Girls' Night Out
Disclaimer: shockingly enough, it still hasn't changed.
A/N: I wrote the previous 5 chapters quite a long time ago (months before they were posted, in fact), but I wrote this one (and all that will follow) in the past few weeks. I don't think there are any inconsistencies, or untied loose ends. Please tell me if you find any!
/Several weeks later…/
"Hey, Ray," Abby addressed her coworker. He looked at her. "We're having a girls' night out," Ray raised his eyebrows, "whatever you're thinking, no," she rolled her eyes. He smiled. She continued, "I was just wondering if you know of any nice places to eat? Like upscale from Ike's but not something with a dress code?"
"Yeah, I'd recommend this place called Midnight."
"Oh, where you went with Neela?" He nodded. "What happened that night?" she asked suddenly.
"What has Neela told you?"
"Nothing. Just that you made her go out to dinner."
"That makes it sound like a punishment. She needed to get out of the apartment, neither of us wanted to cook, and I was in the mood for something a little classier than pizza."
"What do you mean 'she needed to get out of the apartment'?"
"She was stressed out. I can't really tell you anything more, you'll have to talk to her." Abby looked at him skeptically. "What? It's not my business to tell anyone."
"You two just seemed to have gotten pretty close since then."
"It's not what you think," he answered seriously, shaking his head. Abby gave him another puzzled look. "It's complicated, and I can't elaborate, Abby."
"Alright," she conceded. "Oh, but about what I originally asked. The restaurant."
"Right. It's pretty much how you described it. Nicer than Ike's, definitely no jeans, but not formal."
"So," she motioned to her clothes, "like this," Abby's question came out more like a statement.
"Well, yeah, but you don't have to be quite so conservative. Neela's been there, she can tell you what's appropriate." Abby nodded. "Oh! One more thing."
"Yeah?"
"This place is pretty damn popular. Don't wait in the line, go up to the front and ask for Marcus. He'll probably recognize Neela."
"And if he doesn't?"
"If he doesn't or he's not there, umm, mention or have Neela mention that Scott knows you guys. If they give you any crap, as a last straw, say you're with CFS. That's the Center of Food Safety, a division of the FDA. They'd get closed down if they refused to let an inspector in."
"That's just a lie!"
"You didn't let me finish."
"Oh."
"That's what the staff know it as. It also stands for Close Friends of Scott." Abby laughed.
"Well, if that's a guarantee, why don't we just start with that?"
"You said this is girls' night out? How many are going?"
"I think three or four, me, Sam, Neela, possibly Inez…maybe five if Chuny comes," Abby said hesitantly.
"You are all very attractive women. It's unlikely the CFS would send a group like that to do an inspection. However, it's not impossible, which is why it is still an option, just not the best one."
"I see."
"Not that you would, but don't pass this on to anyone…Scott will kill me if I tell too many people about this." Abby nodded. "And I'll call Scott and let him know you're coming too."
"Thank you."
"Not a problem," Ray smiled. "Maybe we should get back to work now." Abby laughed and nodded.
--o--
Four women were standing in Neela's room, changing out of scrubs and work clothes and getting ready to leave. Abby wore a modest but sexy dark green dress, Sam had a short white skirt and matching fun top, and Inez was also wearing a dress, hers a bright dark blue and shorter than Abby's, but no less inappropriate. As Neela pulled on her black pants, Sam saw a mark on her leg.
"Neela, what's that?"
"What?" she answered quickly pulling her pants all the way up.
"It looked like you had a pretty large cut on your thigh."
"Oh, that, I ran into the corner of a gurney." She gave a nervous laugh.
"Damn," Sam exclaimed, "you must have hit it hard!"
"Yeah," Neela gave a fake, but convincing smile, hoping the subject would change soon.
"Aren't you going to be hot in pants Neela?" Inez asked.
"No," she laughed, "I think you all are going to be cold!"
"We're going to be dancing, Neela, you know that right?" Sam teased.
"I don't dance."
"Sure you do. And I'm sure I saw some pretty sexy dresses in your closet," Abby said, "and we all know you've got nice legs, Neela." All the women chuckled. Inez went over to Neela's closet, quickly finding a maroon, relatively low-cut, knee-length dress.
"I'd rather not wear something short."
"Oh, come on, Neela, have some fun," Abby insisted.
"That is a really nice dress that shouldn't just sit in your closet!" Sam pointed out.
