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Triss knew she’d been insufferable these last few weeks. She was stressed, and she’d started to take it out on her friends. When Yen had suggested that what they needed was a girls night out, she wasn’t so sure it was a good idea. Really, what she wanted to do was go home, curl up on the sofa and watch trashy TV, but Yen had convinced her that she needed to let her hair down and get out of the house for something other than work or food shopping. She guessed it made sense.
That was how she found herself at one of the new pubs in town. Luckily Triss had managed to persuade Yen that going clubbing was not going to happen, as they wouldn’t be able to hear each other, and at least at a bar they could talk. This one was more on the trendy side, with a younger crowd and gastro menu. Yen started off by buying shots for them both, and then getting a round of cider for them. They’d planned on sharing a taxi home, so getting absolutely plastered and putting the world to rights was the main aim for the evening.
That was, until Triss glanced around the room and saw the most wonderful looking woman perched on a stool at the bar, nursing a glass of red wine. She was wearing green jeans, a grey t-shirt and a black leather jacket over the top. Her hair was cut short on one side and shoulder-length on the other, covering one of her eyes, which she kept brushing out of her face. Triss felt like all the noise around her stopped, like there was a buzzing in her head and her focus narrowed onto this one person. Her throat went dry. She had to talk to her.
Triss took a swig of her cider, stood up and, ignoring Yen’s confused look, crossed the room to the bar to stand beside this goddess before her.
“Hi, I’m Triss.” Shit, this was already awkward! How do people do this?
“Renfri, nice to meet you.” Renfri. Even her name was delightful. She bit her lip nervously.
“Er, so, can I get you another drink?”
“Oh, no, sorry but I’m not interested.” Oh, how mortifying! Triss looked down, and spotted a black ring on the middle finger of Renfri’s right hand.
“Oh! I’m so sorry. Are you ace? I just noticed your ring.”
“Yes! Wow, not many people know about the rings, or recognise them.”
“Well, I am sorry about trying to hit on you. One of my friends is ace. I won’t try to make you uncomfortable, but you look lonely sitting here all by yourself.”
“What are you trying to say?” Oh God, she hadn’t meant it like that!
“Nothing! You do you. But.. er.. I’m actually here with one of my friends, Yen, and you could join us? If you want? No pressure though! You can totally stay here too, that’s fine.”
Fuck, she was rambling like a lunatic. She just smiled awkwardly and turned around to walk away, back to the table with Yen.
“In that case, yes, I’ll join you. Triss was it?”