The Charade of Us

To Freedom

Freya made it through the rest of the workday. She hid her emotions deep down and focused on work so much, she had to remind herself to take a breath from time to time.

Clock shows past 7pm. She finally decides to leave. Everyone must have gone home, so there is no risk of seeing Elias grin again. Or the cold, emotionless face of his boss. Hope he chocked on his apple.

She walks through the city, the sun already going down bit by bit, and with dark coming, the bars' and cafes' lights become brighter and brighter.

Once she tosses her keys to the pile of knick-knacks on the shelf and places her laptop down, the weight of today almost crushes her to the floor. Doors barely click shut, before she curls on the sofa, knees pulled into her chest, gasping for air in between silent sobs.

Freya doesn't even notice how the phone gets into her hand and she dials the number without much thought.

"Babe?" Lena picks up immediately."What happened?"

"I..." she wipes tears from her face, but it's useless. "I need company. And drink. Now. Please tell me you're free." Freya sobs.

"Just tell me where." Lena doesn't hesitate.

"Anywhere they have a beer and will let me forget today exists."

"Deal. Meet me at Luis Pub in twenty. Texting your address."

***

Luis Pub is a loud, narrow space with sticky floors. Even though it's Monday, the dance floor is packed with questionable dancers and alive - just what she needs today. She quickly finds Lena by the bar, and tries to make her way through shouting men, clinging their beer glasses without any worry if a couple of sips might end up on the floor.

Lena's short hair - Manic Pixie dream girl vibe as she calls it - is decorated with unmatched pins all around. She greets Freya smiling, holding two shots in each hand.

"To the moving on!" she shouts, offering her one. Freya doesn't ask questions. She tries to smile and shallows in one try. Tequila. What else did I expect?

Before she can say anything, Lena shoves a piece of lime into her mouth.

"Ups, forgot the salt."

Freya declines as Lena offers her a hand with sprinkled salt on top of her thumb. She just shrugs and licks it all in one go.

"One more round please!" She shouts to the tatted barista, who immediately nods.

They do another round and settle into their usual positions - leaning on the bar chairs, talking about their university years - when life was so much simpler, and any heartbreak was just a temporary ache, that washed away without leaving any long-term scars.

"Remember when you got kicked out of Professor Davis' class?" Lena jiggles her arm full of silver bracelets. She is wearing a white tank top with a shamelessly deep neckline. "He said that women wouldn't make a good trial lawyer. And you absolutely when out on him."

Freya finds herself giggling. "And if he could see me now."

"And you are damn good at what you do!" Lena cheers. "Whatever you do there. Elias is just a bitter little guy with a small..."

She catches Freya's mood shifts immediately.

"Frey, just don't let him get into your head."

She would love to scream how he called her damaged. And that he knows about her embarrassing blind date. And that boss doesn't even talk to her. Or acknowledge anything. Does his offer even stand anymore?

Freya decides to tell her. Spill everything out, about all the mess in the restaurant. How she thought something happened,when their fingers touched, how he lent her jacket and followed her down the river. Offered to continue. That he did not seem this cold, goal-oriented corporate slave at the table. But rather a witty man. And how she still longed for Elia's. Especially at night, alone in her two-room apartment. How she would have agreed to sleep with him if he asked, at the same moment. Just to feel loved and wanted again. And not alone. And how would she still agree to that, even after he hurt her today?

When she was about to finish, her eyes were wet and her voice trembling, and she wholeheartedly thanked Lena for picking such a noisy and busy place where no one noticed her rant.

Lena listened. Without interrupting, without judging, without scolding her, without telling her, that she shouldn't feel this worthless. She just gently stroked her arm and got two more shots in front of them.

Freya felt like a rock had been taken off her chest and she could finally breathe with full lung capacity. She smiled, this time honestly.

Lena loudly declared:

"Let's raise this toast to the bravest and coolest badass lawyer in town!" Freya giggled and they quickly clicked their shots. Of course, looking into each other's eyes - as Lena had taught her long ago.

Suddenly, a voice interrupts them.

"I couldn't help but notice that you two are celebrating something."