"Put it on so we can see it; appease us. Then if you really want to, you can change back into pants," Inez suggested.
"Fine," Neela sighed. After she took off the pants, but before she slipped the dress on Abby noticed more cuts and scars on Neela's legs. Abby contemplated saying something, but ultimately opted against it. It was obviously something Neela was trying to hide.
"Neela, that's hot," Sam said definitively, "you can't not wear that." Neela looked down, hoping it seemed like she was examining the dress, when really she was checking that no cuts or scars were visible. Abby picked up on Neela's subtle self inspection, and made a mental note to definitely ask her friend what was going on.
--o--
The group of women passed by the long line of people waiting outside Midnight. When they approached the door, they got a few stern stares from one of the bouncers. Neela stepped up to the front of the group.
"Can I speak to Marcus please?" she asked sweetly.
"He doesn't work tonight. Who are you?"
"I know—" the bouncer cut her off.
"I didn't ask who your friends are. What is your name?"
"Neela. Neela Rasgotra." The bouncer's face softened like it had when Neela came with Ray and the bouncer first realized Ray had an inside connection.
"Neela, I didn't recognize you. Come on in." He stepped to the side and gestured for them to enter. The other three women followed Neela inside. Scott came over to greet his guests.
"Neela! I'm so glad to see you back!" She offered her hand to shake, but as he had done before, he raised it to his mouth and gave a light kiss on the back of her hand. "Who are all of your friends?" Neela introduced her friends to the manager. He gave them each the same greeting he had given Neela. "Ladies, right this way. I've got a table all set up for you." He led them over to the same area in which Neela had been seated on her last visit to the restaurant.
"Thank you," Neela smiled as he pulled a chair out for her, and each of the other women, and handed them each a menu.
"Can I start you all out with something to drink?"
"I'm fine with water," Abby answered.
"We'll have water all around, and I'll get a glass of Merlot too please," Neela continued.
"Merlot," Inez repeated, after only briefly looking over the wine list.
"Same," Sam smiled.
"I will bring those drinks right out. Shall I tell you about our specials?" He paused and a smile crept over his face before he added, "or has Ray rubbed off on you, and you would rather not hear them?" Neela laughed, while the other women looked on, a little puzzled.
"These inserts are the specials, right?" Neela asked, pulling a loose page out from the center of the menu. Scott nodded. "Then I don't think we need to hear them," she smiled, "unless you have any special suggestions."
"They're all good. I don't think there's anything I wouldn't recommend this evening."
"Isn't this your restaurant?" Sam asked teasingly.
"Yes. But sometimes we have something extra special that I like to specifically recommend," he replied with coy grin. Sam laughed.
"Then I think we're all set," Neela said.
"Alright. Andrew will be your server tonight, and he'll be over shortly. I'll be right back with your drinks," he answered, sounding very professional with the commonly repeated line, and then left.
"Wow, Neela, way to be on the inside track," Inez laughed.
"I've only met the guy once!"
"He's very flirtatious for someone wearing a wedding ring," Abby observed.
"I said the same thing to Ray. Apparently, that's just how he is. His wife knows it, and evidently doesn't care. Ray said he's a good guy and loves his wife very much. I don't know." They all laughed. "We should probably decide what we want to order." Abby nodded. Scott returned with the drinks.
"I just remembered, the stews, both vegetable and beef are old family recipes. I would highly recommend them both," he added before leaving, and winked at Sam. Sam laughed.
"Ok, anyway" Neela said, "what are we going to get?" They all mulled over the menu, and after several minutes, Andrew approached the table.
"Hello ladies, my name is Andrew, and I'll be your server for tonight," he gave his introduction easily having said it innumerable times before. "Neela? Is that you?"
"Hello Andrew," Neela smiled.
"It's good to see you back, and without that Ray character," he laughed. Neela replied with a polite smile, but clearly implying it was not to be a topic of conversation. He nodded and addressed all members of the table again. "Do you have any questions, or are you ready to order?"
"I think we're all set," Sam replied looking around the table for any of her friends to object. None did, so Andrew nodded, indicating that she should start. After she ordered, he looked at Inez.
"Could we get these on separate checks, please? If it's not a problem," she asked.
"Actually, Scott specifically asked me not to split your check." Inez gave him a puzzled look. "I don't know why. I can ask him if you like?"
"That won't be necessary," Inez replied, a little confused, but she didn't care to dwell on it. The rest of the women ordered, and Andrew left. "Where's the bathroom, Neela?" Inez asked. Neela pointed her in the right direction.
