So Good: Louisa Johnson
Lyrics are in italics
Alex's eyes gazed out of the window, looking to the darkness outside. Her mind was occupied by her destination and the place she targeted this evening. Luckily enough, she had gotten a seat on the train. Managing to get a train in such short notice was unexpected since today wasn't planned, but there was no denying that Alex was excited. The text came through and she quickly got herself ready, hurrying for the station and getting the next available train. Her mind was fixated on Atlantic City.
She had forgotten about her original plans for this evening as she relaxed in her seat and allowed her mind to focus in an effort to gain the composure she would desperately be needing. She closed her eyes, taking some time to get her mind into game mode. As someone took a seat next to her, Alex's attention was diverted. She opened her eyes and turned her head to the person beside her. Looking up at everyone boarding the train, her eyes fell upon a blonde haired woman. Squinting behind her glasses, her heart sank as she remembered her earlier plans for the evening.
Scurrying for her phone in her back pocket. Alex quickly thumbed out the text she had forgotten to send amongst the sudden rush.
[Have to cancel tonight. Work calls. X ~A]
She watched the indicator go around on the phone before the message went through. Holding the phone in her hands, she looked back out of the window. Her mind drifted to Piper and the plans they had originally made. Alex had promised Piper that tonight would be a night they could spend some time together. Just the two of them, relaxing in each other's company.
Alex hadn't been lying when she made that promise. Work did call. Poker, the legal kind, had become like a job for her. It was quick earnings and something she enjoyed. Plus, she was damned good at it. Alex was at the peak of her game, and a night like tonight couldn't go without being missed. As well, it was Nicky that instigated this, not that Alex really needed convincing to join her in the New Jersey gambling mecca.
There was no denying that Alex thought highly of Piper. She loved her. Her originally plans to spend the evening with Piper were honest, but when she read the words Poker across her screen, she began salivating. Dollar signs shone in her eyes at the evening's big event. She had to cancel her time with Piper for the sake of her other love.
She wasn't the person to turn down a game, especially not at what was becoming her favorite place. Her phone vibrated in her hands, her mind pulled away from her thoughts on choosing between her two loves. Looking down at her screen, she grinned at the text.
[Where the fuck are ya? ~N]
Alex quickly glanced at the time and the remaining stops. She thumbed out her response.
I said I'm 'bout five minutes away
One more stop and I'll be off this train
She placed her phone back in the pocket. Eagerly moving from her seat, Alex waited at the door as she rushed to get off the train. Alex's time was short. She wasn't going to miss this. Not today, not tomorrow. Regardless of her situation, Alex had always given a lot of time to this game. Dedication is what she had, never failing to miss an opportunity to keep up her ranking around the table. She pushed pass the busy crowds, her feet moving more quickly than her body.
I'm free any day of the week, always losing some sleep
But tonight, her time was restricted. She had set herself a limit. Maybe then she could still salvage her evening with the model.
I told myself I'll be back by ten
Trying to save myself for the weekend
But I know me, I hate to miss a party
Alex laughed to herself, pushing open the door to the building. The rules she had set herself were hideous, the evening was only just beginning and Alex never played only one game. Especially not under the influence of her friends.
Nicky stood leaning against the bar, one hand brought to her mouth as she took a drag of her cigarette. Watching Alex walk towards her. She looked past Alex, and around her shoulders. Arching her eyebrow, she tilted her head, blowing the smoke into the air. Lowering her head back down to look at Alex, her eyes traveling up and down her body. She looked around Alex's figure.
"No Blondie?"
Alex simply shook her head. Motioning for the bartender to get her drink, she turned back around to Nicky who was again, puffing on her cigarette. She raised her eyebrow at Nicky's grin, questioning her look through her facial expression.
Nicky let out a chuckle. Raising her glass to Alex, as she pointed up and down her body. Nodding her head in approval, she raised a toast at her friend. "Look at you. Blondie finally let you out."
Alex frowned. Before she could respond, Nicky was patting her on the shoulder. Her mouth near her ear, "Although. I must say I miss that pretty face." She laughed again in Alex's direction. Downing her drink, Nicky's head turned in the direction of the table and then back to Alex. Taking a step back, she doubted her cigarette at the bar. Brushing her hand through her messy hair. A shit eating grin in Alex's direction, continue her raised eyebrow expression, "and yours when she wins at the table."
She pushed Alex on her shoulder playfully. Heading in the direction of the tables, shouting back towards where Alex was standing. "You're punching above your weight Stretch! But she's a keeper"
Alex laughed sarcastically at Nicky. Turning back to the bar, she raised the glass to mouth and knocked back her drink. Motioning for another, she turned and watched Nicky. Quickly following in her footsteps, she made her way to her newest circle of friends. She missed last month at Red's so hadn't been back since her big loss to Piper.
Not one to reflect on the past, Alex seated herself at the table. Greeting the familiar faces with a small nod of the head. Her eyes roamed around the unfamiliar faces, reading them although they didn't know it. Alex wasn't letting this opportunity slip. She had a point to prove to herself that she could make it in this world. She pulled down her glasses. Pushing her hair away from her face, she wiped her face of all emotion. Her confidence poured across the table as she gave nothing away. Stacking her chips on the table, watching as all eyes turned to her.