Freya turns to find a brunette guy with long hair, shaved on one side. His face carries a light smile and radiates smooth confidence.

He's medium high, but broad shoulders and tattoos starting from his neck compensate for that. He looks attractive. Attractive enough to become a bad decision.

Lena gives her the look. Then she turns to the guy.

"Either you are a mind-reader, or want to find a reason to buy us drinks."

Guy chuckles.

Freya's newly discovered lightness and a couple of tequila shots in her stomach give her the confidence to openly scan the guy up and down with her eyes. He doesn't look uncomfortable, but rather intrigued.

"Maybe both." He slowly says, locking eyes with Freya. "If you don't mind, my friend would love to join you in celebrating. Whatever the occasion is."

Soon enough, his friend - a tall and lean blonde joins them. Lena's smile gets even wider.

"Lena." She shakes the blonde's hand, then his friend's. "And this is my dearest friend Freya."

"Pleasure to meet you both." Says the guy, who introduces himself as Nolan. And his tall friend is Logan.

Cocktails arrive, and they raise them. Nolan asks again, about what they were celebrating. Freya thinks for a second, then proposes the toast:

"To freedom!" Everyone raises their glass.

"Now that is something worth toasting to." He whispers, so only Freya can hear.

***

The evening unfolds, more drinks come in, and four of them fall into a musical rhythm. First guy keeps leaning in, every so often, innocently brushing her forearm, testing the boundaries. Touching her elbow, her shoulder. She lets it. Satisfied with this feeling of being wanted, and desired.

Lena silently spells out the words "Let me have the blonde". Freya nods.

The music slowly shifts into a more upbeat melody, the bass trembles the empty glasses on the counter top. She finds herself quite dizzy and in a moment she's dancing in the middle of the crowd full of sweaty, thin-clothed strangers.

The atmosphere blends into the music and heat. Freya undoes her bun, letting hair fall on her sweaty back.

Suddenly, she feels hand sliding down her waist. She hears the distant laughter of Lena's. She let a stranger grab her and pull into him. He helps her move with his own body, she notices the same tattooed hands on her bare belly, grabbing her, turning her around.

Loneliness, tension, heartache, and embarrassment fade away in a flash. It seems that the only real thing is this particular moment. Here and now.

Caught in that, she grabs the guy's face with both hands and hungrily pulls him into her. Their lips connect into a wild and heated kiss. People around start cheering. He firmly pulls her even closer - into the heat of his body.

Then she pulls back, gives him a seductive glance, turns around, and starts dancing away. Teasing him with twirls of her hips, letting him kiss her neck, then her ear. He whispers something, she can barely make out the words. But she decides to let the night take the lead.

Until she notices her reflection in the bar mirror. She was all sweaty, and he, leaning to kiss her neck again. But that's not a guy with long hair anymore.

She freezes as she sees Elias' face instead. His hands traveled up and down her chest, then looked straight at her reflection - with the same grin and dismissive voice. Damaged goods.

Air leaves her body. Nolan whispers again, proposing to go somewhere quieter. But Freya declines.

"I should get going. Sorry." She says, holding back tears. He looks confused for a moment, but she hears, already making her way out of the crowd, him shouting:

"Your loss!"

Lena immediately notices this. She runs to her.

"Let's get outside." She says while leading the way. That's when Lena stumbles onto someone. Literally. Freya immediately recognizes a familiar face from the office. Today he looks different - relaxed, wearing a casual white top.

"I'm so sorry. So sorry." Lena urges. The guy stops them.

"Didn't expect to meet you here, Freya." He then looks at Lena." And didn't expect you to have such a gorgeous friend."

Lena chuckles. Only then does Freya snap out of the moment.

"Oh sorry, Lena - this is..."

"Andrew." He shakes Lena's hand. "Lena... a beautiful name."

Lena blushes even more, satisfied with her unexpected admirer.

"We work together." Freya quickly adds. Then hints to Lena to focus on getting out of the bar. They quickly say goodbyes.

Freya's gut twists. Once they are outside, she lets all the drinks out on the innocent bush near the entrance.