"I'll join you," Sam said, as she stood up.
"Neela," Abby said quietly, and seriously, once they were the only ones at the table. "Is there anything you want to tell me about?" Neela shook her head. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Abby. Is there something you want me to tell you about?"
"Yes."
"What?"
"I think you know what."
"I think you're being silly."
"Why didn't you want to wear a skirt, Neela?"
"I was afraid I'd get cold, which I am, actually."
"How many times have you run into a gurney?"
"What?"
"One cut from that, I'd believe. Six, seven, eight? Something makes me think you're lying to me."
"You don't trust me that I'm telling the truth?"
"Yes, usually I do, but not about this." Inez and Sam approached the table. "Later," Abby said sternly to Neela before the other two women sat.
--o--
While they waited for the food, Sam insisted that they all dance. There was a live band and they were good.
"Plus, what's the fun in wearing a dress like that, Neela, and then not dancing?" Inez noted. Neela rolled her eyes. "C'mon!" When even Abby gave in to Sam and Inez's persistence, Neela followed them as well. It didn't take long for the women to attract the attention of several men. When the third song ended they each thanked their various dancing partners, and returned to the table, much to the disappointment of the men.
"See? That was fun, wasn't it?" Sam laughed. Neela successfully put on a fake but convincing smile. "Those guys certainly enjoyed it."
"Every one of them asked me about you," Abby grinned. She had started wearing a ring on her left hand when she went out. Even though she and Luka were not really engaged, she did not want to be involved with other men. The men on the dance floor seemed to interpret that as a go-ahead for asking Abby about her single friends.
"I told you that dress was hot," Inez laughed.
"Thanks," Neela replied politely, enjoying the attention, but at the same time finding it quite uncomfortable.
Not long after they returned to their seats, the food came. All their meals were elegant and tasty. The table conversation was full of inconsequential banter, though it was enjoyable for all.
--o--
"Neela, here's the check, I hope you enjoyed your evening with us." Andrew smiled as he spoke.
"I'll take it," Abby said. Andrew ignored her offer and put the folder in front of Neela.
"I did, the food was very good," Neela answered the server, "as was the service." Andrew smiled.
"I'll go tell Scott you are leaving, I'm sure he'll want to say bye." Neela nodded.
"Neela, give me the check. Dinner's on me," Abby said, reaching her hand out. Neela opened the folder and looked at the check. The sub total was $119.86, with tax. The next line down read CFS discount. Neela scanned across the check to the amount, which read -$119.86. The final line, reading Total, was $0. Neela smiled.
"That's alright, Abby, I got it."
"No, seriously," she responded, and grabbed the paper from Neela. Another, smaller, piece of paper fell to the floor. Abby didn't notice, but Neela did and she bent down to get it. Abby gasped when she looked at the check.
"Is it that bad?" Sam asked nervously. Abby responded by handing her the check. "Oh my goodness."
"What?" Inez asked, her curiosity piqued. Sam handed her the paper. Inez laughed when she saw the total. "Remind me to thank Ray for getting us in on his connections!" The women all laughed. Neela tried to surreptitiously slip the piece of paper that had fallen under her plate. Sam noticed.
"What's that Neela?" she asked.
"Nothing," Neela answered quickly. Sam pulled the paper out.
"Neela! You weren't going to take this?"
"No."
"What is it?" Inez asked again out of the loop. When Sam didn't answer, Abby repeated Inez's question.
"It's nothing," Neela said, slightly irritated at the attention she was unable to avoid.
"It's Andrew's phone number," Sam corrected her.
"Really?" Abby squealed. "Why wouldn't you want that? He's cute!"
"Yes, he is. I don't know." Neela knew her answer was lame, but she had to say something, and nothing else came to mind. She pulled some bills out of her wallet. "How do you tip on a check like that?" The women all sat, stumped, all unsure. Scott came over to give his farewell.
"Neela, Andrew tells me you ladies didn't get dessert again. That means you will have to return, you know that right?" he laughed as he spoke. Neela chuckled.
"I guess so." She decided she'd tip a little over 20 percent of what the check would have been, without the discount. She started to put down several bills.
"Neela, dear, did you misread the check?"
"No, but the check doesn't include tip, Scott. The service here is superb," she grinned.
"No, no, no. Please, put your money away. As long as you promise to come back and try some of our desserts." Neela smiled.
"Fine."
