Looking for 'Company'

[MurderWeasel]

"It's okay Jennifer," Rosa said, "just don't do that again alright? It would have been fucking curtains if somebody had overheard."

"Um, yeah, of course, thanks," Jennifer said. She was very relieved that Rosa was taking things so well. Morgan seemed a little ill at ease, which caused Jennifer to worry that she'd upset him somehow.

Oh god, I hope I'm not interrupting a date or something...

Morgan didn't seem the type to be involved with Rosa, but you could never quite tell with her. She didn't really know Morgan, anyways, maybe her view on him was wrong. They weren't sitting together, but that really didn't mean anything. Jennifer thought quickly, trying to figure out some way to salvage the situation if she was interrupting something.

Just then, someone else walked up to the table. It was a tall, well built boy with curly black hair. Jennifer recognized him, but couldn't remember his name. He put a hand on Morgan's shoulder, causing him to jump a bit, and said, "Lefty, I didn't know you were such a hit with the ladies?"

Oh fuck, it is a date. I can't believe this. Just my fucking luck. I'm having a bad day, so I have to go and share it with everyone else. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

"Hey, um, Rosa, um, I'm so so sorry," Jennifer began but before she could complete her thought, yet another classmate walked up to the table. It was Robert something. Jennifer didn't really know him, but what she'd seen of him around school had left her with a good impression. She thought he was part of the Christian club, which seemed to be made up of good people.

He commented on the group, and accepted the invitation of other boy, whose name was apparently Teo. Jennifer wasn't quite sure what he was agreeing to, though, since she'd tuned him out while panicking about interrupting Rosa and Morgan.

Robert offered to buy everyone a drink. Jennifer couldn't keep straight who was drinking alcohol and who wasn't, and didn't want to get anyone in any trouble, so she just smiled and said, "No thank you."

Then she turned back to Rosa and Morgan and said, "Look, I'm, uh, really sorry about interrupting your date and stuff, and I can leave if you want me to. I really didn't mean to bug you guys, I'm sorry, I just didn't know you were..."

She trailed off, feeling like she was making an even bigger mistake.

[Namira]

All of a sudden, bam, people everywhere. Rosa had been about to resign herself to the riveting company of Lefowitz, and Jennifer 'Almost Blew It' Perez had hardly been the breath of fresh air she was after. Then three new faces walked in all at once - where had they been earlier? Two of them were people in her year, she recognised that much, and they were a welcome distraction from the others.

One was Teo Winstock, with who looked to be a girlfriend. Damn, that was annoying - Teo was pretty good company, loud, boisterous, her kind of fella. But sadly, obviously taken. Still, at least he was easier to get along with than Morgan. It wasn't that Leftowitz was a bad guy, but... well, they had nothing in common, did they? Teo immediately cost himself a bunch of points by suggesting that Morgan and Rosa were out together though. What the fuck? Rosa was sitting at the damn bar and Leftowitz had his own table - how the fuck did that constitute a date!? Sure, they were talking, but socialisation doesn't make a date.

Smouldering, Rosa was about to protest - hard when Robert Barron, the guy who had come in just after Teo and his girlfriend, spoke up. Robert was pretty good-looking, but Rosa had never seen him show any interest in girls, so he was either not into the whole dating scene or not into females full stop. Whatever, all that it mattered to Rosa that he was yet another person in the Varsity who wasn't particularly 'eligible'. Still, his offer was pretty generous, and Rosa might have taken him up on it if she hadn't been busy being pissed off.

Morgan proceeded to fail to help at all by not denying Teo's suggestion. Ugh, he was probably just pleased to be associated with Rosa in that kind of context. Then Jennifer chipped in, assuming right along with Teo it seemed that she and Morgan were on a date. Seriously, what the fuck!? Well, Rosa wasn't going to stand for that bullshit, she got around, yeah, but that didn't mean she was okay with being paired together with a guy she hadn't been with.

"You been practicing without your helmet Teo? Does this look like a fucking date?"

Brash, but eh, that was Rosa.

