Will We Talk?

4- Pubs

The whole car journey consisted of laughing, gossiping, karaoke and just a bunch of fun. Getting to the Low Lights was a funny feeling, it made my stomach twist and turn, probably as I hadn't been since miscarrying.

"Right, I want no fights, and I don't want to be taking care of both of yous tomorrow, got it?" Fran scolded, giving us both a killer look, we nodded, "Good, text when you're home."

Rylee and I shut our car doors and walked into the pub, linked arm in arm. To be honest, she looked fab in her slicked back hair and fitted jumpsuit, but I don't really swing that way.

Immediately, I was dragged over to the bar. Nothing could rid the smile that sat on my face, even stood in front of my worst enemy: alcohol.

"What can I get yous?" the bartender asked, looking between Rylee and I.

"You don't have to have anything, yeah? But I'm definitely having somet." Rylee laughed.

"Aye," I snorted, "I'll have a glass of pink gin and lemonade please, mate."

"And I'll take a coke and vodka please." Rylee requested, "Drinks on me tonight."

I tried to protest but she was having none of it, shutting down my fighting.

*****

"You're looking for sex tonight, aren't you?" Rylee asked, lifting a tormenting eyebrow at me.

"What makes you think that?"

"You've not worn that dress since you got knocked up for the first time."

"Well you don't wear clothes like that when Fran's around." I scoffed in retaliation, she just laughed at me biting back.

"I'm gan now, leave you to do your thing. Owt goes wrong? Fran's on the other end of the phone." she winked, pulling me up to hug her.

"Right," I chuckled, "take care, and gis a bell when you're home."

She held a sarcastic thumbs up before walking out of the small pub, bumping into a few people in her drunken stupor. It was funny seeing Rylee this drunk because I knew Fran would have to put up with her. Fran and Rylee are complete opposites, hence why they work so well together. I aspire for my relationship to be like theirs, but better.

I'd been sat with the same pint for a good few minutes when I felt the urge to go to the bathroom. So I did that. The bathrooms were empty when I first arrived, so I was shocked to see another lass stood at the mirrors when I left my cubicle.

I observed her closely and soon found that she was crying.

"You alreet pet?" I say, concerned for the stanger before me.

She looked up, startled by being caught, "Sorry, I didn't notice you were here." she laughed awkwardly, wiping her eyes.

"Divnt apologise." I comforted, being the stereotypical drunk woman in the bathroom, "You wanna tell is what's up?" I queeried, leaning against the sink, unaware of the wet patch that would soon locate itself on my arse.

"My boyfriend and his mates just ditched me, completely left me alone." she sobbed, "I know its not intentional, but it just still hurts. I'm not even from here so I don't know where to go."

"I feel you, hinny." I sighed, opening my arms for her to hug me. And that she did.

"You smell lush, what perfume you using?" she gasped as she pulled away.

"Marc Jacobs I think." I informed her, searching for the bottle in my bag, "Aye, its this one." I pulled it from my bag, handing it to her.

We were soon interrupted by her phone ringing, the mystery girl pulled her phone from her bag. It was difficult to see, but I could see the contact name was something like 'My Love'. Her face lit up as she heard his voice, likely apologising to her, which made me smile as I observed.

"He's at some other pub in Newcastle, his mates decided a pub crawl would be a good decision." she laughed, placing her phone in her bag and sorting her hair out, "You wanna come along with me? I think I need another girl to back me up."

"I'm not sure, pet. Would they be alreet with having a stranger?" I hesitantly asked.

"They won't even notice, they're that pissed. Cmon, it'll be class." she bribed, holding my hands.

"Seeing as though I'm here alone, I don't see why not." I said, giving her hands an excited squeeze.

And that's how I found myself stood on the coastline on North Shields, waiting for a lift, with some complete random woman who I'd picked up in the bathrooms. Due to the lack of clothes and cold sea air, the two of us were shivering like mad. I went to check my phone where the time read 10:53- way too early to go home. I'd also got my confirmation text from Rylee too.

Rylee: I'm home now, Fran's not happy with me

So far, I'd lost how many gin and lemonades I'd had, but it was enough to make me unable to stand without assistance.

Eventually, a taxi pulled up. The taxi driver was hesitant to let us in with the two of us being as drunk as we were, but I wasn't going to take no for an answer.

*****

A night out into Newcastle wasn't unknown to me, but being here joined by a bunch of people I'd just met freaked me out. I had met the group, making some small talk with them, but everything I learnt just went out the other ear. Whether I'd remember the night in the morning was to be debated.

Perhaps I'd never speak to these people again, perhaps I'll introduce them to my friends. None of them seemed to care there was a stranger sat with them at the table.

That was until I wasn't sat anymore- I liked a nice dance on the sticky dancefloor of a pub.