House of Gasoline

“A wig, huh…?” Rhys had to laugh at her words, shaking his head. “You think that’ll work?” To be honest, nights like this were rare, but they always seemed to make an appearance when he was the most desperate for a drink. Typical really. That was the way life seemed to work out for him. “Feels like it’s going to be one of those nights though, might end up standing here for hours at this rate.”

“I mean, it would be a long shot. That beard wouldn’t help.” she teased, finishing off what was left in her glass. Putting her arm up to get the attention of the bartender, a smile spreading across her face when he turned and came straight to her. She turned to her companion, “Easy as pie.” she said with a wink. Turning back to the bartender she asked for another whiskey, turning to the man expectedly. 

       “I used to be a cop, we arrested hundreds of people hanging around the hospital for no reason—” She laughed, explaining further. “People trying to steal drugs, weird necro-freaks, paparazzi…” They were just some of the reasons they had to take people in, but Sierra was sure there were more. “Oh, I didn’t know. Good job, you guys are awesome.” Her own experiences with medics were ones which had saved her life, twice. Anyone in that line of work had earned her respect, “Thank you! I told my other friend this and they rolled their eyes, which makes me wonder if they were friends in the firs place.” The brunette joked and took a sip from her glass, another following quickly afterwards. “Central Park after it’s snowed is freaking awesome. It still blows my mind that it’s in the middle of New York… Get in there and boom, the silence is terrifying.” Giving her a smile, Sierra released a laugh and shook her head. “I’ll take the forest over the shopping any day. I hate buying new clothes, there’s too many options.”

Bella grimaced, trying to imagine why anyone would spend more time than they had to in the hospital. She would never choose another career she would never hang around the hospital on her free time, it wasn’t the happiest place to be. She grinned, lifting her shoulder teasingly, “Maybe they’ve just gotten too used to it. You should withhold your good deeds for a while. I’m sure that’ll smarten them up!” Bella could feel herself entering the comforting kind of drunk, numb enough to forget about her problems for a while, but not enough to zone out to what was going on around her. “I always liked the silence.” Bella confessed, “I think that’s why people thought it was strange that I moved to New York, but Central Park was its saving Grace.” Bella nodded in agreement, “I’d rather walk than shop to be honest.” 

        Lifting the glass to her lips, Sierra breathed in and wondered how many she needed to have before her brain fully shut off; she needed a break, was eager to burn over the image etched behind eyes, ones featuring a face she had to forget. Maybe this was the key, she was going to try it at least… “Ah, the hospital! Doctor, nurse, surgeon, creep who likes hanging out there for fun?” If being a cop had taught her anything, it was that no matter what someone looked like, you could never predict what kind of person they were beneath the aesthetics. “You’re lucky too, I don’t usually do things for people I don’t know. But hey, if I helped to boost it we’ll call it my good deed of the week.” Sierra clinked glasses with them and chuckled, “Seriously though the lake is awesome. If you like running or yoga, or just getting lost it’s pretty awesome. I’m up there twice a day, walking my dog, clearing my head and all that.” And lately that is what she had needed, to clear her head in order to see what she really wanted. “There’s a few cool clubs around too, some nice boutiques if you’re into fashion.”

Bella laughed, lifting an eyebrow, “Are there people actually like that? Hanging out there for fun?” she inquired, curious. “I’m a paramedic, so I don’t spend much time there unless its to drop patients off.” she explained, so I haven’t quite experienced all the hospital has to offer it seems.” Putting her hand over her heart teasingly, Bella’s smile widened, “Well I’m very honoured that you decided to dispense your good deed onto me. They should really considering sainting you.” Taking another drink, feeling the burning settle into her gut, Bella didn’t need to consider her suggestion before long before she was nodding her head eagerly, “That sounds perfect. I used to love getting lost in Central Park. It was so quiet, even in the middle of the chaos. It’s pretty quiet here already, but maybe the woods will do some good. Plus shopping? That’s not something I can ever turn down.” 

A wide smile was brought to her lips in response to Bella’s laughter, her focus shifting between the pan and her friend, surprisingly good at doing the two things at the same time. “I guess I have. Kind of.” It wasn’t something she enjoyed doing much, but it was hard to avoid when you never allowed yourself to really fully commit to someone. “So I’m sorry, but I’m all out of secrets on that one. I’ve ended up just sticking to myself lately.” A light laughter sipping through parted lips, she finished off the scallops, replacing them with strips of thin meat in the pan. Yeah… Just staying clear of relationships in general was the safest bet. “Thanks, but I think I’ll still have to work my way up there first. I like this new job though, a bit more challenging than the others.”

Bella clicked her tongue at her friend, “It’s really too bad we’re both so boring. I don’t have any good gossip either. We’re going to need to get more interesting if we’re going to have anything to talk about.” She was sure that they would be able to find something to talk about regardless, and if worse-came-to-worse, Bella would get her friend to do one of the ridiculous dares she was always coming up with. Hell, Molly had been responsible for half of the hook-up Bella had while in Paris, bolstering the woman up until her confidence was overflowing. “Good, challenging can be good. Just be sure you’re taking care of yourself okay? That’s some free advice from your friendly neighbourhood paramedic cause I don’t want to get a call that you collapsed from exhaustion.” 

