Chapter 2

Pearl's first few weeks in her new place were a bit frantic. She had to notify Paul of her leaving and that went better than she had imagined it would. He was angry but seemed to be less bothered about her leaving than concerned with what she took. When she told him she left everything, he seemed to take the rest of it better. She told him she needed time and didn't plan on filing for divorce right away. He agreed to that and she knew his kindness had motive. He had a hefty 401k and they had money in the bank. She had printed their bank statement and grabbed his latest 401k summary the day she left, so if he tried to put the money elsewhere, there was proof. He didn't know that but she assumed his being nice was him hoping he could get her to agree to letting him keep that. 

So with having to deal with Paul, ordering things for the house and trying to stay focused on her job, things were a bit chaotic. 

She also had to get a vehicle. She was tired of borrowing Janie's car and taking the bus. John had found a guy selling an old Jeep Wrangler for next to nothing because he was also going through a divorce, so John had set up a meeting at a local brewery for them to all meet that evening. 

"Hey Pearl!" John said, giving her a big hug. "So the guy only had a couple of minutes to talk and show the Jeep. I took it for a spin and looked it over. It looks like a great deal. I gave him what he was asking and figured you could just pay me when you got here. I also negotiated it down 500 bucks. Hope that's ok. I didn't want to lose the Jeep." 

"No! That's fine! Thank you! I have the money right here. Let's go check it out." Pearl said, grateful to have a friend in her life like John. He was a good man and she was very happy to know him and his wife. She never would have made it out of her marriage without him. 

The Jeep was perfect and she dragged John back in to celebrate. "I'd like to buy this man a beer!" Pearl said to the bartender. "What would you like, John" the seemingly shy man asked. He was young, maybe in his mid to late twenties. Medium length, dark blond hair with a goatee. He had a quiet demeanor and seemed like he should have been doing something far greater with his life. Not that beer brewing was a bad thing. He just seemed to be on a higher level by his presence. 

"You two know each other?" Pearl asked. 

"Yes. This is Dylan. He's a brewer here and a great guitar player and song writer. He also has published some poetry. We have been throwing around the idea of starting a band." John said, smiling at Pearl. "And we don't have a lead singer yet." He winked. 

"I'm not that great and I'm not exactly jumping at the idea of being a martyr on a stage for over sexed party girls and men trying to get laid." Dylan responded dryly. 

"Ok, wow Dylan. That's a very passionate statement. And John...no. Not me. I was out of that phase in college. Plus I'm too old." Pearl said, sipping her beer and rolling her eyes. 

"What are you, like 27?" Dylan asked, almost sounding annoyed. 

"I'm 34. Going to be 35 next month." Pearl smiled. "But thanks for the compliment, if it was one. Hard to tell with this guy John, he seems to speak in sarcasm."

Pearl wasn't a big drinker and had definitely drank too much. John offered to drive her and her Jeep back to her place and have Janie pick him up there. 

"I'll just take a cab. Don't worry about it." Pearl said. 

"It's a half hour drive back to your apartment Pearl, that's like a 60 dollar cab ride. Let me see if I can get you an Uber." John was looking at his phone when Dylan asked, "Where does she live? I'm also about a half hour from here. I rode to work with a friend so my car is at my house. I could take her if it's close."

Pearl heard them negotiating her ride home and she felt terrible about it. She gave Dylan her address and apologized profusely. "That's maybe two streets over from my place. I'll drive you." Dylan said, and it wasn't an offer. It was obvious that was the plan. 

"I usually don't drink dark beer. I'm a lightweight. I'm so sorry guys. I totally suck." Pearl said, slurring a little and trying to seem like she had it together. 

"It's cool, Pearly Pearl. You've been tthrough a lot lately. It's good to escape even if it's just for a few hours and you'll most likely regret it tomorrow." John put his arm around her and made sure Dylan was ok with everything before he left. 

"Here's a water. I have to finish closing up but it shouldn't take long." Dylan said, handing her a large ice water. 

After his shift, they walked to her Jeep and Pearl got in. "Don't get pulled over, I just got this today and haven't been to the dmv to get it licensed or insured or anything yet." Pearl said. 

"Good to know and I'll be careful. If we get pulled over, I'll explain everything." Dylan said, putting her address into his phone gps. 

The drive was too quiet and Pearl was too intoxicated to just sit there in silence. 

"So what are you, like a genius or something? I'm pretty good at reading people and you are NOT a brewery guy." She sounded condescending but she was too drunk to care.

"Not a brewery guy? That's funny. Brewery guys are some of the smartest and most creative people I've met." Dylan avoided her real question. 

"Yes I'm sure and I'm not knocking them, I'm just saying that you don't seem like that is where you're meant to be." 

"If you want to know more about me, be specific." Dylan said, focused on driving or pretending to be focused. 

"Ok. Did you go to college? What did you major in?" Pearl was going to go along with this game.

"Yes. Philosophy. And yes. I have a high IQ. And honestly, I don't like to be 'read' and I'm not sure how to feel about you calling me out as many times as you have tonight." Dylan looked at her for a split second and she could see he was serious. 

"Sorry, it's just what I do. It's not a good trait sometimes. So why are you working at a bar instead of doing something with your degree?"

"Is this a job interview?" Dylan asked, then paused and said, "I was taking care of my grandmother and she passed away a little while ago. I had to take over her house and deal with the funeral arrangements. The job was available and I needed one." 

Pearl's heart dropped. She wasn't expecting this surly behaving man to have an answer like that. 

"I'm sorry." Pearl said.

"We're almost to your place, I think. Look familiar?" He asked as they turned the corner onto her street. 

"What's your philosophy on love? Do you believe in it? I need expert philosophical advice because I'm becoming quite abhorrent to it." Pearl ignored his question and thought she better ask this now or never. 

He stopped the Jeep in front of her building and leaned toward her, looking directly at her. "I believe all human emotions are as real as the person feeling them. I also believe love is extremely overrated and not seen or felt the way it is supposed be or was created to be."

"And what's that?" Pearl asked. 

"Everything." He answered. 

She felt an intense wave of emotion and leaned in, kissing him on the mouth. She mumbled, "I'm so sorry." And promptly passed out.