Work Text:
Lee was afraid of a lot of things in her life. When she looked into the mirror she had a hard time accepting herself. She looked into the mirror, saw the man her mom wished to see. Saw the man her father left behind. Saw that whatever she had done in her life, she could never be enough for her family.
But, she also saw that the family you are born into does not have to be the only family you have. They can also be the people you meet along the way. They can be the people that lift you up and help you. Just because they think you are worth their love and time.
For the time Lee was living on the streets, she learned that not everybody is out to get you. Some people… Just care about you. They do not have to take advantage of you or they do not have to have benefits from you.
She started to surround herself with other people like her. People who would understand. People who would not judge her. People who when they looked at her, did not see the reflection she saw. They saw their friend, Lee. Lee who cracked jokes, but never wanted to harm them. Laughed with them, and not at them. Even when she tried to push them away because she was afraid of hurting them by being close to them. She was so so afraid. For a long time, she was afraid of hurting her friends. The same way she hurt her mother after she pushed her away. Although Lee tried, her friends did not give up on her. They saw the hardships she went through with her family. They understood them. Most of them also had the similar problems as her with their own family but not necessarily. Some of them just understood without the need to experience the stuff that she went through.
So with the strength they gave her, she got up to her feet. She came out to her friends. Even though they knew it for a long time, they made her feel welcomed and wanted. Maybe that was the push she needed. Maybe it was the disconnection from her mother. Somehow, some way, she wanted to get out of the dark spot in her life. She did not want to leave.
She took it one day at a time. Piece by piece, she got better. Better for her friends, but also for herself as well. She found a job while crashing with one of her friends at the time. She was so grateful. They did not give up on her.
Sometimes, she still saw the man her parents wanted her to become. She saw the potential of hurt she can cause to others. Day by day, those times got fewer as well. They were not gone, for sure, but they had become bearable. She tried reaching out to people especially in those moments.
Her mother was well. After… “The Accident”, her mother tried to reach out to Lee. After careful consideration with her close circle, Lee decided to not respond. She was not ready, not yet. Still, it was a great relief to know she was indeed okay afterwards.
After she ran away from home, Lee had to rely on a lot of people. People who cared for her, even when she did not care for herself. One of which was Riley. She met Riley through a common friend. Started hanging around their pub, after she was done delivering postages for the day.
“Girl, I am telling you, you need to get out more.” Riley said while they were cleaning a glass behind the counter towards Lee. Riley was the owner of the queer pub. Lee and Riley’s other friends would frequently visit the pub to catch up mostly. Although, tonight it was a quieter night than most times. Some regulars were sitting around but that was about it. Lee saw a lesbian couple who was sitting next to each other holding hands and talking the night away.
“I do not know if you noticed, Riley dear, but I am out right now.” said Lee passingly while she scraped the stickers out of her beer bottle. “Besides, the person of my dreams is not just going to appear through the door.”
Just as Lee’s words were out her mouth, a shortish woman with long brown hair and bangs walked into the bar. She was wearing a blue shirt and a black work-pants. She sat down next to Lee and Lee forgot the world around her.
The woman talked to Riley next to Lee. “One whiskey on the rocks, please.” She smiled at Riley. Lee thought she never saw a more beautiful smile in her life.
“Coming right up.” Riley said and walked away from them. Lee did not think that she imagined how Riley looked at her and raised their eyebrows, clearly noticing how Lee was looking at this random woman. Lee made an angry face towards Riley and hoped that was enough to convey the “do not humiliate me” message.
After Riley left to prepare the drink for her, the woman put her head face first to the bar counter and sighed. Lee was not sure what to do so she took a sip out of her beer.
“I would not recommend putting your forehead there. I do not think the spilled dried alcohol can be good for the skin.” Lee tried to joke nervously.
The woman lifted her head enough to look at Lee. “Maybe, it became radioactive and I would have cool powers.” she said.
She was looking into Lee’s eyes. Lee was able to feel the red coming to her cheeks when this woman was looking at her. “Tough night?” Lee tried to ask while breaking eye contact.
Shoot, she was never good with these kinds of things.
“You could say that,” the woman answered. “Let’s just say being an accountant is not the most thrilling job to have on the market.” This time she fully lifted her head and sat up straight.
“Oh, I never understood what accountants even do.” Lee said without thinking.
Great thinking, Lee. Make fun of her job as a first interaction. Why don’t you.
Maybe she should stop digging her own grave.
The woman raised an eyebrow towards Lee. “Are you familiar with something called math?”
Lee supposes she was looking terrified because the woman bursted to laughter. “Relax. I am messing with you,” she said. “Let me know when you find the answer to what we do because I clearly have no clue.” She tried to gesture with her hands.
Lee does relax a little bit after hearing the angels sing or the sound of the laughter of the woman. Even though they sounded pretty similar.
