toxic

“I wouldn’t say important,” she hummed, putting her phone away, “Not in the office, but I would like to think I try to make a difference outside of it.” That probably didn’t make sense so she decided to clear up what she meant. “I’m a detective.”

Clara smiled slightly.  “Oooh...a detective.  That is very impressive,” she told her.  Clara’s gaze swept up and down the woman as she smirked.  “I’m sure you’re very capable of making a difference in the community.”

Nina smirked at the blonde beside her and playfully rolled her eyes. “Fine, have fun the old-fashioned way,” she said, raising her own glass and quirking an eyebrow to see if Clara understood the pun. “Sit with me. Drinks and your company would be lovely, darling.”

Clara rolled her eyes, but joined her friend regardless.  “I cannot say I’ve ever objected to drinks with you before.  Why start now?”  She chuckled.  “Please tell me you’ve been up to something exciting.”

Antonio took the fifty cents and smiled back at her. “I am actually. But I can always make time. If someone needs me to do so.”

Clara smirked.  “Well aren’t you a sweet one,” she mused.  “Willing to make time even when you’re busy.  Not many would do something like that.”

“What the hell was that?”

Clara chuckled, rolling one shoulder.  “Looks like someone’s car backfired and gave up the ghost.  I wouldn’t worry about it, sweetheart.”

“Crazy people are those that say no to free taco or any buy one get one free.” Antonio smiled over at her for a moment. “Fifty cents please. And I’ll get those taco’s started.”

Clara handed over two quarters and flashed him a charming smile.  “Thank you.  I bet you’re very busy on Tuesdays if the food is that good of a deal.”

Andrea had been looking at her phone when the woman spoke to her, attempting to not appear more awkward than she already felt. So when she was spoken to, she looked up and laughed hollowly. “That’s an understatement,” she replied, “You always think you’re done with work and then something else pops up.”

Clara hummed in acknowledgement.  While her work was only fun if she brought it home with her, Clara was aware that her job was not the norm.  “I can only imagine.  You must be important at your job if that keeps pulling you back in.”

“You look like someone who’s looking for something,” Nina said, finally walking over to the stranger who’d been seated at the bar for over five minutes and still hadn’t ordered. “Do you have a password for me, darling?”

When Nina spoke, Clara flashed her a grin.  “Not today, Nina.”  Her gaze darted around the room before focusing back on her friend.  “I was checking out the menu...”

“I don’t have-” She frowned at the other woman, her breath still unsteady. “They can’t track it if it’s the only thing of hers I have.” At least she was pretty sure that’s how it worked. 

“Is that how that works?” Clara questioned, unsure given she wasn’t a witch.  “I’m sure you’ll find it.  I wouldn’t worry too much.”

“Today’s special include Taco Tuesday, which means it’s buy one get one for a free. Or if you only one want one they are just fifty cents. Now what can I get you for?”

Clara glanced at the menu when he mentioned the special.  “Hm,” she murmured briefly.  “I’ll have two chicken tacos then.  How could I say no to buy one get one free?”

She’d intended to use the guy as a meal. He’d spent most of his night staring at her from across the room, smiling when she would look his way. But now, after only a few short minutes talking, she had had about enough. “Listen, this has been fun, but I’m going to leave.” Standing, she grabbed her purse and left without a backward glance. Stepping outside, she pulled a cigarette from her bag and placed it in her mouth. However, it appeared she didn’t have a lighter. Looking to her right, she found another patron of the bar. “You got a light?” She asked.

Clara glanced over at Victoria when she appeared at her side.  “Yeah,” she replied, rummaging in her purse for a lighter.  She offered it to her and sighed.  “Is it just me or is there slim pickings here tonight?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll get to that soon, I promise,” Andrea sighed, realizing that she had completely forgotten about the report she had promised to look over for one of her colleagues. “It’s on the top of my pile. You’ll have it by the end of the day.” Very quickly she hung up and moved further in the line for coffee, only to literally bump into the person in front of her. “Sorry,” she said awkwardly. Yeah, this day was going really well already.

Clara still hadn’t slept, so the need for coffee was the only thing getting her through at that point.  When the woman bumped into her, Clara looked over her shoulder.  For a split second she weighed the pros and cons of snapping at her but decided against it.  Who knows, this woman seemed like she needed to unwind.  Clara would be happy to help her.  “It’s alright, darling.  You look like you’ve had quite the morning.”

Procraffination wasn’t normally this busy in the mornings, and busy places were normally something that Selene avoided, but this morning seemed to be different on both counts. She’d spent the night watching Youtubers do their nails - a typical, albiet silly sort of time-waster - and needed an extra something to keep her awake if she was going to be at the library until mid-afternoon. The brunette was waiting for her order when someone had reached around her and took their drink off the counter. Her eyes immediately landed on their hand. “ Oh wow, ” she couldn’t help but say, eyes staying on the hand. “ I love your nails. ” She turned to the owner. “ Did you do them yourself ? ” She was in a very nail-appreciative sort of mood, especially after what she had spent the night watching.

Clara’s morning coffee was about the only thing that kept her functioning after a late night working.  Or not working, whatever the outcome was.  She had her cup halfway to her lips when she heard the girl speak.  Flashing her a smile, she nodded.  “Yes, I did them myself,” Clara told her.  It was relaxing and mindless.  Clara could just zone out with something on Netflix to do her nails.  Currently they were a swirly metallic blue color with silver tips, something she’d done only a couple days earlier.  “Thank you though.”

Amanda had upturned her whole house, frantically looking for her misplaced necklace. She’d done the same at the outpost for the trails with no luck. She’d tried retracing her steps but the longer she looked the less calm she could be about it. “Please. I can’t find my mom’s necklace. It’s silver, has a little tiny heart. I just- fuck.” She crumpled to the ground where she was, her chest shaking as she tried to hold in the tears that were pricking at her eyes.

The trail was not somewhere Clara frequented, but she’d been planning on taking a dip in the falls.  When she came across the woman panicking over the jewelry, her nose scrunched in annoyance.  “If you can’t find it and it’s that important I’d suggest asking a witch.  They’re quite good at finding things.”