"You too, ladies," Scott addressed the rest of the women at the table. They all chuckled and nodded.
--o--
As they walked home, Abby grabbed Neela's arm and walked slower, making them drop back behind Sam and Inez.
"Neela," Abby said seriously, "explain? Please?"
"Explain what?" Neela asked innocently.
"What are those marks from?"
"I told you, the gurney."
"Did it fight back?" Neela glared at her friend. "Unless you tell me differently, I am going to assume that I know what they are. And that's not ok."
"What's not ok?"
"You can be irritating sometimes, you know that, Neela? Does someone know what they are?"
"I do."
"Other than you?" It finally occurred to Abby why Ray and Neela may have gotten quite so close. "Ray maybe?" Neela looked at her friend, surprised, not expecting that question.
"Yes," Neela answered, clearly annoyed.
"Why will you talk to him about it and not me?"
"I don't know, Abby. It's not you. I know that sounds cliché, but it's true."
"Hurry up you two!" Inez called back to them.
"We're getting cold!" Sam added, laughing.
"Later?" Abby asked, pleadingly. Neela scowled. Abby accepted that as enough of an answer for now. They both quickened their pace to catch up with Inez and Sam.
Both Abby and Neela were absorbed into the conversation quickly and Neela's secret was temporarily pushed out of Abby's mind. Neela was careful to put on a joyful face, even though Abby's questions and persistence stayed in the forefront of her mind.
--o--
By the time the women returned to the apartment, Ray was home. He smiled as they all entered, laughing and talking.
"Have fun?" he asked.
"Yeah!" Sam answered.
"Thanks for calling ahead, otherwise we never would have gotten a table," Abby said. He smiled and nodded.
"You're quite welcome."
"That place is awesome, Ray, thanks for letting us use your connections!" Inez added, before returning to the other chattering women walking back to Neela's room. Soon they reemerged, still talking, having gathered their things.
"So are you going to call that guy, Neela?" Sam asked, apparently continuing a previous conversation.
"Maybe," Neela grinned. Ray overheard this, and his stomach tightened. He had nothing to be jealous or mad about, he knew that. Neela was not his girlfriend, she was just his friend. Friend and colleague, he thought, close friend and roommate, really close friend, she might as well be my girlfriend! He shook his head, trying to get the thoughts out of his mind, telling himself not to go there.
"You should!" Inez said laughing.
"Let us know what happens," Abby added.
"Yeah, yeah, go home now," Neela laughed.
"See you tomorrow," Sam gave Neela a quick hug before stepping out the door, followed by Inez, saying a similar farewell.
"You'll tell me more about…that…right?" Abby whispered, as she hugged her friend.
"I don't know Abby," Neela answered saying each word deliberately, almost harshly, before letting go of Abby.
"Well, I'm glad you came," Abby said to Neela.
"And wore that dress," Inez called from the hallway, just outside the door. They all laughed.
"Bye," Neela laughed as she closed the door.
"Sounds like you enjoyed yourselves," Ray said, breaking the silence in the suddenly empty room.
"Yeah," Neela answered, but not nearly as enthusiastically as she had sounded before.
"You sounded more excited about it two minutes ago." She looked up at him, making eye contact for the first time since she returned home. He noticed her smile had fallen from her face, and disappeared from her eyes too. "What's the matter?" Neela went over and sat on the couch, taking off her shoes. She didn't answer. "Neela?" He sat down next to her. She had worn her hair down, and since she was leaning over, it fell, hiding her face from Ray. She had taken off both shoes and her elbows were now resting on her knees. "Neela?" he tried once more, and reached over to push her hair back. She dropped her head into her hands for a few moments. Ray retracted his hand.
"Abby knows," she said finally, looking up at him, using her fingers to carefully wipe away some tears without smudging her make up. "I mean she doesn't know, I didn't tell her. But she knows." Ray looked at her, puzzled.
"What do you mean?"
"She saw them. She won't stop asking what they are. I can't lie to her, but I can't tell her what they are."
"Scars?"
"And cuts."
"You've done it recently?" She nodded. "And didn't tell me?" he asked rhetorically, but she shook her head anyway. "Why?"
"Because that's what I do, or rather don't do. I don't tell people."
"Not even me?"
"Obviously not," she answered sharply.
"Even though I already know?"
"Correct." He sighed and started to put his arm around her back. "No," she said, standing up, "don't start that again."
"Start what?" He looked up at her.
"Start…caring."
