She sat in a small booth. A choice that was deliberate. The rest of the bar was fairly quiet, especially for a Friday night. The odd excited laugh came from a few people who had entered not so long ago, and judging by their suited attire they had just finished work and decided they were owed some down time.
She took another sip of the beer, not really feeling any benefit. It was her first of the night, and she'd felt like she really needed it. Now though, she was finding it hard to even lift the neck of the bottle to her lips.
She sighed wearily, and looked once again at the screen of the phone, despite having checked it only a few moments previous. It's not as though staring at it was going to change the message she just received.
"I'll be there next weekend. Make sure you're free."
She re-read the message. She should be ecstatic, filled with elation that the woman she loved was going to be there soon. But, for some reason she just couldn't muster even slight flutter from the news. There had been a time, when she couldn't get enough of her. Her smile, her warmth, her generosity… her mind wandered back to those days. The evenings that they'd shared, curled up by the warmth of the open fire, the flames dancing a pattern on the curve of her thigh…
Lauren snapped herself out of the awakening memory. She snatched at the base of her bottle, and brought the neck back to her lips, taking more of the luke warm liquid than she'd intended. She held back a cough and slightly winced as the feeling of the bubbles rising into her nostrils almost made her gasp.
No, this wasn't the right time. Or the right place. She needed time to think. She was barely even adjusting to this new life, and already it was being invaded by the old one. She reached back for the phone and started to respond.
"Nadia, please don't think this is about you". She stopped briefly, then quickly pressed erase, accidentally hitting the button too hard and erasing the whole thing. Her hand was shaking slightly.
"Damn it, Lauren!" She scolded herself for not being able to formulate the right words to convey what she was thinking. Was it the alcohol? She'd barely touched any. Maybe it was the stress of trying to work out what she was doing here? The confusion of what she was looking for, and of what she really wanted.
She started to write again, "Nadia, I would love you to visit. I've missed you so much. I'm sorry I haven't said much since I arrived. I'll call you soon"
There. Send.
She sighed, and just looked at the screen. That wasn't at all what she wanted to say. Maybe she could call Nadia, at a more appropriate time, one where she wasn't drinking alcohol and she'd had time to formulate thoughts adequately.
She played with the remainder of the label, pulling it away and leaving just a torn piece of paper on the bottle. She rolled her eyes thinking of how this would be interpreted by Evony. Although only meeting the owner of the gallery two weeks ago, they had managed to strike a strange friendship in a relatively short space of time.
Evony, who was as meticulous about her appearance as she was about the presentation of her gallery, seemed to think Lauren was somewhat repressed and frustrated. Much to Lauren's amusement, she'd also tried to psychoanalyse the last piece of work she took in to show her. She'd claimed that the way in which the naked woman was peering out of the darkened shutters displayed an elegant distaste for the artist's own direction of life. Lauren had rolled her eyes, placed the piece by the wall and given Evony a look that was bordering on a challenge.
Evony gently laughed, and added "Lauren, darling! I don't care what your work represents! Just keep giving me pieces that I can sell to an audience! I want them to feel your anger, your pain, your frustration with yourself! I want to rip apart that fragile veil, and then gently kiss it back together again."
Lauren swallowed, visibly.
Evony laughing added, "I want to get under your skin, but that shirt is buttoned way too high for me to get a peek at the goods right now!" She'd sensed Lauren's immediate discomfort, adding, "Don't always take me too seriously. We'll work on the finer details when you accept that after hours drink I keep offering you." It was followed by a wink, and Evony gently laughed as she retrieved the piece Lauren had unceremoniously discarded.
Lauren was finding it harder to come up with excuses to not have to face that "After Hours" get together. While Evony was clearly attractive and flirtatious, there was just something there that Lauren didn't want to get too involved with. It felt far too perilous to play that cat and mouse game. Besides, her and Nadia were far from over, despite being far in regards to distance.
"Uh hum,"
She heard a woman clearing her throat, and looked up, snapping her back to the here and now. "All done?" she asked.
"What?" Lauren looked into the large brown eyes looking down at her from the side of the booth. It took her a moment to adjust to the light change and break her train of thought. "Oh, the beer… yes, sorry. All done." she nodded.
"Thought I'd lost you there, for a moment!" The woman added cheerily.
"What? Lost what? Me? I'm sorry, I don't think I know you-"
"No, I mean you were deep in thought. Looked like you had a lot on your mind." The woman smiled, and reached for the almost empty bottle. "Can I get you another?"
"Oh, no! Really. I can get my own, but thank you"
"Well, technically, unless there's a new policy that allows patrons to serve themselves, then you may need me to get that" The woman's voice was light hearted and slightly amused.
"Sorry, I thought you meant you were offering to buy me a drink! I wasn't assuming that you were attempting to pick me up or…" Lauren saw the look of puzzlement start to etch its way onto the woman's face, "I'm embarrassing myself… you caught me in a deep train of thought and, I… I"
The brunette held up her hand, "No need to apologise. Really! This is a breath of fresh air, compared to some of the patrons I have to deal with!" She laughed gently, and nodded towards the bar. "Wanna come sit up there? Less lonely, you get a stool to yourself, and I'll make you the best damn cocktail you've ever tasted in your life!"
