Alex got up from her couch and punched the numbers into her blackberry. She refused to rely on her address book, preferring to memorize numbers instead, just in case. She admitted the habit was rather OCD of her but that was nothing new.
She walked over to her wine cabinet and inspected a few glasses for spots as the line rang.
The brunette looked down at the caller ID: Alexandra Cabot. Why she had written her full name into the address book, she wasn't sure. It seemed very formal after all these years.
"Benson" she answered. She always answered that way even though that too seemed silly. She could have just said "Hi Alex."
"Olivia, it's Alex." Olivia was perpetually jarred by how different Alex's voice sounded on the phone. It was almost sexy.
"What's up Alex?" Olivia braced herself for some bad news, some break in the case that would require her imminent attention and cause her to cancel her plans.
"Is your offer still good?" the blonde asked on the other line.
"Umm... I'm sure it is but remind me..." Olivia was at a complete loss without any further context and Alex's intimate tone made her even more confused.
The blonde chuckled.
"Wow, I hadn't presumed I was so forgettable. You had invited me to drinks tonight?"
Alex had already been second-guessing her change of heart. She spent the few hours since seeing Olivia in her office trying to figure out why she was so reluctant to go out with Olivia socially. After some back and forth, she resolved to sack up and stop being a baby.
Living in fear was something Alex promised herself she would never do anymore. The events of the Zapata case and her subsequent time with WITSEC had given her perspective. She didn't want to miss out on life any longer constricted by any kind of fear - the fear of not being perfect, of being emotionally vulnerable, and of countless other things.
"Right, I'm sorry Alex. Of course the offer still stands. I just didn't think you'd change your mind." The brunette was surprised to find her heart beating quickly and butterflies flitting around her stomach.
"Well, listen, I wouldn't want to impose. It's fine, just forg-" Alex backpedaled.
"No, no, you should come. It'll be fun."
She paused and took a deep breath.
"There's just one thing..." she started, closing her eyes, feeling slightly embarrassed already.
"Ok..." Alex prompted, drawing out the last syllable.
"We're going to Cubby Hole. It's a bar in the West Village. But you should know that it's - "
"Olivia, I know what Cubby Hole is. I do go out below 14th Street every once in a while. Sounds great, I'll meet you there."
Alex hung up before the brunette could respond.
She stared for a moment at the phone. Did Olivia just come out to me? she wondered. She wasn't sure. Her somewhat stale recollection of Cubby Hole was that it definitely had a gay clientele but was a pretty inclusive bar generally. Alex had never been quite sure where Olivia stood nor did she believe it was really her business to wonder.
At the same time, Alex was saddened that Olivia felt the need to warn her. Obviously her attempts to be less uptight had not been successful. Plus, there was the added irony that she herself wasn't necessarily straight.
Before she could analyze the conversation to death and reconsider going out once again, she padded down the hallway to her bedroom to get ready.
What is the worst that can happen? she asked herself.