Perfection

“Seriously? I guess a lot of people got all depressed about being lonely,” Alana replied with a shake of her head, having never really had that problem herself. “Because surely the ones who are celebrating are too busy for that. Kind of sad really.” She wrinkled her nose for a moment. “Cake’s always been my go to if I’m feeling down — but that’s hardly a surprise, I guess.”

“I wasn’t trying to make anyone feel sorry for myself. T-This is just who I am. And you don’t know how I behave professionally,” she stated, trying to sound confident, but stuttering and stumbling over her words. “I’m self-deprecating to a bad point sometimes, but you don’t know what else might be going on. I could be a completely different person at other times,” she added. It was sort of true, at least before everything. Before she was betrayed and learned what her sister really thought of her. She stood up straighter, trying to at least appear confident. “You shouldn’t judge me, or anyone, based on one conversation.”

“ I don’t see a sign anywhere–.” chiming back while well aware of the no touching policy most places like this had.” I’ll just do a little bit of this..” quickly turning the scarf he had around his neck into a makeshift cloak and stepping back from the shambled piece.

‘‘That is very true, I can’t say that I’m all that big a fan of Valentines day. I got a lousy text, so I just worked late and crash out on the couch when I got home.’‘ Lottie shrugged her shoulders. ‘‘You know what they says, lovers will come and go but wine will never leave you? I definitely relate with that, it takes alot of effort to be human before coffee in the morning..’‘ 

“In their defense, and my own,” Baz started, in response to the person at the table beside him, “they’ve got the wrong kind of handle on a door meant for pushing. I do it all the time, including today… although today could have just as much been the alcohol as it is the fact that the door’s got a pull handle on the push side.” Baz’s eyebrows wagged, half punctuating his point. “You’re honestly telling me you’ve never tried to pull that door?” he questioned as he grabbed his drink.

“Enough to make some pretty decent tips,” Vera chuckled in response to the woman comment, as she took a long sip from her pleasantly warm herbal tea, “Valentine’s Day is definitely one of a bartender’s favorite nights- it’s a fickle business so you always appreciate the busiest nights,” she explained as her eyes fell to the door at the woman’s next comment. It was mildly amusing to watch the clearly hungover people struggle with the door, the glass offering a clear view of the entire situation. “No lie, I think I’ve probably done that even when completely sober,” Vera added, with a sheepish grin.

She chewed on her lip a moment before turning back around. “I think it’s okay that I consider myself dumb at times. I know my own faults and I accept them, which I think is better than being oblivious to them completely. I don’t think it’s selling myself short to admit to my flaws. It just is what it is,” she said quietly. She needed to stand up for herself a little. She never had with Kiersten.

She frowned, her brow creasing as she took in the woman’s opinion. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just um… I just didn’t think,” she replied, feeling like she should apologize for feeling so silly. Two seconds around this woman and she was intimidated by the confidence she exuded. She felt like a pathetic teenager in comparison. She fidgeted a bit before her name was called and grabbed her coffee. “I will just, um… go. Yeah.”

“Yes, definitely.” Julian’s words weren’t hesitated, confident in his statement, especially because he’d been one of many to spend their Valentine’s Day in a bar. “Have you never felt the crippling feeling of loneliness? I mean, I haven’t either, but I’m sure the alcohol helps some people. Valentine’s Day is a day for everywhere to profit. All the couples go on expensive dates and buy all the stupid bears and chocolates and flowers from local places, and the singles… well, the bars make a hell of a lot more. Plus, I’m sure ice cream sales boost exponentially. Profit for all, love it.” Rolling his eyes, he took a sip of his own drink. “Or you just saw a lot of not so smart people today. Also possible.”

‘‘Gone are the days when Valentines Day was about celebrating your love for someone?’‘ Lottie let out a laugh, taking a long sip of her tea; Valentines day for Lottie had consisted of a large glass of wine before a bath and bed, all in preparation for another long of day of looking after tiny humans. ‘‘I mean I do that when I’m completely and utter sober, maybe everyones just gotten just a tiny little bit more stupid than they were pre V-day two thousand and eighteen, or maybe you’re right and the alcohol is finally killing all their brain cells.’‘

She blushed beet red because she was exactly one of those people. But she didn’t do it because of any drinking last night! “I wasn’t drinking. I mean, I was, but I’m a lightweight so I tend to stick to simple stuff and just one, maybe two drinks. Never enough to get drunk because that is so not fun the next morning,” she rambled on, trying to defend herself for some reason. “I messed up with the door more because I wasn’t paying attention and I’ve only been here a few times. Or maybe I am just a dumb blonde.”

“Valentine’s Day wasn’t all that crucial, not for me anyways,” she said with a small shrug. “Sometimes you just gotta be smarter than the door.” Yas was doing conversational and pleasant, however she was becoming a bit agitated. Her difficult client had once again picked a weird and obscure place for them to meet and was late. That part she didn’t mind as he sure as hell was gonna pay for her time, tenfold. It was the always being stuck at some bar part grinding her once an alcoholic nerves. “Waiting for a short, round guy with curly red hair….seen him by chance?”