Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, don't sue me.
A/N: I know how long it's been since I last updated. And I also know how annoying it must be for you guys. So I once again apologise for the delay. Thanks to everyone who did review. I really appreciate it. Those of you who didn't. . .please do. I'd just like to know that you're reading.
Cole stared at the drink before him. Raising it to his lips, he sipped it lightly, grimacing at the bitter taste that made its way down his throat.
"No good?" Piper questioned.
"If you're really looking to drown your sorrows, yeah." Cole said, coughing slightly. He pushed the glass away. "I think you need to water it down a bit before you start serving it to actual customers."
"Right." Piper said. She gazed at the glass for a moment in thought, before sliding him over a can of club soda. "More your style?" She questioned.
Cole managed a half smile. "Not really, but thanks." He glanced sideways, his eyes finding Phoebe through the crowd, seated with Jason. He hadn't met Jason yet, but already a sense of dislike was growing within him – for no apparent reason. Cole sighed, eyeing Phoebe carefully. He hadn't spoken to her in three days – since that night when he had snapped at her. Regret filled him. He hadn't meant to let his emotions overcome him like they had. And treating her like he had was unacceptable, he realised that.
The half filled glass he had pushed aside moments ago was directed back into his hands. "You look like you have a few sorrows to drown." Piper said with a smirk, following his eyes. Cole smiled slightly. At least his relationship with Piper had eased in the last few days. "On the house – for being my taste-tester. . .it's a dangerous job."
"But someone has to do it." Cole said, returning her mock seriousness. He brought the glass to his lips again, sipping at the dark liquid. He started coughing again, half laughing as he shook his head. "Seriously Piper, I don't think anyone will ever be this depressed." He said. Piper let out a genuine smile.
"Hey." Leo said, approaching the bar. He glanced at the pair, raising an eyebrow. "I don't believe you two are actually here having a conversation."
"We're trying, Leo." Cole said with an exaggerated smile. "Isn't that what you wanted?"
Leo frowned jokingly. "I just wanted you to be civil. I didn't realise an actual conversation would be possible."
Cole drowned out the rest of the conversation, his eyes drawn once again to Phoebe. He could have sworn she had been looking at him just moments ago. Maybe he had imagined it, he rationalized. He thought for a moment, finally coming to a decision and standing up. "I'll be back in a little while." He said to Piper and Leo.
Piper glanced at him, then at Phoebe. "Cole. . .I--"
"Don't worry, Piper." He said with a reassuring smile. "I won't start a fist fight." He said, "Promise." He purposefully winked at her, removing any confidence that Cole knew she had in him. He made his way through the crowd, forming a beeline towards where Phoebe was seated. It seemed to take him an eternity to get there. She met his gaze moments before he stopped, and he noticed the uncertainty in them. "Hey." He said simply.
"Hi." Phoebe replied after a moment. Regaining her composure, she continued, "This is Jason." She indicated to her left. "Jason, this is Cole." Cole and Jason shook hands quickly – seemingly reluctantly, and exchanged quick greetings. "What are you doing here?" Phoebe questioned.
"I need to talk to you." Cole said, throwing Jason what he hoped looked like an apologetic glance.
"Can it wait until later?" Phoebe questioned.
"Not really." Cole stated simply. "Please?" He added with a smile.
Phoebe sighed. "Sure." She turned to Jason. "I'll be back in a moment."
"Sure. . ." Jason replied, seemingly suspicious of Cole's intentions. Cole paid no attention, leading Phoebe towards an empty booth that drowned out some of the noise in the club.
He hesitated. "I know I could have chosen a better time." He said, indicating around the room. "But I didn't want this to wait any longer. . ." He paused again. Apologies weren't his best forte. "About the other night. . ." He began.
"Don't worry about it." Phoebe interrupted, forming a half smile. "I shouldn't have said what I said."
"No." Cole said, shaking his head gently. "You were just saying what I didn't want to believe. No matter how true it was." He said, glancing at the floor. "I overreacted. . .and I shouldn't have treated you the way I did. I'm sorry."
Phoebe nodded slightly. "I understand why you acted that way. None of us ever want to believe that there is no hope." She met his glance for a moment, before looking away. Neither of the two said anything for a moment.
"So can we reschedule that talk for tonight?" Cole said with a smile. "I promise I won't snap at you again."
"Actually. . ." Phoebe glanced at him, before turning to look at Jason. She turned to face him again. "I was planning on staying at Jason's tonight." She said uncomfortably.
"Oh. . ." Cole replied awkwardly. "Sure."
"Maybe tomorrow?" She asked, trying to ease the uncomfortable mood.
"Maybe." Cole replied, giving her a half smile. "I guess I'll see you then."
"Yeah." Phoebe replied quietly.
Cole didn't wait for any more goodbyes. Giving her a forced smile, he turned away and headed back to the bar. Piper and Leo had disappeared from where he had been seated, but his abandoned shot glass still lay on the counter, Piper's deadly concoction still idle inside it. He considered it for a moment, before shrugging and reaching for the glass. "If you're really looking to down your sorrows. . ." He repeated his words from only minutes ago, before bringing the glass to his lips and throwing the liquid down his throat in one fluid motion.
"I had fun tonight." Jason said, squeezing Phoebe's hand as they walked towards his car.
"Me too." Phoebe replied. Not honestly, she noted. Her mind had been elsewhere for most of the night – too far away for her to appreciate anything she was doing.
"Except for that one distraction." Jason added with a smirk. He was talking about Cole, Phoebe realised. She smiled slightly – only when she realised that that had been the highlight of her night. Her smile disappeared at the thought. Jason stopped beside his car and faced her. "Back to my place?" He asked with a sheepish grin.
Phoebe hesitated. "I. . ." She paused again, recalling what she had told Cole. . .then the look on his face. "I told Piper I'd be home tonight. She needed my help with something."
"Right. . ." Jason said after a moment, his smile vanishing. "I'll take you home then." He reached for the passenger door, but Phoebe stopped him.
"You live in the opposite direction, Jason." She said.
"It's fine." He said with a shake of his head.
"Don't worry about it." Phoebe said. "Piper's still at the club. . .I'll just get a lift back to the Manor with her."
"Are you sure?" Jason questioned.
"Positive." Phoebe replied. "I'll see you tomorrow." She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the lips, before stepping backwards. As she watched him climb into the car, she searched rapidly for any feelings of remorse within herself for turning him away. She found none.
That's it for now. I know how short that was, but it didn't make sense to keep going when the next part can be made into a chapter itself. Review and tell me what you thought!