dynamiit-e

“I’m sorry that my presence is a bother to you.” Thomas spoke, his voice a little harsh as he responded. Sure, he knew it wasn’t exactly her fault that he was in a bad mood - it wasn’t really anyone’s fault aside from his own. “However, this is my bar, and it’s part of my job description to check in on the people dining and drinking here. I was coming to ask you if you needed anything else.” Thomas spoke. “But I won’t bother you. Let me know if you need anything.”

“you know that i come and drink in here daily, you also know that i never ask for anything but my drinks so surely you don’t even need to ask if i need anything else.” alice folded her arms across her chest petulantly and rolled her eyes. “you know i’ll start going elsewhere if you talk to your customers like this.”

“Damn,” Ellie started. “Everyone seems to be in a bad mood today.” She said, sipping her drink. “What’s up with you?”

“don’t think it’s wise to be asking strangers that.” alice mumbled, she certainly wasn’t going to elaborate on her issues with this complete stranger.

 “Yes I am, just passed half way now.” The pregnancy was still complicated for Joanna, she knew she was happy about it and would love this child with her whole heart but there was still a lot of uncertainty. She hadn’t spoke about it as much as other expectant mothers. “They will bar you if you start getting into trouble.”

alice nodded indifferently, she didn’t care all that much about anyone these days, she knew that if this were some time ago she would actually be happy for joanna but now she was just lonely and miserable, she’d lost her ability to care. “they can try, i’ll just keep coming back.”

rolling her eyes, ash continued to clean the surface of the bar. “not really, i’m just doing my job.” she let out a sigh, turning to face the woman. “you know, if i didn’t know what you were doing here — i woulda cut you off a long time ago. so maybe don’t be so goddamn snarky with me.”

“what exactly is it that you think i’m doing here?” alice inquired with a raise of her eyebrow. she tilted her head slightly and huffed, she wasn’t exactly sure that she wanted the answer to that question but it was coming anyway. “i’m sure that’s clean enough.”

Joanna gave a small sigh moving from Alice’s side to go behind the bar. She was very tempted to stop serving Alice but it always seemed a little pointless, if she wasn’t drinking at Masen’s then she was fairly certain the other woman would just find somewhere else to drink. “Keep grumbling like that and I won’t have much choice. You know it won’t be me serving you for much longer anyway?”

“i know.” alice mumbled. “you’re pregnant aren’t you? must be nice.” she couldn’t help but feel at least a little bitter, joanna had a daughter already and here she was with no one. “i doubt anyone else will threaten to stop serving me so maybe it’s a good thing.”

“There is, but it would make it a lot harder for me to grab the drinks so perhaps watch your tone if you want to continue getting served Alice,” Joanna warned as she put the empty glasses back on top of the bar.

alice couldn’t help but roll her eyes as joanna spoke, there’d always been threats of her not getting served and it never seemed to happen so she wasn’t too worried about getting cut off by the woman. joanna had once been someone that alice had classed as a friend but now she couldn’t really class anyone as a friend. “would you really stop serving me though, jo?” she finished the rest of the drink in front of her and placed her credit card on the bar. “i’ll take another vodka, please.”

alice was sat in her usual spot at the bar, she’d already drank one too many drinks but was yet to be cut off. she noticed someone close beside her and rolled her eyes. “you know, some personal space would be nice, isn’t there anywhere else you can stand?”