shame

                      “CHRIST, i haven’t had a cocktail this weak since i was twelve,” stella remarked around the rim of her glass, though that didn’t stop her from consuming the blue concoction in a single gulp —- her fifth, for anyone counting… wary security guards certainly seemed to be. leveling a playful gaze at the figure beside her, the svelte blonde inquired, “you think they might have anything stronger around here?”

                         graham narrowed a glossy look  at the blonde, lips breaking into a smile. “control your alcoholic compulsions for like, two seconds, and take a picture with me and this glass of water.” he had a vision of posting a photo on instagram with the caption ‘no underage drinking for this one’, and he found it hilarious. “then you can go look for whatever 40-plus-percent you’d like.”

    she’d always hated these things. the men in their pretentious suits, the women in their elaborate dresses, & andy  ––– always without a date. the depressing reality of the fact that the only way she’d get married was if it was arranged was rather crushing but she was holding up pretty well four cocktails in. ( and she was also pretty drunk off her ass. ) ‘ do you think that it will be mac or me  ––– or is it, i  ––– dancing on the table tonight before midnight or what ? ‘

    swallowing hard, he gazed over at the girl, eyes dropping to the half-empty glass of whatever expensive — champagne? whiskey? half jäger, half redbull? — was in it.  “mac n’ cheese dancing on the table tonight?” he questioned, giving the girl a puzzled look. “amazing.”

bobbi pulled out the pack of cigarettes placing one between her teeth when she heard footsteps. “if you’re here to say that smoking kills you can turn back around.” she said her tone mildly annoyed. 

“funny how you immediately assume that i’d even bother acknowledging you,” graham mentioned, stopping in his path in front of bobbi. “let alone voice imaginary my concerns for your health, so chill out.”

“ - welcome to liquid assets !! can i help you with anything ?? “ lija questioned from beneath the register - her body scrunched up towards the floor as she began to clean up whatever she had dropped moments ago. 

“can somebody else help me, actually?”