" Fuck off , one more. " Anthony said grabbing an old friend by the ear while beckoning the bartender with his free hand.
"No I really have to go man," Ellie replied. She shook her head laughing. " Terry's already pissed I'm out with you and if we close this place out I'm going to have to spend my whole saturday in the dog house."
"Two- What-" Anthony turned back to Ellie " Stellas?" He turned away again. " Two Stellas."
" In the dog house and hung over. You're a dick." Ellie drained what was left in her glass.
She watched as her oldest friend leaned forward on his stool, elbows on the bar, craning his neck to monitor the actor pouring their next round. He was still the boy she chased across the schoolyard trying to kiss. He was still sweet and dumb.
"Honestly, if were going to have another drink I have to call Terry." She said.
"Call him? Really?" Anthony said pivoting on the slick leather beneath him. He kept one elbow on the bar. His free hand was a fist and resting on Ellie's knee.
"Ya he's gonna be pissed if I come home all wasted and late without calling." She said wincing at her own apprehension. She felt guilty saying yes to drinks in the first place. A call would clear her conscience long enough to forget she actually cared .
"Ok well do it now then, theres a payphone out front by the parking lot. This guy is taking forever anyway." Anthony said. He looked to the bartender. By the time he turned back she was halfway to the door.
"You got change L?" He shouted over way too loud Supergrass.
She didn't hear.
Ellie pushed passed a dozen half dancing drunks and met the door. At this point her heart was pounding. The fear of what was going to be on the other line had started when she stood up and had now developed into full blown panic.
Hes pissed
He thinks I'm fucking him.
No he'll be fine, he said it was cool. I told him the plan. He'll be fine.
I'm fucked.
Ellie saw the pay phone half set into the building and peddled just fast enough to keep from sprinting.
She picked up the receiver and dialed.
dial-tone
fuck its broken?
oh shit, change.
4 brightly colored acrylics bent and popped into a tight denim pocket to find a quarter.
She slid it into the slot and dialed again.
848-9222
Ring
Ring
Ring
Ring
"Hello?" Terry answered.
"Hey babe its me!" Ellie said, her face split by an anxious smile.
"Hey are you ok?"
Her heart sinks.
"Yes? what do you mean? why?"
"Well you're calling me...so," He laughed.
"Well I was just checking in cause its late is all."
"Oh, ok, well, thanks? Hah."
Fuck me now its weird.
"Oh well its just late and we were gonna have another round or two if thats ok?"
"If thats ok? Stop being a fuckin' wierdo Ellie. Yes its ok. Of course. Go have fun. Are you going to call a cab? Do you need a ride? I can pick you up I'm just fucking off at home." Terry said.
"No, ya I was just going to call a cab," She paused, absorbing her own relief. " I love you, I won't be too late."
" I love you too, I might pass out but who knows. Just smoked that joint Eric gave us. I- Im seriously just walking around the apartment thinking of crazy shit." Terry said bursting into laughter.
They both laughed.
"Ok, well I'll be home."
"Night."
"Night."
Ellie hung up.
As she opened the door to go drink with her oldest friend, she remembered why she felt so guilty.
As she smiled at the bouncer she remembered why they had broken up.
As she approached her stool she remembered why they were still friends.
As she drank until two AM she realized the value of it all.
As she fell asleep next to Terry she smiled and thought about Anthony.
When she woke up everything was in its place.
"No I really have to go man," Ellie replied. She shook her head laughing. " Terry's already pissed I'm out with you and if we close this place out I'm going to have to spend my whole saturday in the dog house."
"Two- What-" Anthony turned back to Ellie " Stellas?" He turned away again. " Two Stellas."
" In the dog house and hung over. You're a dick." Ellie drained what was left in her glass.
She watched as her oldest friend leaned forward on his stool, elbows on the bar, craning his neck to monitor the actor pouring their next round. He was still the boy she chased across the schoolyard trying to kiss. He was still sweet and dumb.
"Honestly, if were going to have another drink I have to call Terry." She said.
"Call him? Really?" Anthony said pivoting on the slick leather beneath him. He kept one elbow on the bar. His free hand was a fist and resting on Ellie's knee.
"Ya he's gonna be pissed if I come home all wasted and late without calling." She said wincing at her own apprehension. She felt guilty saying yes to drinks in the first place. A call would clear her conscience long enough to forget she actually cared .
"Ok well do it now then, theres a payphone out front by the parking lot. This guy is taking forever anyway." Anthony said. He looked to the bartender. By the time he turned back she was halfway to the door.
"You got change L?" He shouted over way too loud Supergrass.
She didn't hear.
Ellie pushed passed a dozen half dancing drunks and met the door. At this point her heart was pounding. The fear of what was going to be on the other line had started when she stood up and had now developed into full blown panic.
Hes pissed
He thinks I'm fucking him.
No he'll be fine, he said it was cool. I told him the plan. He'll be fine.
I'm fucked.
Ellie saw the pay phone half set into the building and peddled just fast enough to keep from sprinting.
She picked up the receiver and dialed.
dial-tone
fuck its broken?
oh shit, change.
4 brightly colored acrylics bent and popped into a tight denim pocket to find a quarter.
She slid it into the slot and dialed again.
848-9222
Ring
Ring
Ring
Ring
"Hello?" Terry answered.
"Hey babe its me!" Ellie said, her face split by an anxious smile.
"Hey are you ok?"
Her heart sinks.
"Yes? what do you mean? why?"
"Well you're calling me...so," He laughed.
"Well I was just checking in cause its late is all."
"Oh, ok, well, thanks? Hah."
Fuck me now its weird.
"Oh well its just late and we were gonna have another round or two if thats ok?"
"If thats ok? Stop being a fuckin' wierdo Ellie. Yes its ok. Of course. Go have fun. Are you going to call a cab? Do you need a ride? I can pick you up I'm just fucking off at home." Terry said.
"No, ya I was just going to call a cab," She paused, absorbing her own relief. " I love you, I won't be too late."
" I love you too, I might pass out but who knows. Just smoked that joint Eric gave us. I- Im seriously just walking around the apartment thinking of crazy shit." Terry said bursting into laughter.
They both laughed.
"Ok, well I'll be home."
"Night."
"Night."
Ellie hung up.
As she opened the door to go drink with her oldest friend, she remembered why she felt so guilty.
As she smiled at the bouncer she remembered why they had broken up.
As she approached her stool she remembered why they were still friends.
As she drank until two AM she realized the value of it all.
As she fell asleep next to Terry she smiled and thought about Anthony.
When she woke up everything was in its place.