“I know I probably look like I just escaped from a locked institution, but my situation really isn’t as bad as it looks,” he said, pausing to take a heaving breath. He wasn’t intending to seem dramatic but it was colder than a witches left tit outside, and all he really wanted or needed was a ride home, he’d figure out the rest later. Though his efforts to convince the driver of the one car he’d managed to flag down in however long he’d been on this god forsaken trek that he wasn’t some deranged lunatic seemed futile.

“Unfortunately, I lost my ID, my wallet and credit cards,  but  I’ve got like, two  dollars and seventy three cents  on me, a library card, a Sams Club membership  and a few Swedish fish I’d be willing to share. So, what can I do to convince ya first of all I’m not some serial killer, but more importantly to let me hitch a ride home?“

Bella’s family had always told her that she was too nice for her own good and that very thought was the one that went through her head as she pulled over in her ancient red pickup for the man who looked cold and in need of some help. As he got closer to her car she could see the state of disrepair he seemed to be in. Her brother might have smacked the back of her head for the stupidity of stopping for a stranger, but what he didn’t know couldn’t hurt him. 

“This is my third coffee today and hopefully I can actually drink this one.” Lucas shook his head as he brought the cup to his lips taking a long enjoyable pull of the hot liquid. “The first one was lost due to a dog, the second I lost chasing someone. Fingers crossed that no cats get stuck in a tree.”

Rhys wasn’t sure how long he’d been stood at the bar to order drinks, but it was already starting to feel like an eternity, even more so as he watched the person in front of him pick through the fluff and candy wrappers in their pocket to find some small change to pay the bartender. “So I’m thinking if I pay for your drink, it might get us all served a little quicker, what do you reckon?” he asked them, trying to keep his tone as light-hearted as possible, but seriously he was dying for a beer now.

There were a lot of downfalls to being a woman in this world, but being served at the bar was not one of them. She never had a problem ordering quickly and getting her drinks promptly. She had always been a people watcher, and that is how she found herself watching the man desperately try to be served by the bartender who preferred to flirt with the patrons of the fairer gender. She grinned as he leaned over and offered to pay for her drink, not something she would ever turn down, “It might be a little easier on you.” she said sympathetically, “Or you could try a wig, it might finally catch his eye.” 

Knowing Bella from their time in Paris, Molly had been counting on the other wanting to get as much as possible to eat; an excellent opportunity to try out something new. And while the other spoke, she started moving around the kitchen, no doubt she knew exactly what she was going for with every action. Soon, she was waiting for a pan on the stove to heat up, pulling out two empty plates to set at the counter in the meantime. Letting out a light laugh, she stopped for a second to turn to Bella. “Yeah, you don’t have to tell me that twice.” Bella wasn’t the only one opposed to serious relationships, Molly being close to the same for all the right reasons. Shifting to put a number of pilgrim’s scallops into the pan, she began searing them off lightly, having no trouble talking and working at the same time. “She?” Throwing a curious glance over her shoulder, cocking an eyebrow, the smile on her lips quickly turned into a grin as she jested, “I mean, you’ve already eliminated the biggest risk there is considering she doesn’t have anything between her legs to think for her.” While her words were said with humor, that didn’t mean they felt any less true — sometimes she seriously wondered if that was all guys did. “But really, that’s great. Just don’t make it an awkward talk, and I’d say you’re fine.”

Bella threw her head back and laughed, shaking her head at her friend’s brashness. It was one of the many things that had drawn Bella to Molly. She always admired someone who could speak their minds. While she usually talked a good game, she found it exhausting to be worried all the time of how people perceived her. Her brother had always been like that and it was one of the reasons she looked up to him. “Don’t tell me you’ve never had to have the I’m not monogamous talk at some point, ‘cause if so, you’ve got to tell me your secret.” Bella said pointedly, taking a sip of her wine. The smell of Molly’s cooking made her eyes roll back, “Oh God, Lanford isn’t going to know what hit them. People are going to be lined up to taste your food.” 

         “Now that is something I had never thought of, so I guess they did a good job—” She laughed, flagging down one of the bartenders . “Exactly, but I wasn’t going to sit around with my dog all night. Always meet new people here if I’m in the mood for it, so it was the better option.” Most of the time she opted to do nothing, but every time she forced herself out Sierra had enjoyed herself. “Good choice,” Sierra made a peace sign with her fingers to the bartender, asking for a couple of whiskeys. “Wane me to be honest?” The brunette asked, turning back towards them. “I grew up here so probably not the best person to ask. Anyone else would have a better answer… The city is a lot more fun, lets put it like that. I lived there for a few years before I had to come back and Lanford is just quiet. A few cool bars, a couple of nightclubs, huge drugs problem. If you like to get high, I guess you can go do that?” She suggested as a joke, letting out another laugh. “I’m kidding, but seriously I’m getting old. I like to hang out with god daughter and her dad, or go running. Otherwise I’m losing at beer pong with strangers.”

Bella nodded, wanting the woman’s honesty no matter what she said. Putting her chin in her hand, she listened carefully as Sierra confessed how much she preferred the city. Though Bella could understand where the woman was coming from, still having the random pangs of longing for the city that never sleeps, she could still appreciate the speed of life people lived in Lanford. Bella laughed, shaking her head, “I think I’ll avoid that extracurricular. I think the hospital might frown on that at our bi-monthly drug screening.” Taking the whiskey that the bartender, she smirked, “So I’ll stick to alcohol. I’m glad you decided to jump in on the game, it helped my ego.”