Thread: The Point of No Return (The_PG&Malicious Lullaby)

Thankfully, he seemed to find it humorous and she could only be thankful for that. It wasnt everyday that a man would find a womans nervousness or awkwardness amusing, unless of course they were anything like Mr. Pratt or just down right vicious to think anything she did was humorous. Her hips leaned against the bars counter and she smiled a little bit, relaxing just a bit more. Coming right up. She refilled his order and brought it back to him, noticing the ten dollar bill on the counter. Shaking her head, she pushed it back to him. I told you, this ones on me. So as he began his explanation, her cheeks turned a soft red in her embarrassment. Yup, she had assumed. But then he mentioned that Mallory did ask him to keep an eye on her and that almost infuriated her. She wasnt a petulant child that needed to be watched. So she cried! Big deal. People always cry. Not me though, not ever. Which was true. It had been the first time anyones probably seen her cry for four years. Sure, she cried when she was alone, in private, but thats because she was alone and in private. So it seemed understandable, now that she thought about it, why Mallory would be so worried, why she would ask Mr. Pratt to keep an eye on her, while knowing she was working at the bar tonight. Okay, so maybe she hadnt done so badly. Esther was just sour about it because she never wanted to be a burden on anyone. And to her, asking Mr. Pratt to take time out of his evening to go to a different bar just so he could keep an eye on her felt like he was upholding a burden. She didnt want to be anyones burden. Still, he seemed to be insistent upon the fact that it was honestly okay and he really didnt mind. That made her feel a little bit better. What caught her attention though was when he managed to slip in there that he and Abby were dating. Her hands rested on the bar counter and her eyes went a bit wide as the realization struck. You and Abby? So much so that his little compliment went unheard because all she heard repeating in her headin his gorgeous and sexy accentwas the fact he was Abbys mystery man that Esther never got to meet. But all this time, she worked for his firm. He had been right there and she never put it together. What does he do? Oh, hes a lawyer. You and a lawyer? Esther snorted. Yeah, get real. Thatll happen when hell freezes over. What, you dont think I could date a lawyer? Abby sounded and even looked offended. Its not that I dont think you could date a lawyer. I didnt peg you as the kind who would want to. Why do you say that? Because in my mind, youre way better than a lawyer ever could be. Hes a lawyer and youre a reporter. Thank you for stating the obvious. Esther got up and went after her. No, I dont mean it like that. I just see you on more than one occasion biting his head off because of what he says sometimes. That got Abby to smile because it was exactly the kind of thing she would do if she didnt like something someone said. It didnt matter if they were a friend, boyfriend or some random stranger on the street. If she didnt like something, she made it be heard. Thats why she and Esther got along so well. They were each others polar opposites. Their other half. I think its great that youre dating someone who isnt a loser. Esther smiled at her friend. And if he hurts you, I promise you I will kick his ass so hard, it will never return to its regular state. Bummer. He has one hell of a beautiful derriere. And the two laughed and drank and enjoyed their time together. The memory was vivid and for a moment, it threatened to put Esther back into that sad place she had been in when she found Abbys body, when she was in the shower to wash away the days misfortunes. She snapped out of it quickly and she looked at Mr. Pratt. I know she really liked you. She talked about you non-stop. Hell, what she wanted to talk to me about today was probably something about you. She couldnt help but roll her eyes but she didnt look sad or like she was so lost in the way things were, she couldnt still show that happiness for her friend, even if she was gone. A smile appeared onto her face and she looked at him. Then it disappeared as she realized something. They both lost Abby, a girl who meant a lot to them. She liked to think that Mr. Pratt had cared for her too. So what was the unspoken message here? She lost someone today, but he did too. Upon realizing this, she looked at him with a small frown and leaned over the bar. She reached for his hand and placed hers on top. Im sorry for your loss as well Mr. Pratt. Its going to be a grim and sad world without the journalistic stylings of one Abigail Huxtable. She gave his hand a soft squeeze before she made to pull away. Besides, if she was here right now and she heard that pretty comment directed towards me, shed ream you such a big new one, youd need therapy after and you know Im right. She grinned now. All sign of nervousness or awkwardness shied away. Because now she saw him as her best friends boyfriend and not her boss and that meant she could be that kind of friend who would always protect her, even if she was gone forever. It just made for things to be lighter. Esther could be herself, not on edge because he was also technically her boss boss boss. After a small laugh, she turned away and went to tend to other customers, at least the ones she was serving and if Scott and Bridget needed help, she did it efficiently. It was like a second thought, bartending. Shed done it for so long now, none of it was hard. After all, once you make a cosmopolitan or a dry martini wrong twice, then it just means she could really only make it right the third time. Third times the charm!