He had only been drowning his sorrows for about 20 minutes, and in that time he had to tell the barkeep to mind his own business and turn away 3 potential hookups; one of which he had enjoyed the company of on a previous encounter. He had had enough shots to give him a good buzz but not enough to inebriate him and fog his mind to the memories that had been plaguing him all day. So he tapped his glass a top the bar for another refill, and hoped that this one would be the one to help him forget.

She had been looking forward to this night all week. A girl's night out with two of her college girlfriends who were in town for a Mardi Gras weekend. They had spent the last two days hanging out at lunchtime but work had been so hectic that she had been too tired to enjoy the nightly festivities. But tonight she intended to make up for it and wanted to start by getting slightly drunk and dancing the night away. Her and her friends hadn't been in the club more than 10 minutes before she spotted a situation she knew could possibly ruin her night. With an inward groan and apologies to her girlfriends she made her way to the bar, and what she was sure was a disaster waiting to happen.

"Hey there Country Mouse, what are you doing here?" Percy greeted as she took the stool right beside LaSalle.

"Well," He began his strong southern twang sounding even more exaggerated and just a little bit slurred. "I'm sitt'n at a bar alcohol in hand, what's it look like I'm do'n Percy? I'm trying ta get drunk in peace, but don't look like that's gon happen." He stated as he turned to regard her. He let his eyes do a quick appreciative roam over her frame, not used to seeing her so dressed up, and he thought she looked stunning.

"Ok, I'll make a mental note to myself that when you get a little alcohol in you, you become a mean asshole. Also next time I see you and it looks like you could use a friend I'll remind myself that apparently that's not me and I won't bother." Percy tossed out as she swirled on the barstool with the intent to leave him to wallow in his issues and get back to her true friends. Before she could hop from the stool LaSalle shot his hand out and gripped at the one Percy still had atop the bar, stopping her movements.

"I'm sorry City Mouse," He said with a slight smirk using the nickname he had taken to calling her in reply to her 'Country Mouse' nickname for him. "I'm jus hav'n a really bad day is all."

"Wanna talk about it?" She offered and he tilted his head to the side and cocked his brow at her before he responsed.

"Really, you want me ta open up ta you when just last week I offered you my shoulder and you turned yer nose up at it?" He spoke around a chuckle.

"Maybe I just need you to open up first, before I tell you my life story you ever think about that?" She replied with a small smile. "So share or tell me to mind my own business and I'll leave you alone. Though I think the last thing you need is to be left alone right now."

"Taday's Savannah's birthday," LaSalle divulged and surprised them both by how easily he had shared that information. "I was gon give her this," He pulled the small black velvet box from his pocket, sat it on the bar top, and slid it over to Percy. She picked it up and opened the box, and revealed a beautiful solitaire cut diamond ring that looked to be at least 1 and a half carats. "I was gon ask her ta marry me taday,"

"I'm so sorry Chris." Percy replied as she pushed the box back over to him and placed a gentle hand atop the one that clutched at the box.

"It's been 6 months and I know I should be over it by now,"

"Nu-uh," She quickly cut him off as she shook her head to his words. "There's no 'getting over' something like this. You lost the woman that you loved and in a violent, senseless way. So there's no getting over it, there just finding a way to deal with it and hopefully someday heal from it." He stared down into his empty glass as he nodded his head in agreement to her words, though his heart didn't believe it. "Also you gotta know that this," She reached over and pulled the glass from his hand and set it aside. "This is not the answer, yeah it might make you forget for a little while but it's not going to make it better for you."

"I'm beginning ta think nothing's ever gon make it better." LaSalle spoke out around a heavy sigh his eyes glassy from unshed tears.

"Time will and life will, but you have to go out and live it." Percy said as she hopped from her stool. She took note of the way LaSalle's eyes widened a bit with a hint of fear and desperation as he watched her. She could tell he didn't want her to leave. "C'mon Country Mouse I want you to come meet my friends and then you and I we're gonna boogie oogie oogie til we just can't boogie no mo," She said as she tugged on him until he allowed her to pull him from his seat, all the while smiling at her words.