Nemesis: A Love Story

TESSA

She doesn't know where she is going and isn't paying attention at all when she literally runs into another person. Knocking them on their ass.
The young girl with light brown hair, deep blue eyes and headphones on looks angrily up at her.
"What the fuck! Watch where you're going would you?"
"I'm s..sorry"
The girls eyes change then as she gets up onto her feet. Dusting herself off. Pulling her phones from her small ears. She's tall like Tessa.
"Hey are you ok?"
Tessa eyes the girl before her. She looks about the same age as her. She looks genuine and for some reason Tessa answers her.
"I don't know."
Shes honest.
The girl smiles. She has a lovely smile. It feels familiar. It draws you in. Makes you feel welcome.
Tessa should leave.
Flee.
"Welcome to the club. You look like you could use a beer" the girl says. She motions over her shoulder.
There stands The Descent. Large and stark. Domineering in the skyline. It's grey stone turning black with the wet of the rain.
Beckoning silently to all the lost souls.
It's red neon light shining into the coming dark of night.
Tessa pauses unsure.
Her hands are still shaking.
The girl looks down at them as well.  
"Yeah you most definitely do" A soft hand grips one of Tessas.
She wants to jerk it away.
Don't touch me.
She doesn't.
Instead she lets this stranger pull her into the pool hall.
It's quieter than normal as it's only the afternoon. The regulars haunt their usual tables. The ambiance is the same even during the day. Smokey. Dark wood floors. Dark grey walls. The pool tables with their red tops, no green here. The dim lighting above them. Some people play in the corner. Money is being exchanged. The sharks are in the house.
The girl leads the way to the bar. The bartender looks over in regard and grins.
"Kid! Don't you ever go home?"
The girl smiles as she sits on the stool motioning for Tessa to join her.
"If I did you'd be out of business Mike. Hey can my friend..." she looks sideways at Tessa. Her brown hair coming to cover one eye.
"Tessa"
She smiles that smile and nods.
"My friend Tessa and I have some beers please and thanks"
The girl whose name Tessa doesn't know yet spins around on the stool like she's 12.
She sees Tessa looking.
"Sorry. ADHD." She grins " So Tessa. I'm Claire. Nice to meet you"
She holds out her hand.
Tessa shakes it
" So you're new here right?"
Tessa gives her a side eye as the beers are placed in front of them.
"$12"
This Claire looks angelically up at Mike. batting her incredible eyes at him adoringly.
"Put it on my tab, Mikey "
Mikey gives her an exasperated look.
"You mean your brothers tab?"
Claire groans annoyed. Waving him away with an elegant hand.
She looks at Tessa.
"Have one of those?"
Tessa looks confused at her.
"Annoying asshole big brother?"
Tessa grows still for a moment.
She slowly takes a swig from the pint.
The beer is awful.
She drinks it regardless.
"Once. Yeah."
A look of understanding crosses Claire's face.
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
She can see Claire studying her closely.
"You don't talk much do you?"
"When I can avoid it." Tessa admits. If only Claire knew the truth. That this was the most she has spoken to anyone in years.
Claire smiles wide. She clinks their pints together.
"Cheers to that. Let's just get drunk!"
Now that was something she could do.
Claire rises up from her stool. Leaning across the bar.
"Hey Mikey" she claps the bar top. "Keep them coming. Tess and I are on a mission!!!"
Tessa looks at Claire.
She smiles.
A rarity.