Alex wasn't here to play around.
Don't say, don't say I didn't warn you
Don't say I didn't warn you
I live for the moment
"Let's get this game started."
Alex looked around her, realizing that there were all new faces around her. The players at the table when she sat down had retreated with their tails tucked behind their legs. Alex set proudly with a good chunk of their chips piled in front of her. She was definitely on a winning run.
Her thoughts drifted to poker tournaments she had read about. Surely it couldn't be much more different than Red's game. And if she played like she had been playing tonight, she would rake in the bucks. Glancing at her watch, Alex groaned. It was late. Like really late.
I wasn't supposed to go out tonight
I should be at home, I got work at 9
Shouldn't be out here doing what I like
But it feels so good, so good
I was only gonna be an hour or two
I guess that now I'm here I'm going down with you
But it feels so good, so good
Distracted by the time, Alex seemed to hit a dry spell. She lost a few hands then made the mistake of a few large bets to try to cut her losses. She rubbed her face with her hands as butterflies attacked her stomach. She heard a quiet voice in her ear. "Alex, don't give up. You gave up an evening with Piper. You need to win." Alex whipped her head around, looking for the source of the voice. She heard a low chuckle from a voice very similar to hers. "Don't look for me Al. Just know that I'm right here, by your side. But you have to remember what's important in your life."
Angel on my shoulder's giving up on me
No listening to him and I can hardly speak
Eventually Nicky dragged Alex from the poker tables. "Come on Stretch. Let's mix it up a little." The pair wandered around the casino floor following the sounds of cheering people crowded around a long table. "Craps Al. You are hot tonight. Let's do it."
Alex slid a stack of cash over to the dealer who gave her a set of colored chips. The stickman pushed a set of dice to the shooter at one end. Unsure of exactly how to play, she followed the lead of few of the people who had been standing around when she came up.
The rapid talking stickman kept the tempo of the game going. While confused at first, Alex soon picked up on the language. When the stickman urged the players to get their final bets down, Alex tossed some random chips down.
The dice were hot and Alex was eating it up. And then… she looked at her watch again. "FUCK!"
The music they play, makes me this way, oh yeah
I think it was only 10, how did it get to 3?
It's like I'm in my own time machine
But you know me, I'll never leave
Don't say, don't say I didn't warn you
Don't say I didn't warn you
Just live for the moment
I wasn't supposed to go out tonight
I should be at home, I got work at 9
Shouldn't be out here doing what I like
But it feels so good, so good
I was only gonna be an hour or two
Alex found her way to the slot area and took a seat. Alex placed more money into the machine. Downing another whiskey from her glass, she aimlessly hit the buttons on the machine. Watching the slot machine light up, it drank in more of Alex's money. She raised her glass to her losses. Trying again.
I guess that now I'm here I'm going down with you
But it feels so good, so good
A strong arm swatted Alex on the shoulder. Her eyes glanced down, but then back at the machine as she watched it roll around. Again, no winnings. She pushed more cash into the machine. Alex turned to look at the person beside her watching on as Alex gambled more.
Another loss. Laughter erupted from beside of her. "Vause! I think it's time you go home. Are you aware that you are shoving hundred dollar bills into that one armed bandit?"
Alex shook her head, reaching for more of her money. She held a bill up to Nicky. "This is the one." Nicky's eyebrows arched. With a shit eating grin, she nodded for Alex to go on. They watched the machine suck in the money then Alex hit the button.
Alex's attention was dedicated to the game. The images rolled round and she hit down on the buttons. Stopping. It was a match. Three of the same. Jackpot! Alex nudged Nicky in the side, pressing the button to retrieve her winnings. She winked at Nicky. Walking away, she headed straight for the bar.
Shots in hand, she placed them all on the table. Looking around at the group of people around her, strangers standing in as her new friends. They all raised their shots. "To gambling." Alex shouted.
Cause everyone I know is here
Drinking sours, crying tears
Living out the best years
So keep on toasting shots, cheers
People know it feels
So good
[Alex. Where are you? ~P]
The text didn't send.
"Come on Alex, let's get you home." Nicky wasn't quite sure what to do with Alex. She was beyond drunk and the train was out of the question. Nicky propped Alex up against the wall as she fished Alex's phone out of her pocket. "What's your code bud? I need on your phone."
Alex mumbled incoherently.
"Fuck Alex." Nicky grabbed Alex's thumb and pressed it against Alex's home button, unlocking it. She ordered an Uber to take Alex two and a half hours. Alex would kill her when she saw the charge, but it would ensure her lanky friend got home safely. Nicky slipped the phone back in the pocket and pulled out all Alex's cash. She may send Alex home with a driver, but not with that kind of cash and vouchers.
When the Uber driver arrived, Nicky gave him two bills as an extra tip for the length of the drive and to make sure Alex got into her apartment safely.
I wasn't supposed to go out tonight
I should be at home, I got work at 9
Shouldn't be out here doing what I like
But it feels so good, so good
I was only gonna be an hour or two
I guess that now I'm here I'm going down with you
But it feels so good, so good
Song choice by R117