"Frogs?" Sam looked confused for a moment. He looked at her then back at Sebastian, then his face lit up with realization "Oh is this the girl you met at the lake?" Sebastian shot him an annoyed look and Abigail smacked him in the back of the head.
Kay's face turned red, he'd already told them about her being a dork at the lake? She drained her beer and coughed as some went down the wrong way and retreated under the pretense of getting a refill. She dallied, asking Gus about the import and craft beer options before settling on a glass of red and choosing another song on the Jukebox. She drained that glass and had started on her third drink when she'd relaxed enough to rejoin them
As she sat next to Abigail sipping her wine she was struck again by the thought that Sam was going super saiyan. Stifling a giggle, she leaned toward Abigail and asked "Did you ever watch Dragan Ball growing up?"
Abigail gave her a questioning look and she nodded towards Sam. Abigail looked at him then clapped her hands over her mouth to try, unsuccessfully, to hold back her laughter. She snorted in the process and the alcohol in their systems made the snort funnier than it would have been otherwise. The boys paused and looked at them questioningly. Abigail waved it away "I'll tell you later, Seb."
Kay found her courage in the bottom of her glass. Swaying a little she stood and placed a few quarters on the edge of the table, a sign she wanted to reserve the table after their game.
"Who are you playing against?" Sebastian asked as he lined up a shot.
"I am challenging whoever wins this game."
"Don't expect me to go easy on you."
"You're a cocky one, aren't you? Sam could still win."
"Yeah, he could..." He shrugged, "But he won't."
Kay turned to look at Sam, losing her balance and staggering into Sebastian, causing him to miss his shot. "Oh, sorry. I think I need to get some food in me. Kick his ass while I'm gone, Sam. I believe in you!" She cheered. Abigail started cheering Sam on too while Kay made her way to the bar.
Shane grinned at her as she passed "Not looking, huh?"
"I'm not! I am getting me a nice greasy burger and shooting some pool."
She sat at the bar and waved to Gus. He was in the middle of an order but acknowledged her. She grabbed a laminated menu and looked it over despite knowing what she wanted.
"May I buy you a drink?" A deep voice asked behind her.
Kay jumped and spun around, clutching her chest in fright. "Yoba, Elliot, you gotta quit sneaking up on me like that!"
He took a step back, "My apologies, I should have announced myself. Now you simply must allow me to buy you that drink to make amends for my rudeness."
"Thanks for the offer, but I've reached my limit for the night. Besides, once I get my food I need to head back to the arcade, I'm supposed to kick Sebastian's ass at pool once he's done with poor Sam."
"I don't know Sebastian personally, but I understand he is quite good at billiards, I have heard he is undefeated."
"Well, that's because he plays against Sam. Time to knock him off his throne." She spun back to the bar and her head spun a bit, that last glass of wine was really catching up with her. "Ok, he might have a chance."
She swayed on her stool and Elliot, fearing she might fall, grabbed her left arm. Suddenly he was back in ZuZu, her ex standing over her, grabbing her arm and bringing a fist down. She screamed, pushed Elliot away, and fell off the stool. Shane swore and moved to keep everyone back while she huddled in a sobbing mess in front of the bar with her arms held protectively over her head.
Shane stepped aside when Robin approached, and she knelt down in front of Kay. "Kay, Kay listen, you're okay. You're safe. He's not here. Noone is going to hurt you."
Trembling and sniffling Kay slowly looked up to meet the older woman's eyes, full of sympathy and understanding. A moment later she was folded into a motherly hug. Her terror began to ebb away, replaced by shame at falling apart like this, in front of these strangers. Someone else's mom, she was sure Robin was a mom, holding her like a frightened child.
"Should we walk her home?" She heard Sam ask.
"That's sweet Sam, but I think I'd better do that.
Next she heard Sebastian's low voice, "She said she needed to eat."
"She was planning to get a burger." Shane told someone.
A few minutes later, take out container in hand, Robin guided Kay out into the cool night air. Kay teared up again. "I'm sorry. I ruined everyone's night. I'm sorry I... I..." She shook her head, feeling ashamed.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. Someone hurt you. It's going to take some time to heal. It's okay to not be okay."
The next morning Kay stayed in bed far longer than she normally would have. She felt ashamed of falling apart in front of the whole fucking town like that. Elliot hadn't done anything wrong, he'd only touched her, but then for a moment it hadn't been Elliot. The nightmares were one thing, but that... She drew her knees up to her chest and shuddered. Someone knocked on the door, but she didn't answer it. She couldn't face anyone from the saloon just yet.
Eventually she dragged herself out of bed, showered, changed into a baggy shirt and ripped jeans and watered her crops. When she checked the mail she found a long, handwritten apology from Elliot. Fuck. It wasn't his fault. She'd have to talk to him. She'd do it tomorrow.
She also found a small box sealed with a frog sticker. Attached was a scribbled note: I know you don't want to smoke around strangers. I get why. But if you need some stress relief, well I want you to have this. Instead of a signature there was another frog sticker. Inside was some pot and a few rolling papers. She could use something to help her sleep.
There was a million things left to do. She should clear brush, gather wood, break up rocks. Instead, she decided to see if Linus would be up for a spot of fishing.