[Fanatic†]

"Teo, if that was an open invitation, put me down. I'd quite like to play a game tonight. Whether straight up or doubles, I don't mind. Now, can I get anybody else a drink?"

Teo turned as Robert joined the group. "Rob! My main man, how has it all been going? Sure, I'll take you up on that offer if you buying, I'll have a coke, Tash, you want anything?" The girl at his side nodded and whispered something in his ear. "Make that two if you could Rob." Teo friendly tussled Robert's hair and winked.

"You been practicing without your helmet Teo? Does this look like a fucking date?"

Teo grinned at Rosa. "We're supposed to wear helmets?" the boy gaped in fake shock. "That explains a lot! But consider it a compliment to both of you, Rosa you know I love ya." Natasha gripped Teo closer at that point, she seemed at the very least a bit insecure about the last comment. The footballer spoke up again, seeming to be unaware of the tightening grip on his arm. "Anyway, like I said, we'll be over on that the pool table, first game's on me as way of an apology if you want to join. I'll leave you guy's too it. Come on babe." Teo slapped Natasha's butt playfully as they headed off to the table.

[Killer_Moth†]

Bobby paused at the awkward silence. Rosa clearly didn't like the implication that she was dating Morgan. He didn't exactly get why, as he was nice enough. Sure he was a bit on the geeky side, but nothing to be ashamed of.

Teo walked away with Natasha, but not before taking up his offer. As it didn't look like anybody else wanted a fresh drink, he turned back to the bartender. "And two cokes as well, thanks." As the man left to make up his drinks, Bobby moved over to the rest of the group, even as Teo walked away.

Jennifer was clearly upset about the whole thing. She was nervous about something, but he had no idea what. "Don't worry about it Jennifer. I'm sure it was a simple mistake, and it's not like there was any harm done. Right Rosa, Morgan?"

[GregTheAnti-Viking†]

Fifty-three sesame seeds later, Morgan nearly jumped out of the seat again when Rosa quickly and angrily corrected the oversight made by their fellow classmates. This once again reminded him that he was single. A fact that he wasn't exactly accepting with any ounce of pride.

He waited until he was sure Teo was a far enough distance away to not barge in once more and make the situation all the more awkward before he spoke again.

"Yeah," he said, chuckling nervously, "It's uh...not what you think. Just sharing a conversation you see."

It seemed to him that all of the effort he put into striking up a conversation had backfired. With all the energy stored up deflating like a balloon. Morgan's brain began to fire mental flares that he should probably duck out and leave when he still could, but he felt slightly cornered by the ever growing amount of people so he just began to nibble on a handful of fries in an attempt to calm him down.

"So uh..." Morgan began, hoping to ease the awkwardness and tension that was swirling around everyone, "H-how's everyone's day been?"

[MurderWeasel]

"You been practicing without your helmet Teo? Does this look like a fucking date?"

Oh god, oh my fucking god I am such an idiot.

Of course it wasn't a date. Why on earth would two people on a date not be sitting together? It made no sense; she had jumped to a stupid conclusion. Jennifer felt guilty about probably getting Teo into more trouble with Rosa, but all the same, she was glad the girl's ire was directed at him. Jennifer didn't think she could handle being yelled at, not tonight.

Teo, far from taking offense, turned the whole conversation into a joke. Jennifer laughed nervously at his retort to Rosa. He then walked off, giving his girlfriend's butt a not-so-subtle slap as he did so. Jennifer cringed. That sort of thing was exactly why she was single. She didn't understand how the girl wasn't humiliated by Teo's antics. Of course, maybe she was overreacting. If the girl didn't mind, then why should Jennifer?

Robert came over and said some comforting words to Jennifer. She turned to look at him.

I was right. He is a good guy.

"Thanks Robert," Jennifer said, "And, uh, I'm sorry about my, um mistake, Rosa and Morgan."

Morgan seemed to be feeling just as uncomfortable as Jennifer was. He was staring at his food. Finally, he picked up some fries, and asked how everyone was.

