A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

Somehow, (f/n) had managed to continue engaging in the conversation. It wasn't easy in any regard, though, and she was happy when she could take a break from talking and just sip at her Riesling. The discussion consisted of getting to know Tristan better, but that could only be so much given the conversation she had heard behind the restaurant. He talked about how he wanted to support his parents' business, some of his interior design jobs and how he wanted to settle down. No doubt it was his parents who wanted him to settle down, and he just wanted them off of his back about the matter.

As for his interests, he discussed his liking of taking walks through parks, drawing up new designs for home decorations and occasionally reading a book in a coffee shop. Perhaps, those really were his interests, but they certainly sounded stereotypical. Maybe, it was just doubt, frustration and betrayal eating away at her and giving her such thoughts, but it sounded too much like a textbook answer, especially given the pictures he had on his social media before he erased them.

But, she went along with it. Her interests were asked about, so she talked about her schooling and her passion for running the café with Anita. When she did talk about that topic, she noticed that Anita took a sip of her whiskey, and there had been a certain emotion in her optics in that moment: worry. Why would she be concerned about that topic if she wasn't hiding something? It made the pit in her stomach grow; Lee ... he really was right, wasn't he? A mannequin who had been tormenting her previously had been more truthful to her than her own best friend. Talk about a f*cked up situation, and she was at the center of it. How wonderful.

Thankfully, food arrived eventually, and Anita had the lovely idea of ordering large appetizers so that they all could share the food. Frankly, (f/n) wanted her own meal and to put it in a takeout box so that she could race home and eat in solitude. Well, there was Lee, so maybe at another place. Actually, The Iron Clipper would be ideal.

When dinner finally finished, Kaleb and Tristan paid for the food. (F/n) did thank them, but she mentally wanted to vomit at doing so. With what they said outside, she had no desire to feel any gratitude towards them. Leaving the restaurant, Anita stood close to Kaleb while Tristan stayed close to her. Part of her was tempted to push him down onto the sidewalk and march away.

"Well, we're going to go off towards the hotel," Anita mentioned, smiling to Tristan and her. She winked. "We'll see you both later."

"Just don't take too long. Your check-in time at the hotel is soon, and we still need to unload your bags," Kaleb recommended, taking Anita's hand in his. Bags? Just how long was this guy staying? (F/n) managed to keep a neutral expression, but she inwardly was freaking out. She didn't want to spend another moment with Tristan, but if he was staying and friends with Kaleb, she'd be seeing a lot more of him. Even if she told him off then and there, he'd still be around. Nearly, she groaned aloud at the awful news.

"I won't be long. I'll see you both there," Tristan answered, waving as the pair turned around and walked off. (F/n) waved to Anita and gave her a look that asked for her to come back. Anita didn't, but (f/n) was happy about that. She needed some desperate time away from them all. Once they were far enough down the street, Tristan focused on her and smiled kindly. "Thank you for the wonderful evening, (f/n)."

"Sure," she responded, crossing her arms and not looking impressed. "Though, it sounds like you should be getting back."

"Right," he chuckled out before he took out his phone. "I know that you don't have yours, but could you give me your email or when you get the chance accept an invitation on social media?"

No. She remained silent, though, despite knowing her true answer. "I ... Look Tristan, tonight wasn't bad." It was horrible. "But, I ..." (F/n) released a sigh. "I'm uncertain about you still. I know that you deleted those pictures, but you always can add new ones and keep them private. I just can't trust you yet."

"So, you need more time." No amount of time would be enough for him. That'd she make certain of. He sighed lightly, but he smiled. "I understand. This was just a first date after all. Well," his smile became more optimistic, "I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again. Maybe, you'd like to take a walk in one of the parks with me here sometime."

"I say that I can't trust you yet, and you want to take me to a park?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "You do know that sounds really bad, right?"

Tristan paused before realization came over him. Quickly, he looked apologetic. "Sorry. I didn't mean it that way. Perhaps, Kaleb and Anita could come along. Or, we could go somewhere more public."

"... I'll think about it." She uncrossed her arms and began to face the direction of the café. "You'll need to drag Anita along to convince me to come." His eyes watched her, and she noticed the hopeful look in them didn't seem entirely genuine. (F/n) wondered if she had pissed him off. Good, she hoped that was the case.

"I'll ask her, then." She nodded at his response and went to turn away, but she felt her wrist caught by him. (F/n) paused and glanced between her wrist and his gaze, a not too happy look on her countenance. Swiftly, he released his hold. "Sorry. It's just ... Well, thank you once more. I do want to see you again."

"And, I told you my answer." He nodded slowly, and she sighed before she pushed back some of her (h/c) (h/l) locks. "Just talk to her, okay?" She tried to sound a bit nicer, and it killed her to do so. Honestly, she wanted him to go away, and she didn't know if he would if she didn't give him some sort of hope that she'd meet up with him.

"Okay, I will. Have a good evening." Tristan smiled to her and looked like he wanted to lean forward to kiss her on the cheek, but he stepped away, waved and left. Thank goodness. She didn't want his lips anywhere near hers.

"Yeah ... you too," she answered, quietly. Seeing his smile remain a moment longer, she took it that he had heard her, but she was just glad when his back turned to her and he became a distant form on the sidewalk. Now, she could let herself be. A frown touched her lips, and she clenched her free hand into a fist. (F/n) took a deep breath in before she exhaled softly.

Around her it was silent. Yes, there was activity. People were walking down the streets. Businesses had their lights on. She could hear people talking, laughing and enjoying the evening, but it all felt so hollow to her. They could've been shades passing her by. Or, perhaps, she felt like a ghost lost in a sea of the living.

Facing the direction of the café, she didn't go towards it. No, her feet instead found themselves going towards The Iron Clipper. There would be others there, but she wouldn't know them, and she wouldn't have to worry about Lee. It would be a safer option than finding some place outside and sitting there, especially if there was no one else around.

Reaching the location, she opened the door. Familiarity hit her. The wooden floors and tables looked so comfortable compared to the seating arrangements at Eric's Pub and Grill. (F/n) didn't sit at one of the tables, though. Rather, she headed over to the bar.

Now seated, she stared down at the wood countertop. She held back any tears that wanted to fall, but she looked exhausted. It felt like she had been stripped of everything she knew and tossed into a world with strangers. There was the bar, and there was Lee. Those two remained. Technically, there was the café too, but without Anita, it didn't feel the same. Anita was hiding something from her, and it made the business feel like it no longer was the successful entity that it was. It was as though her dream that she had accomplished was crumbling, and that it only had been a dream, nothing more.

That aside, the fact that Lee was more familiar at the moment than her own friend only made her feel more drained. At least, there was the bar, and she could keep her wits about her enough not to drown herself in it despite the negativity ruling over her mind. "The usual?" the voice of the bartender broke her out of her thoughts. (F/n) glanced up, and she could tell instantly that she was an open book. He could see her misery from a mile away. "Right. Wait a moment."

Strange. He had asked her that question before, but she finally realized that she never had asked for his name. Or even noticed him for that matter. She had been so focused on the business and Anita's relationship that she hadn't even learned such simple information. Well, that made her feel more awful about everything. (F/n) rubbed the bridge of her nose and took another deep breath in and out. Hopefully, the night didn't get any worse.