Lauren smiled at the way her eyes gently curved at the edges, she could never resist a genuine offer and she needed a distraction. "Sure.. Umm, just the one!"
The bartender led the way back to the bar, retrieving another discarded bottle from an empty table on the way.
"Sure is quiet in here tonight" She said without turning around.
Lauren hopped onto one of the tall stools, using the heels of her boots as leverage to get her balance and sit securely on the padded surface.
"Really? I thought so, but it's the first time I've been here, so I wasn't sure if maybe it's always like this on a Friday night?" She used her finger to gently slide a lock of blonde hair back, securing it behind her ear. The other side gently falling into curls, framing her face.
The brunette didn't respond directly, just looked at the blonde and asked, "Want to order something, or do you want to try one of my specialities?"
"Ummm, a speciality, I guess?" Lauren smiled, "If you're still talking about booze that is?!" She smiled at her own suggestiveness, and then fell silent when she saw the look of amusement on the brunette's face at the slightly awkward nature of the comment.
Lauren could feel herself start to blush, a warm sensation rising through her neckline to her cheeks.
She had a habit of sometimes over-compensating when stressed, worried or when she was feeling awkward. Which then just tended to add to the overall awkwardness of the situation at hand. She looked down at the phone in her hand.
The bartender grabbed a martini glass and started to mix together various liquids, while glancing at the blonde, who suddenly seemed lost in her own thoughts again, "Waiting for someone special to call?"
"What? No. I mean, well yes, but no. I just. I received a text, unexpectedly earlier. It's just thrown me off a little."
"Well, try this to take your mind off of things." The bartender placed a paper napkin down, the martini glass on top and gently slid them in front of Lauren.
Lauren looked at the bright pink liquid and smiled, "Wow, that looks, ummm… yummy?" She smiled, although the drink was a little too colourful for her regular drinking habits. Not something she'd usually order.
"Try it. See if it tickles anything?" The bartender asked, with a raise of an eyebrow and a devilish grin.
She brought the drink to her lips and took a sip, and it tasted divine. Maybe it was the luke warm beer that improved it, maybe it was the situation, but right now, she could think of nothing better.
Her phone vibrated and startled her, making her jump and exclaim "Shit!"
The bartender laughed, "You really are on edge!"
Lauren stared at the screen for a moment. Another text. Nadia.
"And you had better make this worth my while. Perhaps consider coming back home with me?"
She swallowed heavily and put her head in her hands.
The brunette gathered that this was from the same person causing the look of anguish she'd seen earlier.
"Lover's quarrel?"
"No, I… sorry I have to go… how much do I owe you?"
"Nothing. Consider that one on me, just make sure you come visit us here again. It makes a change to have such a beautiful face walk through that door." The bartender, smiled brightly, hoping to alleviate some of the obvious stress on the woman's shoulders.
"Well, thank you… ummm, bartender?"
"Bo. Call me Bo."
"Well thank you Bo, the drink was lovely, and I appreciate it. I doubt I'll be around much, I don't think I'll be in town for too long. But thank you."
She quickly stood up, retrieving the phone from the bar top, turned away and quickly walked out of the bar.
The brunette watched her leave. Her eyes slowly wandering to the hem of the leather jacket, and the gentle curve of the woman's hips. She observed the way the jeans fitted her torso, and emphasised the shape of the buttocks they clung to so lightly.
She watched her leaving, until her view was blocked by the two young men, walking behind her.
Bo sighed, and wiped down the bar.
It was rare that a stranger walked in, and grabbed her attention like that. The woman was so preoccupied, but there was a sadness about her. A sadness that moved Bo to try reach out, but when she had she still hadn't managed to break through. Despite the furrowed brow and pained expressions, there had been glimpses of the woman underneath it all. And she had momentarily intrigued Bo. The awkwardness of some of the interaction had been endearing and left her wanting more. But as was all too familiar, the woman had walked out of the Dal Riata and out of her life.
Something was bothering Bo, something about the way she left. It felt like an eternity, but could have been minutes only. Bo quickly discarded the cloth she was using to wipe over the bar, and hastily walked to the door. Looking back briefly, there was only a few people stood in a corner. They were regulars.
"Hale!" she yelled over to one, "Just watch the bar for a few minutes for me!"
The man nodded, then turned to the woman he was trying to impress with his stories of valour, "See, I'm kind of big deal, everyone around here trusts me, and wants me in their business" the woman laughed as he gently beat his chest with the palm of his hand.
Bo exited the bar, and looked down the broad alley, even though there wasn't a chance that the woman would still be around. Was there? She started to walk down towards the street, her heels making loud rapping noises in the echoing silence of the brick buildings. It was dark in the alley, something she often complained about, that more light was needed to make the area more inviting and certainly less boding.
