Chapter 18

GRACE'S POV 

“And there she goes.” I muttered, watching Susan strut towards her target for the night.

She looked like she was on a mission and she wouldn't leave until she achieved her mission. I worried for the poor guy. 

I sighed, leaning back in my chair as I picked up the glass of whatever mildly questionable looking drink she had ordered for me earlier. I took a sip, cautiously and grimaced slightly at the taste. Not wanting to taste it again, I set it down on the table.

I glanced quickly at the ugly sweater guy, and he looked deflated. He looked defeated, like something he'd been waiting for just passed him by, or like his favourite show got cancelled, halfway through the season. He ran a hand through his red hair as his friends patted his shoulders with the aim of comfort. 

Sorry, chief, you missed your chance. 

Now that Susan had left me to be on my own, I could either leave and go back home, or just sit still till she came to get me. Despite desperately needing to escape, I looked around me at everyone in the bar and wished that I'd feel comfortable enough to stay, just for Susan's sake. 

I could live in the frame of a bar. I mean, people did this every time, it was normal. A bar was just a place with drinks and bad decisions, nothing much, nothing evil. Again, it was normal. 

Okay,” I whispered to myself, sitting upright. “You can do this. You can exist, with or without Susan. People exist in bars all the time.”

Looking around, I noticed the people there. Groups of friends were laughing too loudly, cackling even. A couple was sitting too close, their heads bent together like they were sharing secrets the world wasn’t allowed to hear. Cute. There was a man at the counter staring at his drink like it had personally offended him. I could relate. That was normal.

Scanning my surroundings slowly, twice, my eyes landed on a familiar face from work. Lana sat in the corner, dressed in casual clothes, joggers and a cropped hoodie. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, and instantly, I saw myself. Not in the sense of the messy information we got about her, but the dressing. If I had my way, I'd be dressed exactly like that, but if you're best friends with a girl like Susan, there was no way she'd let you leave the house that way. Especially not for an outing to the bar. 

Of all people, of all places, of all times. Today? Lana? Here? 

But that's not what stood out, her dressing. What stood out was the fact that she looked very small, unlike the confident Lana from work. She sat like she was a little removed from the crowd, a drink in her hand. Her posture was slightly off. Not the usual poised, slightly dramatic way she carried herself at work.

I looked away and looked back at her, she was still there, small. 

“Well,” I muttered under my breath. “This night just keeps getting better, doesn't it?.”

I could've just pretended like I hadn't seen her, but I couldn't. She looked too off to be ignored by someone who'd seen her in an entirely different way. So, I watched. She lifted her glass slightly, staring at it like she was debating whether or not it was worth finishing. Her shoulders were slightly hunched, like she barely managed to leave her house to come down here. 

I couldn't ignore it, there was no way I could.

I shifted in my seat, frowning slightly. I wondered, why was she here alone? Didn't she have friends? Or even people who just existed in her life? Did something happen to her? Or was the Lana we saw at work just a mask and this is what showed up when it fell? Or perhaps everything that happened at work got her really bad and this was how she could deal with it?

Definitely the latter. 

I looked away quickly, almost pinching myself. Lana and I never had that relationship that would push me to walk up to her and casually ask what the problem was. It was not my problem, and definitely not my concern.

Except I'm too empathetic to have even thought of ignoring such a sight. I looked back at her. She sighed, setting her drink down harder than necessary, rubbing her temple like she was trying to make a headache go away. 

Okay, it was getting uncomfortable to just watch. Painful even. 

I tried to convince myself that this was just the result of her decisions, and that she could do nothing but sit in it. What could I do to help her? Absolutely nothing. I just had to sit down and wait for Susan to come get me. 

My God. I sounded like a kid staying put till her mother came to get her. 

Despite the various reasons I had in my head, I don't know how, but I found myself rising from my seat and walking towards the distressed looking Queen Bee. It felt like I had no control over my legs, even though I did. 

I was already moving, quickly, which meant there was no turning back. I mentally prepped myself on what I'd say when I got to her. 

“Hey, Lana from work. You look like you regret your decisions, how can I help?” I groaned, almost face slapping myself. There was no way I could say that to her.

“Hey. Everyone thinks terrible things about you and your work wife. Is that why you're here? Because you regret it?” I rolled my eyes at myself. That was definitely not going to be coming out of my mouth.

I realised I was directly behind her, and if she turned around and saw me, she'd think I was creepy. So, I took a deep breath, and went for it.

“Rough week?”