"Sweetness, you know the worlds grey when you don't smile." Ollie told her as they took a seat at their usual pub. She forced a smile on her face, and beamed at him before letting it drop back into her welcomed frown. She had been back in London for one day and the joy that had always greeted her had disappeared. This was no longer her home, she didn't belong here. She was failing to see what she had ever loved about the city; it was noisy, the people were rude and it constantly smelt dire. She was struggling to see how she had never noticed any of this before or if she had been as oblivious as her friends, who were still in love with the wonders of it all. Casting a glance at the bar she wished more than anything that it were Vince who were serving. She let out a low sigh. Her phone started to ring and taking a look at the screen, she placed it back on the table — screen down. An hour after she and arrived back in London Dylan had been calling her repeatedly. She had yet to answer, she wasn't ready to talk to him quite yet. She was still bloody mad. He had made no time for her recently, so why should she make time for him.
Pushing thoughts of Dylan from her mind she focused on her friends. She was going to miss them when she moved back home permanently and for that she was going to give them her undivided attention. Her phone vibrated against the table but before she instinctively went to grab it, she pulled her arm into her and placed her hand between her legs. She wasn't even going to bother checking it from now on. The vibrating stopped but almost immediately Ollie's phone started to flash. His smiled turned at the corners as he looked at the screen and answered the phone to his ear.
"What do you want?" He demanded down the receiver. Ally shuffled uncomfortably in her seat and started to gaze around the pub, she didn't want to eaves drop on his conversation. She looked at Sarah expectantly but soon released that the chances of getting a conversation started with her was as likely as her becoming a billionaire. No bloody chance of that. Sarah was too busy swapping spit with Tom.
"No, we're just at a pub. Don't call again." She heard Ollie order down the phone. When his eyes met hers, he gave her a wide grin before filling up both of their wine glasses.
"Everything okay, Ol?"
"Yeah, Sweetness. It's just someone who needs to learn when to drop it every now and then." He reassured her.
Once Sarah and Tom had stopped sucking face, and the wine was freely flowing, Ally had started to have a good night. Dylan didn't cross her mind and she barely registered when Arthur and Amy had entered the pub. She had been too focused on catching up on the local gossip.
A tap on her shoulder caused her to jump. Thinking it could be Arthur or worse bellend Amy, she hesitated when she turned to see who wanted her attention. Her shoulders sagged in relief when she found it was neither of them and instead she was looking up to man who looked vaguely familiar.
"Can I help you?" She asked.
"Alison Wright?"
She looked closer at the mans features, hoping for some sort of recognition. "Erm, yes?" It took a moments more studying before she clocked. "Brick?" Wow, he had changed.He's hair had thinned dramatically and he was now the owner of a true beer belly, long gone his athletic body.
He smiled at her acknowledgment. "Actually, I just go by Eugene now."
"Oh right, yeah sure, Eugene." She racked her brain for memories. Eugene? She couldn't remember him ever being called that and inwardly hates herself, embarrassed at herself for having dated a guy without ever knowing his real name. "How are you? Still boxing?"
He seemed to space out for a fraction before he answered. "Nah, doctor told me one more concussion would kill me. Not worth the risk, is it?"
"No, I suppose not."
