Barre

Chapter Six

After I made that bold claim, Gael whispered something else bold back into my own ear, causing us to giggle for most of the walk back to my place. I managed to sober up by the time we were nearing my door, remembering that Livie would most likely be home and bitter from our last encounter.

"Somehow, we went to your place instead of mine," Gael observes as we stop on the doormat.

"That's odd," I reply while taking him all in for the second time today. He didn't have his glasses from the first time we met, and I had just assumed he went with contacts today.

"I could come in for a glass of something strong. I'm starting to feel left out Ette."

I'm sober enough to cringe slightly at his own invitation, and laugh softly to cover it up.

"Livies probably home, as much as I want you to feel included."

To my surprise, he jumps quickly at another offer.

"Tomorrow night then. We'll go out for drinks before you start working."

"Wow, I must be really fun when I'm drunk. Sober me is quite offended Gael," I reply jokingly. "Tomorrow night then."

He smiles and pushes off from the doorframe that we was leaning on.

"I'll text you."

"Okay," I say quietly before turning the handle on the door. I slip inside and watch him wait for me to close it before walking away.

I nearly jump when I see Livie on the couch, holding a glass of dark colored wine, staring right at me.

"Well that's an adult beverage," I point out while kicking off my wedges.

She purses her lips together tightly, and her eyes follow me as I walk into the kitchen. Pulling out a bottle of water, I feel her staring into the back of my head. I rack my brain trying to remember the last time she drank, and the only time I can come up with is at her bachelorette party.

Livie was engaged three months ago, to a man named Nathan. He was kind, handsome, and very charismatic. Nathan was my very own downfall, he caused a domino effect that changed Livie and I's relationship immensely.

I'm not proud of what I did with Nathan, and the details of the night I preformed those actions is a story for another time.

"I wasn't aware of how jealous you would be with me-"

"Don't start with me Juliette," Liv cuts off firmly. "If you can't keep it in your pants again I swear-"

"You think I slept with him?" I slam the bottle on the counter when it's my turn to stop her sentence.

"I'm just taking a wild guess Ette. Last time I was correct."

"I didn't sleep with him."

"I'm sorry, which one are we talking about here? Gael or-"

"Oh my god, will you ever let this go?" I ask in annoyance.

"No, no, Ette I can not do that," she stands up and brings her glass over to the kitchen. Setting it in the sink harshly, she glares at me while doing so. "You seriously have a problem with leaving my men alone."

I open the cabinet behind me aggressively, reaching for a small yellow bottle. I throw the full container at her just as aggressively, watching as it hits the back of her head.

"Take your meds sometime Livie."

She marches out of the kitchen, only throwing up her middle finger as she goes into her room. I huff and pick up the bottle, examining the label before putting it away.

Livie was diagnosed with bipolar disorder almost a year ago. She stopped taking her prescription shortly after calling off the engagement, dumping the white pills into the trash every so often so she can pretend to get a refill.

I pull open the freezer, taking out a tub of ice cream and grabbing a spoon before walking over to the couch and grabbing the remote before making myself comfortable.

My comfort show has always been Tiny Pretty Things. I've watched it over and over again, examining the details of every dance they do. This is my third time rewatching it, so I press play on where I left off, and pop the lid off to my ice cream.

Shortly after my third bite, my phone goes off. I peel my eyes away from the screen and reach for my phone.

Gael

| Are you still up for drinks tomorrow? ;)

Only if you get drunk with me this time. |

| I'll make that a promise Ette

Are you going to send me the location at 2 am |again?

| Caught me. I figured you would've been awake still

I pause to read his reply, trying to understand how I gave that sort of impression.

I'll be asleep at 9. Send me the location whenever |Gael.

I don't wait for his response before throwing my phone back onto the couch, and focusing on the TV screen and my container of blackcurrant ice cream.