Chapter Seven: Company

"Ma'am..." The voice startled me. I shook my head as if trying to rid all the awful thoughts from my head, and then starred up at him all deer in the headlights like. I had not realized the taxi had been stopped at my destination for quite some time now and the driver was trying to get my attention. I am assuming he wants to be paid and to rid the crying girl from the back of his cab.

"I'm so sorry," I mutter grabbing my purse to search for some cash. I give the man a half hearted smile as he drives away, I feel kind of bad that I just sobbed the entire way. I watch as he drives away and I am left in the dark of the night; the only light coming from the spaced out street lamps and the neon green of the open sign flashing in the window of the bar across the road. A long shaky breath escapes me as I realize I am back at the same place from earlier in the night when Christian came to find me. Maybe it is wishful thinking, but the aching in my heart has me hoping he will come and take me back home with him once more.

I sit down on the closest stool at the bar. It wobbles when I put my weight on it, but I am not in the mood to move. I quickly order a beer, keeping my head down as I draw swirls in the condensation that has dripped onto the bar from my bottle. I try to occupy my mind by listening to the music that is playing in the background, but it is so faint that it's drown out by the other people in the bar who are playing pool and chatting noisily to one another.

I can't help but scan the bar every few minutes and check the door every time someone enters to see if it is Christian. My heart jumps and my breath catches every time it does. My heart falls just as quickly when I see once again it isn't him. As my thoughts turn quickly back to Christian I realize he had never actually left my mind.

"Hi," a voice says from beside me. I jump as I didn't realize someone had sat down next to me and had bought me another beer.

"Hi, I am sorry I didn't hear you sit down. Is this for me?" I ask, holding up the new bottle that was sitting directly in front of me.

"Yeah...you uh, you looked like you needed some cheering up, or maybe someone to talk to." I must have looked a hot mess, what with my makeup mostly wiped off and my eyes probably swollen and red from all of the crying I have done.

"Ha ha, yeah, that's probably true...thanks." I laugh a little thinking about how I look to the outside world. I raise the bottle again and clink my bottle against theirs.

" I'm Anastasia, and you are?" I reach my hand out towards them and force a weak smile as to accept their offer of accompaniment.

"I am Leila, Leila Williams. It is a pleasure to meet you Anastasia."