“I really didn’t mean to be so rude.”

“It’s fine. I know that look you had. The ‘I’ve been screwed
over’ look. Been there done that. “

“Really?” Cat seemed concerned at how well this unknown was
reading her.

“Oh yeah. You mess things up, don’t know what to do for the
best, or who to chose, or how to get over what you’re feeling. I looked like that
when i had my heart… (the stranger stopped in her tracks before correcting
her sentence) fucked with”

Both women were shocked at how the conversation had gotten
so deep and open. Cat was astounded at how all of her feelings were just put so
perfectly into words by a total outsider.

The blonde gulped her JD in one and placed the empty glass
back down as if she were calling order in a courtroom. “So you just had a
run-in with him before you took my eyebrows off then?”

Cat laughed. “Yeah. SHE, tried it on. I’m so messed up, i
just can’t deal with it at the moment.

“I guess you’re not intuitive after all.” She continued
picking up on the ‘he’ comment.

Her opposite number giggled. “I’ll let you into a little
secret, i could smell the wine on your breath.

“But the hurt, i really could see that, hence my
outburst-provoking smile.”

Cat was impressed and for the last fifteen minutes barely
acknowledged the emotional state Frankie and Sam had gotten her into.

Talk continued to flow, effortlessly. There was the spark of
meeting someone new, but the comfortableness of friends who had known each
other for years. It hadn’t even occurred to them that they hadn’t exchanged
names.

“Sorry, that’s my phone, probably work. Excuse me a moment.”

Cat watched her leave the table and lean against the wall.
She studied her short leather jacket, how many rips her jeans had. Her walk was
a strut but a subtle one, she had honest eyes but a devilish charm.

“I’ve gotta go I’m afraid, it’s work. I’m really sorry.”

She picked up her handbag and pulled a pen out and a packet
of cigarettes. She opened the pack and put the last one in her mouth, and wrote
her number on the packet. She slid it across the table to Cat and proceeded to
leave.

“It was nice to meet you.” Cat quipped quickly as the woman
began to head for the door. Only for her to stop and turn back.

“I’m Hannah by the way.”