04-27-2019, 12:18 AM
Xander tapped her on the shoulder when he spotted Natalie crossing the restaurant. Lawrence swiveled in the seat, immediately struck by the grim aura nipping at their heels. She'd seen Natalie at tough times. Witnessing the way they all clawed their way across Freetown, basically by their fingernails, Natalie was always a pillar of defiant determination. She'd also seen the ethereal beauty that swept the halls of the Kremlin; both women were haunted by different terrors. Yet today, Natalie was neither. She was gaunt and drawn, a hallow shell. Lawrence and Xander exchanged worried glances just before they arrived.
She snatched the stem of a cactus-themed margarita glass and led them toward a high-top table fit for a foursome. Xander snagged his coke, while technically over 21, he got smashed just sniffing tequila. On the way, she touched Natalie on the arm, “Are you okay, hon?” like the intimate gesture might reveal some private emotion normally kept buried deep down.
Of course, her gaze floated toward the handsome features that followed behind Natalie like some kind of third-wheel that was clearly uncomfortable, yet somehow hovering near enough to not be excluded. A wide smile split her lips as she stretched out a hand, “Hi there. I’m Lawrence,” she said in greeting, sliding close enough to clasp fingers and drape her spare hand across his wrist.
She snatched the stem of a cactus-themed margarita glass and led them toward a high-top table fit for a foursome. Xander snagged his coke, while technically over 21, he got smashed just sniffing tequila. On the way, she touched Natalie on the arm, “Are you okay, hon?” like the intimate gesture might reveal some private emotion normally kept buried deep down.
Of course, her gaze floated toward the handsome features that followed behind Natalie like some kind of third-wheel that was clearly uncomfortable, yet somehow hovering near enough to not be excluded. A wide smile split her lips as she stretched out a hand, “Hi there. I’m Lawrence,” she said in greeting, sliding close enough to clasp fingers and drape her spare hand across his wrist.