“Well as someone who is a delivery driver, I do not think I will come across the answer anytime soon.” Lee answered. She was able to feel the blushing crawling again under her cheeks. Suddenly, she was very aware of what she was wearing even though she never cared much about that kind of stuff. Since she was living close to Riley’s pub, she changed out of her work outfit before dropping by the pub. Tonight she was very glad about that. She was wearing a medium sized flowery dress that was flowy around the skirt part. She also was wearing eyeliner.
She hoped that this time she was able to do a better job with the eyeliner.
“Whiskey on the rocks,” Riley said while putting the drink in front of the woman.
The woman smiled a little again as a kind gesture to Riley but her heart was not in it. Lee was able to tell after hearing her genuine laughter. “Thanks,” she said and took a sip out of her drink. Her pupil went wide. “What kind of whiskey is this?” she immediately asked Riley.
Riley laughed at the question. “Our special blend, actually.” While showing off the bottle. “There is not anything like it anywhere else in the city.” They said proudly.
“Pfft, Riley is being generous. There is nothing like it in the whole world.” said Lee. “People from all over the country come to drink her special cocktails.”
“That is amazing,” the woman said. She got a menu from the counter this time and skimmed through the drink options. “You have awards for it?” asked to Riley. Her big brown eyes were shining even with the dim lighting in the pub.
Riley laughed nervously. “Local stuff only.”
“Well, I never won an award for a drink so I do not think that is a common thing to do.”
“Thanks,” Riley said. They turned towards Lee and put their hand on Lee’s shoulder “Did Lee tell you that she actually helped me come up with a few of the drinks on the menu?”
The woman turned her head and looked at Lee again. “Oh, really?” she asked.
Lee had put a smile on her face. “I was just a guinea pig for the tastes.” She said dismissively.
“A very enthusiastic one, though.” Riley said, just before another patron called them over to order something. They did not forget to send Lee a subtle wink while walking away.
“So, since now you know my name, you can also share yours,” Lee tried asking. “Only if you are comfortable, though,” she added. She did not want to sound pushy towards the brown haired woman.
She laughed again. “Abigail,” she extended her right hand. Lee shook it. “But my friends call me Abby.”
Lee specifically avoided eye contact with her. “And your partner calls you?” She cringed at the question. She really needed to learn how to be lowkey. She really was not subtle with her intentions.
Abby looked up and down towards Lee. “I do not know. What do you call me?” She titled her head a little.
Lee looked at her, gaping her mouth. Now she for sure was red all over. She was able to hear the bluescreen in her mind.
Abby furrowed her eyebrows and a shocked impression surrounded her face. “I… I mean like… a conversation-partner!” She drank a big gulp from her drink straight. “Yes, yes. That is what I meant.”
So Lee was not the only one who was nervous. Interesting.
That is good to know.
Lee laughed suddenly. She was laughing so hard that she held her belly with one hand. “I will call you Abby, for now.” Lee said, smiling softly.
Abby stopped moving frantically to that comment. “So, what is being a delivery driver like?” She quickly tried to change the conversation.
Lee shrugged her shoulders. “You get to know your neighbors more than usual.”
“And what does that entail?” Abby seemed curious.
“Well, you know which ones usually have a late-night shopping spree on their online clothing brand apps and which ones get their letters from far away places.”
“Uuu, do you know which ones have secret lovers on the other side of the world?”
“I think you might be over-estimating the neighborhood we are in, which almost exclusively has old people residing,” said Lee jokingly.
“You do not look that old.”
“Say that to my eyesight.” Lee pointed towards her contact lenses.
“How old are the rest of you then?” asked Abby.
“Twenty-two but eighty spiritually.” Lee answered and had put her hand over her forehead dramatically.
“Okay, spiritual grandma,” Abby poked a finger on Lee’s arm. “ I am twenty five.”
“Now, who is the grandma?” Lee countered.
Abby smiled but her watch caught her attention. “Oh, dang it. It is getting late and I need to work early in the morning.” She took out her purse from her bag and put down some cash for her drink. “Same time, tomorrow?” she asked Lee.
Lee was surprised by her sudden departure but could not object. What was she supposed to say? Please stay and run away with me?
“But, I don’t have your number.” Lee said quietly.
Abby fetched a business card from her purse. “Here,” she handed the card to Lee. “You can find my number on the bottom.”
Lee looked at the card. It said: Abigail Brooks, Accountant and the name of the supermarket she most likely works at. It also included some contact information like Abby said.
“Is tomorrow a business meeting?” Lee grinned.
“I hope not!” Abby said back while practically running through the door.
Riley got back to Lee’s side when they saw Abby was out. “Oh, man, I really thought you guys were getting along over there,” they said and patted Lee on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. There are plenty of fish in the sea.”
Lee did not turn to Riley but continued to look after Abby and her card. She extended the card towards Riley. “Riles, that woman is going to be my wife.”