𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐝

"RIGHT, PUT ON YOUR BEST DRESS!WE'RE GOING OUT." Veras voice echoed throughout the small room.

"What?"

"Yes. Believe it or not I'm not letting you sit here and mope about."

"Im not." Mary denied but she knew herself she was drowning in her own sorrows.

"Yeah, cause you look totally fine." Vera huffed.

"I'm perfectly fine staying in." The girl began to grow impatient.

It frustrated her greatly that everyone was deciding what she felt and quite frankly she was getting tired of it.

"Alright fine! You want me to bloody go out? Then I'll go." She told her friend in a stern voice before trudging up the stairs and getting ready for the evening she dreaded.

...

The tinkle of glass on glass as Mary mixed her cocktail was lost under saxophone notes that jumped and danced in the smoky cavern. Her dress hung from her shoulders, hugging her form as she stared at the swirling liquor. As she noted movement beside her she raised her heavily made up eyes to the young man taking the stool next to hers. She met his gaze with a smile while lighting up a cigarette to add to the hazy cloud, lingering, spiralling in stagnant air.

"Do you usually drink this much?" He asked, his London accent extremely perceptible.

"Only when I'm sad." She smiled, however it was more of a grimace.

It was silent for a moment before he spoke "Let me guess... A boyfriend?"

"Is that what you just assume most females are sad about when they drink heavy amounts of alcohol?" She stated slightly amused.

"Only the ones drinking alone and are as beautiful as you."

"Aren't you one with words?" She smirked.

"I try." He spoke, laughing along with her.

"Mary." She told him, holding out the hand that was not enclosed around her glass.

"James."

"So why are you here alone?" She spoke after a moment.

"To let loose."

"I'm sure you can find other ways to... Let loose." She hid her smirk behind the glass of whiskey.

He grinned, "Are you offering?"

"Maybe..." She whispered

"Maybe."