"I never stopped."
"You should." She turned to walk away.
"Neela, sit," he said firmly, taking her hand and pulling her down. She returned to her seat. "Listen to me. You can say that to me as many times as you want, but I'm not going to stop caring, ok? I can't."
"Yeah, you can." He shook his head. She exhaled loudly, irritated.
"Can I see?" As soon as the words came out of his mouth he realized how inappropriate it probably was, but his curiosity had gotten the best of him. However, she responded by pulling up her dress until it exposed several lines on her thighs. He recognized most of them from before, now more healed than the last time he'd seen them. But there were two new ones, one still had stitches, the other didn't, but he could see it used to.
"You can stop caring like I can stop cutting."
"No. I'm not going to stop caring. You are going to stop cutting. I know you can."
"Evidently," she said frustration obvious in her voice, "no, I can't." She threw her dress back over her legs. "It's not like I want to do it. I wish I could stop, but damnit, I've tried, and I can't."
"What do I need to do? What can I say to you? What is going to make you stop?" She looked him straight in the eye, and said each of her words with finality.
"I. Don't. Know."
"What are you thinking when you do it?"
"Nothing. I do it so I stop thinking."
"What about right before you do it?"
"I hope and pray you won't find out." He sighed, saddened by her honesty.
"Ok, what about before that?"
"I don't know. When I do it makes me forget. That's why I do it, to make it all stop."
"All what stop?"
"I don't know!" He stood up, and indicated that she should as well. "Why?"
"Just get up." She stood. He led her by the shoulder to her room. They stood in the doorway. "Give me whatever it is that you use." She turned around and glared at him.
"No."
"It wasn't a question." He stepped into her room and leaned on the wall next to the door frame.
"I don't care."
"Either you are going to give it to me, or I'm going to look for it and take it."
"You will do no such thing. I don't want you in my room without my permission."
"Then give it to me."
"No!"
"Neela."
"Shut up Ray. You have good intentions, I recognize that, but you're not helping."
"Then tell me what to do, Neela! Tell me what will help!"
"Get out. That's what you should do." He didn't move. "Out."
"What are you going to do, if I leave?"
"When you leave, I will be going to bed."
"Is that it?"
"What?"
"Is that all you're going to do? Just go to bed, nothing else?" She didn't say anything, knowing she couldn't truthfully answer what he wanted to hear. "The thought of you doing that," he gestured to her lower body, "makes me nauseous. The fact that you might do it when I am ten feet away in my room, makes me unable to leave."
"What, now I need a supervisor?"
"No, according to you, you don't need anything."
"Exactly. Get out."
"I could stand here and argue with you about that, but I'm not going to, because now maybe this is not just about what you need." She opened her mouth to interrupt, but glared at her, and continued. "Maybe this is about what I need, which is you."
"I'm flattered," she deadpanned, "but I'm not going anywhere. You are. You're leaving." He shook his head. She sighed in exasperation, and left the room. Shortly thereafter, he heard the shower running. He considered leaving, letting her have her room to herself, then opted not to. With all the thoughts racing through his mind, he didn't notice the shower turn off, or the bathroom door open. When she came back to her room, she was not surprised to find Ray still there. She sat on her bed, wrapped in her towel, and glared at him.
"What?"
"You're not going to give me privacy to change?" He noticed she was holding something.
"What's in your hand?"
"Scissors."
"For?"
"Cutting things! What the hell else do you use scissors for?"
"Things or people, Neela?"
"Jesus Christ Ray, things! Stitches." He walked over and sat down next to her. He held his hand out, silently asking for the scissors. Though annoyed, she succumbed to his persistence. She slapped the scissors into his hand, like she was passing them to him in surgery. "Other side," she said quietly. Ray stood up and sat down on her other side. She lifted the towel high enough to expose the sutured wound. He carefully snipped each of the threads. She had tied them such that it was not hard to remove the cut strands even without tweezers.
"Is that it?" She nodded. "Are you going to let me stay?"
"It doesn't matter what I say, we both know you're going to." Ray shook his head sadly.
"I'll go if you want me to. Whatever makes you happy."
"Fine," she conceded. "But that means you have to shower first. I don't want you sleeping in here if you're dirty." He smiled.
"Then I'll be back." He stood up and left the room, pulling her door shut on his way out.
"You make me happy," she whispered to the empty room, before getting up to get dressed.
Please review. I am tired of making sentences that are acronyms for 'reviews'...