A Deal's a Deal

The Free Ride's a bit quieter tonight, but not by much. We enter the bar and immediately clock Anya, Skye, and Rob in the booth we'd met up in last time.

"I'm gonna get a drink." Rouge sighs as she moves over to the bar area. The rest of us head to meet the others, passing Rob on the way as he goes to meet his date. Skye looks as lively as ever, her pink hair flowing down her back, clad in a leather jacket and black jeans. It's a classic look, which I kind of wish I could pull off. Anya on the other hand looks... Rough. She's laying on the table in yoga pants and a t-shirt, he face the vision of exhaustion.

"Should I ask what happened to you?" I ask her as we reach the table. Trish takes a seat next to Skye, who greets her with a hug.

Elise and I follow it, sitting down in the booth, it's unlikely Rob and Skye will be back any time soon, no point saving them seats. "It was Jessie's birthday yesterday." Skye informs me. "Anya got in the mood, festivity for all, but, not so much for her liver today." She explains. Well, that makes sense, shame we missed Jessie's birthday though, I'll have to remember to give my regards.

"Are you playing tonight?" Elise asks Skye as she pats Anya on the back.

"That's the plan, assuming Romeo and Juliet over there don't elope before then." Laughs Skye, eyes leading over to where her sibling and mine are enjoying their alone time, Rouge looks a lot more calm, which I suppose is something. "You should have seen him, I caught him giving himself a pep talk in the mirror, full on, repeating mantras and all that bullshit." Rob's sister reveals. Wow, I guess they were both nervous... Maybe this thing won't end in disaster. "Is that what you're gonna do when you take me on a date?" She adds towards Trish, who's head jerks round.

"I... Don't remember asking you out." She points out with a suspicious look. Elise and I look at each other with awkward expressions, maybe it happened after we'd passed out?

Skye shrugs. "Eh, I figure it's a matter of time, I mean, have you seen my arse?" She clarifies. Trish seems less amused with the insinuation, but still can't hold back a chuckle of her own.

"Asshole, I thought I'd forgotten something from when I was drunk." She grimaces.

"Oh, shit, should've gone with that. Yes, you asked me out while drunk, before you fucked me, roughly, behind the bushes." Skye lies in an overly dramatic style. Is this how Rouge and Trish feel around me and Elise? I feel like a third wheel, despite there being five of us here. I suppose I overestimated both of their sense of shame.

Jessie breaks up the verbal fuckfest happening in front of us as she comes over to the table. "Evening, can I get you guys anything? Same as last time?" She asks with a grin, pointing to me and Elise. I look to my girlfriend who tips her head in agreement.

"Sure, happy birthday by the way!" I respond, before Trish clears her throat abruptly. "Oh right, this is our friend Trish by the way. Trish, this is Jessie, Anya's partner." I introduce her.

"Nice to meet you. Let me guess, whiskey girl?" Jessie inquires, to Trish's shocked expression. "I'm not psychic, Anya mentioned a girl at the party chugging it like it was water, and I knew everyone else." She laughs. "I'll bring it over... And some water." Anya groans in thanks at the addition.

Soon enough the bartender returns with a round of drinks. "Their choices of conversation are... Definitely unique." She informs us, referring to Rob and Rouge. "Shifts from pirates to barbeques to new phones with every new sentence." Okay, that's definitely a method of communication, just not normally a good one. Maybe they're joking around, who knows? Jessie returns to the bar as Skye looks at Anya's watch.

"Well, they've got about twenty minutes before we're due to start sound checks, so... Might end up interrupting." Skye groans. "Going to the loo, coming?" She asks Trish. I've never had enough friends to go to the bathroom together before, but given it's these two, I'm not looking to join them as they leave the table.

My phone buzzes, prompting both me and Elise to have a look. "Well, looks like Mum's taken Ruby to Jasper's, not gonna be back tonight." I announce. Elise's eyes widen with excitement.

"So... We don't have to be quiet?" She asks, suggestively. "Oh wait, I suppose there's still Rouge." She realises.

"I don't think she's going home with you guys tonight." Anya chips in, gesturing towards the happy couple, who are now furiously making out. Huh. I guess sexual tension knows no bounds... Or etiquette. Kinda putting on a show.

Eventually the tonsil hockey is broken up as Skye returns and pulls her brother up to the stage, meaning Rouge finally joins us at the table.

"Having a good time?" Elise giggles as my sister takes a seat.

Rouge appears to think about this for a second before responding. "Pretty good kisser." The admission pulls a laugh from all three of us, as Trish finally returns, I was wondering what was taking her so long.

"Hey. Want to leave?" She asks me immediately. Erm... We've been here, like, an hour. "You too, Elise, we'll go... Do that thing you two asked for." She requests. Okay, that's a bit clearer. Let's see, do I want to have sex with my former crush and my girlfriend? Yes, but I also want to know why Trish is so desperate to leave.

I look to Elise, whose eyes seem equally excited and curious about the offer. "What happened in the bathroom?" I ask Trish.

"Doesn't matter. You want to do it or not?" She asks again. Eh, we can figure it out later. I look at Elise again, who gives me a smiling nod of approval. Wait a minute, I look to my sister.

"Oh, I'm gonna stay... Might not be back tonight." She smirks. Well, that's decisive. Elise and I stand, I note Skye's expression as we look to be leaving, she seems both sad and determined. I'd go and check on her, but my brain isn't the part of my body making the decisions at this stage.

We say our goodbyes to Rouge and Anya and make our early exit from the bar.

I know it's not fashionable to leave early, but right now, fashion's the third thing on my mind, and the first two things are taking me home.