Holly turned round to see the concern etched across her friend's face. She struggled to get her words out, "yeah, umm… She just, I just… I've screwed it all up."
Lisa reappeared just then, awkwardly sipping her drink through a straw, clearly unsure of what to say. "Well that was… fast." Rachel rolled her eyes. Of course Lisa would probably have something to do with this. She'd been playing the 'Who's the superior person' game subtly for most of the evening. Rachel had to hand it to Gail for ignoring most of it or throwing back the occasional bit of sass. But mostly she felt sorry for Holly and her obliviousness. She seemed so caught up in the honeymoon phase of their relationship that she'd failed to notice the differences that Lisa had been highlighting between themselves and Gail.
"I… I've gotta go," Holly realised she had been standing in the same spot for what felt like an eternity, but was actually closer to a few minutes. She'd let Gail leave. Gail had gone and she had failed to tell her how she felt. In seconds she was out of the door, coat in hand, staring down the street hoping desperately to catch a glimpse of the blonde, but realizing that she was too late.
She figured Gail would probably go to Fight Night, but Holly wasn't sure where that was happening and she really didn't want to create another scene. She especially didn't want to be blown off in front of a room full of people she and Gail both had to work with, that wouldn't help anyone. No, it would be better if she just gave Gail a little space after all. The cold air would do her some good anyway, so she pulled on her jacket, picked a direction and began walking.