chapitre un.

                                    

                                          


Katie approached Lolita, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Hey, what brings you here all by yourself?" she asked, looking around as if expecting to find someone else with Lolita. "I just came for a few drinks." She replied. "Who are you here with?" Katie asked, looking around again. "It's just me," She replied with a smile. "Oh Lo, why don't you come with Jamie and me? We have a couple of friends who would love to meet you." Lolita declined, "I don't want to interrupt your night. I'm fine, Katie." "Come on, let's all have a good laugh! I'm sure we could all use some cheering up." She pleaded. Lolita followed Katie to the booth in the back corner, rolling her eyes with a grin.
After the pair sat down at the table, they were greeted with warm smiles, except for one person who wore a solemn expression. "I'm Matt." One greeted. He looked sweet and had a kind demeanour. "Lolita." With a sweet smile, she responded. "Jamie." Another greeted with the same expression. "Nick." One beamed. Katie then introduced her to the girls. "This is Kelly and Breana," she pointed out. The girls held a pleased smile.
 Breana and Lolita were looking at the man at the end of the table. Lolita was curious and asked, "Who's that?" To which Breana replied, "That's Alex." Lolita noticed that Alex seemed unhappy and asked, "Why is he so unhappy?" Breana gave her a light smile and said "He got cheated on recently." Lolita raised her brows "Oh, is he alright?" asked the concerned Lolita. "Don't worry, he'll recover soon," replied Breana reassuringly. 
Lolita got along with the girls very well, it was like they had been friends all this time. She had never felt more welcome. They chatted about various topics, occasionally laughing and sharing stories about Katie and Lolita's past, which Jamie found engaging. "Reyht, I'm going out for a smoke," Alex stated getting up from his chair.  Lolita thought this would be a great time to get to know him. "I might also join you," Lolita replied standing from her seat and putting her coat on. Alex was about to mention that he would prefer to go alone, but she had already left the booth, so he remained silent to avoid arguing. 
Lolita followed Alex, at least trying her best. It was difficult to keep up with Alex due to the pace he was walking at. "Slow down," Lolita stated trying her hardest not to get barged into. "Hurry up." He replied bluntly. Lolita, feeling annoyed, rolled her eyes as she finally caught up to him. After both of them stepped outside, Lolita gathered he wasn't going to offer her a cigarette so she took out one of her own. She lit it up feeling at peace with the taste. Lolita rarely smoked, so when she did she felt more than blissful. As Alex carelessly inhaled the smoke, she watched him in amazement. It was like watching a scene from a movie. 
"Stop starin'." He muttered without even looking at her. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "Sorry, Mr Turner." She muttered sarcastically. He raised his eyebrows, but he didn't bother to look at the beautiful girl. "How did you meet Katie then?" Lolita asked remaining nonchalant. "Jamie." He replied abruptly. "What's with the long face." She queried. "And wha's with the questions?" He replied mockingly. "Just asking, you could be nice and answer instead of giving me the sarcasm." She fought back. "Alreght then got cheated on." He replied in a nicer mocking tone. "Oh," Lolita muttered. "Yeah, oh." He responded. "I bet I can improve your mood". Lolita proposed. "Like teh see yeh try." He muttered. 
"Look, if you want to 'ave sex with me, I'm not interested." He muttered. He expected her to run off in a sulk, but she just let out a loud laugh. "Well luckily enough Alex, I'm not interested either." She responded raising her brows. He glimpsed at her reaction and just gave her a small genuine smile. "Not to put down your ego or anything." She added laughing to herself. "Shut up you." He muttered laughing quietly to himself. "Alex, please try to cheer up. It will make you feel better." Lolita said patting his shoulder. She took one last inhale before stamping on her burned-out cigarette. Alex just looked at her and sighed. "Alright, just for you Miss-" "Beaulieu." She butted in. Alex laughed and watched her walk off inside. 
Alex quickly caught up to her and held the small of her back with his palm. "This bettah?" He asked raising his brows again. "Thanks." She beamed. "Just being 'nice'." He quoted from her lecture before. Lolita rolled her eyes and continued to walk toward the table.
When Lolita sat down, she glanced at Alex who had removed his aviators and was no longer slouching. She continued to talk to the girls, feeling pleased with the impact of her words. "Okay, Alex?" Katie whispered, noticing his sudden change in manner. Lolita just shrugged her shoulders and replied, "It probably helped to talk to someone." The girls just gave her an impressed look. "What?" Lolita asked looking at the talkative Alex. "Nobody can change Alex's mood that quick," Kelly muttered. "Sure you didn't kiss him?" Breana laughed. "No, I didn't!" Lolita said in her defence.
As the night grew darker, Lolita grew more drunk and tired. She yawned in her seat as the girls continued talking. "I think I should head home." Lolita slurred. "Want one of us to walk you home?" Kelly asked. "Oh no, I'll be just fine, I only live down the road." Lolita declined politely. "Text me to make sure you get home safe." Katie smiled. Alex's eyes moved from Matt talking to Lolita getting out of the booth. "Can I walk with yeh?" Alex asked. Lolita responded with "Sure, do you live close." "Yep." Alex lied.
Alex desired to talk to Lolita more. He relished her company. He didn't live near the pub but just wanted to hear more about her. Lolita swayed as she walked attempting to keep her balance. Alex noticed this and held the small of her back, making sure she wouldn't slip and injure herself. "Yeh alreght Lolita?" He asked chuckling. "Yep." She hummed looking into the opaque night. "Wha' do yeh do?" Alex asked."What do you mean?" She asked with furrowed brows." "Like yehr job." He responded. "Oh, I'm a sociologist." She smiled. She was an observer of society. "What does that mean?" He questioned intrigued. "I help understand society, I explore the way people think and their actions." She slurred. Alex found that interesting. "So can yeh tell wha' I'm thinking reyht now?" He asked. "I'm not a mind reader, but I can easily understand someone's emotions from just observing." She corrected. Alex took that into thought, could she have understood his emotions earlier? Is that why she talked to him?
"I have always been a deep thinker. People often tell me that I look 'lost in thought'," she giggled. "Do yeh think I could be a sociologist?" Alex smirked and she replied, "Well, everyone is already a sociologist by observation." Lolita smiled and he asked, "So joost by looking at meh, can yeh tell tha' I 'ave been cheated on?" "Well, no, but constantly checking your phone slightly gave it away," she laughed. He rolled his eyes. "It just 'urts knowing I didn't satisfy 'er enough, yeh know?" he responded. "No, I haven't personally experienced being cheated on, but I have witnessed others going through it," she replied truthfully. "So yeh've neva' been cheated on?" he asked in shock. "No just never been in a relationship." She smiled. "Why?" He muttered. "I don't believe in love-" "What?!" Alex shrieked. Lolita just nodded. "'ow come?" He asked. "I've just never seen it last. Just save it for the tales." She spoke. Alex couldn't believe what he was hearing, never been in love?!
"Well, this is me," Lolita stated pointing toward the lit-up house. Alex looked at her and gave her a tight smile. "Thank yeh for tonight." He grinned. "It's all okay Alex. Good night." She smiled opening the door. "Good night Lolita."