Summary: It's five years since they graduated. Kitty and Marley are at a bar when they meet someone there who they hadn't been expecting to be there nor the condition he's in.
Chapter 1 – Eyes
"My editor is breathing down my neck about the water crisis article…" Marley says as she sits down at the bar with Kitty.
"I thought you had that article done more than a week ago?" Kitty frowns.
"Yeah but I need concrete proof" Marley sighs.
"At least I don't have a problem like that with my articles." Kitty smirks as the barman comes up to them "Two pink cocktails" Kitty says before he asks and he walks away.
"But fashion is different. It's all based on rumors and what is trending on walkways. Nothing you write is based on facts" Marley rolls her eyes.
"Hey!" Kitty slaps her on the shoulder "Do you always have to diss on fashion. Did you forget who helps you pick your outfits in the morning?" She glares at her.
"Yeah I do, only cause I have no choice" Marley frowns playfully.
"You know you like it" Kitty counters as the barman brings them their drinks and walks away.
Marley nods "And you should stop scaring people like that. He was scared to put down our drinks." Marley changes the subject.
"It's not fear, its respect." Kitty sips her cocktail.
"If I didn't know better, I would've believed you" Marley laughs
"Fine then, don't believe me" Kitty pouts.
"You know that won't work on me" Marley smiles and sips on her cocktail.
"I had to try" Kitty sighs and looks past Marley seeing someone "Ugh"
"What?" Marley looks to where she's looking.
"I didn't know they let homeless people in here" Kitty looks disgusted.
Marley looks at the man. He has a rough stubble beard and his brown hair is hanging in his face, all dirty.
"I would advise you to look away or he might yell at you" The bartender said in a rushed whisper.
Both girls stopped staring at the stranger. "Who is he?" Kitty asked.
"I don't know, nobody knows. He came in here a few months ago. He drinks here every night till he can't see straight and goes home in a cab. Some say he might have lost someone or he's an alcoholic. But he keeps the business open so we don't care really" the bartender shrugs and walks away to another customer.
"That's terrible. That someone would drink their life away like that." Marley looks down with a sad expression on her face.
"Pathetic but… he's not our problem. He's a complete stranger. Let's enjoy our night and ignore him." Kitty smiles encouragingly at her
"You're right…" Marley looks at him one last time when she sees his eyes through his hair. It feels like the air has been punched out of her. "I think I'm going to be sick" Marley grips the counter.
"Then stop looking at him, Marls" Kitty suggests.
"That's not just some stranger Kitty" Marley says softly.
"What?" Kitty frowns.
"It's Ryde..." Marley stares in front of her.
"Just because he has brown hair and wide shoulders it doesn't mean it's him" Kitty counters.
"It's his eyes that gave him away." Marley looks over at him again.
"How do you know his eyes? You dated him for what? Two weeks? And you know it's him?" Kitty stares at her in disbelief.
Marley nods "It was three months, so I know him pretty well and yes… he has a golden brown eye colour that's hard to forget"
Kitty is about to snap back when realization hits her "Oh my Gosh, you're still in love with him"
"No I'm not!" Marley snorts.
"Really? How did you two meet again?" Kitty asks, looking for the reaction on Marley's face.
"When he thought I was going to be Sandy in the play" Marley's whole face lit up as she remembers that day.
"See! That's what I'm talking about. You light up thinking about him" Kitty says non chalant.
Marley nods "Why else would all the memories of him flood my mind when I saw his eyes."
Kitty snorts "Must be some love if you could still feel it after 8 years"
"I guess so…" Marley blushes. "I'm going to speak to him" Marley downs her cocktail and walks over to him.
"No, don't" Kitty objects too late.
Marley takes a deep breath and taps him on the shoulder. At first he does not respond so she places her hand on his shoulder.