For just a second, Jennifer considered telling the truth.

I'm doing badly, Morgan. Tonight's been one fucking disaster after another.
"I'm doing good, Morgan. It's a, um, nice evening."

My family was fighting, so I took walked through a dangerous part of town just to get some space to think. They're making my life a living hell.
"I wanted to get a little walk, er, a little fresh air, so I took a walk. I'm getting a little me time."

When I finally tried to do something, one little thing for myself, I ended up fucking up your and Rosa's evening, because I'm a fucking inconsiderate idiot. I wish I could do something to make it up to you.
"I'm so glad I ran into you here. I was, um, I'm here to get some dinner."

Jennifer didn't know if she sounded convincingly happy. She hoped so. No point messing up anyone's evening further. Her bad feelings didn't give her a right to bring everyone else down.

[Namira]

Right... a compliment. Grow a clue Teo.

Rosa rolled her eyes and went back to her drink for a while. She'd probably come across as a bit big headed there, but she didn't care a great deal. Rosa had had to deal with a bad reputation for a very long time, and she didn't see how 'egotistical' was much worse than 'slut'. Once Robert started speaking to her she didn't looked around.

"Whatever."

The night had been going okay up until that little 'assumption' from Teo. Now, though, Rosa was just irritated, drunk as she was. Usually, Rosa just got daft when she was drunk, but that wasn't to say she always took her alcohol so well. On occasion, it mixed with her already fiery temper to produce something of an explosion. That wasn't on the cards quite yet though... Teo's remark hadn't irked her that much.

"Fuck it, come on then Teo, doubles."

Rosa slid off her barstool and grabbed her drink, she swayed slightly, but corrected herself before anything could happen. She'd have to watch herself though, she did have to get home after all...

"So which of you sexy things do I get to team up with then?" Rosa teased. In truth, none of Teo, Natasha, and Robert were bad looking, but she hadn't really meant the remark in that sense.

But how would they know that with you, huh?

[Fanatic†]

Teo racked up the pool balls as Robert grabbed the drinks and Rosa headed over to the table to join the couple.

"Fuck it, come on then Teo, doubles."

Teo glanced over as the unsteady Rosa approached the pool table. "Sure, what's it to be be, girls against guys?" Looking over to Robert he winked, shaping his hand into a caricature of a gun and 'pulling the trigger.' "Tash here's a bit of a shark, so I hope you're ready for an arse whooping. Right babe?"

Natasha nodded and smiled meekly as she clutched the pool cue in her hands. Looking nervously over at Rosa she headed in the inebriated girls direction and held out her hand in greeting. "Hi," she smiled "I'm Natasha, how do you know Teo?"

Meanwhile Teo began chalking his cue up, waiting for Robert to reach the table with their drinks. "Girl's break, let's see what you've got Rosa."

[Killer_Moth†]

"Alright, Rosa, looks like it's you and me." Barron grabbed the drinks, and walked over to the pool table. Teo had tapped him to be the 4th, after his earlier offer of a game. He would have liked to have stayed with the group at the main bar, Jennifer and Morgan, but he sensed that she, at least, wouldn't be comfortable around too many people. As he walked away, he turned and said to the pair "I'll just be over there. Give me a shout if you need anything. I'm parked about a block away if either of you need a ride."

Leaving them together, he passed the cokes to Teo and Natasha. Somehow, he was less comfortable over here. Rosa wasn't particularly steady, had she been drinking? And the way Teo was behaving with Natasha caused him to raise an eyebrow in the girls direction. "Hey, we don't need to worry about sharks, do we? This is just a friendly game. We won't be gambling." The way he said it, he tried to make it clear that it was not a question.

"Rosa, I hope you're good with a stick. I'm pretty spotty at best, but I'd like it to at least be fun for everyone here." He put his own drink down on a nearby table, wondering how he managed to get into a situation like this.

