This was embarrassing. It was noon, and Steph was in a bar. She was upset, yes, but this was weird. It made her feel like… she didn't even know. Marissa could easily do this with no doubt, but Stephanie found it kind of wrong. Anyway, it didn't matter. She wasn't here to drink. She was here to see Alf.

Sure enough, he was there:

-Salvatore! Didn't expect you here! Or anyone, for that matter, because it's before lunch!

-I just wanted to talk.

-Okay, sure. No one's here anyway. 'Cause, you know, it's before lunch.

-I'm upset, okay?

-What are you upset about? You can tell me anything. I'm a bartender. That's my job. Just note that I'm gonna be creepily staring at you the whole time.

-You creepily stare at me all the time anyway, might as well get some advice out of it.- she smiled.

-Wow. Didn't think you noticed that.

-I did.

-Good to know. So where are you from?

-What?

-Where are you from?

-Virginia.

-Gives me nothing.

-What? You don't know where Virginia is?

-Nope.

-How? Who doesn't know where Virginia is?

-Someone who only came to the States two months ago. I've never even left New York.

-Really?

-Yeah. I almost never even leave this building. I live upstairs.- Steph laughed. She looked down and saw a bunch of empty glasses on the other side of the counter. -You're Italian, right?

-I am. How did you know?

-Let me think. Was it… your super-mega Italian last name? Yes. Yes, it was.

-And you? Your name is Alfon, where are you from?

-Latvia.

-Where?

-Latvia.

-That's a real place? I really thought that was made up. You know, that place where at least one character from every sitcom is from. Wait. Is this a sitcom?- he rolled his eyes:

-So what are you upset about?

-I was sure I was going to get a promotion, but then Derek got it instead. I didn't even know who he was until today.- Steph was starting to tear up. -And now… and now he's getting the promotion instead of me… I'm telling, everyone thought I was getting it… that I deserved it… I don't have anything against this… this Derek, but if he deserved it so much, why haven't I ever even heard of him?- she started crying. -Also, like, when he said that Derek was getting promoted, no one seemed to know who Derek was expect maybe one or two people. Everyone was looking at me. They all wanted it to be me. I wanted it to be me…- she completely burst into tears. Alf reached under the counter and handed her a tissue. She wiped her tears.

-Are you okay?- he asked.

-Yeah. Needed to cry it out.- she even smiled a little.

-Maybe you should go home.

-Wait, are you kicking me out?

-No, I mean home home. To Victoria.

-Virginia.

-Ugh, why do you name cities and states with people's names? That's so annoying. The only thing worse than that is when you name cities after already existing cities in other countries. Like, what's the deal with that? You even have a Riga in here.

-What's a "Riga"?

-Well, you know what? Now I'm kicking you out! Go home, I mean it!- he laughed. She laughed, too, the walked out, quietly wondering how he got a tissue from under the counter, if she knew, for a fact, that there were only glasses…