Futures Part Nine

fiction
Futures Part Eight

"Are we celebrating or drowning our sorrows?"

Olivia looked up from her drink to the man that sat down next to her at the bar. "Excuse me?"

"Hi, I'm Lucas. I hate to drink alone. I noticed you were also drinking alone and so I decided to try to join you. But to join in I feel like I should know the appropriate vibe. Sad or glad?"

"Or alone?"

"Nah, not that one. I hate that one. Okay, I know, I'm being pushy, but like I said I hate drinking alone and I am only in town for the night and don't know anyone to call to keep me company and I was going stir crazy in my hotel room and... I also tend to ramble when I'm nervous."

Olivia shook her head, "Yes, you do. Okay, Lucas, you may drink alone with me. And why are you drinking? Celebrating or sorrow?"

"TBD. I had a job interview today and they said they'd let me know by the end of the day and yet I haven't heard anything so I don't know if I'm disappointed or excited."

"First time interviewing in DC?"

"Yes, why?"

Olivia pointed to the clock. "It's only 8 PM, the day is not over yet for most people. If you haven't heard anything by 1 AM then know that they've blown you off and you probably want to check in just to see if they need anything else from you."

"That late?"

"That late. They say New York is the city that never sleeps, they are wrong."

"So why are you at a bar in the middle of the day then?"

Olivia laughed, "I have the night off. The Senator I work for is at a family function and gave her staff the day off as well. So I left work at 7."

"That's a day off?"

"That's a day off. Still glad you interviewed?"

Lucas took a drink and was quiet for a moment, "Actually? Yeah. I'd like a chance to do important work, and I know it sounds naive in today's day and age but I feel like there is still important work being done out here."

Olivia held up her glass, "Cheers to that."

"So is that why you're drinking? Celebrating the night off?"

"Not exactly."

"Okay, let's start again since you got my story, are you celebrating or drowning your sorrows?"

"It's a little of both."

"Oh? Intriguing."

"Not really. Other people's drama rarely is."

"Shut the fuck up. Other people's drama is the best drama. It's all of the drama with none of the...well...drama."

Olivia laughed, "Okay, I'm celebrating that an important piece of legislation is going to move forward. It's something that I worked hard on. My name is in the footnotes. If it passes I will have had a hand, a significant hand if I do say so myself, in doing that important work you hope to do."

"Congratulations! That's very exciting."

"It is. I'm also celebrating a mending of fences with my best friend, well best friends really."

"Also very good. I don't see why this is dramatic or sorrow drowning material?"

"My girlfriend left me."

"Oh, ouch. A them or me situation?"

"Apparently. But she didn't really give me the chance to talk to her about it. I told her I was going to talk with them, I went to work, I came home and she had cleared out of the apartment. Everything gone except a note saying Goodbye."

"Did she explain anything in the note?"

"No, literally, the note said goodbye."

"Wow. Well, okay, that's dramatic. Shall I buy you another drink?"

"Sure, why not? And make sure you're checking your texts. If you do hear from them it would be good for you to message them right back. Let's them know you are ready for the crazy hours."

"Thanks. I appreciate the help."