[GregTheAnti-Viking†]

Morgan was relieved to see that most of the crowd had dispersed over to the pool table. It was going well, but Teo's arrival to the scene had made things more than a little uncomfortable. Now with Rosa and the others not in the general area, he felt more at ease.

Morgan was quick to notice that something didn't seem right with Jennifer Perez's answer. She seemed to initially struggle with the words that came out of her mouth, which was very similar to how Jen Romita would initially deflect any emotional troubles. As odd as it was though, it really wasn't his place to pry into her world. If she didn't wish to speak of it, then he didn't wish to be the one to nose about a strangers business.

"Well," he said, taking another bite of his burger and a quick sip of his tea, "Sounds like you're having a good one then. Me, I had a bad day on the online poker table, idiots on the internet need to be forcibly removed from their computers sometimes."

Morgan sighed, taking a couple quick bites from his burger and taking a sip of tea, "But I'm probably boring you with something like that I suppose. I just came here to get a meal and some tea to cool me off. It's always a good way of getting rid of some frustration."

"So," he said, trying to think of something to start the conversation off, "Do you come to this place often?"

[MurderWeasel]

Everyone except Morgan wandered away to the pool table, leaving Jennifer and Morgan alone. Morgan talked a bit about online poker, something Jennifer knew absolutely nothing about. Still, when he speculated that he was boring her, she said "Oh, no, I don't mind. It's, um, always interesting to learn about new things. I'm sorry you didn't have such a good day, though."

Morgan then asked Jennifer if she was a regular at the Varsity.

"Um, not really," she said, "I usually eat dinner with my family."

Fuck, change the subject! You don't want to dump your problems on him. He's already had a bad day.

"So, um, I don't really know what's good here. Do you have any, uh, recommendations? I'm pretty hungry."

Jennifer hoped she wasn't sounding too stupid. She used "uh"s and "um"s to buy herself time to think as she talked. It was a habit she hated, but couldn't kick. She only talked smoothly when she was very comfortable or mediating a problem; at those times, she didn't really have to think about what she said.

Morgan seemed a little uncomfortable. Was he upset about her mistake earlier, and just hiding it? That didn't seem right, though. Jennifer tried to think of some way to break the ice, some way to move the conversation along. After all, she planned to be here for a little while, to avoid going home for as long as possible, so it would be best if things weren't awkward.

"By the way, what do you like to do besides poker? Do your friends play it too?"

That's awkward and random. isn't it? You're so much better at getting people to stop shouting than at actually talking to normal, happy people, aren't you?

Jennifer sometimes did worry that she had problems talking with people under normal circumstances. She could listen to people all day, but rarely opened up much about herself. She was just so used to walking on eggshells around people, watching what she said to stop them from blowing up. She got so nervous that sometimes she made the very mistakes she was trying to avoid.

"Uh, sorry about the random question. It was stupid. I, um, know that your friends don't have to like the same things as you; mine don't..."

Stop talking while you're at least a little ahead.

[Namira]

Rosa didn't really care who she was teaming up with, but Teo pretty much called girls vs. guys in the first instance, so she supposed she'd go with Natasha for the time being. Rosa was okay at pool - not the best in the world by a long margin, but nor was she exactly horrible at it. Then again, being drunk meant her skills would certainly take a bit of a hit...

"Teo? We've been in the same year since we were like... preteens. So we've known each other a long while. Can't say I wouldn't like to get to know him better though."

Erm. Whoops.

Hopefully Natasha wouldn't take the drunken slip in the context Rosa had actually meant it in... because it wasn't the best of ideas to talk about wanting to sleep with somebody when the 'somebody' was the person you were talking to's boyfriend...

Rosa quickly grabbed a cue and leaned over to break, hoping that if she didn't give Natasha enough time to think about it, she wouldn't realise the uh, implications of what she had just said. Stopping for a moment, Rosa tugged her skirt down, as it had been rising up. She didn't want a repeat of something that had happened at the beginning of the year...

The cue ball rolled down the table, and the others scattered around the place. Rosa wasn't together enough to see whether anything was good or bad. Eh, it would do.

