26. Pay more attention

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Sanem bounces on her heels, hugging herself against the cold of the starting rain next to Can's car. A carguard had been nice enough to hold an umbrella over her. As she rubs her arms and checks again for Can, he comes out of the building, jogging towards her with her blue shoulder wrap.

"I'm here."

"Finally," she says through chattering teeth and he wraps her up, unlocking the car and helping her get in, lifting her dress hem and shutting the door when she's seated. "Thank you," she says to the carguard and waves at him from inside.

Can walks round to the driver's side, not caring about getting wet. He shifts in his seat when he's in and looks at her. "Ready?"

"Ready," she smiles, turned to him. She stops smiling as he is about to start the car. "My phone! It's still with Leyla. I have to go and tell her where I'm going, Ayhan too."

"You are not getting out of this car. Just call from my phone and tell them not to worry." He hands her his phone and then switches on the heater, waiting for her to finish.

-

"You should have seen her, I swear it was something else!" Guliz laughs and Leyla chuckles along, standing next to her and Emre. A ringing interrupts her laughter and she checks her purse. Not mine... She looks at Sanem's purse and takes out her phone.

Mr Can calling... weird...

"Let me answer this really fast, I'll be right back." She walks to the bar behind them and answers the call.
"Uhm, hello?"

"Leyla?"

"Sanem," she breathes in relief.

"I'm with Can, he's taking me home...Also I got stuck in the bathroom."

"You got stuck in the bathroom?"

"I got locked in and then I got stuck in the window...It hasn't exactly been my night."

"How did you get stuck in the window Sanem?" You my sister are a disaster on two legs, I swear... "Where are you? Should I come to you?"

"No, no, it's okay. Can and I are leaving the venue now. I'm fine, he found me. We're in the car, I just called because I didn't want you worrying."

"Oh, alright."

"Alright and uhm...don't tell anyone I'm with Can okay? I'll tell you everything later."

"Okay," Leyla smiles. "I won't say anything, but I want details."

"Okay."

"Well, I guess I'll leave with Ayhan and the others then."

"Be safe. See you later."

"See you later." Leyla hangs up, still smiling and walks back to the table, fixing her face before she gets there.

"Have any of you seen Can?" Deren asks, glancing around the room.

"He had things to do," Emre answers, shrugging. "He left."

"He left?" Deren stares at him.

Guliz nods. "Also, Sanem never came back from the bathroom."

"Oh, that's because she got a headache while she was in there. The stress of tonight and all, you know? She went home. I'm about to leave too with Ayhan."

"Ayhan and JJ already left. JJ's back kept cramping up," Guliz chuckles.

"Really?" I thought they were still around here somewhere... "Damn it," she sighs. "I'll send her a message and ask how far they are. Maybe I can still catch up." Leyla takes out her phone and excuses herself again.

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