She heard a noise. A groan? There, a little further ahead, a figure clutched the wall. She ran forwards a few steps, then slowed a little, realising that she had no idea who or what she was facing.
With a cautious few steps, her eyes started to shift to the light she was trying to decipher ahead of her. She could make out a figure, bent over at the waist… a hand clutching the wall.. Another groan. Blonde hair cascading down around the shoulders…
She ran forwards, "Oh my god! What happened? Are you okay?"
She clutched the woman who had only moments ago left her at the bar. She was clutching her waist, as though winded, a small cut had started to form droplets of blood above the brow.
Bo clutched at her shoulders and then moved a hand to her waist when it almost looked like she was going to collapse.
"I… I don't know?! They… he… behind me."
Bo scanned the alley in both directions, whoever she was referring to had gone.
"Come on, let's get you inside."
With a firm grip, she guided the woman back to the bar.
She sat her down, with a shot of whiskey, to calm the nerves.
Hale was sat opposite her, "Ma'am did you get a good look at them?"
"No, I didn't even hear them… they just…" she stifled a sob, and Bo gripped her shoulder for comfort.
"I'm pretty sure it was the scumbags who left right behind her. I haven't seen them around here before, but there was something strange about how quickly they left behind her. And why wouldn't they have seen what happened and helped her otherwise? If only I'd been a little quicker, I knew something wasn't ri-"
Hale held his hand up to her, "Bo, that's not helping. If you can give me details, a description? Let's get it down in writing… Unfortunately cases like this aren't easy to bring to justice. Small time thieves. No CCTV. No witnesses. Disposable evidence of any crime… But I'll try. And in the meantime, you might want to go see a doctor about that cut, Ms Lewis. Settle your nerves. Come see me in the morning and we'll get the statement down." He handed her his contact card, which she took, reaching for her bag to put it away and realising she no longer had it.
"Damn it.. They got everything… snatched my phone, took the bag… my money, my keys… everything…"
"Don't worry about that now Ms Lewis-" Hale soothed.
"Lauren, call me Lauren"
"Lauren. Right now, go get some rest and get your cards cancelled, and make sure you get those locks changed right away. Could they have anything, like your address?"
"No. No, I don't think so. I don't have it written down anywhere. I only moved here a few weeks ago, it's just a temporary thing. How am I going to get home tonight? I have no money for a locksmith"
Bo interjected, "Don't you worry about that right now. You're coming home with me. I'll help you figure that out in the morning."
Lauren looked up at her, "Thank you, but really there's no need-"
"Where are you going to go?" Bo asked flatly.
"Let Bo help you, and then come see me in the morning. Get some rest, you're probably in shock and it will help to have someone with you."
"Ok." Lauren said flatly, then looked at Bo, "Thank you, I appreciate it."
Bo looked at Lauren and her heart melted a little at how vulnerable and fragile she looked.
"I'll take care of her, Hale. And I'll make sure she gets everything sorted in the morning, all safe and sound. It's the least I can do."
Bo closed the bar early. Hale, and his new conquest, who was suitably impressed by his dealing of the situation when Bo returned to the bar with the shaken and bleeding blonde, had left earlier, and nobody else was likely to turn up. She turned the lights off, grabbed her keys and went to Lauren, who was sat at one of the tables.
"Come on beautiful." She held out her hand, "Let's get you in bed." Bo stopped herself, "I didn't mean anything by that,"
Lauren looked up, a small smile spreading over her face. "Really?"
"Of course not. It's not that you're not desirable, but I wouldn't take advantage at all-"
Lauren held up a hand to stop her, "I was joking, I'm sorry… I didn't think you would. It hadn't crossed my mind. I'm just tired, and obviously not great at making humorous retorts right now…"
Bo stumbled a little over the slightly embarrassing misunderstanding, it wasn't like her to get flustered. She helped Lauren stand and let her lead the way out of the bar.
She'd ordered a taxi, and it was waiting right outside for them. Sat in the back seat, she was surprised when Lauren placed a head on her shoulder, but she placed her arm around her as comfortably as she could.
It wasn't too far for them to travel but even before they arrived she noted the gentle breathing of the woman change to a distinct sound of her lightly sleeping. Bo lifted her hand and eased the hair that had fallen into the blonde's face back, so that she could get a better glance.
Despite the stress of the evening, the little worry lines had eased from Lauren's face. She almost looked peaceful, and Bo was regretting having to wake her in the few minutes when they would arrive at her home.
Regret, and yet also she sensed a stirring in herself. She looked at the face before her, the soft curve of the lower lip, the defined jaw line, and the gentle slope of the cheekbones that only a few hours earlier had flushed in embarrassment and an awkwardness that she'd found adorable.
The rise and steady fall of her chest told Bo she was at last finding some comfort and a little peace.
"Lauren Lewis" she gently whispered, liking the way it sounded as it left her mouth… "Whoever you are, I know you."