[Fanatic†]

Teo casually glanced as Rosa's break. It was decent enough, but nothing was sunk, allowing the footballer to spot some potential openings. Lining the pool cue up with the white he tapped lightly watching the 6 drop in to the corner pocket. "I guess we're smalls Rob, lets do this." Shifting over to the other side of the table Teo dropped the 1 and the 4 into a side pocket before narrowly overshooting the 3 into the opposite pocket. Teo didn't miss a beat playing against the girls, or really care that Rosa might be inebriated during the game. He played to win, you always play to win. Teo stepped back, a smile on his face. Inwardly he was irritated, he didn't like missing when he should of succeeded. "Tash, your go babe."

Natasha stepped forward carefully. Teo could see something had irritated her which could drop her in to 'clingy mode' as he termed it. After dropping the 14 ball into a pocket and setting up a 12 for an easy shot for Rosa next turn she moved back to Teo, grabbing his arm tightly. Yep, she something sure had bugged her. Tash was a bit self conscious and constantly was afraid that Teo was either gay - mainly interpreted from his playful and physical antics with his friends or seeing another women. He was neither. However that didn't stop her from being over protective. Teo lent down and gave her a quick kiss to reassure her. "Nice shot babe." Turning to Rob who was absentmindedly watching the game he gave him a quick slap on the bum. "Come on Rob, finish them off you can do it!"

[Killer_Moth†]

Bobby found himself watching the game intently. Teo was fairly good, so there was a solid chance for them to win. Natasha seemed to be very much a team player, making sure when she couldn't make a shot, she had one set up for Rosa. Teo was different, more confidant, yet also more prone to risks. If he had avoided going for the narrow shot on the three ball, and played more conservatively, he could have blocked off the girls from a decent shot.

Still, he was being very confusing. Flirting with Rosa, and hanging off of Natasha. When he slapped Bobby on the ass, Bobby was uncertain as to how to react. Did Teo know? Or was he just being silly and playful. He had been so careful, he doubted that there was more than a suspicion in anybody's mind, and even that would have little evidence. He didn't want to read too much into it, and certainly didn't want to let Teo get the best of him.

He laughed off the slap as best he could, took the cue and approached the table. Rosa was barely watching the game, so he could afford to be a bit cavalier with his shots. He lined up the 2 and cannoned it into the bottom corner, leaving him nicely set up on the three that Teo had left. Again taking careful aim, he shot straight, but took a bad angle. The three ball sank, but he watched in horror as the white hit the 12 on the rebound. Sure enough, it was just enough, and the 12 trundled gently into it's own pocket.

"Sorry Teo. I guess the luck's just not with me tonight. I guess all that butt slapping only works in a locker room. Rosa, good luck. Enjoy your two shots." He rubbed his eyes. He'd had his contacts in for too long, and they were beginning to sting slightly. Hopefully, he'd be able to finish the game before he absolutely had to take them out.

As he passed the cue over and stepped back, he wondered how Jennifer and Morgan were getting along back at the bar.

[GregTheAnti-Viking†]

"Well," he shrugged, "It's not too bad really. You win some you loose some, and I earned all the money I play with, so it's not like I put millions into it with credit cards or anything."

Morgan scratched his chin when Jennifer brought up a question of food selection.

"Well, I dunno. I mean I don't tend to go here very often, I usually just go for a burger and that's it. I hear that the nachos aren't too too bad, but that's everything that I hear about this place. Maybe you should give those a try."

Morgan wasn't sure what to say to Jennifer's question. I mean, poker was the thing he loved the most, there wasn't much else. As for friends, well, he wasn't really the type of person with a multitude of friends. Jen Romita really was the one and only true friend for him.

Then again, she wanted him to try and make some more, it would be nice to make a good start.

"Nah, it's alright. I can't say that I play a lot with my friends, it's one of those games where it's sorta easy to learn but it takes so long to get real good at it so it hasn't really stuck with most of em."

"As for what I like...I like a fair deal. Imported teas, classical music things like that you know?"