Missing Pieces of Me

18 When The Night Changes

Blanche

I got out of my room just at the same time as Alex was leaving his. He wore a buttoned up shirt with folded sleeves and a pair of jeans. His hair looked like it was styled meticulously. He just locked his door, like I did and we both headed out the door. After heading outside and locking it, we walked down the hallway. We were both silent. I can't have silence right now because silence makes me turn to my thoughts. I'll be social tonight. No sadness tonight, just happiness.

"I can't believe I'm finally going to a bar," I yelped, just to have something to say before my thoughts turn grim again, as we were walking down the street to the bar.

"Is this seriously your first time?"

"Yup. I just got my ID a while back. Haven't had the time to check it out."

"But you said you've been drunk before..."

"Yeah... at my house," I say, quite embarrassed.

I see Carrie at the front of the bar and quickly ran into her and gave her a hug. After a few seconds, she broke the hug and gave me a look that suggests that she thinks I've been possessed or something, "What the hell happened to you? Last time we met you were sick and now you're inviting me to a bar and hugging me."

She turned to Alex and laughingly asked, "Was it the meds that did this to her or is she already drunk when you brought her?"

I gently hit her arm and faked a pout, "Is it bad that I was just happy to see you now that I'm okay again?"

"It's not bad. It's just plain weird," she retaliated then chuckled with me.

Alex broke our bickering and said, "Come on, Bruce said he saved us a booth."

I hooked my arm around Carrie, practically hugging her arm. She looked at me with those questioning eyes again and just sighed. I smiled at her and she just grinned in return. I feel different yet I don't want to stop and think because thinking will lead to irrational sadness or anger at Alex when he really had nothing to do with it and I won't have that now. Besides, I can just say that I'm still too intimidated since it's my first bar.

The whole place is crowded. I decide not to stray too far away from Alex and Carrie. I was about to suffocate when Carrie pulled my arm off to a circular booth.

"Blanche, where were you going? We're here," she said as we both sat down.

"Sorry. I almost got lost. This place is way too crowded."

"Nah. You'll get used to it," she said while giving me a reassuring pat on the back.

"I'm gonna go with Alex and we'll order the beer. You get settled here with Bruce for a while okay?"

I was a bit weak to protest so I just sat there, looking in their direction until they disappeared into the crowd. I was still spaced out when someone taps me on the back.

"You're Blanche right? It's me, Bruce. Nice to meet you," he said with what looks like a well-rehearsed smile that showed his almost perfect teeth. He has cute bunny teeth which makes him cute. I'm not one to judge a person's teeth formation since mine are a bit crooked too. He offered to shake hands which I took awkwardly, paired with a similarly awkward smile.

"Yeah, nice to finally meet one of Alex's friends," I said trying to match his enthusiasm. I wouldn't want him to think that I'm bored with the conversation.

"Seeing that you rarely go out, I'm honored. Alex talks about you."

"Really? So, how did my phone number come up in that conversation?"

"Oh that? No. That was a result of my great detective work."

"Like going to my account on social media? I must say I'm a bit impressed at the effort but I need convincing if these online 'background checks' are on my level," I said jokingly.

"I have the whole night to prove it don't I?"

Our conversation was interrupted by Alex, "Okay, four pints of beer, fries for Carrie and mild wings for Bruce and super spicy for Blanche and I."

Alex sat next to Bruce by the edge while Carrie sat next to me on the other side of the booth. As they sat down, we started making jokes and the tension between the four of us slowly faded away. The three of them seemed to be the ones to start a topic, I occasionally join in on some that I knew but it was hard since half of their stories were visiting places, a friend who embarrassed themselves or other experiences that I have no idea about. I downed my first pint after the first couple of stories.

I was laughing along with them but I feel my thoughts creeping in and remembering what Dream Alex said. This isn't the best time to remember that. We're supposed to be happy today. I'm just going to get another shot. Those things don't matter because in the end, it's all just a dream anyway. I stood up and just said, "I'll get the next round."

"Looks like it's our turn to get the beer," Bruce said as he followed me to thebar.

We ordered another round of drinks and waited. The people were thinning out. It seems like the rush is almost over. I feel myself relax since I can now easily navigate the bar and see the booth where we sit.

"Finally, no more yelling to actually have a pleasant conversation," I said to myself.

"Yeah. Maybe now we can hear your stories," Bruce said, teasingly.

"Nah. I'd rather listen and laugh. I don't have that much stories to tell anyway. My stories are more on make-believe like tv shows."

"I know. Hunting, the blue box, superheroes, yeah, I've seen the memes," he says while shaking his head.

"Only a person who watches can get those memes. You've just admitted you've watched them too," I raised an eyebrow in his direction.

"Touché. You caught me," he said then smiled at my direction.

That smile was infectious and I caught it. It was a dumb thing to smile about and it might be the alcohol but it worked. Our order finally came and we took it back to our booth and continued on. Maybe I was lying a while ago when I said that everything is great but now, maybe it is. 

A/N: Hi again guys. To whoever is still reading this, first of all, thank you and enjoy the story. The end for this one is near. I've already finished it. I just need to edit some stuff. Don't forget to vote and comment. That's all thankies.